Cronky

It's not clear to me where you stand on that issue, but Eddie's ability to improve players through coaching is being underestimated here. At the time of their signing, Bruno had only 3 caps - he now has 32. Joelinton, Gordon, Livramento and Hall had none. We bought Isak at the time when his career had taken a dip, and Trippier is nearing the end of his career. Tonali and Barnes are the only major signings that haven't kicked on as yet.

Yeah, in practice if you sit still, you slide backwards. One significant addition to the squad, either at CB or RW, could have made a big difference. It's not just a matter of that individual's quality. A big signing can energise a squad and give everyone at the club a lift. It's not clear why that didn't happen, but the changes behind the scenes with Staveley and Mitchell probably didn't help. On top of that, we're a bit light at CB due to injuries. Overall, I think finishing 4th gave many supporters the impression that our squad is better than it really is. Nothing that's happened this season has deflected me from the opinion that Eddie is an exceptional manager who is doing very well with the players at his disposal.

It's difficult to see a clear road-map out of this for Pep. Attempting to fill the gap left by Rodri in January will be very difficult, and smacks of panic. They are more vulnerable to counter-attacks than they were before, but switching to a less aggressive game is a tough call to make. It feels like a very public vote of no confidence. His players are used to dominating the opposition, and there were signs yesterday that many of them were struggling to cope with being second best. On top of that, and despite the extension to his contract, Pep seems to be in the final phase of his time at City. It may not be the glorious last lap that he would have hoped for. If they get hammered on the FFP / PSR front, the dent to his morale could be huge.

As was pointed out by Neville, City usually have a fearsome high press that kicks in the second they lose the ball, and it becomes difficult for the opposition to get out of their own half. City don't have the midfield to do that effectively at the moment, and Spurs were good enough to take advantage. But the game hinged on the first goal, which came from Spurs' first touch of the ball in the City penalty area. City could easily have been ahead, in which case it's probably a different game. But i was struck by City's loss of composure when they fell behind. They seemed to rush things. Walker was moaning all the time, Haaland looked like he'd rather be somewhere else, and they were putting in some dodgy tackles. Anyway, a good watch. I'm ABC - anyone but City.

Kolo Muani sounds like the ideal signing to me. Covers two positions, and particularly the right wing, where we need strengthening. He's definitely a significant upgrade on what we have. Eddie doesn't like loan signings, unless there's an option to buy. Whether the player would go for that, of course, is another issue.

Thank you.

I'm most intrigued - who or what is Dobby and what is the connection with Steve Parish. Anyone?

I feel optimistic about a top four place. The last three games haven't been dazzling, but the players have shown a certain faith in one another and the system that they've been asked to play which augurs well. I get the sense that we can now pick up points from anywhere.

Another google that I wish I hadn't bothered with.

All schadenfreude I know, but I did enjoy watching MOTD, and the pre-produced introduction to our game, with all these Forest fans and pundits hailing the return of the glory days. In reality, I think they were one of the weaker sides we've faced. Their only goal came from a badly defended set-piece, and their main threat seemed to come from fast breaks. Credit as always to Eddie, who had them well sussed-out, and Bruno, who dominated the midfield.

I would like to officially change my opinion of this player. Defensively I had thought he was a weak link and that he wasn't strong enough under physical pressure. Maybe there's been a change in his fitness level, but either way, I take it all back.

I really wanted us to win that. I was so fed up of the media suddenly deciding how marvelous Forest and Wood were, just on the back of their league position. The commentators seemed to have bought into that, because they failed to acknowledge our domination of the game. Great performance from Hall. He really looks the part now.

We don't deserve to be behind. We just need that bit of luck in the penalty area because we're creating some good situations.

Eddie Howe was MOTM for me. Tactically he had it spot on, and we smothered their attacking play very smell. I can't believe it when some supporters and pundits talk about needing another manager to take us to the next level. Utter bollocks. Our man is second to none. Great to see Lewis Hall playing with such confidence, but Bruno stood out as well. We take good performances almost for granted with him, but he barely put a foot wrong all game.

I do worry whether Tino is actually going backwards at the moment. Hall seems to have responded well to the coaching he's received, but I don't see the same development in Tino.

This does feel a bit like a flavour of the month signing. The Premiership is full of excellent managers that he'll be competing against. I doubt whether that's the case with the Portuguese league. We'll see.

Well obviously I don't know for sure, but one of the hazards of a 2-0 lead is that the team in the lead can relax a bit and surrender the initiative. If the opposition then score, it's game on, they get fired up and the team in the lead suddenly faces pressure and the need to raise their game again. It felt like one of those games, that's all.

We looked the more likely winners from the start - perhaps we wanted it more. If Chelsea had scored in the second half, they'd have probably got more, so it was never entirely comfortable. But a good effort by the lads.

I had to turn the sound off after 20 minutes. He and his colleague just didn't stop talking - often about other games - literally. Just tell us who's got the ball and shut up. We can do the rest ourselves.

That's what I thought. He's well-built for a 17 year old.

I'm a bit surprised. Tuchel has a bit of a reputation for falling out with people and this is a job that needs someone with a bit of tact. He has to work closely with the club managers and he has only a limited amount of time to establish trust with the players. That incident where he shook hands with Conte after a game and then wouldn't let go is fresh in my mind.

After his first two games, I'd have been quite happy for Carsley to get the job. However, he seems to have lost a bit of confidence. This is a high-pressure job and if he lets it get to him, then he should be ruled out. If he doesn't believe in himself, no-one else will. Our best football came when he was using Grealish in a free role, but he seems to have abandoned that idea. He did better than the other candidates - Foden, Bellingham and Palmer. Bellingham tends to show off. I would use him in a simpler, box-to-box role rather than further forward.

I think this time Carsley was just a bit too bold. The team looked defensively flimsy on paper, and so it proved. It was also asking a lot to try an unusual, striker-less formation with so little time available to coach it properly. And I know I'm a broken record (or vinyl as they say now), but Rice doesn't offer us enough at international level.

Bellingham is such a good all-round talent, but I can't help thinking that we play better as a team without him.

People are talking as though the Premier League is a dodgy employer of the clubs. The Premier League is actually a collective, and the clubs agree by a certain majority to institute rules and make any changes. Of course each club will have its own interests and they won't all be compatible. There needs to be compromise and some sort of spirit of co-operation, however difficult that might be. What you can't have is one club ignoring the rules that have been mutually agreed and set, and then jamming things up in the legal system in a threatening manner to get their own way. The Premier League are right in that the legality of the basic functions of the APT have been upheld. All but one of the criticisms have been procedural. The issue of interest free loans is the only item of significance, and I don't recall a big fuss being made about that issue before. The word 'unlawful' is floating around, but this is a grey area of law, subject to interpretation and opinion. The idea that this is all rank incompetence on the part of the Premier League is nonsense. Come on guys, the only reason there is so much celebration is a lot of us think we will now be able to act like City in the earlier days - an owner of huge wealth being able to outbid all rivals. Firstly, I don't think the Saudis came in with the intention of splashing the cash just for dreams of glory. Staveley sold it to them as a business proposition. I don't think they will want a free-for-all. Secondly, and personally, I think it is right that there are rules to ensure fair competition throughout the pyramid, and to protect clubs from irresponsible owners. Yes, I think the rules should be adjusted, but anarchy - and this is where I'm worried that we're heading - will do nobody any good.