Ikon

Yeah probably, when considering how good Brighton can be. My thinking is because of Chelsea being an away game and how slow and off the pace we have started most games away recently.

I think it’s winnable. I just don’t think it’s gonna be as easy as some make it sound on here. Hopefully done before the last game.

People thinking Chelsea will be beat easily. Naive.

I know that they might want us to press but at the same time I don’t want to invite pressure from them and having Mitoma amongst others getting chance after chance to go 1v1. Difficult balance this to get the tactics right.

If Maddison is likely to come here then I hope he scores a hattrick tomorrow if he wants CL.

I’m not too worried about Howe getting the tactics right. It’s just that some of our best players have looked quite off in the last couple of games. CM doesn’t look as well balanced either. Fingers crossed we can be at our best on Thursday.

Because all I’m saying is that they are very very good and only major piece missing for them this season is that top class CF. That I think they would have been much higher if they had one. My way of saying that I rate the Brighton players and them as a team but not their forward choices quite so much.

Out of form Bruno for us. Really need a fit Bruno at his best.

Us not winning against Leeds is annoying like. Disappointing. Hopefully we can beat Brighton but it won’t be easy. Never mind with Brighton able to play in a more relaxed way. Hope Leicester or Villa can help us.

That’s why I mentioned not counting Isak and Wilson @Smal

I think they are a better team than us overall if you don’t count Isak/Wilson.

Great ball once again in behind

Need to not give away possession too often. Could hurt us.

Brighton pretty good at finding space in behind. Not our strongest area if we play a high line.

Bernard down.

Right now I’m glad that Villa have Emery.

Leicester please win tomorrow and climb out of the bottom three. You have a chance.

Fair enough. I just think and am 100% certain that we should and will sign one. But also get the other important positions solved. It doesn’t mean that we won’t fix other weak positions too. Pretty sure Howe knows that Miggy and Murphy won’t be long term 1st team starters.

I know it can affect some players. However if this is the case with Gordon then I would have to question our judgement on character and failing to know about his mentality and the weakness he seem to have regarding this. Low on confidence I can accept in a signing, however the lack of effort I have seen in quite a few situations with him simply isn’t good enough. Some might try and brush it under the carpet but not me. If there is ONE thing he has to do then it’s giving his all in every situation and then there is at least a much better chance of things turning out for the better. I’m talking about “off the ball now”. On the ball confidence is a massive reason if you look quicker regarding everything, both decision wise and physically. If not confident you hesitate and do everything much slower. Off the ball, nah, shouldn’t look lazy.

We 100% definitely need a top class wide player. I see Almiron and Murphy as squad players at best. Despite their seasons. ASM isn’t reliable fitness wise. I would go for one transformational wide player and one youngster

Making the CL now already would make us much much more likely to challenge for top 4 next season again. It can’t be underestimated how massive the difference would be making it now. I’m still very very happy about the progress we’ve made in such short space of time. Never expected us to be in this position but when we are so close I’m blooody damn desperate for us to make it. It would turbo charge us when it comes to growing as a club in every way possible. I think some are expecting us to compete for top 4 next season easily even if we don’t make the CL now. Personally I don’t take anything for granted and I might even think it’s gonna be quite difficult next season to be as good and consistent as we have been this season. Even if we sign some quality additions. Especially with EL games added. There could very well be a bit of a hangover plus other teams in the league performing more at their “expected levels” again. Not making it now ‘could’ potentially set us back for years compared to the progress we could potentially have and make if we make the top 4 now. Of course anything can happen either way. And we will try and compete and have ambition no matter what. I don’t want to be greedy but I’m still desperate for us to make it now. The sniff of the CL has made me want it NOW. And dreaming of even greater things much sooner than expected. FFP and the CL would make it so much “easier”. Come on. Let’s do this!!

Keep him as we won’t get much for him anyway. Hopefully some sort of specialist can improve his fitness and at least make him a bit more reliable for next season. Sign one top class ready to go wide player along with a young diamond like Arda Guler and our options are looking pretty good out wide. Especially if Gordon can start showing next season that he’s worth anywhere near 45m.

Just an example but I don’t know if it would have been doable, but someone like Nico Williams could have been bought for the same money. More proven and two years younger with a higher ceiling potentially. Has already shown that he has end product too. He isn’t very strong defensively and perhaps a bit lazy at times. Work rate is easier to improve than real natural talent though. I’m sure there is a lot of other options from abroad for the money. PL experience is one thing too I know, but a bit blown out of proportions at times too.

Good points and I agree. Hopefully you are right. I just wanted us to go for someone that could actually be a safer bet for the money and help us this season already. Considering how weak we are out wide.

Confidence should not make you look lazy though as he has been in some moments. If anything he could at least give 110% and I have not seen that.