Shak

Think we'd obviously benefit in some ways from someone who has the qualities of a traditional DM but won't want to sacrifice the on the ball qualities that we get from having someone like Bruno there. Not sure it would be a net gain. Ideally someone who offers a nice blend of both will come along at some point, but it's very far down the list of improvements needed.

It's not very realistic to expect to have a really good 3rd choice striker in a squad that generally only uses one IMO.

Careful now, you'll have all the woke brigade on you for posts like this. Go woke, go broke. That's what I say. More like go woke, lose the final lol

Don't imagine we'll get any word on Joelinton, we usually keep injuries under wraps very well. If he's out, I'd prefer him over Longstaff. LCM for us is more advanced and think he showed enough in preseason to warrant a chance. I'd also be tempted to start Barnes. Think he's looked very bright. Gordon and Miggy have both been solid the first two games though so I think it'd be harsh on either of them.

Would agree with this. City are perfectly suited to nullify what we do best defensively and their own pressing really exposes the fact that we have a number of players who aren't comfortable enough on the ball to keep it effectively against a team like City. A big issue for us last night for me was that the ball to an unmarked Walker on the right was on all night for them when we tried to press. I thought that Burn was actually decent yesterday but having him at LB isn't ideal as him pushing upfield to take that ball away would have been suicide. A better athlete at LB will help a lot IMO, hopefully that can be Hall. As we keep evolving and improving the squad we should be better able to hold our own in possession, too. I'm not sure it makes a ton of sense to change it up and go direct either, as their defenders are all fucking animals so I'm not sure Isak or Wilson would have had any joy with that. Just have to be patient and wait for us to get better players, essentially.

Destroy

If Joelinton is out next week I hope he starts over Longstaff. Earned it in preseason and Liverpool aren't in the same class as City.

Was convinced he was gonna get himself sent off, was a silver lining that he didn't.

Just a dull game, that Anyway, think we've nowt to be concerned about after that. Think we can match City on terms of how we set up and our energy. Difference is that they just have better players and when they're on we just can't compete with them. They were missing some important players and even then I don't think a single player from our team gets in their starting lineup tonight? Maybe someone ahead of Alvarez? And he of course scored a brilliant goal that decided the game. I could say it'll take us a few years to get to where they are now but in reality we probably never will, and likely won't have to to win trophies. They're frighteningly good and them regressing seems more likely than any team in England getting to their level.

Disappointed Isak was gone off the pitch once the game opened up and we got some decent possession in the City half.

Hopefully Oleksandr Usyk gets more joy tonight in his fight than Alexander Isak did in today's game.

Fucking brain-dead from us so often when we've got possession in the final third.

Seemed a good time to try Isak on the right off Wilson IMO.

Almiron is such a ditz, man.

These are blatant yellow cards lads Tonali one was gash but the rest have been clear as day.

Joelinton not having a great one Good start to the half though.

Christ, always forget how boring Man City are. I mean, you have to respect the way they pull it off because it's so hard to do... but fuck me is it dull Anyway, don't think we've been bad. Plan was clearly to contain and they'd not had really much of a sniff until they scored and even that was just a half chance. We have a few players that stand out like a sore thumb in terms of their level of comfort on the ball when up against a team like City. Big Joe and Burn are a couple of weak links in terms of attempting to play possession football. Hope we give it a good go in the second half, go at them.

Wouldn't be an issue if there was any atmosphere at all in the stadium.

Aye, came from a throw in where Botman just passed it out of play under no pressure at all.

Thought he could have saved that.

Schar feigning injury so we sign a RCB in the coming weeks.

God this interviewer with Onana is shite.

First keeper jersey I ever got. Went to get 'HISLOP' printed on the back. Fucking place was out of the letter P. Older brother suggested getting his first name on there instead. And here we are

Current mood... Get into these cunts.