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Cue an Anthony Gordon perfect hattrick......against Everton.

Hopefully next week our front three (if no Isak) is: Murphy - Gordon - Barnes

Yes, it absolutely is. But that's not how we are set up, players make movement and runs based on when teammates switch the ball onto their striking foot. We've been playing with the same CB pairing for a while now (left footer at LCB and right footer at RCB). Same thing happens at fullback. There's a reason Tino and Barnes work so much better than Tino and Gordon on the left and it's why Hall and Gordon was such a good partnership. Hall as a left footer will naturally pass the ball down the line, towards the corner flag for Gordon to run onto, but Tino is always slightly further inside using his right foot, so his passes to Gordon/Barnes head towards the corner of the opposition box, which is exactlybwhat Barnes wants as he drives towards goal but it's not what Gordon wants as he prefers to move out wide, face his player up and then make his move.

I think technically he's just a bit limited, which stops him being a top top player. Very good on his day though.

Hes a great player for sure, not convinced he’s a great finisher mind, still work needed there for me.

He’s not been the same player since his Liverpool move fell through - attitude has been terrible for months

Id have Murphy over Barnes or Gordon on the right like

Yeah, that’s rubbish like. He’s a very fine player at his best but not even his biggest fan (or so I thought) would describe him like that.

For me I think it's just that we had the fixtures to have this wrapped up before the final day, but now there is jeopardy. Because like a cup final, in a one off game anything can happen, a sending off, injuries, a bad ref decision, or simply just having a off day. So it would be gutting that for weeks it felt like we had this under control and then let it slip at the last hurdle. Doesn't undermine the cup win or anything like that but would just be a really sour note to end on, on what could and should be the greatest season that I have seen in my lifetime. A cup win and CL qualification would have to surpass anything I have witnessed so far. But have to remember that we were having a pretty average season up until that long winning run we went on. So if you had told me back in February or whatever that we would have won a cup and be one home game against Everton away from securing champions league football again, I'd have snapped your hands off.

Do you think our rivals would swap positions with us? Due to our goal difference its still in our hands. Chelsea and Forest have to play each other. Man Utd may not be good but its still at Old Trafford and they may be on a high of winning the Europa League going into the final day. People are also massively overrating Everton and forgetting we're playing at St James' where we normally win.

Players can get stale or pick up too many injuries that diminish their output. It's why I get a little envious when a see how quickly Villa churn through players. Sure ok they had the academy and head start on us to be able to sell better, but they don't seem to mess around with getting players in and out and have decent squad depth overall now. Really hope we can win next week and start a bit of a squad refresh this summer with the extra funds.

It really is decades. Can't help dreading that next Sunday turns into another debacle like Partizan Belgrade, or even Anderlecht. No reason to think it will, but the scars remain . . .

We have to be looking to move him on. His injury record is poor and he certainly isn't performing to a level where he's even a good backup option from the bench. We could still probably get 15-20 million for him, which will add to the funds from Almiron and Kelly (hopefully Longstaff also). With the PSR room we have and hopefully Champions League revenue, we could be in a decent position to greatly improve the squad.

Started alright for 5 - 10 mins but then faded badly. Not surprising really as it's only his 2nd start this season they said and he's only been getting the odd 15 mins off the bench mostly. But it's been clear ever since last season that the body is done and there isn't a champions league chasing premier quality player left in there. Praying that we can get Isak available for next week. If we can't then I don't think Wilson starting is the best alternative.

Mistake aside he wasnt our worst player. But as mentioned in the Barnes thread, I get in theory why Howe prefers him to start left in a game like this from a defensive view point. However I don't think I saw a great deal of protection for Tino today and in this formation it shouldn't really be as necessary and he has Burn in close proximity to support. I certainly don't get why we can't atleast give Barnes 10 mins or so on his preferred side, especially when we're losing and chasing the game. Just seems so odd that every time Gordon has came on recently and now again that he's starting games, Barnes is always shifted to right. I assume because Howe thinks Barnes is better than Gordon on the right, but I don't feel because Gordon is shitter on the right should be a reason to move our most dangerous left winger out of position.

He looked faster and sharper in his movements when he came on than recently, but his technique is always lacking. Was a really poor effort when he chopped on to his left. Should be the easy answer to slot in for Joelinton on that left side next week of we want to go back to the 433, but the trust is gone with Willock now. I don't know if we can rely on him in such an important game anymore.

The problem with playing Isak and even Joelinton or Trippier if there's a slim chance they can play, is how much will they be able to give if they aren't 100%? We know we can carry Isak as we have done it for weeks and weeks now but maybe anymore would be too risky. Also the possibility one or all breakdown early in the game and then you break rhythm but also waste subs for later. Will be interesting how much Eddie is willing to risk or if he prefers lesser players who can give him 100%.

Wish he'd buried that chance first half. Was an easier chance than the Rice one for them, but he does seem to have an odd ball striking technique and on this occasion it was abit of a tame effort that needed more power and direction. Also thought he delayed too long to pass to Barnes when Osula flicked the reverse pass to him. But yeah overall can't fault the effort he was winning tackles and trying to make things happen for us. Have confidence he won't let us throw away a strong season finish with only one game to go. He'll be leading by example next week and trying to get us over the line.

You can see how the decades of toil and frustration have scarred so many of us. We have a scenario that we would have all jumped at months ago, a scenario that didn't seem possible a few years ago, and there are so many who are scared shitless of a loss. We control our destiny. Simple. We need to beat a team we should be beating at home. We do that, we are in the Champions League with a third-placed finish after winning a domestic cup. Incredible stuff. We just need to grab it.

PSR obviously also, that's why it's important we get champions league football.

Was a classic case today of needing to score when you are on top. We didn't score in that period in the first half and you could feel the game slipping away from us. Then they come out 2nd half and dominate the early goings and if we had survived that period we very well might have got a point or better but Gordon made a mistake and Rice does what unfortunately good teams will do to us in the champions league, he smashes a worldie. We made one mistake and paid for it, they made multiple in the first half and got away with it.

His showing today should be a wake up call for Howe, if the rumours were right that they’re considering an extension.

He can't be given a new contract. Always be remembered as a good level striker for the club, but he offers virtually nothing now. No doubt his injuries have majorly taken their toll, but the time has come.

Havent read the thread so im probably doing a giggs, but this kind of points to the injury he’s been managing during the last few months - explaining his drop off. still, an off the pace isak is still head and shoulders above anyone else up front that we have. hope he can give us one last game. but please, get it fixed in the summer.

I saw an interview with Bruno the other day with him talking about being knackered and playing through injuries. Not Howe’s fault - a lot of this is the remaining hangover of the previous ownership - and I completely agree, it’s something which it is reasonable to expect to be fixed if we sign three or four good players in the summer