AyeDubbleYoo

Surely everyone would think Trippier is class?

I think he’s class but I’m not sure how we would use him. We just need people to help us keep the ball IMO.

I think Schar and Fede is a lot better than Schar and Lascelles though. At least on current form/ability.

Agree, seems the obvious answer to just get more bodies in there.

Fraser and Lewis defending Alexander-Arnold and Robertson?

Actually looks to me like he is working on the defensive shape and structure first. If anything, that’s where you can see differences. Under Bruce we weren’t really ‘defensive’ in the sense that a manager had a plan for how to defend and structure the team. It was just negativity plus desperation.

He should get booked deliberately really.

It’s going to be an atrocity. Get Amnesty on the phone.

Think it’s around an 8 now, the PL is brutal this year. Even teams who aren’t that good seem to have far better tools than us, especially in key areas like CB and CM. We have improved a bit but we still have fundamentally poor players in key positions. Keep thinking of what Rafa got out of some of them, but that was years ago now. Obviously we have the advantage of lots of money, so it’s not certain. But we need a big big big turnaround.

How do you mean?

Have to admit I’m starting to worry. As much as about the size of the task as Howe himself. We’re just so bad and the improvements have been fairly minor… not enough to beat the decent teams we now need to beat. The attacking pattern is just non existent, and I don’t see how it can be corrected with two such bad CMs.

We were OK, struggled to keep possession but I think that’s the plan. Don’t deserve to be behind.

Don’t think it’s even his best position, he should be playing wide. I’d be tempted to try and convert Miggy into a CM until Jan. and drop Willock and Lascelles.

We’re a poor team with the potential to be OK. Still shouldn’t be behind though.

That has to be the priority signing.

Maddison has to be one of the most detestable players going.

Me too, but there is so it should be given as a dive.

We haven’t really kept possession at all under Howe yet. We can’t really build attacks, we just hope for an event to create an opening.

Massive dive, ridiculous decision. What’s the point of using a replay?

Lovely use of the word vulpine. Although strange capital letters. 6/10.

On paper I can’t see us resisting the attacking talent they have. But the form and momentum would slightly favour us. Haven’t a clue, feels like a loss but possible to get something.

I just don’t think he has a clear idea of how the team is meant to be attacking. Bruno looks frustrated and poor as well.

Norwich are outplaying Manchester here like.

It’s a walk. At Christmas.

Carroll starting for Reading today.