Andy

I think that's been more down to the other changes that were made at the same time. For example, Willock coming back in, Joelinton going to the left. We've looked more balanced because the team as a whole has had more balance, not because of Longstaff.

I think there's an expectation on Tonali due to his name and price tag, but to me all that's currently relevant is that he does the simple things better than Longstaff, he is better technically than him, and he is more physical than him. It's not a high bar of comparison admittedly, but right now Longstaff is keeping him out the team on the basis of "we seem to win more when he plays", which is primary school level analysis. By the eye test he looks a much better footballer than Longstaff and so he should be starting. Beyond that, he can't be judged fully until he has had a consistent run in the team.

Couldn't give a shite if he can or can't pass the ball, but I hate seeing passive defending, especially from a CB. Backing off, turning your back on shots, falling asleep on corners. Just not good enough. None of the above is excused by "he's 17th choice" or "he was a free transfer" either. He's a premier league footballer.

You'll never see the best of players like Tonali throwing them on in the second half when you're chasing the game. He has to start and we have to find a way to make the team tick with him in it. Longstaff is absolute bobbins in games like today. You know exactly what you're going to get.

Fulham was bad, just as loads of away games have been, but at home you'd expect some kind of fight back from us. I'm absolutely baffled at how little we did to change the result in the second half. This was definitely Howe's worst game IMO. It almost sounds like a hyperbolic criticism but that second half was Bruce-esque, in the sense that the only strategy seemed to be to throw on more attackers and hope something changes.

The most annoying thing about tonight has been the complete lack of appetite and desire in the second half. We've never looked for one minute like we've wanted the result as much as West Ham. Absolutely pointless putting on performances like Arsenal if you're going to follow it up in your next home game with this.

Aye, Barnes for Willock was the wrong sub. Had to be Tonali. Bring Barnes on if you still need a goal in the last half an hour when his pace could hurt them. It's all a bit "maybe throwing on loads of attackers will make us attack better".

I don't think you can quantify our current system using numbers

That entire pattern of play was shocking by Gordon, left for dead by WB, didn't bother to follow him, then passes the ball out of play a moment later. Pretty much sums up his season so far.

Aye. Which is where he was stood

We've struggled to get him involved this season never mind this half.

Eh? Longstaff was ball watching which allowed the ball to go into the goal scorer.

Can we stop pretending that we win because Longstaff is on the pitch now? He offers absolutely nowt.

Can we get our £60m Italian international midfielder on the pitch please.

I don't get this either. Breaking up partnerships that have been effective in previous games purely because Joelinton scored last time he was there.

He was like that at Forest too. Terrible manager.

Much as a spurs win would be bad for us, I proper love seeing City's boring, formulaic style of football faltering.

The video is from years ago isn't it?

His best bet here is to own up to it and put it down to a mental health crisis caused by the way players and managers are allowed to shout at and abuse officials. The FA/PL have done very little to control that over the years so it would potentially be very bad optics for them to then fire him, particularly if other refs backed him up. The way Klopp was allowed to behave was ridiculous, everyone has known it for years.

Didn't he just fail to give two stonewall penalties against Liverpool a few days ago? I think it's more that he's just a shite ref than he has a bias towards one club or another. He consistently makes bad decisions, just as he did when making this video.

He seems to go through phases in games where he's day dreaming and just not on it at all, especially away from home.

I always find it funny that in football we view 34 year old blokes as if they're 54. Aye he's old enough to know better, but I know plenty of people who have made questionable decisions and fucked their marriage up in their early 30s. I'd imagine 35-45 is the most common age range for divorce. Unfortunate that it has had such a large impact on his form though.

The only strong argument I've seen for Longstaff improving us is the win% argument, but that's really only valid if you choose to ignore every single other variable that could possibly determine the outcome of a football match. It's the whole correlation/causation thing.

I'm not convinced by this; over the last two seasons we have given some rancid performances with Longstaff in the midfield where his own personal performance was equally bad (including earlier this season, despite the wins). He has his use in the squad, but it's too basic an analysis to only look at win% when he plays vs when he doesn't, as it ignores a load of other variables. For as much as we improved in the last two games, I think that's more down the overall balance of the team. The tactical switch of moving Joelinton to the left has made the biggest impact IMO.

Without wanting to be overly negative, as we were obviously excellent today, this is the kind of game we generally show up in. I'll be more convinced we've turned the corner this season if we can put in good performances and pick up positive results over the next three matches. It's no good putting on a colossal showing like today if we get rolled over at Forest and Palace. This result needs to kick start our season.