AyeDubbleYoo

We’re definitely not talking about the handball enough either, it’s a blatant penalty.

Murphy and Burn are the noticeable players who shouldn’t be starting for me. Apart from that the lineup yesterday looked excellent. Put Botman and Barnes/new winger in and it’s the best team we’ve put out in probably 10+ years. Like I keep saying, based on the first half I thought our season was about to take off. Weird situation.

But all of those are good?

The whole first half was very good. I was ready to start posting about how well Howe was addressing all our problems of the season TBH.

We need to brace ourselves for the next couple of games as well, could be a real low point if we get knocked out of the cup, lose to Chelsea in the league and then lose heavily to Arsenal. Very possible even if we don’t play badly. Stay the course people.

Based on the first 35 minutes I thought we were going to batter them

He was making runs but they were often between 2-4 Brighton players where the ball is unlikely to come unless the midfielder is very brave.

Had one of his championship games today. Miggy was in team of the round from the South American games as well. Guess he hasn’t been training.

Our setup looked great to me at the start, it was excellent how the midfielders were pushing up and combining with the forwards. Sadly Murphy wasted a lot of the attacks and then we let a goal in. I can’t be bothered to scroll back but I assume we were feeling very positive before they scored. I definitely was. The second half was almost like a different game - Brighton did a bit better but we got more and more desperate, tired and error-prone. The ref was also diabolical and the Welbeck injury completely stopped the flow of the game. The subs were weird but I guess you think you have to try something. Longstaff taking the late set pieces was criminal though, don’t get that at all. Today I would give most of the criticism to players, I thought we were set up pretty well.

Hmm, I get your point but we did play very well in the first half. Which is what everyone was waiting for. Just let in a soft goal and then the second half became very frustrating. Said before this game that the next week or so had the potential to very grim. Get knocked out the cup by Chelsea and lose to Arsenal is very possible.

Thought the first half was probably the best we’ve played this season. Got more and more frustrating as it went on of course, and we continue to make some amateur mistakes and baffling decisions. Didn’t really deserve to lose but couldn’t get it done.

They’ve just started playing together TBF. Agree though.

Sorry to miss you mate, take care of yourself

It’s possible I suppose.

Technically you’re correct.

Nah, he definitely says he was a really good manager and we wouldn’t be where we are now if he hadn’t kept us up. Unnecessary and weird.

ITK?

Comes across really well on the podcast but lavishes praise on Bruce.

We genuinely should have a Kevin Keegan stand, and a statue.

Many things you could never criticise him for. He tries his best, he loves the club, he knows how lucky he is. Have to respect the lad even though I’m a big critic of his play at times.

I think you would know if there had been

2028.

Assuming we're comfortably winning.

Don’t think we have good enough CBs to want to play 3 TBH, although not fully against the idea.

Talking about coaching pathways is great and all that, but if you’re talking about PL club managers then they’re always going to select from the best few managers in the world. At best a handful of those are going to be English. If we mean pathways to England manager that don’t come through top clubs, I guess that would point to people like Carsley. Who by all accounts seemed exactly the kind of candidate we want the system to produce.