AyeDubbleYoo

Wouldn't be the first time I talked nonsense, but it was fairly low profile prioritisation if so

Does he play in a 4-3-3 for Italy as well? I haven't watched.

I don't think there's any mystery about Osula, he was signed as a young third striker to take some minutes off the backs of Wilson and Isak. Because it's difficult to bring in a striker when you already have the first 2 spots locked down. Not to save a struggling team when everyone else is playing shit.

Yeah, but we didn't want a holding midfielder, I assume. We've never really been close to one as far as I remember. The vision was for an all-action team that just stomps all over people, as far off as that seems now. Whether that might change, I'm not sure. It's quite a big decision though because we now have a decent number of CMs and effective DMs tend to cost loads.

Well, it should always be a discussion between everyone. Everyone will have to compromise, including Howe. Backing the manager doesn't mean letting him decide everything. I would expect Howe to have a type or profile of player he thinks we need, rather than a post-it note with one name on it. I'm sure Howe wanted Tosin for example, he wasn't just obsessed with Guehi forever. We just thought we could get Guehi but in the end we failed.

Well, he's a lot better than Longstaff. I assume we signed Tonali because we do see Bruno as the long-term central 6. I still think it's Bruno's best position, in the same way as Rodri for example. But I guess we might have to face the facts that we're not a dominant enough team to have someone with his profile there. I can understand the thinking though.

I was against team challenges like in American sports, because I think the aim should be to get every decision right and not just a few. But at least if coaches could challenge they could force the issue in the most important situations. Generally my approach to VAR would be more like a second referee with a better view, who constantly advises the on-field ref because he can see better. This idea of protecting the decisions of the on-field ref seems archaic to me - who cares as long as the decision is right?

The chance error wasn't as clear as that still image suggests. In that image he's taking the touch in-field, and a second later the covering defender was back.

I thought against Brighton it was much more dynamic and it was clear that we were trying to establish the combinations further up the pitch. The Chelsea game was way too much for us though, their attackers are just too capable of getting free and make very few technical mistakes while we make loads. I'm not against trying the 4-2-3-1 mind, something has to give.

Brighton was the worst refereeing display I've seen for a long time. Like I said, I usually try to ignore referees because I realise I'm biased, but he was dire.

That's logical if you think about it, that's why we have VAR The biggest improvement they could make would be to ignore the referee's decision.

Palmer is ridiculously difficult to stop mind. He moves around constantly and he attacks from all three channels - left, right and centre. His first touch and awareness are incredible and he only needs half a yard to play a killer pass. Even if you sit deep he might easily curl a goal from outside the box We looked unprepared for handling him, I admit, but I don't have the answer on me either. I think part of our issue is that Chelsea had arrogance/confidence to play direct passes that other teams wouldn't even attempt, because they have a couple of players that can collect the ball in almost any position.

Arguably a red card for goalscoring opportunity as well.

Would be weird given he's primarily interesting in coaching... what would he be coaching if not patterns of play?

End of the year or end of the season?

Guehi and Elanga for £90m is not good business no matter who is the manager, mainly because Elanga isn't good enough. Guehi for 50 and someone better than Elanga for 40 and we might be talking.

I thought he had a poor game yesterday overall, was very wasteful with the ball.

I don't remember this period

I don't know the bag rules. They do check bags but they might just be checking for dangerous stuff.

Yeah, you can bring anything if you don't show it too obviously. I bring in a large coffee and a chocolate bar or something most games, just don't hold it up when I go through the turnstile. I actually don't know if food in your bag is even banned, the guy I sometimes sit with in the Leazes always brings stuff for his children. It seems fairly common but I don't know the actual rules.

He's playing way below his level but then so is everyone else.

He's fast, athletic and covers loads of ground. I don't see why he's the wrong for the way we play.

Yeah, I was actually happy he was starting but didn't notice he was playing.

Unbelievably unlucky this like, just after his new deal boost.

I think we'll lose but maybe this is the moment to change something, since we're facing the same opponent. We might hit on something that has an effect.