HawK

Aye I think I'm in the minority here too but I'm a bit of a weirdo because I'm also one of the ones that doesn't like McCoist

Good teams that press us - these lot have half their squad out as your say. Without that quality you have to sit back, surely?

You do have to wonder what the tactical approach was from Valverde here. Try to out-run or out-energy us rather than sit in a low block and counter. An ounce of scouting against us it should have been evident what our kryptonite is.

More great play through the middle, Howe's had a word

Glimmer of a 4-4-2 approach there, wing play with crosses into the box for the two lads up top

Haha get in Joe, that's what you're there for lad

Really ? I can count on one hand how many times I can remember that he's been dispossessed in possession, and it wasn't through lack of physical strength

Would prefer it to be Bruno and Tonali making those runs with Miley holding the fort

Would love to agree, but if you had to put money behind Burn scoring that header again at the weekend or we bring out the same performance again I'd know where I'd put my money

Miley is our Carrick, mark my words. The calming influence he'd bring to possession in the middle as a single pivot would be transformative instead of Joelinton bungling around all 'owa the shop

HT 1-0 The best header I've ever seen to balance out some of the worst football I've ever seen

I should revise my estimate down to 0 of 4 of the front line able to trap a ball in light of this

Gordon off can only be a massive plus to this team tonight

4-2-4 in possession with only 1 of the front 4 able to trap a football, we'd be better off with more players who can receive and make a pass if we want any kind of buildup.

Joelinton pushing up alongside Nick in possession, looks like a 4-2-4

It's never good, been like this for seasons now. If any of the three look up for a pass there's no easy options because they are all rigidly in a 3 across the middle. Anyone ahead of them is marked. Add in the opposition press in the middle it's no wonder we've got the best midfielders of Brazil and Italy looking hopeless.

If this was the plan against a high pressing team like Bilbao it makes not starting Ramsdale even stranger

GORDON JUST FUCK OFF

Gordon's ability going down about as rapidly as a wish from the Wishmaster

Sub him off now to send a message, we'd have been better with 10 and not passing to him at all

Not all of our team by any stretch

Dan Burn better on the ball than Gordon on current form, crazy.

That might just be the best header I've ever seen

Couldn't rotate last time were were in the CL because of injuries Can't rotate this time in CL because of ..

Sunderland fan in Newcastle this evening :