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Right. But it seems a pity that Hall doesn't seem to have forced his way into more serious contention yet. All the usual "he's still young" caveats apply, but I'd have thought 20 minutes in a zero risk scenario like this would be ideal.

A little disappointed Howe didn't see fit to make Hall one of today's 5 substitutions while 4-0 up today. You'd have hoped the risk-reward ratio would favour giving Burn a 20 minute break. I'm sure he's right, but I'd like to know why he's right.

If those closer than me to the situation have confidence in him, it makes it easier for me to respond in kind, certainly.

Would've finished Liverpool off with him in the team.

Turns out he was holding us back

Deserves a ton of respect. Happy to keep him on if he's happy to keep on, which it looks like he is. As we've surely learned with the Tonali situation, you can't take dependability for granted.

Not that I agree with everything he's said, but that's the most sensible I've ever heard him sound.

Wahey marvelous... Although yes, I'm not going to hold that against him if he was 11. Honestly thought it was a typo when you first said 2011.

?

All the more reason not to let it descend into an internationally broadcast clown show, right?

But they're not banning him for immorality, they're banning him opening the door to massive corruption that could destroy the sport. Insider trading isn't banned because helping friends is immoral, it's because it distorts the market and fucks everyone else who isn't a friend. Judging by the snippets we're hearing, how long would it have been before this Fagioli kid started throwing matches to cover his debts, taking Italian football down the toilet? That's why gambling on your own sport is banned. If this was just about blackjack, I'd be fully behind Tonali.

I'm not one for overreacting but there's no way he couldn't be a contender for worst ever signing as it stands. I think others still hold the title as it stands but I'm amazed at how relaxed people are about being potentially massively swindled here.

Not impressed and not inclined to be sympathetic. Remind me why I'm supposed to like him?

Thinking about it, it might be worth having some kind of amnesty for players who haven't yet been caught but, say, have done it when younger and since stopped, if they come forward and admit it. Just to clear the decks going forwards and stop the past hanging over people. Plausibly, blackmail could be used as leverage to corrupt players as things stand. It's an improvement, I back it.

Not really, it was always about having a young kid with big future potential. That said, it's true it doesn't seem like he's had a rip-roaring start to his time here. Can't argue with this extension, Burn seems to only be getting better with age. He's got his limitations but taking the whole package into account he's not that easy to replace.

On the subject of Ashworth, IF this goes as we fear, hopefully he's done some magical deal-structuring with any financial liabilities stemming from conduct prior to the transfer falling on Milan... Hopefully the boy hasn't been doing favours for his dad's friends on the curva...

Definitely. Applies to a few of our other players as well, like Joelinton and Burn. They, or someone, must be doing something right as it can't just be luck at this stage. It's weird actually, I don't remember ever having this experience of our players having a protective halo around them like Liverpool and Man United traditionally have.

He'd probably benefit from tackle-style roars when he makes interventions like punches.

Absolute magic.

This comment isn't ageing very well. As someone who was supportive of Gordon in the early days though, it's fair to say Tonali hasn't had an auspicious start with us. He almost looks like he's playing for a different team a lot of the time. It means there's a lot of room for improvement as and when he fully adapts, though. The club's track record with signings is so good over the past two years that I think it would be foolish to sour on this one any sooner than next season. But there are definitely questions to answer.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/08/protest-and-resist-fans-in-scandinavia-lead-backlash-against-var Could've sworn I'd been told Norway was great at VAR and the fans appreciated it.

I agree with pretty much all that. It's just that the non-Longstaff combo consistently looks unassured without him. He seems to force multiply all the players around him meaning Bruno is less Brunoey when he's not around. That's why - potentially, and with more training time for Tonali - I could see Tonali-Joelinton-Longstaff overcoming Tonali-Joelinton-Bruno. That's intended as a criticism of Tonali and Joelinton rather than Bruno, to be clear!

Nah. He won't be more than a stand in for a stand in on that side of things, he hasn't really got the character for it. But that's alright, it's not everyone's calling. Overall you're probably right but I'm hoping that's not so true now and that Tonali can play the role. I can see Tonali, Longstaff and Joelinton being more effective than Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton. Longstaff really does seem to be the straw that stirs the drink. Agreed. I'd worry about him playing for England, I could see the experience draining his confidence. I don't think he'd be used right and he'd be wrongly blamed for it. After all, some of our fans are only just 'starting to warm up on him' after two full seasons!

He seems to be very likeable. As a Tottenham manager, this makes me extremely uncomfortable.