Shak

I must say my initial reaction was that there was gonna be a whistle because in real time I thought Burn had fouled him. Once I saw the replay I thought it looked fine though, certainly nothing egregious enough to overturn. What's the directive for refs when they're sent to the monitor? Feels they almost have to agree with the VAR?

Good half IMO, we look sharp.

Unsticky the thread and end this madness.

Obviously was hoping to see Barnes and Gordon on the wings but Barnes is just back from injury tbf, two starts in 5 days might be stretching it.

Aye, the lack of young signings from South America has been a real disappointment and feels such an obvious route to building quality depth in the squad. Fuck I really hope we're allowed spend properly in the summer. I'm not even asking for superstars, just don't want to see the likes of Bruno and Isak having to play alongside the likes of Krafth, Longstaff and Murphy anymore.

It would be initially incredibly exciting of course but there'd be something very hollow about the shackles coming off completely and us going all out and spending a billion over the next year on transfers. I'd be absolutely delighted seeing us continue to shop primarily in the 30-40m bracket for a while more, buying younger players who aren't big names yet and looking to keep growing that way. Throw in the occasional Isak style signing, just to treat ourselves. The fact that PSR in its current form means we apparently can't do that is ridiculous, especially after getting into the Champions League last year. Was clear we were hamstrung last summer and our squad depth issues came back to bite us this season. Will be great if it becomes less restrictive and we at least have the chance to push on, even if it's not a level playing field.

His strengths as a player really rely on him being sharp. Quick feet in tight areas, that change of direction and burst of pace to beat a man. Him looking increasingly like he's a bit injury prone doesn't bode well IMO.

Lots of good tonight. Burn looked quality at CB. Anderson continues to look like he'll develop into a quality CM. Barnes and Isak appear to be developing some really nice chemistry. Let down by his shit players. Lots of players out there who've been made to look like competent Premier League players through Eddie's coaching and tactics but are basically a bit shit at the end of the day. The likes of Longstaff, Murphy, Krafth. Just absolute anchors around our necks in terms of playing decent football. Tonali, Gordon and Trippier out there and we'd have annihilated them tonight. Even then, needed a Paul Dummett masterclass in being useless to cost us the win.

Absolutely shite man. We'd honestly have done better just taking Hall off and playing with ten.

Christ that was infuriating.

The sinking feeling when we try to play intricate football in the final third and it comes to Longstaff

Reckon we might look alright with Gordon instead of Murphy on the right. Terrible decision making there, so many options.

Ref is fucking useless. Also, coverage seems a bit shite. Did they even give us one replay of that early Barnes chance?

Love the mention of Gouffran scoring five home games in a row. Like it puts Isak in illustrious company

I would let ten of him gangbang me. What a player.

Best student in my class ended up sexually assaulting a young woman some years later.

I'd imagine there's only so much that they can do without having him in the building, discussing plans in detail with everyone. I'm sure there'll be some communication going on but it's not like everyone else at the club will be sitting around just twiddling their thumbs hoping Ashworth spells out the names of transfer targets in his tulips.

The biggest question mark over the signing of Barnes has always been the fact that we seemed to desperately need a RW and instead brought in Barnes, who plays off the left. Given we had Gordon and Joelinton at LW (also the option of using Isak there late in games had proven very effective) and Almiron and Murphy were the options at RW, it's hard to argue that RW wasn't the bigger need. I know there's hope that Gordon will be able to play off the right and be just as effective, but I'm honestly also a little bit wary of moving him away from the position where he's kicked on and taken his game to a whole new level. Ideal world we'd have a really deep and talented squad and we could rotate Barnes and Gordon at LW.

I remember that game, hated that Chargers team and that Patriots team Not the best example to support sending Lascelles back out there, mind you. Rivers did his ACL against the Colts the week before and was pulled from the game, they won with the backup. He went out and played on what they all knew was a torn ACL the following week, after he'd had scans and they all knew what they were dealing with.

Horrible game of football that.

Miggy being badly injured and us not being able to sell him for FFP wiggle room seems the logical next step for this shitshow of a season.

Also not booking players for cynical fouls achieves the opposite of letting it flow, as players can just foul any time to stop a promising attack, knowing nowt will happen.

I mean, maybe I'm wrong but I can't think of many examples of a player trying to play on with what was later revealed to be a fucked ACL?

They actually had him go back out there and try to run off a serious ACL injury