Lenny

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.

It does seem he's a bit of confidence player. He looked like he couldn't execute even the basics a few games ago, but got himself a goal and now he's looking as equal a cog as any other player in the team, and moreso one of the more in-form players. I don't think I'll ever be truly satisfied seeing his name on the team sheet, but it's simply wrong to deny he's productive at the highest level.

I thought he was pretty horrific until the goal. Made countless errors.

That said, there definitely seems to be more interest in, in wrestling terms, getting themselves over, with soundbites rather than calling what's actually happening on the pitch. It's quite excruciating for the most part. Can't remember their name, but the most traditional/bearable I can think of is the guy that always sounds slightly bunged up

It was as bad as I've think I've heard. That groan of pleasure when Salah scored had me genuinely calling the TV a cunt The worst though was the reaction to the two penalty claims. Ours wasn't a penalty despite the acknowledged clear contact with the player and not the ball, but when Liverpool's claim for the point blank blast of the ball into Burn's arm was dismissed, they quickly pointed out that it would have been a pen if it was the Champions League.

I used assists, an isolated stat, as a loose counter to the suggestion that he, our most productive creator for the last couple of years, cost us Europe with a number of errors that will have been dwarfed by the positives he brought during the season.

I don't think he was his best, but he certainly wasn't poor and remained a key player for us when he was playing. I would be looking to let him leave in Jan, sadly.

He had a poor run of games in December last year, making a few high profile errors. This was at a time, too, when every other available player was also absolutely dead on their feet. Otherwise we've been a significantly better team whilst he's been in it. His problem is off the field, not on it, and our quality has significantly reduced with him out of the side.

How many points were his ten assists worth?

Gordon is playing like he lacks self belief. He's cut in a few times and opted to pass when a shot was possible. He needs a goal badly.

I would imagine Murphy is starting for defensive reasons.

My memory might be deceiving me, but wasn't Perch's redemption arc mostly realised in midfield?

I'm not sure how anyone, with 15 years worth of context and hindsight can hold anything against Given for leaving us when he did. Or Enrique, Keegan, Wijnaldum, Sissoko or anyone that's left us that's been held in even moderate regard, who had a drop of ambition.

His best overall performance of the season today, I thought. His linkup play was much better and his goal was obviously absolutely class. Cooked by 75 again, mind

I thought it was the best he's looked whilst used on the right for us, and quite possibly his best overall performance of the season, too. Well worth trying him there for a run.

Was he quiet going forwards? Thought he gave Timber a torrid time and looked a real threat. Was really refreshing to see us look dangerous that side.

He's shown some real positives that have unfortunately been undone and undermined by his failings in the final third. He uses his power and pace really well to carry the ball into dangerous areas, but unfortunately whenever he gets into them his delivery has been poor. If he can sort out the delivery, he could be a quality player and a source of a lot of goals for us as he gets himself into positions that few others seem to be able to do. As with a frustratingly high number of players in our squad, his passing can be quite sloppy, too.

Tonali already shows he brings speed of passing in the middle that no one else in the team does. The ball from Bruno through to Isak isn't avaliable if Tonali doesn't play such a quick pass. He makes those sort of passes often and we will ultimately benefit from it sooner rather than later. Think he's a quality player, personally and he'll become more influential as he settles into his role.

I wouldn't say I was under selling him. He looks a good prospect but I think his performances were more "good for a 17 year old" than "good for a regular starter in a team with champions league aspirations", which he was forced into being. The team massively struggled whilst he was playing and his lack of experience and readiness was clearly a major factor, amongst many others, in that. You'll not find many 17 year old do what he did because most are protected and eased in. He has the foundations to have a very good future, I certainly rate him, but he needs managed first team exposure, like most at that age.

He's nowhere near as good as Mainoo IMO. He was thrust into the team out of necessity at a time when he was ready for drip-fed exposure to the first team. It was fairly apparent he wasn't ready for a regular starting role quite quickly and he would often be the most invisible of the three we had in the midfield. It was basically Bruno largely carrying all three.