TRon

Dubravka was in no mans land as well. None of the defenders came out of that well.

Sometimes it really is as simple as that. There's been a lot of criticism of the midfield, but we were set up quite well until they scored. For some reason both our centre backs were on the halfway line with no recovery pace, and a simple long ball left Trippier isolated against a younger, faster striker in acres of space. That goal was tragic, and we never recovered.

I'm no less or more worried than I was before today. I've never seen us play well in a cup final, and that goes back to the League Cup final against Man City. I was a kid then and not sure if they would rank as really top class opposition, but every final we've played seems to be against really top tier teams. To win against Liverpool, we'll have to make sure we turn up for once at Wembley, and actually play. That would make a change in itself.

They are doing it with a smaller squad and with plenty of injuries to contend with as well.

Their strengths and weaknesses are pretty much an open book, we need a repeat performance of the one we put in down there. We neutered them very effectively on the day.

But if you've got ageing players who lack pace, you then have to make sure you don't leave too much empty space where they will get exposed.

They've been hamstrung by the conditions they agreed to with the PL when the takeover was allowed. We'll only know the real extent of their ambition if they are given an avenue where they can flex their muscle. The APT rules being ruled illegal might be that avenue.

If we get the tactics right, and the players stick to them, we win.

I think it's borderline. We are at a crucial part of the season where it could kick on and really go up a notch, or we could limp our way out of a European position. Even though Chelsea, Man U, and Spurs are having shit seasons, teams like Bournemouth and Forest have stepped in. We don't have Europe to contend with, we just need to learn how to get results when we aren't playing 100%. Too many results like today in one season.

He's got a far higher ceiling than Longstaff though. I just don't think he prefers playing in a side that sits back more so he can attack the space. We know he can play in a pressing side, because he was mint in our CL qualifying season, but he played out of his skin that season. Doesn't look like he can do it consistently.

If we are looking for positives to take from this game, at least Man City will have dropped out of the running for his signature after today.

I think we'll beat Forest. Said last week as well, but I'm more worried about Bournemouth, that gives us one less spot to chase unless we can rein them in.

Said in the pre-match I hoped he turned up today. He didn't.

He needs to spot these things coming though. He's not going to get it right every time, just to put it in perspective. He's won plenty of these battles as well, but we have been on the end of a few hidings now, so seems like when we get it wrong, we get it badly wrong.

You wouldn't expect our team to though.

They didn't look like they had bought into whatever the game plan was.

Think it was just a tactical car crash tbh. We know we can give teams a chasing when we play at 100%, but you have to know how to win when everything isn't perfect. This was Man City away. Felt like we forgot that they have been the best side in England for the last few years.

Really need Willock to step up now that Big Joe is out for a while. He might not be as physical, but technically he should be better if he is on his game. There's real potential in a midfield 3 of Bruno, Tonali and Willock.

The PL are just lucky that Everton or Leicester didn't get relegated on the back of points deductions, otherwise they could be facing very costly compensation claims. It's the clubs who are ultimately paying for this, at some point they have to stop funding this breaking of the law.

Honestly, the best thing that can happen is that the shackles come off and we can start buying proper CL quality players due the the ATP rules being blown out of the water. Then we can look back on this as a nice little earner instead of "oh nos, look at what we have lost!"

Fuck UEFA tbh. Just get the sponsors lined up.

Unless it's up front.

I just explained this in the post you are quoting that it is probably clickbait. But it wasn't me who posted the story, I am just reacting to it. I'm not saying he is going to Liverpool, but I can see why the link would be made, even if it is made up.

I would enjoy it more if we were allowed to compete with the cartel clubs. The reality is though, as long as we are not in a position to try and win the CL on a consistent basis, or pay our top players what they can earn at those clubs, there will always be a chance that they could get their heads turned. FWIW the talk of Isak being interested in a move to Liverpool sounds like clickbait, but it is one of the few clubs where I could imagine there is interest. He's done them over enough times even if we didn't manage to turn that into wins.

Given City are not the most athletic side these days, I would think we'd want to go with a high press so back to a 4-3-3.