TRon

Don't think Murphy would command huge wages tbh, and it's not really worth selling him because we won't get a decent fee. Makes sense to give him an upgraded contract and keep him as a valuable squad member.

I've always been quite harsh on Moyes but that's only because I think he has a low ceiling. He's actually a very effective manager for a middling team without much ambition. Would have been perfect for an owner like Ashley. Very good organiser, his teams work hard, but he just doesn't have the instincts or imagination to build a really top side, he's too firmly rooted in old ideas. A British version of Mourinho.

The volley which Donarumma saved, would have been a goal against most keepers. Some really good forward passes breaking the lines.

Mbuemo's looked good even in this line up tbf.

I don't know how Amorim does it. They keep signing players and end up looking more shit every year.

Lol, right after I praise his finish he misses an open goal

Great finish that, plenty to do to hold off the defender and beat the keeper in such a tight space.

Well I do get the impression that clubs were signing players for the most part figuring if we had been chasing them so long there must be a player there. Pedro and Ekitike seem to fall into that category, we identified them long before the cartel clubs went in.

I'm still hoping we get round to Howe-ing Osula tbh.

Man U are playing right into City's hands here by dropping back. No press and just letting City play the ball around at walking pace. They are loving it.

I'm with you all the way, but then it would also call into question our judgement in pursuing him as well.

Yep. Said that earlier today as well.

Don't even think it was that much of an idiot decision, he turned his back, it's not like he stuck his arm out to block the ball. His elbow was just raised as part of his jump to turn his back. It was point blank range.

Well they might actually start playing well and crush teams by more than one goal.

Probably. Just because JDT is happy to suck Liverpool cock doesn't mean DR Congo would do the same if we asked them to.

Agree, he looked fit and aggressive by his standards. No idea how long that will last, but was good to see.

Thought Willock was decent tbh.

He should be able to strike up a potentially good partnership with Woltemade, who's link play should be ideal for the likes of Barnes to feed off. As long as we are getting good width from the overlapping full back he could still have a very good season.

It's not ideal but what can you do? Injuries like this can disrupt the best laid plans, same has happened to Chelsea with Delap. We just have to hope Woltemade has big enough shoulders to carry the burden for a while. He looks the part at least.

Agree. It could have been catastrophic considering we paid a bit over the top because we needed his experience and to give us some Prem quality insurance for a big campaign. If it had been an ACL it would have been a disaster. 6 games we can hopefully manage and it's the reason we brought in Woltemade as well.

Not sure it was really, it was a good cross, but big Nick still has to take most of the credit for it, not easy to generate power leaping as high as that. But Murphy did have a good game, did all the right things and didn't waste much. Elanaga has been erratic so Murphy definitely deserves the nod for now.

Every time I come back to this thread it immediately puts me back on a downer after what has been an otherwise good day. I'm steeling myself because it does seem like it's not something minor, but hopefully it's just a twist which will take care of itself given a few weeks of rest.

It might help if we get to see Hall starting more at left back rather than Livramento who has done a grand job, but a genuine left footed LB would give us the width and allow Barnes to do what he does best, which is cut inside and get in the box.

I won't be happy until we've added five more.

Thought he was still one of our better players. Players like that will lose the ball sometimes, but his close control under pressure means he's responsible for keeping the ball a lot more. By his standards a so-so game, but still one of our better players for me.