STM

4 left backs on the bench

He went for a scan yesterday. He's out.

Miggy wasn't going to be starting anyway. Learned enough about Howe that he likes to reward players who perform like Murphy. Bench is going to be shite like.

Schar has probably omitted himself from the Swiss squad because he's 31 and has had a heavy work load and possibly a few knocks. If our medical team thinks he will benefit from a rest, it makes sense. There's a fair chance that he no longer starts for Switzerland anymore, so it's not the drama it might seem.

He's much better on the right mind. Never fancy him on the left. He just doesn't seem to have the footwork to fox defenders on the left.

Hes very direct and does everything at the first time of asking. Rarely do you see him stop, check, turn around, double back on himself. He's head down, take on his full back or give it to midfielder and make a run behind. Both Maxi and Miggy are guilty of these things. He's got a lack of technique and accuracy but it's somewhat made up for by his workrate and pace.

Why not just hire Rafa?

We are overdue giving someone a hiding or a bit of luck heading our way. Sending off for forest or pen to us incoming.

Lads, if we win our game in hand, we are literally 3 points off Man Utd. That's the equivalent of us converting two of our draws, let's say Leeds and Palace at home (where we were denied a legitimate goal), into being 3rd in the league. 3rd man. We've been fucking astonishing this season. Just over a year ago we had Ciaran Clark and Matt Richie in our back four, now we have the best defence in the league. Just to be clear, we have the best defence in the league, without playing a negative style whatsoever. It's absolute unreal. We've got a long term spine of Pope, Botman, Bruno and Isak. We've got a manager getting every player performing at their max potential. We've got owners who are killing it on and off the pitch. Its at this stage where I don't even knowing who I'm ranting to. I'm just buzzing. We are getting better and better. Will we finish top 4? We might. We just might.... and that in itself it a bloody miracle.

OK course Isak was going to get called up. He's pretty much their best player. I also think it's a good thing for us. He's hardly had any minutes and it will all build his fitness and confidence. I'd like to think Newcastle and Sweden will discuss his training schedule etc.

Personally, I'm more interested in looking at his signings for Newcastle, than having a time travelling exercise with the purpose of finding a stick to bash Howe with. He also "couldn't sort out a defence", remember. My ratings so far: Trippier- 9/10 Bruno- 10/10 Burn- 7/10 Targett- 6/10 Wood- 5/10 Pope- 8/10 Botman- 9/10 Isak- 8/10 potentially 10/10 Gordon- 6/10 (too soon) No club gets them all right. We just need to keep going. If we can get 3 Botman/Isaks in the summer and 2 even younger players for the squad, we will have done ok.

Let's go for an old school "players from (potential) relegated clubs" post, I won't include Wolves, as i just don't see it: Palace: Eze, Andersen. Forest: Johnson, Gibbs-White Everton: DCL (at a cut rate), Onana Leicester: Barnes, Maddison West Ham: Rice (unlikely), Paqueta (aye go on then), Zouma/Aguerd, Bowen Bournemouth: Solanke (would be a solid option), IDK any of their players Leeds: Gnonto Southampton: Lavia, Salisu, JWP. Anyone else to be considered?

The only player we don't sell for 100m is Bruno and possibly Isak.

Definitely feels like cometh the hour with regards to Isak. If we can replicate Arsenal at home last year against spurs....

I have us getting 18 more points, that gives us 62 and sees us finishing probably 5th/6th. Crucially I leant on the negative side of results. Spurs and Man United at home are massive.

Tomori.

He's been the best keeper in the league this season. what you are asking for is perfection.

They were awful against Spurs. Genuinely just gifted Spurs possession. Our midfield can out run theirs twice over. I really like Gibbs-White. Deal with him and we win IMO. Was critical of Bruno vs Wolves so I'm expecting a masterclass.

I fucking love him, me. He's 10/10 aerially and a 10/10 shot stopper. Alright, so he's like a 6/10 with his feet. That's a fair compromise IMO. Saved us tonnes of points this season. He's entitled to the odd shaky moment.

Bump. This lad deserves sooooo much credit. He's genuinely a good option for us and I never though he could even be that. He's direct running is really useful and he grafts his arse off.

And yes I'm sticking to my Thierry Henry comparison. such similar styles.

Looked gassed after half time but was class in the first.

I still there will be games where he will get crowded out by a low block but that header showed there is more than a poachers instinct about him too. He seems to have absolutely everything. Buzzing.

And that's precisely why all of us wanted him pulled out of the starting 11. It wasn't a punishment but a chance for him to reboot. He will be feeling on top of the world again.

There's no doubt that it's now Isaks time. Wilson still has a part to play. Reckon he will score a couple of crucial goals before the end of the season.