Yorkie

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.

9 man Lazio win it

New contract is a no brainer but I'm tipping the dialogue wheel away from Crucial to Rotation and his chump agent can say "that's what we're after."

Blaze now KI has confirmed can we make sure we get the Sky comms? Cheers.

Yeah do that, Jim. 💔

I like Barnes a lot. We've still not seen the best of him consistently, and I doubt we ever will. He's frustrating in how he disappears from games because when he makes an impact, it always seems to be in a really meaningful way. In the early throes of this season he was literally in the running for our player of the season tbh, then more injuries come and suddenly he's scrabbling around for minutes again. That right foot of his is absolutely glorious; the goals against West Ham and Wolves were absolute beauties. But yeah, C.

I'm sure you weren't always a parody account.

That it was sustained against Liverpool is the ultimate kick in the nuts, like. Our whole left side gone in an instant.

Think Gordon is quality, personally. He's a pain in the arse for defenders even on an off day, and on an 'on' day he's a nightmare. Love his directness and workrate; wish his decision making was better at times. He's got a fire in his belly though and is slightly mercurial - love that in a player. I was absolutely miserable when I thought he was going to Liverpool (it ruined the Euros for me ) so I was ecstatic when we kept him. Totally gutted he's having to miss the final. He doesn't deserve that at all.