The College Dropout

Agreed. We don't even have the technical ability of a Brighton. We play with runners in midfield not ball players (sans Bruno). The rumours around McTominay and the signing of Gordon makes me think we want to stick with this style.

He's not getting injured because he's not playing football.

Think this is a copout in the modern game. Managers like Pardew would trot this out but lots of managers have proved you can play as you do against top sides or similar. We are a "lateral" side and don't mind playing it long. That's our style by design.

A lot of Europa League games too.

Massively. Fulham's academy is impressive too. Hopefully we'll start using a network to get lads in from across the country.

If we have a slicker passing style, he would brilliant up top by himself. Dropping in deep to provide overloads in central areas.

Still think he is missed in the squad. Not a long-term player for us but could've helped keep our momentum up.

I’m so jealous of Arsenal man. If they win the league, they’ll have to thank the academy. Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli, Nelson and ESR have already played massive roles or you expect them to play a big role. Chelsea have a factory of talent. City have a factory of talent. We need to prioritise developing technically superior attacking players. Those teams have £200m talent worth of home grown players. Man U might have that as well.

Nah. We were lucky to get a point. Fulham got a smash and grab. Mitoma is the tricky winger type like Zaha. He's the type of player to win fouls in the box.

Don't like this rumour. He's so injury prone.

Mitoma looks the real deal. He's overachieving his expected goal involvement but he looks a genuine class player the way Miggy has never to me

Brighton are a bit soft bellied imo. The type of team to get less points than they deserve. We are a bit opposite. As long as we keep clean sheets. We’ll draw games we might otherwise lose.

Isak didn't play as a wide forward btw. He played in a 2. So if we want to ease him in, we should play him in a 2. He's better starting centrally and drifting wide to find space. Not starting wide. Playing him as a left winegr is like playing Henry as a left winger at Juve. Doesn't get the best out of him. Get him alongside Wilson with license to roam. Link up with Gordon and ASM when he wants. Swap them around. I don't expect Howe to start like that though.

He's got such a lovely turn/swivel on him.

That's a bad cross lol

This not true.

Agree with Froggy. mostly. A good few of the team gave up the chase which is the worst. But they are looking leggy.

I don't think we'll have spent £40m on a backup winger.

McTominay hides from the ball. He doesn't take responsibility. Conservative with his passing and not progressive at all. He's got some size and athleticism but doesn't use it well. He's not a good player. He'll not look out of place in a PL relegation battle or in the Championship. His career arc will be similar to Cleverley.

A lot of last season's sucess was down to that feel good factor and momentum imo. That's gone now. And we have about the 8-9 best squad in the league in terms of talent. 2 of the squads better than ours are out of it in West Ham & Chelsea so 7th / 8th is about par.

In reply to the post above. If we don't win, the narrative will be that the team is in freefall and in crisis. 1 win in 9. The media haven't really latched on to the bad form and for good reason. Win this - the narrative is "perhaps distratced by the final and some difficult fixtures but they are back on track". BUt don't win and there's a story about a crisis brewing.

We’re not finishing above Man Utd. We should change title to top 7. Would take 7th. Top 4 makes this conversation more tough.

Anything but a Win and we are a team in crisis.

Would like for us to be. bruno longstaff Gordon Isak ASM Wilson

Bournemouth we were lucky to get a point.