Shak

Man, head up and lay it on a plate for Bruno.

Timing

Fucking header!

Pope managed to pull out on time and the guy had started to go over before there was the minimal contact. Could have been given but think the guy was looking for it a bit too much.

Burn arriving to that attack like an out of control donkey running down a hill.

And again on that break where Bruno released him. He's had a lot of what makes him special coached out of him tbh.

Short penis.

I mean, looking at our first team squad is he the only player unavailable today due to injury? You're always gonna have a couple of players out with knocks, our problem is that we have absolutely no depth so it's far more noticeable for us when one or two are out.

I'd like to see us go 4-2-3-1. Targett in for Burn at LB. Bruno and Longstaff in CM. Isak up top. ASM, Almiron and Gordon in the three. Actually not sure which positions across the three I'd play each of those, though. Some intriguing options there. You could play ASM just off Isak, give him a bit more freedom. Those two seem to have a decent understanding. Almiron and Gordon on the wings would allow you to have both full backs well protected, too. Would also be quite interested to see Miggy central. Been figured out a little bit on the right and #10 was always his best position previously so could be worth a go there with Gordon playing on the right. Ideally I'd want Isak off Wilson but Wilson is just so out of form man, seems mad to persist with him.

Big decisions didn't work out today, for sure. Kept faith with Wilson who rewarded him with an abject all-round display capped off with an embarrassingly bad attempt on the big chance that fell to him. Then Isak looked really sharp when he did some on. Neither Gordon or Almiron offered anything going forward after ASM was unlucky to be dropped. Burn got another game at LB and looked again very much like a big CB playing out of position with the way Foden just glided by him. That said, I'm not sure Targett is fit enough to start and there was a definite logic in playing two wingers who excel at pressing. Starting Wilson was the only decision that was really bad IMO. Next week will tell us a lot. I can see why he didn't want to change much before a cup final or an away game with Man City but we've been toothless for a while and with two games we'll be favoured in coming up we need to figure it out.

Ah well, looked good for a few minutes at least.

Isak so much better than Wilson since coming on

Longstaff is absolutely garbage on the ball, fucking state of him.

Aye, incredible position that we just wasted.

More of the same, really. Decently in the game and we look organised and able to pass the ball a bit. The biggest issue for us is that we're a team full of players that don't have a lot of goals in them. Longstaff and Joelinton are the two most advanced central midfielders but both are very poor in the final third. We all knew Almiron was in a purple patch earlier this season and it seems like that's very much over now. Gordon I'm not sure on yet but he didn't exactly score a lot for Everton. All players that will chip in with a few goals over the course of the season but none of them look like consistent goal threats IMO. Add to that the fact that Wilson has completely lost it and you have a team that just isn't going to score many goals IMO.

There's definitely a little cartoon alien somewhere that is a quality CF right now.

Blocked. Felt like he dallied a bit.

Man, big chance for Longstaff here. Can't wait to see how this plays out. Feels like he'll score but the defender may get a challenge in. Fingers crossed my next post will be celebrating a goal.

Feel like you legit hear bigger roars to corners occasionally.

God, someone put a fucking challenge in.

Lucky to not be booked, cynical as hell. Was a needless foul by him for the first last week too IIRC? (I was drunk watching and will never watch highlights of it )

Hilarious how much better Bruno is at passing the ball than all our other players.

Wilson over Isak is the only decision I'm properly annoyed with tbh. Think Almiron and Gordon on the wings and then that midfield trio is going to maximise our ability to defend from the front with the press. Definitely seems unfair on ASM given he's looked alright the last couple of games while Miggy has been poor but ultimately we're just going to have to accept that when push comes to shove Maxi isn't what Howe wants in a player. Hopefully he can be a valuable contributor over the next few months and then we can get good money for him and use it to buy someone that fits in better with our philosophy.

I can only hope that we're still being super cautious with Isak in terms of his road back from injury and it's still a slight concern. Wilson has been poor for ages, really strange that Howe is persisting with him.

Worth keeping in mind that Lascelles played at Liverpool earlier in the season and wasn't hopeless by any means.