Lenny

There is, mind you, a significant difference between a competent, professional manager determining that a player isn't suitable for their strategy for whatever reason, than an narcissist's ego being the primary reason.

Even without the low hanging fruit, as it were, it was mostly just pretty rubbish.

I feel like what Nunez just did should be red card worthy. Completely cynical and ultimately cheating. Should be discouraged.

You can't say that for certain at all. I thought he was trying to push the player away with no intent or eyes on a specific body part. To say he would try and punch a player is massively OTT.

It's only done us a favour, let's face it

That got me too

Interesting lineup. At face value I worry about the centre of the pitch with only 2 there. Maybe Trippier and Hall invert dynamically to support and make a three with Gordon and Murphy dropping back?

Subjectively poor is fair and I would agree with your example. I think I would just challenge people's use of the word poor as an outright assessment, by highlighting some of the improvements I think he's shown, even on last year's brilliant season.

I think his end product hasn't been as good, but his all round play I feel has improved. He crafts space for himself so frequently to move into vacant space and start attacks. He often makes a lot of angled and clever passes, often on the offensive edge of the middle third that I feel is under appreciated. I'm just personally not seeing performances from him that fit the description of poor. Worse than last season is a reasonable assessment but he was superb last season.

He's moved up front, more often than not when we're changing our tactics to not attack, conserve energy and see out the game. Given that every time we've done it lately we've done exactly that, I can't say that I agree with you.

What do you think was poor about his game? I thought he had a good overall game, and certainly nothing to be worthy of labelling poor. Just to shamelessly repost an earlier one, as I feel it's pertinent to your view: I feel like Gordon is a touch underappreciated at times and seems often called out for average performances when I've found myself seeing a lot of positive stuff from him. I think his all round quality has improved quite a bit since last season insofar that he'll often make progressive passes and show good composure in his decision making. He also seems to always try to make something happen, particularly when in a deep position. He has a knack of doing a really simple stepover and reverse that more often than not takes him round and clear of his marker and opens the opposition up for us to break on.

I feel like Gordon is a touch underappreciated at times and seems often called out for average performances when I've found myself seeing a lot of positive stuff from him. I think his all round quality has improved quite a bit since last season insofar that he'll often make progressive passes and show good composure in his decision making. He also seems to always try to make something happen, particularly when in a deep position. He has a knack of doing a really simple stepover and reverse that more often than not takes him round and clear of his marker and opens the opposition up for us to break on.

Bit of a new favourite toy mentality, mind. Bruno has been absolutely sensational for 3 years. If Tonali is at that level for the same period of time, alongside Bruno, then things really are optimistic for us.

Can't we just have two things we equally adore?

I mean, it was an inflated price and a risk from Brighton, but he's 20. Maybe a touch early to be claiming the W on this one

Had an age to think on that chance and took it brilliantly.

A comprehensive, fairly easy win. I didn't particularly like how early we decided to close up, as it felt like we needlessly gave them an opportunity to build some confidence that a better team might have taken with both hands. Appreciate that we likely do tailor our approach to the opposition, mind.

The touch to get himself the space was fantastic, too.

Sorry but I entirely disagree. Frustrated is fine, embarrassed is ridiculous in any reasonable context.

Using the word "embarrassing" to describe a performance in which our players tried but ultimately failed, falling short to a brilliant opposition performance, is frankly, embarrassing.

Really, really disappointing result. We've been tactically and physically outplayed by a brilliant Bournemouth performance. In shock to absolutely no one however, we aren't the greatest team in the world, and will have days like this as we move forward. Our run has afforded us a great opportunity to have a good season and one poor performance doesn't change that.

It didn't look to me like the players tired; it looked like they had a structured 90 minute game plan that was planned out and managed through as intended. I think there was a demonstrable evolution and maturity to our previous all-action and high intensity at-all-times approach, where we were/are now able to adapt throughout a game depending on circumstance. I think our struggles and questions over our loss of intensity earlier in the season may have been part of our journey to implementing that evolution, and the past few games we've benefitted from the rewards of successfully executing it. It might not be the most exciting for the fans when it plays out into the latter stages, but there's been a satisfyingly methodical approach to our play in the past few games. You expect it'll be geared largely towards minimising injury and maintaining fitness whilst ensuring the game is won.

There was a lot "he's just a young lad" comments and inference in the commentary, so I was expecting him to be 18 or thereabouts. 21 whilst young, isn't really an age that warrants peddling such a narrative. Even if it was an accident, his attitude across the game, and by the sounds of things,in general, doesn't do him any favours and suggests he's got it in him to do it.

I don't think Hall looked anywhere near the level he is currently, last season. He was afforded some, albeit fleeting, opportunities last year but didn't offer anything that screamed must-start. There was certainly nothing in what he displayed that warrants calling out a management mistake or stating with any confidence that he'd had earned us any more points. It's okay for a young player to be steadily introduced and play when deemed ready, and it seems, given how well he's now playing, it was timed and managed effectively.

Bruno F is a brilliant player, still IMO, and Mainoo is clear of Longstaff and Miley but wouldn't be a guaranteed start over Bruno, Tonali and Joelinton. I think Onana would be a good keeper in an organised defence and could significantly improve our distribution from the back, so personally, I prefer him (or what he could be) over Pope.