Unbelievable

We coped adequately without Wilson back end of last season, but since Wilson >> Wood naturally we’ve brought Wilson back in as soon as he was back to fitness. Don’t see why the same wouldn’t apply here.

How so? He was pretty much our only lifewire for much of his time here.

But you were perfectly happy to black mark the player despite the same lack of info. That was my point.

I don’t think a star player suggesting he’d be able to produce better stats if surrounded by better team mates is indicative of being a bad apple, considering it’s so evidently true? As for pressing, it’s quite clear that ASM was changing his approach to team play recently. Besides, we normally now play a CB at LB and we’re toothless going forward down that side, so playing ASM there makes a lot of sense anyway in terms of balance and keeping the opposition guessing?

Wilson is a injury worry whenever he steps on the pitch, yet he’s not frozen out, but carefully managed as he should be. You could point to Wood, but I’d suggest Willock on the left wing is not going to concern opposition managers either…

So you’d start him and bring someone on if he can’t hack it physically or plays badly. He was our star performer until quite recently, and Howe should be trying to get the best out of him, especially on a day like today when there is an opportunity for him to play and for others to take a breather.

Depends. Could understand he’d be frustrated if he was told he’d start from the bench for example. He’s barely been used since returning to the squad after fitness issues, and given what he can bring to the team he’d quite rightly be expecting to play in a game like today’s to show what he can do and fight his way back into the first XI.

Bit premature, just as my initial reaction the other way, which is that I’m seeing a parallel with how Ben Arfa was frozen out by the horrible cunt who happened to manage us at the time. Be a huge shame and a mark against Howe if he can’t manage to get a tune from someone so naturally gifted and who hasn’t been a bad apple before (quite the contrary here I’d say).

Disappointing if true

Qualifying for CL would surely be an enormous help with growing commercial revenue (be it Saudi sourced or genuine)? I’d like to see PL refuse us growth based on similar revenue levels as the “top” clubs when a couple of them finish underneath us, will fail to qualify for CL and hence will see their commercial appeal be lowered. When we get to sit at the big table try and push us out I say.

Aye. Don’t understand how he got the rep he’s got. One of those players made to look better than he is playing for a well coached team imo.

Gutting news. Didn’t know he was ill. RIP

His Australia NT team mates have probably recommended him at Hearts you’d imagine. Wouldn’t mind us building a relationship for loaning out players to them.

Has he even been booked yet?

FT: good result

Lascelles again

Blow the whistle ref

No chance

Oh dear

2 minutes

Well done BDB

Murphy FFS

Pope

They’re not really dominating us

Come on Maxi!