STM

Its transition. As soon as anyone gets a yard on us, we suffer. We don't have any recovery power, aside Tino. It's also why we chronically miss Joelinton who is by far our most destructive player in defensive and offensive transitions. The man is an animal. We don't concede goal one with Joelinton because Paqueta doesn't get the pass away and we don't concede goal 2 because Joelinton would have stood over the ball preventing a quick free kick or at least would have got back in to help cover Kudus. He's such a miss.

I'd be looking at something like this next year: Pope Tino NEW CB Botman NEW LB Bruno Tonali NEW RW Joelinton Gordon Isak I'm not saying I'd drop Trippier or Schar, I'd just manage their game time better. The front 4/5 is irrelevant, because I don't our ability to score goals. We can chop and change how we like, bring in Willock/Barnes, no problem but our defence needs sorted ASAP. Joelinton will protect Bruno and Tonali and those two will protect our defence. Tonali has the pace and energy to help our defenders in transition and is comfortable enough on the ball to play in a double pivot with Bruno. You get the best of both worlds.

Personally, I thought we got exactly what we deserved for that stupid foul and rolling around on the floor. Aye the ref was shite but we don't help ourselves. Anyway, best comeback at easter since JC.

The kid knows where the onion bag is. Neither Shearer nor Lampard were "skillfull", in that sense but what Barnes lacks in technical skills while running with the ball, he makes up for by having a superb footballing brain. He's basically the opposite of ASM.

Few thoughts: Yesterday felt a massive game, it was either win= Europe is back on, lose= season is over or draw = the unmistakable agony of waiting another week to find out whether we are still in with a shout. In terms of performance, I felt that we were the better team and the stats back that up. More shots, more possession, more territory but that doesn't tell the the full story of our performance. It was very similar to the chaos of Luton/Bournemouth/Forest away, where it felt like it could be any score. Our issues: 1. Under performing players still in the side. Longstaff and Burn (not now) should have been hooked weeks ago and its not whether they are "shite" etc, it's more that there are players on the bench with reserves of energy ready to play, namely Anderson, Barnes, Hall. The side needs an injection of energy and enthusiasm. 2. Our lack of pace in defence. I'm getting really worried about Schar, it might be controversial opinion but his performances have dropped off a cliff. He's more interested in commiting fouls than actually getting back into position. Tripper, Burn Botman and Lascelles aren't exactly quick. When your defenders can't recover in transition, you have a problem have a look at Bowens goal? Who's closest to him... Gordon and Livramento, point made. 3. Midfield shape. Bruno is a superstar.... when we have the ball. Without the ball he's not a natural DM, again another player in our 11 who lacks pace/energy in transition. Now to the postives: At 3-1 I'd decided it was time to take a trip to the petrol station to fill up my lawn mower can. It turns out that Eddie and his players were the only fuckers who thought we could win the game from there. By the time I'd got there we had a pen, by the time I'd got back, Barnes had equalised. One thing nobody can criticise this current group is their character and their desire to score goals. The entertainers by default. So my big takeaway is 2 things: 1. This season is ending like Hitler in the bunker. Nothing is changing. Expect 2 more injuries per game and 6/7 goal thrillers every weekend. Fuck it, 7 games left, let's fucking do it. 2. At the end of the season, the back 6 (including the keeper and Bruno) needs remodeling and needs to include pace. If we do that, our attacking players can win us games, no doubt.

That Barnes winner sounded as loud as any goal celebration as I've heard and I only watched on the TV.

Just think if they had done this back in October, the ban would have run concurrent anyway. The idea the FA fucking about for 6 months could cost Tonali more time out is ridiculous. Fine him heavily. Give him 12 months suspended and move on.

Only in England would we finally learn to produce the volume of high class players required to win a major tournament, only for us to employ someone who'd struggle to get onto the coaching bench at an ambitious championship club. Fuck me, watching world class players with no patterns of play is absolutely soul destroying.

Bellingham should be England captain. Best player. Best attitude. Best everything.

Southgate with 2 inspired subs here.

Brunos pass there was quality.

Not that it matters but Gordon has probably stuck 10m extra on his value in one game of football here. Putting in a performance to cement yourself in the England set up is quite significant.

Gordon been England's best player. Watkins hasn't offered much.

Gordon has been better than Foden on the other side. Kane Gordon Saka Foden Bellingham Rice Is a winner.

Let's hope IF any error has been made, that an internal investigation is held to find out what they could have done differently. I'm sure nobody at the club is happy about this situation and given our ambitions, I'm sure the right people are asking the right questions. Let's hope Sven is back ASAP, thankfully the summer break takes up the majority of his time away and lets hope its closer to 6 than 9 months.

Aye fair point.

So, your saying he'd fit in perfectly. In all seriousness, that's in the hands of our superb medical team to decipher.

I've just looked and he's not started for ages, apart from against Leeds in the cup, didn't even start vs Leicester. Cole Palmer plays in his position, so he's not getting in anytime soon. England U21 International Loads of skill Powerful and quick Plays on the right but is left footed Potential for improvement I know other would like us to look abroad but this is the sort of player I see us looking at.

Someone who fits the sort of profile we look at is Madueke from Chelsea. I don't know of his availability, or how they value him, I'm sure like every other Chelsea player he's in and out of the side but with Chelsea apparently needing to sell a player or two, he might be someone we could get. He's young, British, loads of talent and someone the club would see as coachable.

Yeah I'm the same. I can be as pro-Howe, Mr Glass half full, positive Pete all I want, if those two areas aren't seriously addressed in the summer, I will have to question the judgement of our recruitment. Even if its clear that Tino is getting the LB slot, I can deal with that. A RW is crucial, both Miggy and Murphy are fine as squad players (although probably better if we can flog one), but someone of Gordon's quality on the right would be transformative to the team.

That's my reading of it. What I will say, before anyone else does, there's a chance that the club will say this to cover their tracks because the optics aren't good. But the key part is that none of us know. Some of us are jumping to conclusions.

Of course we would. Our manager an medical team are amateurs. I've been googling for like half an hour, now I know more than them about complex medical issues.

Only explanation mate... or perhaps that Dr Nick has been on the case. Forget the umpteen years of medical studies these guys do, N-O knows better.