Conjo

Common theme we start pretty good, but unless we manage to capitalise on it, the opposing team gets more and more into the game. A few players that needs to take a close look at themselves in terms of pashun. A few players that needs to dare to try make something happen rather than just playing 2m backwards passes.

Only 3 nations represented in the starting line-up. That has to be a record low for a PL team the last few decades....?

Lets see how Howe lines up in the next few weeks, but considering how many stinkers Howe has let other veteran players have without consequences it does feel harsh on Hall after one game. If it ends up being an isolated case where Hall gets more chances soon, and not the entry for Kelly to be a perma-stay in the side no matter how he plays going forward then fair enough. I can see why Kelly would be preferred in this game.

Kelly makes sense in an away game against a team we've been struggling against that has a front 4 of strong and fast players. Hopefully he doesn't get an automatic place in the team now when we get to the games where Halls attacking qualities, passing, technique etc are more important.

The games I've watched so far have been dreadful, including our own. Don't know if its the worst, but there certainly haven't been much entertainment for the neutral viewers.

It's a win win. If they do well and get up, we get more interesting games next season, if they throw the good start away in familiar fashion its always fun to laugh at.

Dalot has really impressed me. Everything else about this game is doing its best to put me to sleep. Edit: timing

Nah he hasn't, he's done it when there hasn't been much, if any choice. These people are talking about cramming the perceived best players into our starting line-up when everyone is fit. I've even seen rabbeling about playing Livramento on RW because he may turn out to be the next Bale because he is quick and came from Southampton Proper weirdos.

Which young lad is that. Kelly, Hall or Osula? I think all 3 improves our squad.

Coincidentally I never saw anyone advocating for playing him out of position him in midfield until Howe tried it, and besides, it was done out of necessity due to a red card.

If Howe listened to the out of position nonce brigade on here, we'd be playing Trippier or Livramento at left back, Isak on the wing, Schar in central midfield and Barnes on the right wing Just play the damn players in the positions they are best and most comfortable with.

I think this is more your perception of things than the actual reality. There's nothing to indicate that he isn't as much of a leader figure within the squad now as when he first joined.

I want him to stay and move into a backroom staff position when his contract ends, and take over from Howe in 2040 in order to extend our 13 years continuous league title run.

Surely there's no negotiation to enter into with Leverkusen if we meet the release clause

Did he? I only saw him making an argument that we would struggle to sell him for more than £30m now due to his age. While I think we still could get more than that, he is definitely at the age where we will value him higher than other clubs (maybe bar Saudi clubs) are willing to pay, which I guess was his main point. Same situation with Bowen who is probably stuck at West Ham now for a similar reason even if clubs like ourselves are interested in him.

Nice little boost to Gundogans bank account with two sign-on fees in two years.

I think Howe has always preferred a right footed CB at RCB and left footed CB at LCB. Not sure if I remember correctly, but didn't he mention something about that back when we signed Burn? He's been true to this set up since we first signed Burn up until the point where injuries forced him to play Schar at LCB for a period last season.

He's a striker with potential. Seems to have the physical requirements to do well. Howe and Tindall rates him. Sounds good to me.

Without signing Hall and Kelly, LB would have been a massive hole to plug. Without Osula it would be very nervy going into the season with effectively one striker since Wilson is always injured. All three of them were great aquisitions. To say we haven't improved our squad this window is frankly not true, although it could have been better. We could have kept Minteh.

Great replacement for Tosin. Well played Fulham.

Much rather we stuck with Hall at LB and *gasp* committed the cardinal sin of playing a left footed player at RCB.

BDB won't play LB in this match.

No Semenyo vs out of form/lack of confidence slow Dan Burn at LB or in form Solanke this time though. They'll have to find another strategy if they want to win. I'm not sure they will. Fancy us to be a lot better away from home this season, and for Howe to get his first(?) league win against them.

One of the most unlucky players in the league