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Link up play with him and Tino just doesn't seem right. He can be sloppy at times especially the balls going backwards. Can't fault his output and work rate and selfishness but happy the club are looking to improve that side.

Got to find a place for him as a starter i am sure the commentary said he's only had 7 starts.

Worked tirelessly and run his bollocks off but just not quite clicking at the minute for him.

Am I being thick here he played himself into the game kicking it into play then crossing it so it's not a direct corner

Might be reading too much into it but didn't like seeing strapping around Isaks leg/knee in that training video. We need to be realistic with his mins or we gonna end up without both Isak and Wilson. Hopefully Osula can start getting just some sub mins to ease the burden.

Still think him chasing after Schar and pushing him after the whistle was worse than any squaring up they did.

This is by no means a criticism he gets himself in quite good positions when driving forward and then waits to look to pass and sometimes the move/moment/chance is gone wish he was just slightly more attacking in those areas but what a good player for someone so young.

While we rode our luck and were poor in parts we dug in and got the result the issue is if performances don't pick up is this maintainable? Commentary made a good point we were great at defending but so poor breaking out it was cleared around the penalty area but spurs had players unmarked Iining up outside the box just none of them could finish. I do feel the balls that cut across our own goal were only spurs missing a central striker today away from a heavy defeat. Still glad to Bank the 3 points hope those away on internationals come back unscathed and we go again.

At risk of causing any further internal fracturing we just need to pass transfers to Mitchell whatever Summer list we had put it in the bin.

I think my worry is with the numbers out of contract and surely they don't all get extended we already had alot of work to do by the summer already it's usually not good to change alot about your squad in one go and that's where we are headed. Have a bad season this year and say some only your stars also get poached we are to hoping some of these young lads signed can start to step up and then starting all over again. That might sound over dramatic but as much as signing players has future window impact so does standing still.

Been willing to go all in with reported 60 or 65m on one player does mean there is money to spend so that's what makes this more maddening. Hopefully the club learn to deal with more of with the wheeling dealing risk style transfers Mitchell is known for. If we are constantly in threat of PSR shopping in the ready made Premier league bracket brings more certainty on adapting but doesn't appear currently financially viable Buying more from abroad will lead to more misses but it's potentially coming in at a lower fee.

Can't wait for our only further incoming is nobody or our 3rd keeper of the window, results build momentum but off field progress also drives that momentum too. Lack of sponsorships and lack of news of the future of the stadium have made this feel like a stale or backwards period since take over.

My lip reading isn't the best but camera had BDB in shot he gestured like he'd been elbowed but thought he was pointing to his ribs

We are holding "this team" to a much higher standard though with 400m+ invested its harsh at times but if you want to be a consistent top 6 side your gonna have to show up and play more often than not. League is very competitive and we were away which was an issue last year we haven't had a standout half yet never mind game. Even Howe goes on about building that momentum which comes from winning games and playing well. Although saying all that it's very early days.

Getting into liability territory now a wonderful player but if you can't be available your a waste of a squad number. Was gutted for him when I saw how upset he looked coming off but think the commentary said 9 starts last season and the season before that I am sure he was out from around May time.

Purely based on comments from Howe on the osula transfer its his team before Mitchell joined targets. This is me reaching now but it may have been the compromise and assurance that Howe wanted from back at Germany. Mitchell taking a back seat rightly or wrongly is what I think has happened rather than his little black book of contacts suddenly drying up. It's a big gamble we are taking as a club to ultimately be happy with our lot which could ultimately cost someone there job. Do I think everyone is trying? Yes. Do I think they believe only a handful of players match the profile of improving first team, doesn't smash wage structure, isn't a cunt and is happy not currently being in Europe? Yes I do. Do I think we have flogged a dead horse for at least 2 weeks too long? Yes also true but you only have to hope the plan/gamble pays off. Taking it this close to the wire and appearing at least publicly to have all our eggs in one basket may make the club look very foolish.

Disagree slightly every footballer is a bad fall or tackle or 50/50 away from a leg snap etc you don't tend to risk a 60m payday on one game of its that "close"

I can only think back to the time we finished 5th under pardew and keeping it together and expecting results to be the same doesn't always work. Yes we can still at certain parts of the season field a much stronger 11 and have valid options on the bench but our players are a year older, our system adopted is now a year older and has been put into question already. Also will players who played well do so again ie. Gordan already doesn't seem like the player he was last season (I know early days). Meanwhile the pack around that top 8 mix have strengthed so that gap in quality/ability etc is narrowing as you stand still in terms of quality first 11.

Did I hear it right that Eddie referred to him as "Sandy" on today's presser?

While timing isn't great as we do have other priorities it's an opportunistic approach to transfers he's been relegated his stock is low and we are trying to plan for the future potentially life without pope. We all would prefer to move onto glaringly obvious flaws in the starting 11 however you need to strike for these sorts of deals when they crop up.

Add to fact today we had Dan Burn with his boot on the ball slowly play down and looking lost as we were trying to play out the back from him screams as needing another CB who can play out the back/switch play etc.

No excuse but the weight of our passes was awful in the middle of the park Tino and Pope particularly balls were either too soft and closed down by a keen to impress home side or so hard it's bouncing off them. We also spend way too much time with the ball in the air Joelinton is good holding the ball when it's given in tight spaces most of the time but this ping pong shit just always seems to go back to the opposition.

Other than saving wages a loan seems no help to us at all we would be a tino suspension or injury away from kraft or a formation change. Decent fee if he wants to be a gaurenteed starter and we get someone to carry on pushing tino is fine. With all our players would prefer them to leave the prem though.

Pope still did some of the "dark arts stuff" dropping to the knees when getting the ball, walking to collect the ball from off field etc. You could see the treatment thing was genuine pain you saw him grimace on the slow mo.

No where near of Milan levels of pressure we had to soak up due to the calibre of the opposition but for 10 men we seemed more assured than when we were under the cosh and not playing our first choice back 4 for most of the game either. Think Joelinton staying fit and on the pitch is vital to not needing a DM although see what tonali does to the midfield before we judge.