The College Dropout

I like him but I don't know why he's been given a new contract? He'll play in the league cup early rounds only.

For him to blank next week? I can understand VVD but would probably swerve Liverpool now

Yeh it’s a no for me. But I can see some finding it more fun. It won’t be fun when Haaland scores 20 points though which is why I’m going boring.

Also though... the game is about fun... Solanke doubles in a few weeks and that would be a fun week to TC. I would just hate myself for an hour if I didn't TC Haaland and he scores a hat-trick.

Anything but Haaland TC is overthinking it IMO KDB or Foden TC is a shout... but for me.. an unnecessary risk. The other weeks something might emerge but I'm on Haaland TC

That's what the gardening leave is for.

Tbh I don't think anyone really cares. We've not seen the fruit of his labour just yet.

I assume so. But that doesn't change that we are not and have not been THAT good when we do play. Hence why we are fighting 6th-9th.

Is this sarcasm? Martinez just came back and got injured straight away. Casemiro has barely played all season. Shaw been out a long time. Eriksen too. Their uptick in form coincides with their injury crisis easing up. As it stands - we are not that good and that's ok. We don't need to be that good to finish in the top 6-7. We'll be there or thereabouts if we can win 50% of our remaining matches. We'll need to be better for 5th.

Some of us here are on cuckoo land. No top 9 is happy to "rotate".

Toney can stay fit mind.

yeh Pope is obviously a sweeper keeper. He's aggressive as any off his line outside his box and claiming crosses. I hope people realise how good Pope is now. There's only one GK in the division that brings everything he does + more. Everyone else you're taking some things and giving out other things.

How can you expect a manager to adape to the players he has? Part of that Xga is partly down to Dubs though. Like the Forest 1st. It's not a shot on goal with Pope. But I agree with your point in general. We've been awful defensively and Dubs has made some good saves. Back-up goalies is difficult. Next to back-up pure 9's.

The older i've gotten the more I believe in rumours which is weird. So I have a feeling this will become concrete - we might make it unattractive enough for Man U to walk away but if Ashworth wants it - and it feels like he does - he'll go. I just hope we have automatic succession plans like Brighton do.

Yeh. I'm cautious of taking anyone from there that isn't the actual Owner. Same with Brighton and Ashworth.

I wouldn't want a Howe pal as DoF just because I wouldn't have a DoF + Manager so closely aligned unless we were willing to live and die by that manager the way City have with Guardiola. Klopp had to achieve a lot of things before his pal became DoF of Liverpool and I think Howe needs to do the same. And just as a football fan, I don't love the Howe profile of player. So I would like a DoF that pulls another way and they meet in the middle.

We should take the City approach. The Real approach. Play the bad guy, use the influence and resources to the max. If we find a loophole - just abuse it until it is closed.

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1757687622858653757?s=46&t=XBqcNDJ8Au1NwcsCT_X7Yg

He’s right footed too. He’s meant to be top. Another Villa product I think.

IMO we need more running power from the off.

Agreed. If we had 1 of Willock, Tonali or Joelinton + Pope available I would be more optimistic. As it stands we lack the running power this system needs to stop conceding chances.

Man Utd are 6th - they are not that good. I'm sure you would agree? We both finished bottom of our CL groups.

Don't fancy us to finish above Man Utd tbh.

TBF you don't have to be THAT good to be 6th/7th.

The kids call it "aura".