Cronky

It’s okay to defend Ten Haag - Man U is not an easy job - but the comparison with Eddie Howe is plain daft. Eddie inherited a far worse squad of players and Ten Haag has had much more financial backing.

I agree with you 100% about taking the risk of trying to stay in the CL. It nearly came off - Schar wasn't a million miles away from scoring - and the Europa League is a different animal altogether. Basically, the best teams aren't in it. It would be great to attract the very best players, but we're not in a position to do that yet. FFP imposes restrictions, and we can't compete with the 'big six' when it comes to wages and transfer fees. It looks like we've tried (eg Maddison, Barella). We have to rely on Eddie's ability to get that extra 10% from every individual, at least for the time being. Thinking about it, there's a particular thrill about seeing players like Murphy and Burn performing at the highest level. And finally, great though Sir Bob was, Eddie's achievement is the greater, for me. I don't think I've ever seen a manager transform a team as dramatically and quickly as Eddie has done.

I appreciate that, but given what Eddie has achieved over the last 2 years, from such a desperate starting point, the idea that anyone else could have done better is unthinkable to me. Emery has proved himself to be a fine manager, but Eddie has overachieved in a way that I had thought impossible. At the time when he took over, anyone who had said that 18 months later we'd be in the Champions League would have been visited by the men in white coats.

Surely you jest, sir.

The quote from Eddie is interesting, because it's quite rare for him to single out a particular mistake as being crucial. Normally, he will generalise along the lines of 'we were not at our best'. The goal was a crucial turning point, because we had looked well on the way up until then. Lascelles got caught in two minds. The main thing that has prevented him from being a top-class defender has been indecision.

If Schar had managed to get hold of that ball into the box (and he wasn't far off), then most likely we'd have gone ahead rather than Milan, and then gone through instead of PSG. Fine margins. It would have been a great thrill to have reached the next stage of the CL, but in reality our squad doesn't have the depth or overall quality to cope with such a heavy load of fixtures. The Europa League is a something of a best-of-the-rest competition and does make big demands on a club, so I'm not that sorry about missing out.

This is what I thought too. He looked decent on the left, and benefitted from only having to play the half-hour. Later on, it looked like from the TV like he was switched to the centre with Joelinton on the left, and became less involved as a result.

Disappointing, because I don't think AC Milan deserved it. They didn't improve much in the second half, but the equaliser changed it. We then ended up chasing it and it became a lottery. Lascelles always had a tendency to indecision, and getting caught in no-man's land. He's done well over the last few weeks, but he was at fault for that goal. I'm not too sorry about missing out on the Europa League. We can concentrate on the domestics.

Lascelles back to his old ways - getting caught in no-man's land.

The way he hit that pass first time for big Joe made all the difference. It gave him the time and space he needed.

In the firing line again My chief comparsions were with Longstaff and Anderson. I think they and Miley will end up competing for one place. Some rotation will take place, and I think one will eventually have to leave - probably Anderson. Difficult to tell the time scale. Miley has a naturally good touch on the ball which is superior to the other two. That I'm pretty convinced about. Without being blessed with searing pace, I think he's quicker too - particularly in relation to Anderson. I can't see much wrong with his temperament or confidence either. What he's lacking at the moment is his ability to impose himself on a game. Longy is definitely ahead of him there - possibly Anderson as well. I've noticed that Miley often makes good runs, but doesn't always get found by his team-mates. He's new to the first team squad, let alone the first team, so it's perhaps not surprising that he hasn't developed that kind of presence yet. But I think that'll come - it's just a question of how soon. I'm pretty sure that if Longstaff is fit, he'll start tonight. His experience will count.

I know what you mean, and it comes down to the meaning of particular words, but it's a little bit like that issue of whether Messi could be considered an all-time great until he'd won a World Cup, like Pele and Maradona. Another factor with Eddie is that he's performed a similar miracle at another club. It can't be a fluke. What astonished me with Eddie is how bad the team were at the time that he took over, and how quickly he turned things round. We went from Sheffield United to the Champions League in no time at all. The amount spent does not explain that.

Caveat emptor. I suspect it will be difficult to prove that a) Milan knew with certainty that there was a pending problem and b) that they were obliged to tell us.

In the short term, maybe, but I think Anderson is in a difficult position. Longy and (hopefully) Tonali are ahead of him at this time for the third midfield spot, and Miley looks better than all three in terms of all-round talent. It's just a question of time. I'd say he's our best young player since Gazza. There will come a time when Anderson will need to leave if he doesn't get enough games. He'll need to show that he's got something that the others lack.

Willock first - looks weak on the defensive side. Anderson second, and with regret. With the emergence of Miley, I don't think Anderson is going to get enough games. Good question though.

I agree with 99% of that but as far as I’m concerned, Eddie is already part of the elite. What he has done over the last two years is incredible.

Looking at Eddie's spells at Bournemouth and here, you really couldn't ask any more of him, in terms of what he's managed to get out of the players available to him. From that point of view, his record stands comparison with anyone's, at any time. On this debate, the last word has yet to be spoken.

Conventional wisdom is that you can't have two number 1's competing with one another. Otherwise whoever holds the shirt is going to be jittery that one mistake is going to cost them their place. Goalkeeper is the position where confidence is the most essential. Schmeichel was very clear about this at the start of the season re the Arsenal situation, and it looks like he was right.

I can't recall ever seeing Gillespie in action, but Karius would not be an upgrade. Sorry, but 'too hasty' is the trap I think you're falling into here.

Eddie would have wanted to rotate, but the bench that we've had for the previous 4 games didn't give him any options. That's quite a rarity in the Premiership, but that is what's happened. With Longy and Wilson returning that changed a bit, but they're back from injury and starting them would have carried risk. Let's not forget as well - Spurs are a very good side.

Spurs are much better than us in working the ball through to dangerous areas, and look very strong in winning the 50-50 balls. I'm just hoping it doesn't become a hammering. The minute Son had Trippier on a 1 v 1, I knew he'd get past. They've got some good players.

Joey is trying to ride two horses at once - the fierce rebel and the mainstream career media personality. It won't work. He'll end up confusing himself as much as everyone else.

He'll be disappointed that he's not been given the nod with Burn being out, and the right-footed Livramento being given the nod. Both are young and inexperienced and can be caught slightly out of position. That's all it takes at this level, but Tino has the athleticism and quick feet to recover, I think. Trippier is too important to the side as a whole, so we're not going to see Tino and Hall together. Eddie does take his time to bring new players in - even Bruno had to wait a few games, so that's another factor. Full back isn't the position where a manger is under most pressure to rotate and rest players. Eddie really needs strikers and midfield players to be available to ease the current situation. I've seen enough of Hall to believe in his talent, but perhaps his attacking ability will always be a bigger asset than his defending. It'll be easier to play someone like that when we have a better squad as a whole.

I'd say we have only one quality player, and Isak sometimes looks better as a withdrawn or wide forward.

Looks good on Youtube IMO. Might be a good upgrade on Miggy.