Yorkie

I've probably used the word transitional myself, but on reflection, maybe it is overstated a wee bit - or rather it's maybe not actually about transition at all. Maybe the more 'cultural'-scale mitigation is in us actually trying to hold onto our identity, after losing probably our most important player and having to face four competitions with a heavily depleted squad.

Thought it looked like another small but positive step forward today. Was absolutely infuriating when Digne clothes-lined him after he turned him, looked a very promising breakaway. Would be keen to see him start against PSG.

Wissa scored 19 goals and got five assists last season, Elanga six and 11; that's hardly chump change. The recruitment hasn't worked out so far, I can't deny that. I will just always recoil at the inference/accusation that we were off our rocker targeting these players. The one player who suits us the least, imo, is the one who - until now - has received the most grace, that obviously being Woltemade. So far he is proof of the massive gamble you take by investing in strikers from the continent. But we were really running out of options by the time we turned to him so I've no beef with us taking a calculated risk in that scenario. It was absolutely crucial we augmented that signing by recruiting a surer thing, and it was frankly a miracle we had any PL striker (let alone a prolific one) gagging to sign for us after the Isak saga. Sods law Wissa got injured before he'd even so much as trained with us. I guess I just wish there was a bit more understanding of the context and a bit less knives out when it comes to the summer. I will keep dying on the hill that we were totally shanked, primarily by PSR but also Isak (which was essentially also a PSR symptom).

We probably spent beyond their realistic market value but if they produce the numbers they did for their previous club then we don't give a single fuck.

God knows what we were thinking signing three players with 125 PL goals/assists between them. A truly wacky recruitment strategy.

Tbh I didn't expect us to get the 10 from 12 we did prior to this league fixture. We're not a particularly slick team, the schedule is insane and we're ravaged by injuries. It's really difficult to get a hold on what our ceiling and floor is because the season, so far, is defined by most teams being unable to build consistency and the table being very changeable for that reason. Basically I wouldn't be surprised by anything from 10th to 6th.

If he takes you with him I'd carry him to his next club.

Horrible and painful result, as every defeat is, particularly at home. Thought it was a fairly evenly matched game between two unimpressive sides. We invited them to score twice and they did, meanwhile we were ineffective from an attacking point of view. We deserved to lose and will have to win somewhere we usually lose in order to course-correct. I'll skip the usual cacophany of blame and rage.

Howe's fault for buying him.

Trippier has been absolutely dire, mind, good Lord. Absolutely stinking day at the office. Always felt like one of these was around the corner given the schedule and the injuries.

Truly can't be fucked with days of everyone calling us worse than shit, like.

Total gift from Hall and Trippier. Hey ho. They're loads better than us this season, simple as that. Before that moment I'd have maybe said we were worthy of a point but if we're gonna gift wrap stuff then clearly not.

Deservedly beaten.

areet Lewis

Painful watch. We haven't been bad, just annoyingly ineffective. Been a close game, that one shot from distance being the difference.

Don't think this finishes 0-1. Can't call the final result but not betting against us right now. Come on, lads.

Let's see how supportive of Elanga the crowd are when we're not cruising

Not good not terrible. Second best on the whole but feel we can probably scrape a point if we keep pushing.

Well and truly second best here. Critical we don't concede again before HT

Been coming

State of Ramsey still not being able to get in the team. Can only assume he ain't doing it in training.

Can't see us winning without Bruno like; there's no coincidence to that 'never win without him' statistic; he's absolutely crucial to us in so many ways. Just have to pray it's not a long lay-off. Draw wouldn't be the end of the world but not ideal given all the away fixtures to come.

Happy to see Brighton take one in the nads but that offside call for Welbeck's non-goal is one of the more 'fun police' ones I've seen this season. So infinitesimally small a margin that I'm dubious it's even correct given the camera's frame rates.

Was coming in to use that one ya prick. Just lovely, lovely stuff. Fuck, plssss let iz win tomorrow.