Yorkie

I'm unsure on how to feel about some of those quotes; however, we should resist drawing conclusions from any club communication which is accessible exclusively through the lens of the rags, and without knowing the tone or the questions. Would've been better as an NUFCTV interview.

In fairness to Everton (🤢), their new stadium is pretty cool.

Think it was Nolan's effort wasn't it? Ranger brought it down off his chest and Nolan flashed it wide. Good shout either way.

I'm not going overboard on the defence here, you can keep your fume Not denying that we played a risky game but ultimately it was a bit of misfortune which meant we didn't get what we wanted. I'm not sure it would've necessarily taken the full 70, but the fee is another debate just generally.

It doesn't let us off the hook entirely but it seems like the deal gets done if that injury doesn't happen.

So the Riad injury scuppered it, then. Indicates we were a bit unlucky, imo.

He's the absolute opposite of the fella he replaced, mind. They needed a bit of energy after Tyler, they just jumped the shark going with Drury.

That is fucking grim. Shame on Blackpool.

Incredibly over-the-top, as per a lot of the chatter around it. Doesn't even mention Kelly, who's come straight into the first team and objectively improves the squad in that position. Glad we've got a 'decent' first XI, though. That's fair at least. Only contains literally some of the best players I've ever seen for the club in their respective positions.

He should've done the right thing and left then, rather than continue to enable Ashley to zombify us.

That was an interesting article. Thank you for posting. It goes some way to explaining how we only conceded one goal, despite a makeshift back four. Joelinton's physical fitness, for a big man, is phenomenal. I can remember a couple of years ago, it emerged how hard he was working on this aspect of his game, privately as well as at the club. He was determined not to be the failure that we all that was his fate at one stage. Yeah that's a really good write-up. It hadn't dawned on me; the similarity with the gameplan last season. It was Anderson dropping into the LWB position back in April. Joelinton is such a big player for us. For all he didn't catch the eye, there's probably a fair argument that we don't win the game without him on Sunday.

Did they hit the woodwork aside from the total fluke off Longstaff, or whoever it was? It's correct that our results aren't sustainable but the difference is that you'd back us to pick up rather than stay the same.

Yep, it's good football. That move that he and Bruno do where they allow the opponent to press and make themselves flat-footed, before shooting off around the corner, can be so effective at opening up play. Joe knows exactly what he's got in mind too because he tells Hall to move it to Burn. I wonder if there was a tactical choice in that because we did it a few times moving central... with mixed results. Gordon lost it dangerously once trying it.

Couldn’t finish his dinner that lad. A timely reminder that throwing shitloads of money at wingers guarantees fuck all. Meanwhile...

Still think he put in a really useful shift despite the focus on his ropey first few touches. He came on at RWB and yet found himself in a shooting position on the left of their box, which was a big moment cos it forced Spurs back and gave the crowd a lift. Then he was defensively good after the goal, making one important clearing header that I can recall.

4 points would be excellent. Just staying unbeaten would be good.

Can't blame the on-field officials for not spotting an infringement given the speed of the incident, but I don't think too many are crying corruption if VAR turns that into a pen. That Isak doesn't square it doesn't have anything to do with it. We'd have been lucky cos the chance was basically gone but I'm booting off if we end up losing that game.

Personally think it's entirely plausible that we haven't found our groove by virtue of not being at our best physical levels (choose your reason), missing Schär and the negative noise around the team. We've also been playing competent teams, in a couple of cases away from home. Will repeat it cos I don't think there's any harm in repeating the positives from what could be an absolutely massive win: we've given ourselves a brilliant foundation to iron out our issues and have a good first half of the season, in a very turbulent context.

Another huge positive of today is him getting on the scoresheet before the international break. He's been poor in the last two games; should've had a pen but you fucking pass there every time, man. That's a striker whose anxiety about not scoring is clouding his decision making. So it's a huge boost that it happened.

Too right! It doesn't bear thinking about the discourse had we lost that, but as it happens we've given ourselves a brilliant foundation for the first half of the season. Two weeks now with positive energy; get over the funk of the window, get into better physical nick, Schar and Wilson available.

We went from: Tino Krafth Burn Kelly To: Murphy Tino Krafth Burn Hall Worked a treat. Howe seemingly best Ange at his own game too, because the goal came from the wing-back (Murphy) coming narrow. Tldr:

Why tf didn't they win then? Spurs are powderpuff. They didn't even create a big chance despite all the pressure; the goal was an absolute gift.

It's definitely the latter for me; we're papering over cracks. Cracks we're all too aware of; cracks that people have been eager to prise wide open. It was critical we did the papering today with two weeks to work on everything from a position of real strength. We have to take advantage of this fantastic bit of grace we've afforded ourselves.

The main reason we won is that on two occasions we punished Spurs. In the first case, they switched off from a throw and Barnes clinically put it away. In the second case, their idiotic high line was taken advantage of. The other big reason is the mettle we have in the side and the tactical strength of our manager. We probably rode our luck to some extent - one of their wingers (Odobert) was absolutely pish and I bet they'd have nicked another goal if they had someone instead of him with a modicum of attacking instinct.