TRon

Agree, Tonali didn't have Bruno's exquisite touch and vision, but he is a lot quicker across the ground, his movement is great off the ball, often looking for one twos, and he can put in decent deliveries from wide as well. Not to mention, he will put his foot in when required as well.

I don't recall which combo worked that well, the problem with two Joes + Bruno would be both Joes seem to work better on the left. Then Tonali and Bruno hadn't really quite hit it off during Sandro's short stint in the side before the ban. I would expect after a year's training Tonali should have a lot better understanding of his role in our side.

That puts Willock on the right as well, I think even if Joelinton was played on the right, I think Tonali and Willock would swap places in that formation.

I'm not a fan of Longstaff, but the one thing he does give you is plenty of box to box running, same as Willock. He's just much worse on the ball if and when he gets it. But at least that allows Bruno to play his game, as he is really dependent on having two runners either side of him if he's going to be playing the deep lying midfielder. That said, if Bruno, Willock and Joelinton are your first choice midfield, where would that leave Tonali?

He might be homeless, but he's still got an agent, so at least he's not destitute.

Everyone is trying to recruit the best team, we've already seen that the cartel clubs can lever the highest rated ones from the clubs with the richest owners. The only way we can really break into the elite band is to spend what they do, preferably more. All these new rules and amendments are designed specifically to stop anyone doing that. I suppose it might just be a coincidence that these rules are being rushed through after the PIF buyout of Newcastle, but it certainly suits the cartel.

Neither is Michael Edwards but no doubt we'll keep getting linked with him relentlessly.

Just feels like a lazy link tbh, possibly because we were looking at him early on after the takeover, might have been around the time we bought Chris Wood. I would think we are way past that now.

Reading in The Times today that the PL are looking to bring in tighter rules against sponsorships and transfer deals with associated clubs. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/premier-league-clubs-face-sanctions-for-inflating-sponsorship-deals-htzdwctnl Looks like the cartel clubs are looking to lock in their supremacy forever, and the PL will support their bid. I really don't see how PIF can hope to compete any time soon unless they are prepared to go to court under restriction of trade.

Maybe just sort out the service then.

Unless he got an extra 60k/week from Man U as they have the financial resources to pay higher wages thanks to the cartel infrastructure.

I thought he should have hit it first time as well.

Ashworth gone and Howe moving to tie up his key players by the look of it.

He's always liked him tbf, pretty sure when he took over Schar was one of the players he mentioned as being one he looked forward to working with.

It was what quite a few were suggesting as a way round playing with an immobile midfield. Pressing high without much pace at the back and in midfield was always a high risk strategy, but I guess it will depend on who we are playing. Sitting back against teams like Man City might just mean we never get the ball.

I wouldn't be surprised tbh. They are clearly pissed off at being asked for £20m, it wouldn't be that hard for little Dan to advise them off the books. Not ideal but would be quite hard for us to prove anything unless he went specifically after our targets.

Already assumed we are out of the cup so no real dread felt on that account tbh. At full strength I know we can compete with them, but even then they are leagues ahead man for man.

See above.

Yep. But let's hope Haaland is stinging enough from that miss to hit a second half hat trick anyway.

Feels like every result this season has gone against us, nothing much has gone right. Might as well get all the bad luck out of the way in one go I suppose and go again next season.

I wouldn't describe Joelinton as prone to injury, prior to his recent layoff he's usually played the majority of games in his time here hasn't he?

Does anyone still think centre midfield is a priority for the summer? We'll have Tonali back, as well as Joelinton , Willock and Anderson. For me a striker alternative for Wilson should now be the main target, with RW and a Schar understudy next on the list.

Top 7 would be amazing given the injuries we've had, if Isak stays fit for the rest of the season it is defnitely on. Will be a great launching pad for next season's campaign to still be in Europe with all our missing players back and one or two key additions.

They've got some way to go to catch Liverpool mind. Feels like Liverpool win games every week in the last five minutes. If games ended after 88 mins they'd be in the relegation zone.

Great game today, worked tirelessly, and some great early balls in which caused Wolves real problems.