Yorkie

Oi lav Habby Buy

Looks like we're gonna be spared any of the usual yoyo-ers this time around, which is good to see. Could do without Hull or Millwall mind; be mint if Derby could do it.

I just have no idea how this squad is supposed to keep going with the intensity of this schedule. I assume, after Brentford, the managerless heart-to-heart they all had covered the matter of "we're knackered but fuck it," and credit to them for two really energetic performances since then. But it's not realistic at all that they can just keep it going forevermore. I think there's gonna be some ugly days between now and the end of the season so it's important everyone remembers what happened this week. The team can do it, they're just gonna be dead on their feet again in no time.

Above all it's just utterly fucking boring. Would've happily taken a potential high profile banana skin at Wrexham over playing these dickheads for the fifth time this year. So shit

Of course. His return to Man City was inevitable last summer. Burnley were clearly holding out to see what they could get out of City; in the end it was only a couple million more than what we were prepared to pay. We could've matched that but there wasn't much point with Trafford happy to return as the number one and a higher wage packet.

If his long-term future is more as an attacking midfielder than as a striker then it should hopefully open the door for us to invest at CF again in the summer. I've got faith that Wissa will come good eventually, and assume he's been sat down until he gets himself into shape, but we definitely need to go again in that department if we're going to disrupt again.

There's a lot I like about him but acknowledge that he is frustrating and finds his best levels quite infrequently. He's fast, direct and energetic and contributes more good than bad imo. He's probably the best in the squad at getting to the byline, and I think there's a lot to be said for a 100% penalty conversion rate. He's also stepped up when we've needed cover at CF, it's just a shame he's not brilliant in the role. I think he cops a lot of unfair flak and stand by the point I've made numerous times that I think a lot of it is to do with his appearance and - more understandably - how he comes across in interviews. I do remember thinking to myself after that interview with Neville, near the end of 23/24, that there was a hell of a lot of big talk for a lad who hasn't achieved that much yet.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/07/world-cup-players-to-have-lifelike-ai-avatars-for-use-in-var-offside-decisions Suffice to say the lawmakers don't really vibe with the idea that VAR becomes less of a thing. Just feels like we're all shouting into the void. Talk of time limits, challenges, removing it from offsides, abolishing it altogether - we're all just shouting into the void. We might as well be discussing abolishing goalposts.

Legend!

You got shares in that account, Paolo?

I've always liked Gordon and have found the aggro towards him one of the most miserable sub-plots of the season. I'd hate to see him find his best form for another club; but if there's a mental offer coming in from someone then you probably take it. He doesn't turn it on often enough for us.

Incredibly uninspiring R4 so far, like. Mansfield beating Burnley was cool but Burnley's existence is so meh that I feel like they could lose to literally anyone and it wouldn't feel like an upset. I think it might be Turf Moor. Proper ugly looking stadium on the tele.

@Kid Icarus respect the "honestly I cba with this today" Like

My read is: Willock is 1-0 to non-VAR because it's a hideously pedantic call only achievable with a digital linesman which is entirely not in the spirit of the game. A perfectly good goal chalked off. Abraham makes it 1-1 because he's offside. A totally illegitimate goal chalked on.

This demonstrates the fact it's 1-1 in terms of the Have VAR vs. Don't have VAR argument. Both are wretched decisions and provide an argument for doing things the other way. The most compelling case all night was the Digne foul imo. Those are the situations where VAR is most justified. I include the non-pen in that too. If they get it right the first time, fine, good for us, it's the correct decision and it's a moment of good fortune. A hopeful cross which could have gone anywhere has been upgraded to an unbelievable scoring opportunity. But ultimately, the incorrect call has delivered a punishment far more befitting of the crime. It's frustrating because we've been denied our disproportionate goalscoring opportunity allowed by the rulebook, but it doesn't justify VAR for me.

We were the better team throughout and save for a spell just after half time where it didn't look like we were gonna press home the advantage, we played pretty well. First half we didn't create much, as Matty says, but once we started to force the issue from an hour onwards, there was only one team in it. Second goal was a peach and the third felt like rolling back the years in terms of basically pressing it into the goal. Structurally we looked good in the 4-2-3-1, with Woltemade in-particular helping to make it all tick - by retaining possession between the thirds and generally being progressive in everything he did. Really good performance from him. There were one or two stand-out poorer performances but it was a really committed display.

'Time for him to go' has lost a load of voters

I've been a really harsh critic of his this season and have refused to accept that he's just out of position. But that was a compelling argument right there that he is so. He did so much good on the ball and without the pressure of being the striker it was generally just very positive. And he scored anyway. If that's anything to go by there's a future for him in this league I'm that withdrawn position. Whether that's with Eddie Howe is possibly another question.

Why's that?

@Alberto2005 can you clip that performance together for a short, matey?

Easily my favourite Woltemade performance so far. He should be nowhere other than in that position, so much better and absolutely loved his goal.

Fucking hell that was absolutely mint, man.

They've blown me away there like. So impressed. Didn't expect a performance like that at all.

Incredibly satisfying win