Lotus

His reading and anticipation is top drawer.

We have to find a way to exploit the space when teams double up on ASM. Whether that means Trippier moves more to a DM position to allow Bruno to push to the 10 or whatever. It’s a prime advantage of having someone who can win one to one’s. If he hasn’t isolated the defender there has to be space elsewhere.

Seen that too.

I did like Bramble as a player and really wanted him to just become those crucial few % better. Watching him frustrate the fuck out of Henry was glorious. But…..

Tbh, unless I’m remembering it with nettle tinted spectacles, I recall Bramble having a ‘moment’ every game. It’s just the opposition wasn’t always good enough to capitalise. When they weren’t half bad, his lapses would be very costly. Unfortunately you can’t build anything with unreliability like that. 6 foot of him was great. The top 2 inches were just fallible enough.

Thought he was the best CB on the pitch yesterday. Absolutely excellent.

We’ve signed 3 real difference makers (outfield). Botman, Bruno and Isak have and will make us a very different team. We need 3 more, another top defender, another midfielder and another forward. All of similar quality. Add those and we’ll be purring. Tripps is a bit different. He needs an understudy.

Wilson can play with his back to goal. So far, Isak can’t. He might be able to in time but right now, no.

Don’t really believe these Gordon links are based on anything real but, for arguments sake. If he was on the bench against Palace, does anyone think him coming on would’ve changed the game significantly for us? We need players who offer something different from what we have. Not more of the same.

Teams have seen half a season of him doing what he does and are looking to defend against it early and firmly. He needs to find another way to affect our scoring opportunities.

Would try ASM and Isak for Willock and Wilson. Problem with Isak is he drops out of the 9 position to receive the ball. He’s good at it too. A midfield runner when that happens is a must though. You’d normally think Willock would be the one for that. Maybe Miggy off his wing? Or JL7 coming from deep? Something to pull the team out of shape.

You’re right about us not creating as many clear cut chances though. Some decent positions but not one on ones or super sharp stuff in the box.

We’re not winning the ball as high up the pitch recently. A lot of our chances have come from that. Teams have figured out and are trying to mitigate it. We’ll need to evolve a bit to present a different problem. Won’t happen overnight and may need some new players to do it. Good teams find a way. I don’t think we’re there yet but that’ll be the next challenge. Personally I’m not sure top 4 is on this season. It’s inevitable to plateau. No one needs to panic over it either. Wouldn’t be surprised if we slip back a little. Other teams around and below us have far superior squads. Hope I’m wrong. Maybe ASM and Isak can really spark things off.

Come on, man. Those Wilson chances……I mean one of them, there’s more goal to hit than keeper but that’s exactly where the ball goes. As a team we haven’t been clinical enough and as the season goes on, we’ll need to be if we’re to maintain a top 4 spot. Because our chances will become more limited as we play teams like Palace, who 10 games ago would’ve considered us equals and would’ve gone for a win. Now, they know what we do so they’re much more careful. Especially with playing it out from the back.

Can’t have part ownership of players in the EPL can you?

Think Tielemans should try a slower more technical league like Italy or Spain.

Palace have some clever forwards. I think they know what they’re good at. Some day a team like Palace are gonna get around our high press and use pacy forwards to get at our back line. Hope it’s not this weekend!

Despite me and @McCormick fearing it, he played the base of a midfield 3 pretty well. Kept the ball moving quickly. Doubt Shelvey would’ve done any better.

I hope Everton sort themselves out. Would be good for Liverpool to have some serious competition. Also, the Everton academy has been pretty good and some top England players have come out of it.

Lucky win.

We could do a formation change. 442 with ASM and Isak or 4231 with JL7 and Longstaff in midfield and Willock at 10, ASM and Miggy wide.

I agree but who else? JL did not look at natural fit there against Wednesday.

Have to remember we played well last Jan & Feb without Bruno but Shelvey was fit and playing well.

You’d have to think Longstaff at 6 and Willock and JL7 as the 8s. ASM on the left.

If we start Murphy in place of JL7 or ASM I bet we still win.