The College Dropout

This is why I love Carlo man. And Howe for similar reasons. Get the best out of your best players. Son wide like that? Nah man.

Mbeumo man. Need that second goal for FPL.

Royal has just scored but…. Kulu and Son with chalk on their boots being so wide. Royal and co. Around the box. Is that how Spurs really want to attack? I’ll be honest. I don’t get it. But I’m intrigued.

Aye. I don’t like how wide Som and Kulu are. I was going to say ‘allowing Royal to play more centrally has limited upside’ and he’s gone and slapped it in from 20 yards. 2-2.

I like the front 4 a lot. But that back 4? Bissouma and Skipp in front? Bad bad bad.

When did he have his baby?

These spurs fullbacks are wing backs. Don’t believe in either CB.

Ok if you say. I’m not a ref. As a football fan I thought it was soft.

Thought it was soft. If that ref gave it fine. But not through VAR.

Random but I’m convinced he’s the best 6.5m FPL midfielder. Only reason I didn’t pick him was I thought he would only get 20 minutes which he did. Even then I still fancied him for a goal. So for him to haul kinda hurt. He can get 20 in our setup. Spot at the euros up for grabs too. Glad Mbeumo scored too. Chose him because of Penalties and minutes.

I thought he gave it away too often. Nabbed on the ball. A bit slow getting around. He was 2-3 levels off his best and the worst player on our team imo. Stupid yellow too. He’s Bruno G. He can play miles better. He’s meant to be our best passer and he was the worst passer yesterday. Hopefully is just a lack of sharpness. He was off the pace.

Aye. Hopefully it’s a lack of match sharpness. He wasn’t himself out there. That one where Watkins nabbed the ball from him, at his best he anticipates the challenge and quickens up.

I think he’s the second best striker in the league now. Great box instincts for his 1st. That’s where I think he could perhaps improve and he did there. The 2nd is part of what separates him from others. Composure. Thinking one step ahead. Technique. He’s HIM.

Listen. I’m delighted. We ended up smashing them. Overall great performance. When we lose. I don’t think we are terrible and think everyone is shit. There’s usually positives to take. When we win. I don’t think we are the best team in the world and all our players are elite. There’s usually things that can be improved. Never too up. Never too down.

Skimmed this. Isn’t the tears mostly aimed at City? Liverpool (arguably) should have had 3-4 league titles during this golden era. But ABu Dhabi have cheated the rules and financially doped their way to success. No there’s dodgy goings on at Chelsea and Saudi own Newcastle. I would be upset too. Theyve had their turn. Don’t feel sorry for them.

There was weak spots to the performance imo. Bruno - was just bad. Miggy was average but worked hard. Midfield - need a little time to gel especially in transition. A few times we lost the ball and had nobody at DM and Villa were straight onto our back line. Over time I think that will improve. AT 3-1 we kept building with 3 at the back and Trippier super high. And a few times we were caught out a few times and could’ve conceded. Trippier is slow running back. It’s a calculated risk but one I felt was unnecessary. we look susceptible defensively in general. Granted Villa have real talent. The way we play, we are often defending with 3. Our back 3 is decent at slowing the opposition down for the others to get back. But none of the 3 are particularly good defending 1v1. That’s where we could do with an upgrade. I thought Cash had Burn on toast when he moved into midfield.

Re Emery: it was actually a close game. We looked susceptible at the back and Villa should have really have scored at least 2. After the Mings injury and the 4th they should’ve gone to a low block and taken the L. So Emery showed a lack of flexibility there. But on another day they could’ve got a draw.

Thought he looked excellent in parts. Loved his work rate off the ball. Had Cash on toast. Lovely left footed assist. Brill. A Menace. Played with lots of confidence. Chalk and cheese to the game at Villa Park where Young had him in his pocket. Aye the fitness waned. Still a long way to go but a good start for the lad.

Did everything well I hoped he would do. Terrific work rate on and off the ball. Good off of both feet. Had Cash on toast. Was a danger. Faded a bit but was good. Personally I think his long term future is at RW. Barnes is a bigger goal threat at LW and Miggys place is more there for the taking.

No I’ve never said instead. I would like both. They have different strengths and weaknesses.

I’ve always liked Barnes. I’ve said he could score 15-20 for us. He has bonafide strengths which he exploited today to my delight. He also has weaknesses and limitations which we’ll see at points too.

Barnes was excellent. Incisive in the box. I know he wanted to shoot for the second Wilson chance but he held back. Second time he did what he wanted to do - bury it.

Really delighted with him. Has a great engine. Strong and quick. Aggressive with actual tackling technique. Has touch. Composure. Can move with the ball. Moves off the ball. Passing is crisp. Looks complete.

Clinical. Incisive. Quick. Strong. Dream cameo.

Complete. More complete than anyone we have. Possible more complete than anyone I’ve seen from us.