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If people dont think confidence players isn't a thing you just need to see that performance from Gordon there. Didn't all come off and didn't like him as much in the middle in that second half. However once that first pen went in it was like he shifted a massive weight off his shoulders. Some lovely close control stuff big Nicks skills infectious hopefully.

So trips and Hall with no rotation options going forward without a formation change? Targett going was the right decision but is it alex Murphy or burn on the left to cover hall and kraft for trips? So gutted for the team losing 3 already this early in the season and for Tino been one of our better performers. Fingers crossed its not too serious as Jan window still a while away.

Aint watched him and dont want to defend him hope he goes back to the form of his days elsewhere and is a flop but wonder if right now this early into the season if these sorts of performances are more rust etc like its the 3rd game of preseason. Hope its more they dont setup to play to his strengths which highlight his weaknesses which let's be fair although he was world class for us he wasn't the total package and had flaws. Even if he did fail they would get bailed out like with Darwin.

I dont think either of you need my help debating but I think you both could be right? Just looking at the prem only https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/stats/_/id/361/league/ENG.1/season/2024 in 23/24 season we scored 85 goals spread over 20 different goal scorers the rat getting 21 of them in 24/25 that dropped to 68 goals spread over 11 goal scorers the rate getting 23 of them missing loads of context like an ineffective wilson last year and taking out the chance creation/assist data as I am stuck at work and dont have time to deep dive. I think we were setup to get the rat on the ball and scoring goals he was very good at it we press to get up the pitch to give him maximum chance to do what he did best. We are now going to have to evolve we have big Nick which on current showing isnt yet as prolific but drops deep and likes to bring others into the game/goal scoring opportunities. Some may say a team player and selfless?. I think we will and probably need a see a greater spread of goals among the team I hope this will come naturally as the team doesnt just aim to give it to the no.14 ASAP. Evolution/different approach rather than criticism?

Like with any player your only as good as your last good performance the metrics that matter for a supposed England international winger is goals and assists 2 years ago he was up there with 20 goal contributions it tailed off last year and he's been on an unfortunate run of 1 goal, 0 assists and 2 red cards in the last chunk of fixtures (cant remember over what period I read it over the last 14 or 20 fixtures?). I want him to do well we need him and he brings alot more to the side than just goals and assists which is why I put him above Barnes (assume most do) however if we arent going to have an out and out prolific striker (wissa even if he becomes prolific is missing a big chunk of this season through circumstance) so unlike in other seasons the goals didnt matter they now really do. In an ideal world he puts in 10/12 goals a season as a minimum likewise the other wing to share the load. Its so early in the season so things may change but right now I wouldn't be betting on a high goal return from him this year. Hope I eat humble pie (calorie free please) and he proves me wrong. Remembering he got his bumper deal last year and reportedly one of the top earners he's not a bairn anymore we should be putting expectations on him and he seems the type of want to have high standards for himself anyway.

He's our captain and clearly loves and wants to play. Tonali needed the rest and that left kids or willock as the only fit rotation option. Based on willock this season I am glad Bruno played.

Due to wissa injury then lack of training in general and any training at all with us then afcon we probably have still another 10/12+ more games with wissa out of the equation need Gordon/elanga/big Nick to start to gel as a unit may not have been the ideal plan but its the one we need to try and make work.

I won't knock him for trying i said after the match at the weekend we cant walk it into the net and as it happens Gordon's shot led to it bouncing around and led to Joelintons goal. I dont think hes going to be prolific as a goal scorer the issue is we do need to evolve when we had the rat it was all about get it up the pitch ASAP as you had a deadly goal getter in your no.14 now hes gone and big nick is likely not to be a goal machine (yet) but a goal creator/enabler we need our players to get more goals spread the load. Will be interesting to see if Gordon can step up as the side gets used to one another and adapts.

His willingness sometimes over eagerness to receive the ball and tries to get us moving in an attacking sense cannot be forgotten. Its not all going to work they were a fairly physical side as well and he was sometimes working in tight spaces. Not going to argue with your opinion as you were at the game and I was watching on the tele but thought he was excellent. The treaded ball for osula's first no one else in the side except maybe Murphy in full flow does that.

Agreed my only worry is wissa and big nick playing together when do we rest and rotate them? answer will likely be there is a time and a place for it similarly to when rat and Wilson were on together but in theory if they both started its currently back to Osula being the sub or Gordon up top.

Really pleased he got a couple of goals, badly needs to work on his attacking headers 😅 Some lovely link up with Bruno as you would expect and very selfless giving up the chance for his 3rd to play Bruno in. Hopefully the goals and mins is just what he needed for arsenal.

Hes desperate to do well and impress hence the red vs liverpool and the shots tonight. I could almost feel his frustration from my living room. Hopefully settled run in the side and a goal or two to get him back to his best.. Can never fault the work rate or endeavor.

Immense tonight ran the show everything but score a goal.

I am sure i am going to love him can see where his link up play and number 10 style work make him an asset bringing others into goal scoring positions. Wissa and him together will be interesting to see but we need the rotation so maybe not destined to be a thing that often.

That was my initial thought just wasn't sure. As it had no consequence to the final result I was secretly pleased for Bradford and the travelling support.

I thought he was our weakest link front 3 wise, hoping its still just waiting for the Eddie magic/confidence to kick in. Sometimes I wish he would go for goal himself over always trying to play someone in.

Could he have done any better for their goal? Haven't seen it except the once. Really pleased with his calmness on the ball Not sure if he always has to play it short or if that was a tactical thing. At the very least its nice having a genuine option/alternative to pope will hopefully keep pushing the both of them to perform

Maybe its because he's at the stage of needing minutes in his legs or maybe its to develop the CB pairing/partnership he's 8/9 years younger than Burn we need to rely on him a bit more as we need to be sure about offering his next contract and BDB won't be here forever (sad thinking about the end of the schar/burn era).

I know with such rich owners I just want my cake and eat it sort of thing. They fund the stadium debt free we have the stadium and each stand, official beer, soft drink and anything else you can put a deal against is sponsored and it all going towards shiny new players not offsetting the calculated /speculative risk of the owners putting that level of spend into the club. Being debt free and spending the maximum allowed within the rules always sounds better than a % of any extra new stadium revenue offsetting a 20 year loan that costs say 10/15m a season in interest to fund.

Agreed just would hope any new stadium sponsor would help support our PSR calculations and not offset debt costs.

I dont get it either unless they believe if they can get a good rate it allows them to invest their money elsewhere and not "tie it up" in a long term investment. The money they are both worth surely even 1B is pocket change.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2023/04/ross-wilson-lost-rangers-45m-ex-ibrox-dof-failings-laid-bare/amp/

He will have 12 months left on his deal come the summer its a big season for him to prove he can stay fit and contribute both important if we want to offer him a new deal or help with resale value should we cut our losses.

I am sure i am going to love him can see where his link up play and number 10 style work make him an asset but with us playing 1 up top he's playing very deep for how we normally play. Wissa and him together will be interesting to see but we need the rotation so maybe not destined to be a thing that often.

Plus we play in 3 days time every game is important he can't play every min going and swap or join wissa on the treatment table