Ashley17

Source was an FPL guy on Twitter, who to my knowledge is usually right. Seems to be very wrong today and now Estupinan is going to replace Botman for me, so a real treat

FPL Twitter seemed so certain. Who knows?

Starting

Wilson, Botman and Burn are all back in

Other than a dodgy 10/15 minute spell in the first half I don't think they put us under much pressure. They're an awkward opponent, a load of big lads and some speed merchants. They press well and are quite adept and penning an opponent in, it's hard to play out against and if you go long you'll probably get swallowed up by any of the three bash brothers playing centre half. Thought the ref was pathetic, I've never rated Pawson and was amazed he actually awarded us two penalties. The disallowed goal was ridiculous, but he gives fouls for just about any contact anywhere else on the field so maybe not that surprising. Thought Bruno was the best he'd been in a while, the back four were near faultless and Gordon is very effective now he's up to speed. Barnes will be like this in 6 months, although I thought he grew into the game and got better as it went on. Still, not at our fluent best but unless teams really come out to play against us we probably won't ever be at our most fluid. The squad feels a bit samey without ASM as a wildcard, nothing against our other options but they don't feel like game changers off the bench. For all Burn's height was useful today and he didn't do a lot wrong, I really hope we see Hall in home games where the opposition are going to sit everyone behind the ball.

I mean the headline is that but the article also says he might stay until the 2026 World Cup. International break column inches to fill!

They are a big side, if Botman is fit I’ve no doubt it’ll be Burn at LB. Pretty sure Longstaff will play too, especially with most of the other midfielders going away. I think Wilson will start as we start to rotate the squad for two games a week

We kept snatching at opportunities today or just making poor decisions in the final third. Wilson had a daft one and Longstaff tried to score with a Cruyff flick ffs. Very good tactically from Liverpool second half unfortunately, they played us better with 10 than they did with 11.

I didn’t mean it as a dig at either player but if we were in City’s position we would have better players available than quite a few of our first team squad. The fact we didn’t even get a shot off in that situation was very disappointing

Whilst I agree with what you are saying, anybody who plays City has to do a lot of chasing but also have to be clinical when the opportunities arise. Our opportunity came when we managed to press Rodri into a mistake but Wilson couldn’t make the most of what should have been a one on one for Almiron. Better players would help with that aspect.

Pep said some stuff about where he would play Foden this season as the assumption was he would replace Mahrez on the right. Basically said that wasn’t the intention, if he plays him in the role he had last night he will have an incredible season

Can you explain the Liverpool one please? Not being an arse, I am genuinely interested

They can only spread the deal for FFP over 5 years regardless of contract length

I think it's a rule, it's the same for Match of the Day they're allowed to show a maximum number of minutes per game. Seem to remember it coming to light when Man Utd beat Arsenal 8-3 and they had like 9 minutes to play with or something.

So disappointed with how bad he was, in pretty much every sense. Considering Liverpool wanted him before us as well, should have been a dead cert but he was actually worse than Dummett. Obviously he got Bruced along the way so hopefully he can put all of that behind him and rebuild his career.

I love watching ASM play but it’s apparent that he doesn’t really suit the style of play and his body isn’t capable of high intensity play over a prolonged period of time. Ideally we’d keep him around but FFP is what it is. It’s a shame as he’s clearly always wanted to play in the CL and single handedly made us watchable for a couple of years. The only surprise is that we have outgrown him quicker than he outgrew us

Nah pretty sure it was HTT as I wasn’t on Toon Chat. Could have been cross posted like, a few people were on everything with Toontastic also existing

I doubt it, I can’t remember exactly what happened as it was about 2005 but the HTT forum disappeared never to return which led to the birth of N-O

Ha yes it was on the old forum. A surreal picture of Bramble sat up in bed as if it was all very normal

This is an odd request but I don’t suppose anybody has this pack of Corinthian figures they’d be interested in selling on? Not fussed about it being boxed or anything. Got the boy hooked on them and “we” are trying to complete a collection.

Watched a random 97/98 MOTD the other night and it had us beating Southampton at home. Barnes was like prime Sir Les, an absolute beast in the air inexplicably.

Thank you. I didn’t think it would be that obvious seeing as the Sporting Minute account was also on Twitter but here we are, fooled again

As a middle aged idiot, what is “bird app”?

Think it’s Tindall on the main Wor Flags display