HawK

Yep, they are part of the true big 3 in La Liga. Never been relegated, always top flight, and some true success in their past. The fact they're still competitive with their selection policy in today's economic football landscape is incredible. And even more so when you consider that the best Basque players often don't play for them, Azpilicueta, Arrizabalaga, (Chelsea love a Basque eh?), Laporte, Monreal and further back Xabi Alonso, Fernando Llorente etc.

Also, we have a first team that well and truly knows that Howe is not afraid of bringing in a squad player to do a job, no-one's spot on the team is guaranteed. This is great and something we've not had for a long time.

According to my Basque-speaking, Athletic-supporting wife sat next to me in the East Stand, 'Welcome Lions'. Athletic's nickname is Los Leones, or The Lions in Spanish. Edit - Basque language doesn't have 'the', which is odd as VSauce says it's the most commonly used word in English

Hoped to spark some interest in my two. Flag waving aside, didn't really work. Won't go again with them unless they ask.

It looked like the stewards just didn't have the balls to stop him

Just got back. The subs made all the difference for Athletic, as we began to tire they kept throwing fresh legs on. Raul Garcia on for Niko Williams was the key change though, with Inaki moving to his natural right wing position. Bruno was amazing first half, disappeared the second. Willock seemed to overrun the ball several times in the first half, but was trying to put himself about. Went missing 2nd half. Joelinton with another solid performance, without him we're such a soft side. He led the team around the pitch at the end to applaud the fans. Lascelles... man, he's the second coming of Titus Bramble. Moments of defensive class, then moments of absolute madness. Appreciate he's put the work in on the ball, but he's just limited. Dummet once got in the box with the ball and I think he had an existential crisis mid-stride, pretty much the same time I was thinking 'Wtf?' Inaki Williams did much better than his brother and destroyed him though. Ritchie was a grade below what's required, thanks for your efforts lad but we need better. Wilson clinical, I'll need to watch the goal back but looked like we just cut through them. Maxi was great, goal well deserved. So direct and he didn't go down under pressure, pleased for him. That celebration man, he musta seen Lomana's goals :-) Botman an absolute rock, what a player. Dubs was good when called upon, but decided to try and be a right sided full back at one point and nearly got done. Krafth solid, can't remember too much of what he contributed. Brought my 2 bairns and the missus, we sat near the half way line high up in the East Stand, atmosphere was dead around us. All the noise came from the Gallowgate but its to be expected with so many young children and families there today. Random highlight moments : 1. The mad lad in the electric wheelchair running a flag up and down the pitchside in the first half 2. The random green smoke and the smell of acrid, burning plastic from the Gallowgate/East Stand roof in the second half. 3. My seven yr old girl's first match and she got to wave a flag, happy kid.

So muggy pitchside, needs some rain! Loads of families and bairns in, to be expected.

I think he needs to keep dropping deep more often like he did a bit today to collect and lay it off. With a 3-man midfield, the most attacking one can then run beyond for flick-ons etc. In the PL he just sort of stood next to the opposition defenders all game when we had the ball. Hoping Howe is going to work on continuing to get him to come deep and get involved, if only to pull defenders out of position and make holes.

I disagreed that based on those 10 minutes and said I thought he was the best player on the pitch. What case have you made exactly, other than to say 'running around and getting out of position', which he didn't do at all in those 10 minutes? Just had to check your join date because the level of your patter is up there with some of the worst post-takeover newcomers.

Won't miss tomorrow's first half mind, will be sat there with my 2 bairns and the missus

All I said was I'd been watching for 10 minutes and he was best player on the pitch, and you quoted me and called me out and disagreed. Feel free to express your opinion, just don't be shocked when people reply and disagree. Haven't seen any of the first half or the start of the second and didn't disagree with your assessment for that as I haven't seen it.

Careful now, he ran all over the place to get there.

Hmm, would have liked Targett to have gone down to give Wood a chance to stick one away.

No, just the tackling, passing, positioning, and communication

Put it this way, I don't think Wood would have broke his duck this summer at the women's Euros

I tuned in 10 minutes ago and he's been the best player on the pitch

I kid you not that I reckon half the lasses at the Euros would do a better job that Wood. That German striker Pop looks the business.

Think him and Burn went to the same school for heading

Gotta be a flag in there somewhere

Would it be too much reading into it to think there's some kind of ancient politcal beef between Benfica and Brazil in footballing terms or otherwise? It seems to be more than just something to do with language.

I don't think we're getting invited back for this Eusebio trophy again, are we lads

2nd yellow more than deserved to be fair

That was class from Schar