Conjo

Norwegian commentators during the match said our bench did the same

Up until last season his poor kicking really annoyed me. Now I just laugh at how poor he is at it. He makes up for it by being really good at everything else, but it'd be a huge fucking upgrade to the team if an equally good keeper who can somewhat control a ball with his feet became available. We do lose possession a lot every single game due to him both directly when he kicks the ball out for throw ins and indirectly when players don't dare pass it back to him and ends up hoofing the ball aimlessly up the field to the opposing teams defenders.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think that was the only time he dribbled past a player all game. Thought he worked hard for the team up top in the second half, which was nice to see after looking a bit lazy in the first few games. He'll come good, and happy for Howe to persist with him and play him into form rather than benching him to send a message.

If not for him we would have had 8 points so far this season. Vital to the way play without the ball too. One of the first names on the team sheet for me. Edit: 6 points actually, not 8.

Nice bit of tempo change to get past the two defenders before the goal, very similar to the way Joelinton made space for himself to play Murphy through against Spurs.

I think they already are behind him mate.

Copy&paste from every game this season: Wasn't pretty, but great result.

96 minutes of running and cramp in both legs and Hall is still more mobile than me.

Pretty decent shithousing by us here. Keep it going for another few minutes!

Get Tonali on the corners.

Was about to respond to someone on here demanding Barnes and Tonali on at half time that I'd eat my own shit for a week if it happend. Glad I didn't press submit

lucky you

It's not so much individuals for me, but this is the 4th match in a row where we've been the best team for the first 15-20 minutes or so, only to give up the initiative and end up defending in our own half rest of the half while having no success offensively.

Technically everything is Seans father and mothers fault for having birthed this wretched human being. Too late for an abortion?

Love Joelinton so much

Poor Longstaff. Gordon with a botched 2 yard pass (2nd today - first to Joelinton). Longstaff's fault for not anticipating it and positioning himself correct

Great result for us.

I don't disagree. That's probably what I'd do as well if I was in charge, but I'm not and I trust Howe and his team has made a plan and picked a team based on wanting to give us the best chance of winning.

It's a matter of balancing it though, which I imagine is what Howe has done here. The body needs restitution after playing games regardless of match fitness, maybe even more so when it's been so long since he last played football. Tonali will get ~30 minutes today and I'm 99% sure he will start on Saturday against Fulham.

I get your point and frustration, and I defenitely do not think Murphy has more ability nor is more effective in front of goal than Barnes. I just don't get worried about Barnes feelings (he can leave if he doesn't like it), or that Howe has done anything other than setting the team up to do the best it can.

Except that Longstaff has had more rest and more time to prepare for the game. I know I'm being a bit contrarian here, but there's absolutely valid arguments for what Howe has done. We all want to see Tonali play as much as possible and do well.

Depends on Howes game plan. If it's to ride an early storm from a Wolves (Longstaff will be fresher than Tonali, Murphy works harder off the ball than Barnes) that will be desperate to bounce back from the trashing they got against Chelsea, and put on more quality players when Wolves are tired late in the game then it kinda makes sense. Or due to other considerations....prefer to not cry like so many on here and trust that Howe has this in the bag.

Terrible start, grew into the game and won it for us. Seen worse.

His selection clearly isn't only based on permanent first choice / bench players. Gordon and Barnes started just last game. It's clearly not performance based only either, as that would mean Barnes LW & Murphy RW with Gordon on the bench, which fwiw I bet you'd have a pre-moan about too We wouldn't have won against Tottenham if it wasn't for Murphy. Does he not deserve a chance when he does well too, or is that only applicable to our perceived best players?

Christ what a long day of football Thought I'd watch everything with pleasure having not watched any for 2 weeks, but really struggling to pay attention to this game.