Lenny

Yedlin is obviously not a player we'd touch but equally if still here, a player who you'd expect Howe to get a fair bit more from. 

There will no doubt be other teams (for example West Ham) that have a run of form, and we will also likely have a spell of poorer results, so it's a little presumptuous to dismiss all teams that aren't currently within leap frogging distance of us. 

For West Ham in particular, they will likely have the same mindset as us; to be within touching distance come the world cup. If they've coughed and spluttered their way to the world cup but remain thereabouts, then they'll be a threat for the remainder of the season IMO. 

Bernardo has deliberately left his leg out. Don't particularly think that's a pen.

Re: the DCL header; when I watched it back, I'm pretty certain that even if he directed it on target there's no route to goal because Botman had positioned his head in the way. He'd done done enough without winning the ball by cutting out the route.

Job done, no more no less. A forgettable win is a sign of being in a good place.

Just now, pedro111 said:

 

McCoist?

Oh maybe, unless it was Gray and they played the Bein coverage as pointed out above.

Have Amazon got Andy Gray on commentary for the Liverpool game!?

We deserve to be winning by virtue of the fact that we're showing significantly more intent to win the game than they are, but it's not been great.

Our poorer players are proving just that; maybe it's because I've up since 5am but Longstaff and Murphy have been frustrating me more than usual. They both just aren't good enough over a sustained period of games and are detrimental to the way we want to play. 

Lush goal from Almiron following a decent move.

In other news, I love how creative we are with our set pieces, and seeing repeated sequences of play that have been clearly worked on in training is fast becoming worthy of the "little things in life" thread.

9 minutes ago, jack j said:

Makes it even worse

Out on the lash watching the football and you find time to come on a message board of a team you don't even support

Give it a rest FFS  He frequently posts on the board regardless of whether we're playing the team he supports and it's hardly a cumbersome task to drop a message on a forum with your mobile

Wasn't Des Walker infamously shite for England, or have I just dreamt that up?!

Surely the sport hasn't ever had a bigger (high profile) fraud than Bruce?

It's absolutely mind-blowing that anyone is prepared to give someone a job that pays such an extortionate amount of money, when a 5 minute Google would suggest it's an absolutely terrible idea. You literally need to do minimal research to come to the conclusion that he's not very good.

I think it's likely Joelinton will come in for Longstaff, but Murphy will retain his place.

2 minutes ago, BoSelecta said:

Eddie’s got a headache getting our 60 million quid striker back in the team when he’s fit 

It's a perfect bedding-in scenario for him, if the rest of the attacking players are on form; he can come in when needed and get acclimatised with minimal pressure.

His technique and general footballing ability is absolutely elite. No action is wasted with him, even if a long ball is landing on top of him under pressure, he tries to (and more often than not, does) find a team mate.

1 minute ago, ponsaelius said:

 

We were good but Brentford handed 2-3 goals on a plate which exaggerated the score. That said our press and intensity does force teams into mistakes.

They weren't entirely unforced errors, even if they had a nightmare defensively; there's credit for us to take.

He's been pretty vital to us the last couple of games but some of his decision making just baffles me

I think he just simply doesn't believe in stamina. 

20 minutes ago, Aiston said:

Slipped on his arse when dribbling past 4-5 Brentford players. He's washed.

Still retained the ball, mind. 

2 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

Another very strong goal of the month contender as well 

Contender? Gotta be nailed on and a contender for goal of the season, surely? It was absolutely outrageous

Maybe I'm over-egging it due to the sheer surprise but it was a proper worldie.

Singer going "It's me Austin" with the Italy kit reveal.

I think we've missed him, too.

54 minutes ago, Happinesstan said:

I've got nowt against his punts. It's difficult to pinpoint what it is, speed of mind or feet, but I've come to trust his decision making. 

From what I've seen he appears to leave it to the last moment and I can't tell if he's already made the decision and is just cool as ice, or he's looking for better until the last moment, confident in his ability to kick when needed. 

Either way it's an added excitement to watching.

I just feel like he tends to favour putting his laces through the ball instantly and on almost every occasion. I think as our standards and expectations increase and we're able to get picky about criticising the minor things, it might become a minor annoyance when our desire is to control more of the ball but for now it's nowt.

But for his insta-punt kicking he's been pretty perfect for us so far. 

I believe it was an Ian Watkins enforced name change

If you are basing the season solely off the final league placement with absolutely no context whatsoever, then yes, he did a great job that season.