Yorkie

I'd never doubt the mentality of this group of players tbh. We could really, really do with a positive result, obviously. My post was more in response to the "lose and it's the apocalypse" vibes of the one before. It would be rubbish but would be all forgotten about as long as we put a run together after the final. I also think you're over-egging how bad we've been lately. We can apply that to Forest second half and the Man City game, but Arsenal semi we were excellent, likewise Forest first half. Brighton we were good for at least a half (and win the game pre-fun police). Liverpool was meh. We need performances to pick up but we've not been terrible.

If we lose tonight we'll be one point off a European place (three off CL) with 30 points to play for.

To me, Hall being as brilliant as he has this season is a justification of the manager's methods.

It's been discussed on here several times but our transfer policy is far more risk averse than to gamble our artifically limited budget on players who should guarantee you mid-table in the PL, but whom could just as easily flop. It's not an exact comparison financially either: the wages will be significantly different and there's also no way the likes of Kluivert joins us for the same price they join Bournemouth. They also play different positions. To me it seems unfair to criticise us for using funds on players with high potential and whom either become: (best case scenario) a starter for us; (alternatively) someone we turn a profit on; or (worst case scenario) someone we peddle at a minor loss/for what we paid. Using funds like that feels like much more of a guarantee that we don't end up with an unsuitable player that we can't shift and can't play. As for his development; it's beyond me at this point how folks don't back the manager a bit more in these cases. Alright, when it's the likes of Souness, Pardew, McClaren, Bruce - we know they're fucking clueless, so why trust them? But Howe is brilliant and also excels particularly in this exact field (improving players).

What's this actually based on? He hasn't impressed at all in his PL appearances but he's been gradually improving with every cup game. Mentioning Hall does very little for the argument like - he's the ultimate justification of being eased in slowly.

It really will!

christ. I might physically combust if we're one up. Can see it now; Nunez with the equaliser on 90+5 then Bobby Clark on to win it.

£15million gets you next to fuck all these days. Can't really see how we divert that towards a player more ready to start for us. Besides, he has taken the load off Isak to some extent, thanks to his cup appearances.

Spurs nicking a couple of points off Bournemouth turns a draw into a useful result tomorrow.

Brighton, Nov-Jan: eight without a win Villa, Jan-Feb: five without a win Chelsea since Xmas: W3 D3 L5 City: unprecedented number of defeats Bournemouth: currently three defeats in four We're all at it, we just need to build some momentum.

Think he's almost impossible to rate because it's all potential at this point. Right now he's an E because the evidence indicates that he literally isn't capable of starting a PL game. I'm optimistic about him though. He's got flair, pace and strength, and he knows where the goal is. Said it before but I'd put money on him moving on for a tidy profit in a couple of years.

Fuck me that Watkins offside VAR call

Yeah; I think we will too. I don't want to "get it out the way," but being post-Cup final will help too. If we win, we've got Europe and we play with freedom. If we lose, it's done and the league is the sole focus. It's a shame we've apparently not really taken it in our stride but I'll happily accept ropey league form if it means we've got another 90-minute shot at silverware.

Mad how quickly people disasterise. Everyone in this group we're in is patchy this season. The tightness of it all means just back to back wins can elevate you. We've got a relatively kind run of fixtures between now and the end of April; let's just see where we are then.

We got there in the end.

Win on Monday and we're in a Champions League position; even a draw puts us back above Villa with a game in hand...

Does that mean you're out of pocket unless we shift another 12?

Three then.

I get the logic but Hatem was a lot better than ASM and was absolutely made for the 4-3-3. I think there's a chance he has enduring success here under Howe.

I wouldn't start with it but it would be nice to have two finishers on the pitch at some point if we need it.

B.

When it comes to strikers - maybe goalkeepers too - I think the most straightforward route to making an assessment is comparing them to their peers. Isak might not be 99 for every single attribute but he's literally the best striker in the league so he's clearly an A, imo. He's scored plenty of headed goals and holds it up well too. What foot he scores with isn't any meaningful metric, is it? Wasn't for Shearer anyway ("make your left foot good, but make your right foot brilliant.") His dribbling, finishing and quickness of thought are all as good as you're ever likely to see from a striker on a football pitch today. If you told me he was the best striker in the world I'd believe you.

TBG is good but this is your goat 🐐 wum right here, folks.

Stupidly good. For years we debated who the best since Shearer was, then this guy arrived and ended the argument very comprehensively. Fantastic player who has the potential to be the best we've ever had.

Delap could go to the top. Imagine every man and his dog will be after him in the summer. Chelsea seems an obvious destination.