STM

Missing their best players and no plan B once the first goal went in, pretty much explains their performance. They are comfortably the most boring side in the league, feel like they are constantly finishing 13th or something. Not even shite enough to be in a relegation battle.

He was getting so bored yesterday that he kept dribbling into midfield and attack. Poor sod needs a challenge. Also something worth noting.... our right wing benefits from Schar being LCB as he has a better angle for his diagonals. Such a small detail but it's why we were so effective yesterday.

"Woods" who else was raging.

Pedro Neto is a player I'd be looking at. Edit: He's 23, plenty of PL experience and really starting to look a player. Has shades of Mahrez to his game. Eddie would work wonders.

If Isak struggled with being "Eddie fit", then I think it's fair to assume a young lad who had no pre season will have even more work to do. Every day on the training ground he's becoming a better player, of that you can be assured.

Looks genuinely emotional.

Makes Frank Lampard look like a complete knacker. Everton were heading down with this lad on the bench.

About 5 seconds before Longstaff won that free kick, which he took short, Gordon stopped the ball dead from a long range switch pass. Was beautiful, Brunoesque. Edit: There's nothing quite like someone controlling the ball from a long range pass. Wouldn't mind seeing it again.

I think Howe is a much more rounded manager than Keegan but in fairness to Keegan he lived in a different era. Keegan was old school, put together an 11 like Fergie, gave them motivation and let them crack on. I suspect Howe would make Keegan look rather silly when it came to a conversation on tactics, psychology, diet, patterns of play etc, but then he would make quite a lot of current managers look silly in that regard.

Surviving and thriving during a Sven Botman injury will really be an astonishing achievement.

I dunno. He's not got the Claire Balding hair anymore.

I love the fact that I used to hate him and now I love him. I even think he's got better looking since joining us.

Don't care if its been posted. The best thing I've seen today, and we stuffed Palace.

Never change Murph.

Murphy was doing flicks and tricks in the second half.... someone needs to seriously check Howe isn't a witch doctor.

Early goal and we win 5-0. Otherwise 1-0.

Isak is just back from injury and Almiron will be tactical, especially since we will need him for a few games in a row.

Bring Tonali off the bench in the second half. Give him a standing ovation to show our support. That might give him the motivation to come back from his suspension, feeling like he owes us. Pope Trippier Lascelles Schar Burn Longstaff Bruno Anderson Miggy Wilson Gordon Gives us Joelinton and Tonali as subs, which should give us some life in the second half.

Joelinton, Willock and Anderson is more than enough to cover LW and LCM. I wouldn't want to be taking any more long term absences though.

He will get 8-12 months, we will back him and hope that when he comes back, he's the player we all hoped. Yes he's made a mistake but he's young and rather our club was seen as supporting their players, than throwing them to the wolves.

Pep couldn't give a fuck about anyone else man, the bloke can just cherry pick whoever he wants to replace Phillips.

Yeah, thank god non of our fans like to get dramatic or over react.

He was quickly losing his place to Willock or Joelinton anyway IMO. From a footballing perspective, it's not the massive blow that it might have been. We also get a January window to add a player if needs be. Let's hope he gets the best support possible and somehow remains around the club. Is he still allowed to train (ways around that I'm sure), is he allowed to be in the ground and around the place etc? I'd like to see him at every home game, that would be a good starting point.

If there's anything wrong with his attitude, Trippier, Wilson and Pope will know about it. So that's the end of that nonsense. It was always an odd signing for City. They like to pass the opposition to death, which just isn't Phillips game. He's much more suited to the likes of us or Liverpool, where it's about running power and pressing. Given the 40m sums for Barnes and Gordon etc. I think if we could get him for that, I'd be a no brainer. If we can get him on loan first, all the better.

Yep but the point is that he said UP TO 12 months. That's rather specific.