LiquidAK

By all accounts we're completely at the limits of FFP. You can make an argument to say we should've prioritised differently what we spent in the summer, but I'm not sure just "doing some deals" in January was ever a viable option

Now it doesn't, but at the time it made more sense. Gordon was still bedding in, his rise has been meteoric. The intention imo was Barnes to be our main LW and Gordon getting minutes across the wings, or across the whole front 3 really. Barnes injury and Gordon turning out to be fucking mint on the left changed that calculus. Like a lot of our business last year Barnes was opportunistic - available at a price we were happy with. In an ideal world I suspect we'd have gone for a RW equivalent but for whatever reason that didn't materialise

Forgot about Bruno having a free header on their goal too. So many chances last night, so frustrating how it all fell. Thought I'd wake up happier

I think the thinking at the start of the season was likely that Gordon and Barnes would rotate for the LW spot, with Gordon able to pick up minutes on the RW as well as needed, with Miggy & Murphy primarily rotating for that spot. Barnes' injury and Gordon having such a good season has changed that, but the signing was generally quite a logical one at the time. I still think it will come good as well next season in a similar setup, but hopefully with a better RW as the main starter that side.

Pope has to start on Sunday, and if he's not fit enough to start, then Karius. I don't dislike the guy but he's flapped at every ball that's come near him for the last month, and he wasn't great before that. Did well for us for a few years when first brought in, thanks for the service, welcome back to visit after you've retired etc., but time to say goodbye

And on a more basic level, playing in Europe is fun as fuck. Getting to play a bunch of teams from around the continent we've never played before. It's class. CL is the absolute pinnacle of that but give me any form of it we can get tbh

Disagree with ECL not being worth it. It's European football which is inherently a step in the right direction, and it's a trophy that we could damn well win if we're not hobbled by insane numbers of injuries never season

Poor finishing aside, we never stopped. I don't see that we bottled that in any way tbh, we attacked it for the full 90 and poor decisions in either box cost us. Can't say the lads didn't try

Genuinely don't know how he kept going. After his ankle was fucked I thought he was done, but 90 minutes in he's still sprinting and driving at their defence. Such a shift

He was brilliant tonight tbh. Almost carried us all the way

Absolute bright spark. Delighted for him that he smashed that in. He was clearly up for it as he had a couple of tries at it throughout the night

This is where your post stopped being believable btw

You and @worthy know eachother before or did you like meet on the ward? Love a good "how we met" story

Did wonder how long it would take for the usual to get horny on main for ruthless daddy Yassir. He's under no pressure, everyone with a brain cell is massively impressed with how well he's done given the hand dealt this season

Trippier was clearly not ready. That injury to Tino really fucked us there, no way he comes straight back in like that without that

Absolutely gutting tbh. Enough chances to win the game and a clear penalty not given. I don't even care about Europe at this point, I'd do fucking anything to finish above that toxic cunt stain of a club. 7th still in our hands, think we'll get it too, Brighton will beat this shower. They won't beat City either so it'll be ECL at a minimum

Not tonight tbh. We set up to win that, lapses from individuals fucked it.

What a fucking finish Lewis

As the predictable nonces laying this at Howe's door will soon drown out this thread - we had enough chances to win that 4-3, comfortably and couldn't finish. He can't score it for them. 2 goals lost through defensive stupidity rather than any issue with system. Howe is still absolutely the man - no time for anyone who whinges otherwise. I'm out

Do people not realise 7th is likely still Europe?

Dubravka man. Fucking hell. Literally stick Pope between the sticks in a wheelchair over this

Literally isn't though is it, given it also takes 2 off them. Honestly, use your brain

Could have been 4-2 up easily. Such a kick in the teeth this

Pope with one arm should be starting this like

HOW HAVE YOU NOT FINISHED THAT MIGGY