The College Dropout

I could agree to say it’s fundamentally Botmans fault. He needs to control the situation. But from where the pass is played to where to the shot is taken it’s criminal that the goalie doesn’t come to collect it. Absolutely glued to his line until the last - doesn’t read the situation at all, he’s far too deep from the start. It’s just totally the wrong attitude. Pope will have moments like Auba where he comes out and totally misjudges. But he’s always looking to relieve pressure from his defenders by sweeping up. It also requires a different level of mental awareness. any ball played in behind or in the air - Pope is anticipating and making a decision whether to come out or not. He’s ready to come out. When you play like that you’re always switched on because you’re always making decisions. But Ramsdale will have a lot more moments like today. Absolutely not engaging with the threat and the game until it’s too late. Everyone has to defend more. Being comfortable with the ball doesn’t change that. If Howe had Pope instead of Ramsdale Bournemouth would never have been relegated. I think he’s learnt a lesson there.

That’s how you mitigate slow defenders though. That’s how we finished 4th and 5th playing a high aggressive line with Schar & Burn/Botman. If you knock it in behind the pass needed to be perfect otherwise Pope would jank it into the stands 99 times out of 100.

Just shy of a perfect pen is a bad pen that misses the target

The goal is 50:50 between them both. Botman should never give Tavernier an opportunity to shoot. He should command the entire sequence and clear it at the worst. Ramsdale should be sweeping that up easy. It’s typical of how hesitant he is off his line. The goal is scored near the 6 yard box ffs. He won’t even domnate that area even if he got there at the last it’s a sign of the lack of command he has in general. Pope looks to get that ball as soon as the pass is made. Biggest factor is 2 players not used to playing with each other

Don’t think he’s been good all season. But he needs minutes to get sharp.

Are we winning?

My stream is awful. Giving up. Bruno just missed.

The goal. A big thing is a lack of understanding between players that haven’t played much together. Botman should sort it. Ramsdale should be proactive so we have the ball and it’s not a corner. It’s shit from the both of them.

Yeh that’s the difference between Gordon and Barnes. Both can deliver a good cross. Only one of them can finish consistently.

Oh Ramsdale

Great cross and header.

Big save Ramsdale

I didn’t watch this game because I was hoping Howe would play boys and we would probably lose.

Aye let him get his fitness man. It will take time.

Ffs.

What happened to Tino?

Hall is the better baller by far. But for our team Tino is more crucial. We don’t play through Hall the way we played through Trippier

Think Tino x Barnes is our best left hand partnership. See League Cup winner of nice play between them

Very few youngsters are ‘natural fullbacks’. It’s still a position of players who were wingers, CMs or CBs in yesteryear

So is Hall

Anything less than a world record fee for a fullback we’ve done poorly?

With a bit of luck Ole could've won a title in a season like this or last

I wasn't thinking of "pass to Ramsey" tbh. There's no hindsight

Great article in the athletic on Semenyo. His rise through the pyramid, his attitude and physicality is extremely Howe-coded. Surprised we weren’t after him earlier.

Like Ramsey can't do it. I don't see how Tonali - Bruno - Ramsey works in enough games. Ramsey isn't impactful enough on the ball nor physical enough. I guess Ramsey is the Willock replacement.