Andy

I think for the most part we've played well today, certainly had more control than usual away from home. But the lack of quality in the final third has been frustrating.

Never a penalty that.

Done more than Murphy

Some strange takes in here like. What kind of message would it send if Howe said "nah Anthony, you're normally backup penalty taker but you're not having this one as I don't trust you".

We are absolutely shite in possession at times, especially in our own half. Incredibly sloppy and lazy.

Good performance today, hopefully we can start playing like this against the smaller clubs

Going to come back to bite us in January when we're £15k short of Parish's valuation of Guehi

I'm pretty sure if they can't host the tie within the next couple of weeks we will just be given a bye? Playing it at SJP would be sensible but they won't do that.

I'd say that leap from 2nd bottom to 4th in the space of 18 months bordered on a "miracle", the squad he did that with was relatively poor, particularly that turnaround in his first season where the players were completely shot from their time under Bruce. I'd say the squad when he arrived was certainly much worse than the squad Emery took over at Villa, for example. However, the club have to be pragmatic and judge Howe on what he's getting out of the players now. He's always been more of a motivator than a tactician, and I'm not convinced that his effect isn't wearing off on the current crop of players. We seem so flat at the moment, and without that intensity that he demands, we look a poor team. I think the next five or six games will be crucial for him.

While this is completely true, there is still room for some valid criticism and concern at the moment. We couldn't really have grumbled if we'd lost every game so far this season. The away performances in particular have been largely the same for over a year now.

Bruno is great in that position if you're backs to the wall or controlling a game, but when the game is stretched he really struggles at times. Not sure I'd class him as a natural DM.

The way I see it, in that champions league season, that intense press was often lead by Wilson, Almiron and both Joe's from the left. Trippier pressed high from fullback too, and Botman and Schar defended from the halfway line allowing Bruno to push on. I don't think Isak, Gordon and Barnes press as efficiently as the front three from that season - Barnes isn't that kind of player, and Gordon is a bit of a headless chicken that just does it in bursts, I think Almiron for all his flaws presses with more intelligence and cuts the passing lanes off better. Isak is a lot more passive than Wilson. The midfield are badly exposed because the forward line is easier to play through and the defensive line is a lot deeper, probably due to ageing legs back there and fear of getting caught out. That's where a natural DM would probably help, but we don't really have one.

There needs to be a serious inquest as to why we're starting games so flat, and why it's taking until we go behind and make changes to look threatening and play with any intensity. The instructions he's relaying before the start of each game are either not working or are not being followed. In terms of our performances this season - not results - it really does look like we've been found out. All you have to do is press us with intensity and we fold. it's not unreasonable to say we could have had 0 points from the games we've played so far if not for a few moments of magic and some luck at the back.

It's at the expense of the team on the occasion

Won't happen, but yeah, I agree with this

Not even convinced it was tbh, it's just the first time it has been punished

As has been the case all season, it's hard to see what we're trying to do. The only strategies seem to be: 1) Schar diagonal 2) pass around near the box and look for Gordon or Barnes to do something magic We have nothing else. Remember all of those little patterns of play a few years back between Trippier, Bruno, Miggy, even Longstaff? The high press and lighting fast transitions? Joelinton and Willock storming down the left side? All distant memories. Add to that the fact that we have huge gaps every single week, this has been coming.

Teams are learning that if they play with intensity against us we can't cope with it. This is the first half scoreline we should have seen several times this season already.

In 2024 he's had more separate injuries than he's played games (in cumulative minutes) He's done.

He's a bit short for a keeper like

The directors are shite these days. Badly timed replays, pointless crowd shots, zoom-ins on "celebrities" that no one gives a fuck about... Just show us the football.

Aye, especially nowadays. Football is all about percentages now, shooting from distance is discouraged. Saw an article the other day about the decline of the "screamer" and the drop off is huge compared to a decade ago.

The biggest difference Trippier makes when he's on form is that he pushes the entire team up the pitch. Livramento defends the final third, Trippier defends the halfway line, and aggressively too.

Kelly poor going forward Hall poor going backwards Time to try Dan Burn at left back

We're creating absolutely nothing for him