The College Dropout

Pope's been excellent over the last week. Not a criticism of the guy - really love him. But when watching the NLD yesterday it was noticeable how much more comfortable the GKs were with their feet. Like both GKs arguably better than Lascelles on the ball. Spurs built-up with a back 3 consisting of the GK and 2 defenders. Bissouma would drop deep to create 4 proper ball players. It's just a level above in that build up phase of play. And it dawned on me that to really hit the top (not saying Spurs are at that level) we'll need better than Pope on the ball. Love Pope mind. Been a top player for us. But just had a thought into the future. I thought Pope might be with us to the top.

That's because they target him. Good managers have a Bruno G plan when they face us. They man-mark him. And deliberately target him for roughhousing and to knick it from him. No sensible manager would give him so much space to operate like they did yesterday. This is one of my frustrations with Eddie. Decent teams and managers have plans to stop Bruno G, which greatly mitigates his threat. Howe hasn't done much tactically to free him back up as far s I can tell. I can only think Heckingbottom thought to himself.. their at home.. we've lost 3 out of the last 4.. if they went at us they could beat us. But we're much better than them. And all the other teams had a plan to stop Bruno and all of our other strengths. They didn't let us do whatever we wanted. Paul.

The Spurs one was accidental but he made himself larger and essentially made a save - definite handball.

The same would be true if he goes five games and isn't playing well, isn't it? People will then say he's shit and awful. Judge him over a longer period of time. He'll have peaks and troughs and we'll understand his game much more. There's nothing wrong with giving him the credit he deserves, though. But he's still got a long way to go - but it looks like he will get there.

Honestly - it's more to do with the opposition than him. He's man-marked nearly every game and it limits his impact. SU let him do whatever he wanted. I think he's been good all season mind. Was good in Milan and against Brentford.

He's also the only real ball progressor through passing in our midfield and our threats up top aren't enough of a deterrent. You stop him, you stop us. You can't do that to Partey. Odegaard is one pass away.

I was never as big on Colo as many on here. But I do think he was a cuter passer of the ball. Schar is more ambitious on the ball, leading to Hollywood passes that lead to more goals and more passes astray. Schar is better overall, though. Colo got physically dominated so many times. Although the league was more physical in those days. Colo would be better suited to the division today. Schar wouldn't want to see a young Lukaku, Crouch & Defoe partnership, Yakubu and Anichebe partnership either but he would deal with it better.

If that's outside the box it's handball. If it's an opposition defender in the box.. it's probably not a penalty though. And if it was flagged, I don't think it would be reversed. Could go either way. I don't think 6 games are enough to say a player is performing at a high level regularly. Miggy did it for 12 games... and hasn't done it consistently since. FWIW I genuinely think he's developing and will keep it up. His goals and assists (I'm including the penalty) are coming from thinking sharply, aggression, his increasing physicality and being a threat off both feet. He has the technique to pull off that finish 5 times a season. His quick thinking will lead to many goals. He has a lot more ability than someone like Miggy.

"The best ability is availability"

Totally true. Been brilliant the last 3 games.

I agree with Lotus. He's had a brilliant start to the season. 5/6 games, 2 goals, 3 assists I think. That's excellent. But it is 6 games. He needs to keep it up over the course of a season. It's a bit early to think he's made it. IMO he still looks like a player developing and learning - he's not even touched anywhere near his ceiling. It's extremely promising and he's our main guy atm. Good to hear. You could tell before he was very raw and didn't really have his "moves". Now he's putting it together. That finish is a "move" and he's pulled it off already.

We've also never been this good in comparison to PL competition.

I’d be fuming if the first goal stood against us. That’s handball anywhere else on the pitch. He basically controls it with his hand. But according to the rules it’s fine. They can’t complain though. When you lose 8-0 at home you have no excuses. Weak set pieces to concede before they totally gave up.

He’s going to be very hard to replace.

It’s looking like it. But as soon as he’s played well, scoring and creating ive given him credit. I’ve no bias against the boy. I want him to do well. Same thing with Almiron or any other player I don’t rate as highly as many on here. I used to think Schar would struggle in a back 4. I was wrong. He’s brilliant. I’m happy that I was wrong. Because that was a commonly held view people don’t quote me after every good performance. I also said from the start Pope is a level above Dubs, many disagreed. It’s opinions until the lads prove what’s what on the pitch. I don’t hold it against anyone like some do with me. Someone @‘d me when Almiron scored in preseason. Imagine if I tagged them back every game he has 0 goals 0 assists - how pathetic.

1 half chance 1 goal against Brighton.

The last 40 minutes we had so much confidence and Sheff U were so unmotivated we could’ve scored more. But being 3 up at half time was mostly down to the SU disaster class. They came out and managed to play even worse in the second half. We were good. But SU put in a super stinker.

Thought Sky were overly kind to Heckingbottom. I remember how they would stick the boot into Rafa when we would lose 2-0 to a top team. Committed for 90 minutes. Heckingbottom led one of the most spineless performances ever I’ve ever seen.

Gordon goal is criminal from a Sheff U perspective. Almiron goal is worse.

Aye. I keep it about football. If my genuine thoughts on football offends you, there’s something wrong with you. I’ve not insulted anyone.

Tonali’s best route into the team is LCM while Joe is out.

They played against us like they’ve never seen us play. They were open from minute 1 which is why they created a couple of openings early. Manager said so in the post match.

Good post. MGW also had more experience of pro football. He’s had longer to put it all together. Gordon is putting it together now.

We’re actually proper good now init ? Sheff U are basically a Champo side with no confidence, trying to play open football against us. We shredded them like they deserved to be shredded. The manager setup against us like he was playing a L2 side. We are bad boys. Dont disrespect us.

Reminds me a bit of an old school Fergie winger. Physically he has the potential to be immense quick, good size , improving stamina. Mentally he’s often super sharp. Great work rate. Tenacious. Quick thinking. He strikes it well, both feet. He’s starting to put it together. Causing defenders real trouble off the dribble. He’ll have harder opposition but I liked his mentality today a lot. He really wanted his goal. And he fought for his assist. The way he thought and fought for the penalty last week with quick thinking. Hes the first attacking name on the sheet atm. Thought he was unlucky not to start.