STM

City pressing Lascelles and Dummett like fuck. Peps a genius.

Look Dummett, ya shite mate. One last dance?

Why wouldn't they be?

Looks like Dubravka is a busted flush. If Howe isn't putting him the squads for the cup, he might as well fuck off. I suspect we will sign a quality young keeper soon.

Fucking hell. Didn't know Manquillo was still at the club. ?

Also, more food for thought.... Bruno and Tripper were both brought off, was Howe saving their legs for this?

Of all the clubs in the PL Palace are the most pointless IMO. Just there. Existing. Not shit enough to go down. Never good enough to get better. Just there. Change manager, attempt to play more progressive. Sack manager. Hire Roy. Stabilise. Sack Roy. Hire more progressive manager. Repeat.

Also, I think people keep shoehorning Hall into Livramento conversation. IMO they are in different stages of development. Livramento has way more experience in the PL and is much less green. You tell just by looking which one is closer to first team football. Both incredibly exciting but I'd expect Livramento to be involved more.

Was on the bench against SU.

Got a feeling this might work out nicely re Barnes... Joelinton can revive his left wing role (with Gordon) and then little Joe can return to help the midfield.

I'm shocked that anyone thinks Hall will start ahead of Targett. Its entirely against Howes way of thinking IMO. Hall might play but not at left back. Almost impossible to guess: Dubravka Livra Lascelles Botman Targett Longstaff Tonali Hall Murphy Anderson Isak

Was class this.

I tell you what, I know you are joking but Hughes had loads of great attributes, he just didn't have the physical dominance. He's another player we should have never let go. Would have had him over the years of Boumsong and Bramble etc. Also ended up captain of Fulham and NI IIRC. Great player.

I'm sure he will extend.

Woodgate will never win the award for nostalgia because of his injuries, his departure and some comments IIRC. However, Woodgate was the real deal. He had everything, besides a body made of playdough. Pace, strength, reading of the game, calmness on the ball. He was class. Botman will eclipse him... very quickly. He's not as quick as Woodgate but he matches him everywhere else.

POTY.

Don't believe a word of it. Mind games.

Let's say he leaves... and we sign Barella or someone like that... will soon take the sting out of things. Relax.

It's inevitable that one day he will leave, don't worry about it, embrace him being here, wave him fair well when/if he leaves and trust the club to reinvest like a motherfucker.

In a bizarre sense, Bruce not playing him might have saved on some mileage further down the line. Hopefully he's got a couple of top years left in the tank and then a couple of squad years after that.

I entirely agree in the sentiments above that he needs judged over a 12/18 month period. First 6 months was poor, but we now understand why, he wasn't fit enough, neither was Isak by all accounts and I suspect the same transition is going on with Tonali and Barnes (as well as Livramento and Hall to a lesser extent). More than ever, a settling in period seems important in an Eddie Howe side. Give a player 6 months with Howe and you become fitter, more confident, better drilled and more rounded. The man works wonders with young (all) players. Look at Jacob Murphy man. Howe had very little to work with there, and yet he's turned him into a very serviceable squad player, who the fans all trust. Back to Gordon, these last few games have been unreal and part of me is holding back with praise because I'm expecting a drop off. The longer that drop off takes to materialise the more impressed I will be. It's what's to come which is exciting to me. If Howe can turn Gordon, a 22 year old, into a good player in 6 months... what can he do over 2 or 3 years?

Woodgate still the GOAT.

Honestly want to see him as captain one day, even if it's just for a game. Would probably cry.

Totally get this. I'm certainly guilty of thinking that he doesn't "look" like a footballer. I fucking love him mind.

This has made my day.