Minhosa

Aye - I'm sure there's a few others too tbf.

Somewhere commutable from Cheshire is a good bet tbh.

Aye - pound for pound, he's up there in Rob Lee terms in respect of a value for money buy.

I'm 42 and he's the best keeper in my time watching us I think. Just so solid. I never panic at crosses, never worry he'll fumble a 'saveable' shot in target etc. He's got the lot and the, widely reported, weakness in his distribution isn't really a factor as yet imho.

Anyone hazard a guess as to which club he'll grace with his presence next?

Good to see he was there last night to support the lads.

Did you agree with my view of it? Or did you explain it differently?

I'd love a Beresford type player too but, as you say, I'm not sure that fits with Howe's methods. For me, he plays Burn over Targett, to accomodate Trippiers exposure with a long ball. Trippiers only weakness is in the air. Even last night, Bournemouth targetted it. With Burn playing, when Trippier goes forward (which is his strongest attribute), Burn sits back and we become a 3 instead of a 4. If that's Targett, then we're without Trippier AND vulnerable in the air to a long, diagonal. So, I can see why he plays him and I do like him but I'd prefer him as Botmans back up and I'd like to set Ashworth and the scouts the mission of finding a 6ft 2 Beresford-esque left back .

Watch it back, he had umpteen opportunities to cross first time and didn't take them. Given he's played at FB more for us than CB, how many assists has he got? I can only think of the cushioned header from the corner at Southampton away for Bruno's backheel last season off the top of my head and, even then, that's not really the work of a fullback per say.

Great point this. I don't think I've ever watched us live and not seen him go down with some sort of head injury. Put's his heed where many wouldn't put their feet, the good looking bastard.

He certainly impacted the game. No doubt about it but it was a game you'd be worried about not impacting if you were him because they offered fuck all going forwards. If you're playing him against an attacking full back, we'd have had real issues because he simply won't press or track his man. The biggest impact Howe has had on him, imho, is that he's using the simple pass a bit more and I think that's made him even more unpredictable for defenders. That's been the biggest difference in him I've seen. He's got a role and when he has his one great game a month he makes people like me look stupid but I think Howe would value a consistent 'system' man more. Maybe not, just my gut feel looking from the outside in.

Based on the above, I'd not start him at Leicester btw. In this system, he's an impact player from now (mainly when the opposition are tired) for me. He's now a walking curveball/wildcard option and I'm not convinced he'll ever be coachable to the extent you can fully rely on him performing a role in a set system in the way you can a Joelinton or Willock.

Loads of talk about Botman (and rightly so...) but this fella was my motm last night. Did everything Botman did but also carried the ball forward more fluently on occasion. He's been majestic again this season. Fucking Bruce man....

Have been a big fan of his since he signed but thought he was poor last night and offers fuck all offensively. Personally, I'd be looking to bring in a full back who can offer more going forward. I think Howe plays him because Trippier is vulnerable aerially and Burn isn't so, Burn's aerial strength is offset by his lack of contribution going forwards whereas Trippier is the opposite. He's vulnerable to a long diagonal ball over the top but he offers much more going forward. I wonder if we're now in the marker for an attacking left back who's taller than average? The amount of opportunies Burn had last night to whip a ball in and he didn't even look like he fancied it was criminal. I'd have hooked him for Targett even before Willock was subbed tbh. Last night really suited Targett imho, far more than Burn, so I can only assume he stays on/in for his aerial prowess.

His cameo last night was played out pretty much right in front of me/where I sit. He impacted the game and made a positive contribution but, even with that said, he still frustrated me a bit; 1) He does not contribute to the team when we are out of possession at all. Literally doesn't partake in the press at all so the approach is entirely lopsided when he's on the pitch. 2) For some reason he stands at least 15-20 yards deeper than our focal point up top (be that Wood or Wilson) and, when he then gets possession he then has to beat his man and normally a covering midfielder from the opposition. If he was further up the pitch, he'd literally be one on one and closer to the goal/box. It's particularly frustrating when, even though he's too deep, he still does not contribute defensively so we can't even offset that against it - see point 1 above. 3) I feel he drops deeper to enable him to cut inside which he tends to do rather than get past their full back and whip a ball in so it's almost like he's playing for him, and what he wants to do, rather than the good of the team. He can get away with all of the above when he has his, once a month, worldies but I still think he's on borrowed time as he's more an individual than a team player and he's not suited to how we now function without the ball.

Did have a fancy it would be a bit of a non-event tbh. They should just bin it off altogether tbh.

I might have a little look inplay and judge it then

Martin Hardy is normally bang on tbf.

Glorified friendly though innit? Particularly this year with players going straight back their club football.

Ashley sympathiser tbh. Hope he gets fucked off asap.

I think you've got to come out swinging tbh. Try to grab a goal and rock us. You'd think the longer it goes on, the more we should dominate but no reason you can't change that with an early goal. I don't think there'll be much in it at all tbh.

No disputing that.

No way Bowyer lays a glove on Souness btw. Souness would fold him up like a deckchair.

I thought the US looked really good in the first half the other night. Started off really really well but struggled with the system change and the introduction of Moore as a lump. I also think the early booking for McKennie really hampered him after such a positive first ten mins. I thought he was really setting the tempo up to that point and then played a bit within himself thereafter. FWIW, I think the US centre backs might struggle more with a Wilson-esque type forward (running in behind) than a Kane nowadays (dropping deep and linking everything up) to the extent where I'd be tempted to change it up tonight.

Might have been in response to the opposition/opposition shape. Maybe Brazil felt they could lose him/let him roam. I thought he was creative and effective without necessarily getting quite the right final ball/end product.