HawK

I don't think we could say we didn't see it coming if it did tbf. That said, I'd still want to roll the dice, I'd be hopeful it'd be more positive than not. But I'm a hopeless romantic

This has got to be the Bunce effect, we're not bringing players back 'early' any more. I want our players fighting fit when they come back, not ready to relapse at any sign of a slight overextension or knock. Short term pain for long term gain imo.

I know I'm not going to get many friends saying this, but I wouldn't mind Mourinho at all for a couple of seasons, just so he can fulfill his Mr Robson arc. I'd like to think he'd be a bit more invested here than another random club.

Still yep. Well done to the lad, deserves it.

Agreed - I wasn't saying your points didn't have merit, I was just commenting on the overall sentiment of inviting pressure onto the backline.

I think this is very intentional. We don't have the players to play through the lines and play around a press in the middle of the park, Bruno aside. Allowing teams to come on to our back line actually plays into our hands, as it brings the opponent's defence line further up the pitch, and gives our pacier players more room to run into and behind for the longer ball. I believe the ideal scenario for us to start attack whilst in posession is with the opponents team well inside our half, other than quick turnovers in the opponent's penalty area. But the problem is when opponents don't close us down and sit back, we move up the pitch and we camp in their half and we just don't have the tactics or the players to break down a low block. We'd be better in transition playing much more direct football with a very low defensive line, forcing teams onto us and making space.

I am a very old HawK now

I must have misinterpreted my vision, saw 2-0 and made an assumption... happy to be wrong !

FWIW I think Howe needs this, sustained results will hopefully get him to change his approach.

Welp, predicted the last 2 losses if not exact scores. Sorry lads we're losing again today, 0-2

5 - 1 Palmer (3) Jackson (1) Adarabioyo (1) Joelinton (1)

The team is underperforming and the buck stops with the man in charge. I hope he turns it around quickly because he's been one of our best ever managers.

Kind of saw this coming but we played better than I thought we would, I called it 1-3 in the pregame thread. It's the same old issues - we're a counter attacking team built with pace with no guile in the final third. Unfortunately it's been a problem for over a season now, teams know they can just low block us and counter back.

You're welcome

Starts vs Chelsea, comes off at 20:28 which is an injury just before half time as he over exerts himself coming back from injury, seems legit tbh.

Is it ? I thought he played centrally for Dortmund, haven't really followed him at Real.

Never agreed with shoehorning in your supposed best players into a starting lineup and playing them out of position. Have the balls to prefer one over another. Our starting left back for England should be the best starting English left back, not someone from right back or another position just because they're 'better'. If that ends up being some bloke from the Championship, so be it. Would it have been so hard to start with these - -------- Watkins -------- Gordon - Foden - Palmer --- Bellingham - Rice ---

1-3 Barnes

That shot of Mbappe at the end after the final whistle walking off the pitch is probably going to stick with me for the rest of my life, the physical embodiment of thinking 'woah'. Edit: Found it (timestamped)

Vlach looking good with the ball at his feet, incisive, quick passes

You want him fresh for the next match instead ?

Good to see Sven Botman getting some minutes on the grass running the line today

Lol there he goes again

CALLUM WILSON ! - somebody's son somewhere

I generally think teams in the same town have less of a vitriolic rivalry than teams from different towns that are close to each other. Everton/Liverpool, Rangers/Celtic etc., they're all going to school with fans of the other team, going to work with them etc. so they develop a tolerance/understanding. Fans from clubs of neighboring towns it becomes tribal very quickly, e.g. NUFC vs Sunderland, Leeds vs Bradford. At least that's my take.