Yorkie

They call him Gobshite Life for a reason, like.

Basically I don't feel like we really have the characteristics to stand on throats like we could when we had a fast and deadly striker who'd push defenders back or pull them out of position.

Aside from early goals at West Ham and Everton, we have to work really hard to score. We've drawn a blank in three away games and it's taken more than an hour to score in five of our seven home games. We're routinely getting at least one now but we're not free-scoring in any way and not having a fucking mint striker is clearly a contributing factor.

Yeah, it's a characteristic which has totally disappeared this season. In the two seasons prior to this, we scored twice within five minutes on nine occasions (23/24) and seven occasions (24/25). It won't come as any surprise that Isak was on the pitch on 14 of those 16 matches, and contributed to the close-together goals nine times. I don't think there's a great mystery to our deficiencies. I'm becoming absolutely convinced it all stems from the Isak sale and compounding Wissa injury. We've traded an absolutely lethal striker who terrified defences and brought confidence to his teammates, for someone who's essentially a rookie and has an entirely different profile.

Only just spotted Bournemouth's dire form. One win in seven and lost four of the last five. Always good to see. Brighton and Brentford to take their turn hopefully soon too.

Struggling to remember why he was so bad. Was it that short pass to Tino?

Not sure which one that was but the left-footed effort which rolled to him and he passed to Vicario was extremely tame. Probably didn't even need to hit it first time but I haven't seen it again. Not trying to dig him out, just using it as another example of the most fundamental issue in the team: we don't score enough. It's why we sit back, why we're nervous, and why we're dropping points from winning positions. We don't build up big enough leads. If Wissa's return doesn't change that then we're destined for mid-table, probably bottom half tbh.

Well Miley himself caught a more difficult chance a lot sweeter just the other day. It was straight at the keeper but he got far more power on it than that effort tonight.

Wouldn't necessarily describe this as 'stop'. It's not the worst point, just frustrating in how it's come about.

Was just about to post this in the Howe thread. It's game over if Miley strikes that left-footed one cleanly. Huge moment.

Couple new votes for Yes Surprised tonight would be the straw that broke the camel's back, like.

Yeah he does frustrate me quite a lot. If he's not doing the silky stuff he generally isn't doing much. Thankfully that silky stuff does appear at least two or three times a game, and he does pose some threat in the box. Just gasping for him to be second choice tbh. Hell of an option to bring off the bench to join the attack.

No real beef with the principle of bringing on an extra defender to see it out a lead, but there's clearly a mentality issue in the team. Ultimately it all stems from the fact we've played 13 games and been more than one goal in front on two occasions, and one of those was only for a few minutes against Forest. The defending or defensive tactical decisions are always first in line for a hammering post-game, but these issues are irrelevant/don't happen if we score more. Selling our goal machine striker and his replacement getting injured before he'd kicked a ball has basically defined our season up to this point.

The thing that stands out for me is that he looks very small, but that might be through watching Pope for so many years. Disappointing from him tonight. Doesn't look like there's much between him and the bloke he's replaced, at the end of it all.

On the plus side it doesn't kill the momentum stone dead and we've got a massive opportunity for three points at the weekend. It's frustrating but you do get ones like this every season, and thank goodness we didn't lose. We were a bit lucky to go 2-1 up really. No doubt the trend of failing to extend one goal leads (before losing them altogether) is absolutely maddening, and if Wissa doesn't help to at least reduce those occurrences then clearly we're going absolutely nowhere this season. The return of the full-backs has improved performances; hopefully his return will add an extra goal or two, and we'll be in much better shape. Le sigh. Lots of pain this season like.

Annoying result and an opportunity missed but as long as we take three at the weekend it's been a good week. Ramsdale ain't the answer if that's anything to go by.

Well in, son

Shit goal to give away

I wish they'd kick it longer for Elanga

Match thread

Certainly don't picture a hammering but you have to feel confident given our record against them up here; but then you might be glass half empty and say they're due one. 2-1 to us.

Any compilations of his performance knocking about?

Great news and fair play to him. He doesn't owe us this imo but very happy he's made this decision.

I get that sometimes there's a balance to be had, a time to be probing, a time to be easy with it. A good relationship is better for everyone after all. But do you have to sound like such a dimwit? "It'll be good when Wissa scores won't it?" Yes, Lee. Now come on, bedtime.

Was waiting for this.