TRon

Woodgate is still the best all round centre back I've ever seen playing for us. When he was fit and up and running, he had everything. I like Coloccini as well, but he wasn't at that level. Still easily one of our best players during the Ashley era, although I guess that's not saying much. He might have come out second best to one or two strikers, but Schar has done the same. It's Botman who is the rock in our defence, when he's not there, Schar looks far less sure of himself.

I didn't forget Joe Kinnear, I deliberately left him out because he was not really considered a manager at that point anyway, just some old guy who'd been in charge of Wimbledon back in the 90's. I think most people just assumed we had an owner who didn't have the slightest clue about football at that point. What made Pardew and Bruce worse was that they somehow had a decent reputation and Ashley could pass them off as viable managers, even though most fans knew they were frauds.

It's a canny trick which buys him space most of the time, but some opponents have spotted it and he's been dispossessed a couple of times. I guess price is worth paying when it gives you that sort of quality in the middle.

I was actually a bit miffed with Miggy for the first 20 mins or so, his default mode seems to be to run around but not actually attack the opposition with any real intent. But in the second half he did get into some really dangerous areas, and yeah he was coming in central and causing them real problems. And that goal was mint, love how he stepped over it to block the defender's attempt to cut him off.

He was dreadful for the most part today, but you still knew he would score at some point. It's what he does.

Just keep some perspective. If it was that simple we'd put the same team out against Man City and breeze through to the nezt round of the Carabao Cup.

I don't know who coined the phrase, but there are levels. When we play the top teams we'll really find out which players can step up. Some fans were expecting us to roll over AC Milan last week despite their pedigree. I think we managed one shot in the entire game.

I don't rate him in general on his ability to bring the ball out, but today he was good at both ends of the pitch. He linked really well with Anderson and Gordon. That whole left side did a great job defensively as well as going forward, they really worked for each other.

I think you answered your own question there pretty much. Only doubt I had about him was whether he could strike a ball cleanly but that was a pretty decent hit today. Not ot mention he pretty much tormented Sheffield U for 90 mins.

Hope the Everton fans who hounded him out of the club were watching when he pinged that one in the far corner. Twats.

I actually think this is pretty much on the money. Longstaff, Willock, Joelinton and Anderson all offer a lot of running and ground coverage, I think that brings the best out of Bruno who then gets to dictate the tempo from his pivot role.

Not great but it could have been worse. Get well soon Harvey.

Fucking hell man. Has to be a wind up.

Just watching this again, and those Wilson misses... Yet this will still go down as another game another goal.

Yeah spot on.

Not really bothered about the goals, you know he's got that in his locker. More important will be his ball retention, he was excellent today, the next step will be to do it against the top half teams.

Going to be a big miss on Wednesday. You would imagine he would have rotated with Gordon for the cup game, but Gordon ran himself into the ground for 100 mins today. I suppose you could start Isak wide left, but that would mean Wilson starting again up front. I guess both Gordon and Wilson could just recuperate until the cup game, forget the rotation on this occasion.

Tonali was immaculate when he came on mind, although by then the game was dead and buried. But Longstaff's running, like Willock was crucial to our press last season. So aye, it is a conundrum.

BOOM! Nice one.

Indeed. But let's be honest, the forum wouldn't be what it is without the gobshites.

I'm so glad I recorded this, probably going to watch it again as soon as this is finished.

His running off the ball was as important to our performance as any flashy trick or stepover.

This is what he's capable of when he's got runners around him.

Bruno singing along with the eee i eeee i song.