midds

Another injury and another timeout. Not saying we don't do this type of thing (we absolutely do) but it's the hypocrisy from the Arsenal fans that's annoying

Raya casually calling a 2 minute timeout for Arsenal

When managers are under any pressure they're normally desperate for a result to take the heat off for a bit. I think Howe's now in the unusual position of needing a performance rather than a result right now. We've looked really poor in each game we've played this season for various lengths of time and that's a concern. We look listless, disjointed and unmotivated, we're struggling with the shape, the tempo of games and the starting XIs have needed to be overhauled early in the last 2 games which suggest Howe got it wrong. Throw in the apparent power-play moves between Howe and Mitchell, the clusterfuck of a transfer window just gone and the departures of Staveley and Ghoudoussi and it's clear there's something not right on or off the park. They either get their heads together and sort it or I think Howe will be gone sooner or later. The current situation isn't sustainable and something will give eventually. I'd hate to lose Howe as I really like the bloke but this can't continue, the players he's coaching have to put in a performance for him at some point. He's responsible for results and performances the same as any other manager and it's a long way from where it used to be not so long ago.

Don't tell me he's broken down again ?

Don't they routinely check every goal for 'something' either in the build up or whatever? Foul in the build up, offside, handball or whatever? Letting a ref completely guess a huge decision then saying 'meh, just go with it, it's close' doesn't seem like the best use of technology like. Which way it went is irrelevant, if the ref is completely unsighted then that's the perfect time to use the different camera angles to get the right decision. There's just so much wrong with VAR man

If they can't show the goals in the goals show at least show some of the action ffs. Listening to Carney is excruciating man

Wouldn't be necessarily be against seeing Tino playing RW with Trippier behind him in certain games. I know he's better at RB but if needs must and we're short in that problem position then just give him 30 mins there and see how it goes. Might just click, you never know?

Mitchell fancied a Burger King so fucked off by himself

Be nice to get 3 points in this and should do really. 13 points from 15 with a title decider the following week sounds rather exciting tbh

Bet he has onion bahji to start, tikka chicken masala with boiled rice and a plain naan at the Indians

He's obviously pretty horrendous with the ball at his feet but that doesn't need to become a liability. I've got very few issues with him just putting his foot through it when he needs to, it's safety first and unlikely to directly cost us any goals over the course of the season. Taking no risks and putting it 60 yards away is far more preferable to trying to do things he's not capable of, getting caught out and giving up goals as a result. He's an excellent shot-stopper and awful footballer - stick to kicking it long and saving certain goals like today

And of course he's going for the boneless banquet, the uninspiring choice of every little beige drip, bet he even brought his own knife and fork and went for the corn instead of the gravy too. I'm disgusted quite frankly

So now he's going to have to bring Tonali on and give him 45 mins whilst chasing the game? This was soooooo obviously going to happen, it's not bad luck it's poor management tbph. I love Howe but he's got this badly wrong today, no point in pretending otherwise

I'll never agree with you on this one mate ( ) but that's fair enough too. All about opinions

It's been less than 3 games for him I think? If we're protecting players after 3 games then we may as well give up. Being scared to play your best players in the middle of September because you don't want them to get tired is insane imo. It's even worse when the gap in quality is so big. Fatigue will need to be managed better this season but not yet. Surely?

The fatigue argument would possibly make sense if we were in February or whatever but we're a handful of games into the season and he's had a year off. No one will convince me Longstaff over Tonali is the best choice for today. It's like leaving the Bentley in the garage and getting the bus to work instead

Sorry like but Longstaff over Tonali is ridiculous. The difference between the 2 of them is insane. Half a Tonali is still better than twice a Longstaff

Simply can not beat the Ev smashing the shit out of their self-destruct button these days. To lose 2 2-goal leads and end up with nothing would be delicious. Fucking inject it man

Can't help but feel that 90% of all of this storm has managed to grow so big purely because there hasn't been any football to talk about for the last 2 weeks. There's a void and this issue has seemed to replace the important stuff because a lack of clicks and engagement isn't acceptable any longer, people need to be engaged and be furious and if there isn't an actual story yhen one will be either invented or exaggerated to fill the void. I'm not saying it's nothing, I'm saying it's being blown waaaaay out of proportion in order to fulfil space on SM. It's the archetypal mountain out of a molehill and it's 100% deliberate. Stop feeding it and it dies. Let them sort it out behind closed doors ffs

That '96 West Ham (H) was the most one-sided game I think I've ever seen. 100% domination and it was relentless, bet their keeper got MotM despite conceding 3. Without any exaggeration - it could quite easily have been 11 or 12-0

Unsung heroes to man, legends

Cabaye/Cisse vs Stoke vibes

80k. I think we'd actually fill it for most games in the first few years too if it were to happen, the demand to see the team is there. I'd expect the novelty to wear off a little for some but as the team gets better the demand will grow again. It's all about balancing maximising the revenue (mainly having excellent corporate facilities) whilst still having reasonably priced seats for the next generation. If we have to leave SJP then I only want to do it once. Make it huge, make it fantastic, make it to last

Needed a green suit, a top hat and a little wooden walking stick to complete the full look

I know I'm pushing it - deliberately tbh, but I'm just throwing scenarios out there where clubs like Chelsea or anyone else tbh, could just start exchanging players, agreeing bullshit amounts based on nothing without any actual cash changing hands an just arguing about it later in courts. The rules are that badly written that any challenge to them would probably win out and clubs could just game the system. I'm taking the piss a bit but not loads. Exploiting player exchange deals will be the next loophole is my prediction, Chelsea already in pole position unsurprisingly