Conjo

No brainer if true, even if Popes shoulder is fine. No matter how good Pope is at sweep-to-throw-in (think that part of his game is pretty overrated personally since we rarely convert his pro-active actions into possession) and between the goal posts, a keeper of similar skill but with an ounce of ability with his feet is a massive upgrade to how we can play, especially how we deal with a high press which we've really struggled with since forever.

Adebayo is the type of player I imagine every opposition player dreads to face. The striker version of Joelinton, just hard as nails, but fairly quick and dare I say it better in front of goal. Would love him here.

No doubt he was implementing a system in the championship season to prepare the team for a more challenging PL season. We could have swept the Championship away with the quality in our side with more free flowing attacking football.

Strange game of football

Poch has to have wanted this too surely? Or was Poch Poch'ed like Adkins?

Not disputing that we came to a point where rotation wasn't really possible due to all the injuries. I was hoping for rotations way before the injuries started becoming a limiting factor. First game we had some rotations was the home game against Brentford.....right after an international break ironically enough Last season too, although it wasn't as critical to rotate to keep the squad fresh, would have been nice. I just think Howe values a settled 11 way more than a manager competing in 4 competitions can allow - so I'd like to see an improvement in that area. He's done it so well during the last two pre-seasons to get everyone up to speed and familiar with the tactics, and then just doesn't seem to either trust the fringe players he gave time or don't want to rock the boat...or a combination of both.

Agree on the bonus fifth - that will (or should) naturally improve with not having as many injuries. I'd still like to see it though Consistently through a whole season. I see rotation as being subbing players some time after the 60th minute mark here and there, but to rotate more within the starting 11. Not 5-6 changes per game obviously, but more than the rare but occasional Isak - Wilson or Almiron - Murphy swaps.

That back feels like it's deliberately trying to get people to buy number & name on it. Minging. I'll buy it anyway. First kit without a hint of Ashley stink on it.

Without going into transfers, there's four things I'm hoping we do better next season: - playing out of a high press - less aimless clearances that just ends up inviting more pressure on our goal - taking our time a bit more on the ball in transition when we don't have runners in good positions - squad rotation BEFORE injuries starts cropping up A bonus fifth: make our midfield harder to play through

One of the few positions we have genuine quality in depth, which we've been screaming out for the last two seasons across all positions, and there's talk of shoehorning Gordon out right to make room for Barnes Lets get a quality RW that can slot right into the side, with Murphy, Almiron and/or Minteh providing cover so we can fight on all fronts next season without fear of not fielding a good enough team to be competitive or risking fatigue injuries.

Taking into account Burns last few games at LB, how much better he's done at CB while Hall has taken his chance to impress at LB with flying colors I should be 100%. Howe fucking loves Dan at LB though I won't allow myself to assume LB is Hall's place to lose from now on until I see a starting line-up beginning of next season chosen from a squad with plenty of injury free players in all positions, and Hall starting.

Fucking Dubravka should have saved that. Pope can't get back soon enough.

Was it? I'll admit I can't remember all the details so feel free to correct me, but can only remember one great save, which was one that I could easily see Dubs also pull off.

It isn't, but it certainly isn't mainly down to Dubs no matter how many times its said on here. He came in just as our injury crisis was peaking. Our form would have plummeted regardless of who was in goal. Pope is clearly better, but he is getting better and better the longer he is away to some. Can't remember him having a standout game since his farcial Liverpool send off.

Good to see the knee jerk reactions are kept to a minimum after a dissapointing result on wednesday. Nothing wrong with what he's said. Still a class player and vital for us on and off the pitch.

Looking back at the replay from the Almiron chance I think it's a bit harsh to blame him. Gordon went for goal with a shot which went wide and was too hard for Miggy to reach in time. Looked like he would have timed his run pretty well if it had been a pass.

Isak fluffing his big chance, Longstaff boinking the ball in the head of Onananan 1v1, Gordons penalty call, Casemiros head being 3cm bigger than a normal head thus clearing the ball off the line....we win this game 9/10 times even when we're not at our best like today. Almiron waking up 0,5 seconds late for the ball from Gordon too.

ARE YOU FRENCH!?

SHUT UP AND LET ME BE MAD AT THE CURRENT N-O™ SCAPEGOAT

bah

We're creating chances. Just need someone to finish them. Barnes on please.

Gordon a victim of his penalty winning actions earlier this season. This one was fairly clear. He's right though. We keep the ball too long between the defenders, inviting a Man Utd press onto us that we aren't able to play past and end up hoofing it to their defence.

Need him on to bulldoze and assert himself against Amrabat so he crawls back into the shell he's been playing from within since he arrived at Man Utd.

So Casemiro and Amrabat are at the top of their game again? How annoying is that? With the exception of a ~10 minute period I think we've been the better and more dangerous team. Think we'll continue to be that in the second half, but we really don't look like we want to score today.