The College Dropout

They are 16th in co-efficient over the past 5 years. They lost to Chelsea last year in R16. They finished 3rd in the group stage the year prior and lost to Stevie G's Rangers in the Europa League. That's very poor. They are the level of Sevilla, Leipzig, Benfica, AC Milan. Good proper CL side who should aim to make it out of the group and, with a bit of luck of the draw, make it to the QFs at best. We were done by a slick European outfit, no doubt. But on our best day, we beat them. We weren't at our best, and they were close to theirs.

Aye love him as a player. But he’s barely able to put together a dozen games. And that’s with reduced minutes in them and rotation with Wilson.

No they’re not. Group stage exit last season. R16, QF, R16 before that. A good team but not troubled the elite in years

Aye I thought he might start. And in hindsight he should’ve. We needed someone from the off with that bit of urgency, fitness and composure.

When he’s not at it he’s a passenger.

Some lovely first touches today.

Would’ve liked to have seen Livra on and doing something different with Trips. But Targett was good.

I’m basing it on the actual first half not what could’ve happened with a different ref. They created more chances and good chances at that. Never a penalty for me.

Seems a bit fragile this lad. I hope the injury is nothing too serious. We missed him majorly. We were landing punches with him on the pitch. When he went off we stopped playing in the first half.

When did Dortmund beat Milan?

Dortmund deserved to go in at half time in the lead. No dout.

Unlikely to go through with 7 points. Normally need 10. 9 if you’re lucky.

Proper champions league away performance that from Dortmund. Rode their luck abit with the 2 off the bar. Hope the injuries aren’t too serious.

Bar again.

Aye. Now we need to win in Dortmund or Paris. Or atleast draw in both. Plus beat Milan at home.

Ref is having a mare.

Surely Almiron at 10.

Has too.

We lose some without Botman. Think we’ve missed something with Tonali and Willocks composure on the ball. And we’ve missed ISAK’s ability to link up.

Dortmund up. Deserved.

Bruno has been invisible. We’ve lost something with Isak off.

According to @Stifler it was the club aka Ashley, that pushed the sale through with legal action against the PL. So, I am not sure why Ashley would give Staveley a loan? But obviously, Staveley would've been very close to it. TBH - I don't know. I didn't pay much attention to the sale after it was initially rebuffed. Kudos to everyone who followed it closely. I had given up.

I agree. All of those players have benefitted from having the shirt and an opportunity to play extensively. I think he's gained a good level of trust from Howe but there's still a relatively big gap between those three and him, and it will reflect in minutes on the pitch. I think Anderson is a good player at CM. But a step below those other 3.

Agreed. As good as he's been. It's a level below Willock, Joelinton, Longstaff imo. He's fully trusted to fill in now. But he's got a long way to catch the others.

No it's not. Anderson is not a PL LW at the moment. I'd have Neves or Phillips on loan no bother. Edit: Forgot Barnes existed tbh.