Dan

The concept of Soumare is a lot better than the reality. He's very much like Havertz in that regard.

We really do have it as bad as anybody for trains relative to where we're located in the country. It's pathetic.

Nicolas Gonzalez.

Yep. This is despite Ipswich already losing at home to Leeds as well. We just both look an absolute mile better than the others. Leeds have been false dawn after false dawn. They've shown promise but they don't seem to be able to go 3 games without a clanger. We're obviously far too good for this league, Ipswich are a machine. Said it before but nothing but respect for them and McKenna - the fact they're keeping relative pace with us as a newly promoted side is phenomenal. It would be getting so much more attention if not for us.

Baffling really given they've got Xavi in midfield and Ronaldinho & Rivaldo in attack. Farke must be on thin ice.

Something like goals conceded is a lot more volatile than points but I think that 30 there is beatable - we've let in 7 in 13 games. Not enough is made of the fact we still haven't let in 2 in a game under Maresca. I've always been good with letting in 1 goal but 2 ****s me off, so to get 13/13 so far is very pleasing to me

I couldn't resist dropping a bit on us getting 107 at 11/2. Did it before Swansea. Actually requested it before Blackburn though. Already down to 7/2. The one I want to know, and can't find, are defensive stats. What's the least number of goals ever conceded at this level? Because we must surely be pushing to beat that.

The defensive numbers, particularly for a 19 year old 'flair' type of winger is what sets him apart. Really impressive. He's better than I thought he'd be.

He's a renowned abysmal referee. A damning indictment that he still gets a game at this level.

Yeah to be honest I was well off with that bit - that West Brom game I think was the biggest turning point, that was the night I think I knew beyond any doubt we had it.

Middlesbrough is meant to be quite good now - we'll see in a couple of weeks. That should serve as inspiration, because the Riverside used to be as bad as basically anywhere. It's hard to not rate Leeds really. Two 'ends' behind the goals standing, end to your right as you look looks like an away end when they score. But even there, even at that game in April which was a massive game, it had its flat points, but I do think that is just how it is in England.

I know there's always a bit of a worry when it feels 'so' inevitable you'll win but these really are absolutely horse manure. They're in absolute turmoil, abysmal at home and the crowd ready to turn. If we go 2 up we could hit basically anything I think. The two after this I think are banana skins but QPR are genuinely appalling.

I know it's been pretty done to death but Leicester as a club really do deal in extremes like basically no other club. The unlikeliest title winners, the unlikeliest relegation, Vardy probably the unlikeliest elite striker, we're a club capable of the absolute sublime and ridiculous - which is a big reason I fancy us to beat 106.

This whole point about ultras or fangroups would hold any credibility if atmosphere at this ground (or in this country) wasn't such a travesty.

Yeah they need to get rid. Absolutely woeful. Last night was probably the worst instance of it yet.

Said we'd win it after Man City away and didn't fluctuate from that at any point, despite this comment.

Enzo's cottoned so much about this club in no time at all. He's a natural. I hope he really pushes them to supplement the atmosphere rather than suppress it like they've been successfully done for years. Expansion and a severe restructuring of the ground / ticketing systems is the only thing that can save the atmosphere at this ground. Doubt they'll get it right though.

Fair play to Sunderland for giving us a very good game. The best of anybody so far I would say. They're going to be 6th at worst. Referee an absolute joke, have a long standing theory that a bad referee helps the atmosphere though and it certainly did tonight. Stroud is totally inept though. No idea how he gets a gig at this level. We'll break the record. We're by a mile the best side this league has had.

We actually play twice now before they next play so could be 8 points.

Everywhere I'm looking says Saturday 4th.

Thought this was the name of his new autobiogrophy.

Premier League on about a game on Christmas Eve

It's very much a see it to believe it - I agree with you, ultimately England still haven't won a game under Southgate (bar Spain away in the Nations League) that they weren't favourites to win. But I do think talent wise this is a legitimately good team now. People should be demanding victory and absolutely none of this celebrating being runners up Spurs nonsense. I don't think France are that much better that it's acceptable to go out to them twice in 18 months.

Plus Scarborough seeing their team at Old Trafford. Eliminates this possibility if you introduce this. I'm hesitant to compromise at all because this constant compromise has over time contributed to the imbalance we see in the game today. But if I did, I would scrap replays if the two teams are in the same league. Frankly nobody wants a replay against a team they're playing in the league already. Could you be arsed playing Middlesbrough a fourth time. Settle that on the day.

If you need a relegation to make it hit home that you're on the wrong trajectory then something has gone severely wrong. It was very obvious in the summer of 2022 which direction we were heading - admittedly I did at that time ridicule the idea we could drop that season.