STM

His energy and physicality is astonishing. Is there any other PL midfielder who covers the ground he does for 90 minutes? He's also tactically perfect. Knows where to be in this system, without fuss. So yes, technically he's fairly average and his decision making on the ball can be ordinary but I think he's improved markedly in the past 18 months in this regard and today he ran our midfield, with and without the ball. If he has a season where he gets 10+ goals or 15 goal contributions, you are talking about a PL midfielder of the very highest level IMO. I know its clichéd, but the name Longstaff, just isn't sexy but he's our boy and we should cherish him.

He's class. Time stop quibbling because he loses the ball now and then. What he provides is way more important.

Hands up if you want to see Brunos nutmeg?

Lads, maybe we aren't terrible?

Wouldn't mind seeing us try Tonali in Brunos position for half an hour.

McAtee might be worth adding to our scouting list somewhere.

Give me Bruno in this mood every day.

I'd bring Livramento on for Trippier at half time and Hall for Burn a bit later on. Then Isak for Wilson.

He's class man. I thought he was class in Milan. Tonali has his work cut out.

Sheffield United lost their bottle.

So buzzing for Sven. Also....... now is the time to give the fullbacks a run out.

Longstaff transforms our side.... and I don't even know why.

Playing in the electric kit. I approve.

I'm happy with the team. It's the side that beat Brentford but Gordon rested for Miggy.

That's up to him. He's been well below par.

Botman being there is the best news.

Also don't confusing changing attacking players to be dynamic, because the opposite is true for defenders, you want your defenders to be reliable and predictable. It's also why I suggested we might see Hall in midfield midweek.

Yeah so I get your point, but my solution would be more organic than forcing unnecessary change. We have a league cup game midweek which despite what others are saying, isn't a priority whatsoever, so I'd certainly ring the changes for that one. Other than that, I'd wait for fatigue, poor form or injury to occur before changing things. I think Howes attitude is to change things when necessary, rather than as a matter of policy and I support this. Don't worry about those players getting opportunities because they will and if in the unlikely circumstance where they don't get opportunities it's because we've had one hell of a season.

Also, so what if he's match fit? He's behind Burn and Targett at left back? Unless we plan on playing him elsewhere... he's not getting in the team yet. You can argue he should be ahead of Targett, fine, I see the arguement but saying he's going to be better than Burn is mental. For all Burns faults, he's a steady performer and important in the way Howe plays. Its not about fitness, it's about trust. Let's see Hall perform from the bench or in the cup before deciding he should be thrown in against PL opposition.

You start Livramento ahead of Trippier, in a game where most think we need 3 points? If Trippier is fit to play, why not just play your best right back? Same goes for Hall/Burn to an extent. With added problem that Targett is next in line at left back and that Hall is much younger and much greener. They will get their chance. Be patient.

Looking forward to this, they look easy to beat and sounds like we can bring some quality into the team.

2 conspiracy styled points from Eddie's presser: 1. Dubravka was "unwell", or was he annoyed that we aren't rotating keepers in Europe and there has been a fall out? 2. Given Hopes comments this week... were Eddie and the Press Officer trying to leave Hope out of the questions at the end? It looked more than deliberate and certainly more than a coincidence. Fucking hilarious if they were.

Think Hall might start in midfield vs Man City.

If only Man Utd could defend like Eddie's mags and have a keeper as good as Perp.