TRon

I'd prefer it if Brighton fans came on here to pay respect after we'd won 3-0 tbh.

Anyone who's got a name like Logan Pye needs to be featured in some games this season.

So did I. He'll not be happy looking at the replays, it was a class finish.

Aesenal are jammy fuckers like, don't think either side deserved to win that.

I'll be interested to see how Longstaff does in his position. Don't they play on opposite sides?

I remember getting pulled up for it when I said something about him not being an athlete, but of course he's a lot better footballer than most midfielders who can motor. He's similar to Cabaye in that regard, both are good playmakers, but it does mean they will be prone to late tackles now and then.

Even the best strikers will miss chances like, I wouldn't read too much into it.

Did he even play number 6?

A bit like Nunez for Liverpool then. Looked hopeless against deep defences, but lethal against us when we pushed too many players up the pitch without the ability to retain possession.

So if you're not blaming him why did you say he could have done better in everything he did today?

In what position?

Yes it does feel like we are in two minds at the moment. I think Liverpool look similarly confused but I would expect both teams are going to adapt and emerge better for it.

I saw Jamie Redknapp saying this, but Longstaff is not any more a natural 6 than Bruno or Tonali. If he was replacing anyone it would be Tonali as the wide RM option. From what I've seen when he's come on to replace Tonali it hasn't improved things.

If we are going to get outplayed and we know it, then I'd prefer to adapt our tactics to nullify their strengths. Our goal came from a long ball which bypassed their press, similar to how Liverpool's goals have come against us in the last two games at St James. Like I said, Howe's no dinosaur, he'll have learned from today and I don't expect we'll be making these mistakes in future games.

I thought he was our most threatening player, but his finishing let him down. No matter how good he is, he's allowed to miss some chances now and again.

Conversely, Man City and Brighton beat us by not letting us have the ball at all.

We did start conceding quite a few more in the second half of the season though as teams adapted to our press.

I find that slightly troubling though, because if their system is so well drilled they can outplay us so thoroughly after losing so many players, then what does that say about our system where the manager has had two years to implement it? From his interview, Eddie himself looked disappointed with how we matched up even if he was never going to say it in so many words. Either our system is not able to cope with a high level passing game, or we just don't have the players to implement it well enough. In which case we have been a bit naive in thinking we could just bulldoze our way through it.

When we sell Bruno to Barcelona? Come on man, don't be coy, if Tonali's part of a middle 2 then it won't be next to Bruno.

I wasn't referring to you or KI, I just said people were going on about them being a super team etc. You don't have to take everything literally otherwise don't use hyperbole terms like horseshit hyperbole if you are going to go down that road.

Do you think he would fare any better in a middle 2?

Agree, people are going on like Brighton are some super team of massive stars, but they are anything but. It's one thing to be passed off the park by Man City, but when a team which has been selling off it's best players is taking you apart then it's fair to ask questions about our own tactical set up. Our whole game is based on the press, if teams are passing round it, then we need to find another way. Or find a combination of players who can implement the press more effectively.

Everyone is dying for him to succeed, but he still looks a bit heavy footed to me. The kid's got talent, but PL defenders are a big step up, it takes a bit of nous to get change out of them. You aren't going to bludgeon your way past them too often. If anything I think Miley looks more ready to step up, he looks like he can find space and time on the ball.

The goal where Evans hit it from 25 yards out, he had time to turn and collect himself before letting fly. Schar was 5 yards away to the right, and Burn was the same distance to the left. He literally had the whole goal to aim at without any defender near him.

Thought he defended ok tbh, I think that's about as much as should be expected from him.