TRon

I'm assuming we bought him knowing his first touch isn't the best, but maybe Howe just thinks his pace and directness will hurt teams anyway. Tbf, he doesn't usually faff about, he goes for the jugular, successfully or not. Although when the defenders drop off like they have last couple of games he's been surprisingly hesitant.

He was great on the ball but there was a few times they attacked the space behind him but weren't really good enough to punish us for it.

They should just do away with the rule, it's ignored anyway. We'll end up seeing someone pinned to the ground and choked out UFC style before the season's out.

Money, girls, cars....whatever it takes, chuck the lot at him.

It's games like this that a mean defence is the difference between winning and losing.

Don't think having Burn at LB helps mind, but you are right. Gordon started off like a house on fire then disappeared. Elanga could barely control the ball all afternoon.

I just wanted to draw a comparison to Isak's barren start to the season tbh.

Worth bearing in mind he's 24 so likely to get even better. Him and Botman look like a helluva a CB pairing at the moment.

It's looking like the Haaland of old. Almost like Isak's move to Liverpool has lit a fire under his arse.

Back to his imperious best today. Showed young Elliott who's still top dog around here.

Getting sick of it but I'm not expecting refs to actually enforce these rules unless it's Liverpool or Arsenal players getting fouled.

Would look cool as fuck with a Bruno Mars hat and a cigar in his mouth.

I thought it was going over for one gut wrenching second.

Ramsey's yer man.

Forest LB did the same as the USG one on Wednesday, just dropped off a few yards so Elanga couldn't skin him as easily, and then Elanga looked a bit confused what to do.

That's how I saw it. Not exactly flowing football but we battered them down in the end.

Best performance so far for me, really caused them some problems in the second half, and should probably have scored a couple before the pen. But nice to see him getting in there for the shots.

Joelinton wasn't great today like, but still not sure Elliott was any better.

Agree. But Howe wanted him regardless so you presume he's not obvlious to these weaknesses.

All about the points today, not exactly flowing football but we could have had 5 or 6 in the end. Great pen by Woltemade, he deserved a goal regardless, could have had a couple before then.

@Froggy will be laughing his tits off reading this.

Our full backs have really looked their age today unfortunately.

Mainly because Murphy's not playing.

The front three are not working again. Gordon has had some nice passages of play but not connected to Woltemade, and Elanga just not caused any problems at all given his pace. Woltemade is just playing the ball back into midfield. Joelinton has had the best chances, but feeble efforts.

It's wrecking the flow of the game.