Shak

Thought Targett looked decent during the week, I think Eddie just sees Burn's primary position as being LB these days and he'll start there unless it's absolutely necessary for him to play CB.

Interesting that we are being linked with top prospects who are out and out CFs. Suggests that Eddie doesn't see Isak leading the line in years to come and is looking for someone that can play off.

That Frimpong must be incredible.

Well it was nice being happy for a while.

Isn't that a penalty?

Bot by name. Bot by nature. Clean up the hoop, please. Enjoying these wankers in the crowd get progressively more fumed up

Fucking nice this

Boo that, you wankers.

Shite from Bruno that, slow to get his head up and unconvincing pass.

I'm always going to be generally in favour of playing Targett or Hall at LB instead of Burn in a game that I expect us to dominate possession. Think having our LB be an absolute non-factor in our attacking play is really impactful, especially when we also lack a bit of creativity in our wingers and midfielders. Would like to see Anderson start, assuming we stick with a 4-3-3. Would love us to try a 4-2-3-1. I don't get the impression Howe has any intention of doing it though, thought we looked quality with it and Isak playing off Wilson second half at Brentford last season and we never went back to it.

Good stuff Really hope the worry over this has been a factor in his poorer form this year and he pushes on and has a cracking season.

Have seen this idea mentioned a few times. Obviously it makes sense with the extra fixtures but if that was the plan then I wish we'd maybe factored it into our summer transfer business a bit more. Looking at our midfielders and wingers, they all look like they're best suited to a high energy, pretty direct style of play. If we're not going to press and win the ball in advanced areas of the pitch, I'm not sure we have the players to unlock teams with a more measured build up. Right now, I think the squad really needs a creative midfielder. Be that an #8 in the current system who has a bit more craft on the ball (playing Bruno there is an option) or else changing the system to more of a 4-2-3-1, I think it's the main thing the squad needs as of right now.

There's probably somewhere between Dan Burn and Roberto Carlos in terms of attacking output from the position His attacking shortcomings going forward are highlighted more by us not having Willock at LCM, he was excellent at getting out on the left flank and providing some of what we lose by not having a good attacking LB.

He's definitely a very large part of the reason why we look so pedestrian going forward. I can't fault him for effort at all and he actually gets into good positions sometimes but he just doesn't have anything to offer as an attacker. Given that we really try to attack down the wings a lot, it's a real issue. I think the biggest issue for us compared to last season though is that we don't look rock solid at the back anymore so if keeping him in there helps us stop shipping goals then fair enough. He was quality defensively today.

Looked to be playing with a bit of swagger late in the game, which was good to see. Still doesn't have the ball on a string like he does at his best though, that late chance to put Almiron through where he overhit it to the keeper is something you expect him to make look easy.

Much needed win today, didn't think we looked great but the result was the key today. Feel right up for the Milan game now, Tuesday is gonna be class

Kind of fixture I'm expecting plenty of this year. We've got such little quality on the ball in our front line, lots of industry and effort but nobody who looks like they're going to do anything with a bit of quality to unlock a defense. Then we also have a big lumbering trying to provide a bit of width down one flank and you have a team that isn't really hard to set up to defend against. We really needed to add a creative midfield player in the summer or else sign a DM and push Bruno further forward. We did neither and I'm not entirely sure how we're gonna rectify it this season without significantly changing the shape of the team... something I don't think Howe wants to do Hopefully we can nick a goal out of somewhere second half.

Absolutely useless ref.

Was such a shite pass it almost turned into a half decent shot on goal

Well I for one am shocked that dropping out best player hasn't solved all of our issues.

Pleased to see Anderson getting a start, feel like he'll do a good job linking midfield and attack. Excited to see Barnes from the start and watch how Gordon and Trippier do linking up down the right.

I do think tomorrow is a big game for him. He should have a very long leash in terms of time to get it right if we have an extended bad patch but after two weeks if we put out another poor performance tomorrow I will find it a bit concerning. Particularly interested to see how we do in terms of linking our midfield to attack and avoid the CF being isolated. Do wonder if he's toyed with the idea of going more of a 4-2-3-1 and playing either Isak off Wilson or else playing Gordon or Almiron as a #10. Will be an interesting starting lineup.

I mean, I personally think he should have started at least a couple of games for us so far. Not meant as a knock on him, more just the immense quality England have in their squad. Be delighted if he proves me wrong and become a top player. I'd also be fine with England's talent drying up and him getting a game down the road that way

Aye, he can't get a game for us with Willock injured and Joelinton hobbling around the place. Think he'll become a decent top flight player but I'll be amazed if he ever plays more than a couple of friendlies for England considering the depth of quality you have.

We should take Joelinton off and go 4-2-3-1. Probably with Isak as the #10 off Wilson Tonali and Bruno in a double pivot should be good. Right now we have none of our midfielders who can bridge the gap between midfield and attack and then we've two wingers who are full of energy but have very little in the way of quality on the ball. It's definitely a real cause for concern that we look so devoid of quality on the ball, hard to see where a goal is coming from.