Pata

Can’t believe bookies have Chelsea as slight favourites. Seems like a massive overreaction, we just won against Arsenal at home.

Fernandes has tons of passing attempts with a really weak completion %, will always look good in these categories. Obviously not saying he's not a good player but think many modern managers would hate the fact how often he loses possession.

We already kinda did but then things happened.

That was a really really poor performance but I’m not even that gutted. Just one match too far and we had nothing left. Some shocking perfomances from usually reliable players but can’t be mad at them. Never been this happy about an international break, hope we get few players back and even those joining with national teams can rest a bit.

Some of those big names also had their worst performances in a while. They might be ’fit’ but they are clearly exhausted right now.

Eddie Howe’s blaandwhyamy!!

Understat has them on 16.82 expected points and they have 7 in reality. Haven't really watched them but seems like an unlucky start to the season.

Can't call the team that played us reserves tbh. You rested Bruno, Rashford and Hojlund and that's it. Bayern won't have Dummett, Krafth and Ritchie on the pitch. Think you are done after the next round of games. Gala are better this season than your average Turkish CL participant and the atmosphere will be nuts. Even a win there means you still need a result against Bayern.

Think Man United are in a way worse spot than we are. Galatasaray in Istanbul will be insane and Bayern reserves>>>NUFC reserves.

They were really good in the first half until the red card tbf, I'm not laughing at EtH tonight.

I'll fucking die when that's given against us at some point in the future in Europe. Absolute joke.

One problem is refs usually don't give the foul if you try to stay up even if there was a clear foul. Makes it logical to go down especially in the box.

This seems fair, was probably just some young gangster wannabes wanting some attention by stabbing an English football fan and I wouldn't blame AC Milan fans as a group for it. I know I don't want to be associated with the few idiots who have caused trouble with PSG and Dortmund fans in Newcastle.

That setup is one of the reasons why the ’big six’ can spend seemingly endless amounts of money without having to worry about FFP. It’s a shitty practice but we really have to do it too to be able to compete with them as long as the rules allow it.

Others have already said it but I really doubt we bought Ashby to be part of the first team squad in near future. Ashby, Minteh and Kuol are basically lottery tickets where we look to loan them out for couple of seasons and if they develop well we can bring them here or flip them for profit to help with FFP with very low risk involved. Livramento had already played a season in PL (and was very good then) and was very much bought to be part of the first team squad right away. Ashby has 6 minutes of PL experience if I’m looking at it right, there was no way we go to this season with him as the main backup for an aging Trippier.

This is the insight why I come here every day.

Getting that much back for Wood is arguably the best bit of business we've done since the takeover and I'm one of those who think he fulfilled his role in that run to end the 21-22 season.

I think it's a bit simplistic to say Eddie was done twice. He doesn't use it as an excuse but all the injuries and the load the fit players carry is taking it's toll. You could have a perfect tactical plan but it won't work if the players are not performing on their expected level due to tiredness or possibly the lowered quality in available players (this is not directed at any single player directly). And intensity is our identity but demanding that level two times a week is not really realistic right now with all the injuries. Eddie probably could've rotated more when we had more players fit (although many injuries have been just bad luck and not due to excessive load) but I'm not blaming him for anything and this schedule is a a learning experience for him too.

Thought it was directed at UEFA.

Loftus-Cheek has been really good.

Real Madrid?

Don't think there's a bad result for us in this. Milan winning gives us a chance to still qualify, draw doesn't really mean anything and PSG winning keeps the third spot in our own hands with Milan still having to come to SJP.

Knockouts only start at the end of February, could have everyone back bar Tonali by then.

We are still not out, just have to knock out PSG now or hope Dortmund lose both.

Botman back would be huge but we’ve been extremely solid defensively when he’s been out.