Lotus

I guess it came down to who could replace him. Gordon shouldn't have been playing, that was obvious but who else?

We're gonna burn him out if we carry on like this.

Think our whole 'a good press is better than a good 10' approach has come completely undone due to injuries and fatigue. Probably impossible to develop a new style or system on the fly. We need different types of players than just runners. FFP has hindered that so we'll just have to tough it out until we can recruit more along the lines of what we need for the new challenges.

With you until the 3rd paragraph.

He's not the reason we lost. But not having another midfielder who can play a killer ball was the reason we didn't win.

Players looked a little used to losing. Very fatigued mentally as well as physically. They'll be very disappointed. We need to be supporters not just fans. It's easy to get emotional and reactive after a bad few weeks. Let's see how we are come the end of January.

Me too. Longstaff not really doing anything.

Bruno looks knackered.

No midfielders on the bench (Ritchie doesn’t count), only a half fit Isak as an attacking option and 4 fullbacks. Don’t think the bench looks good myself. Hopefully we don’t need it.

It would be good to have a CM in the squad whose 1st instinct is to provide a while to the centre backs. Doesn’t mean we have to play them all the time but there are times and have been a few this season alone when it would’ve been handy.

I remember seeing Burn having a few dodgy games last season and I was wondering for ages why Targett wasn’t getting on the pitch. Then he did and within about 5 minutes I could see why Eddie was picking Burn ahead of him. I guess if Hall isn’t playing, the reality is that he’s just not up to it yet. It’s something I have to tell myself. EH will know when a player can effectively contribute.

The traditional 10 role does seem to be dead in Europe at least, not sure about elsewhere. I agree we need the kind of player who can play make in advanced areas. As someone else said, an Odegaard type who has the engine for the midfield but has the eye for line breaking passing or a wide player who can cut inside, receive in tight spaces or just make space and then release other players. A player with vision and technique.

We are a less potent attacking threat without Trippier. For sure though, when results were pretty much assured (win or loss) we could’ve been giving players like Trippier 15-20 minutes off and have had able deputies like Kraft covering.

When I watched MoTD I felt the Jimenez challenge was more a red than I did live. Was pretty reckless.

I think the hardest I’ve seen Miggy hit a ball was yesterday and it was with his right ? Hit a defender and bounced out. Think maybe Burn’s goal was the result cause Bruno picked up the rebound.

Actually think that could be a problem for Tonali if and when we see him. He was a big deal in Milan and rightly so but our CMs have quite a diverse skill set and some very very good players and athletes amongst them. Bruno has talent but it’s his attitude and desire which are so stand out. Can you have 2 of those in the middle? Obvs I hope so and hope it works like a treat…

Yeah, I saw it. He did it once iirc and a Fulham player picked it up. He normally just passes with his right. Just an observation. Longstaff who’s not nearly as good a passer can and does use both feet. It can be handy like…

I really don’t believe he jumped with the intention of arsing him in the face ?

He’s very one footed. Great with it though. I’m now kinda glad he’s slow as f**k because he if he had any fast twitch fibres at all he’d have definitely pulled them by now the way charges about.

Can see why Jimenez saw red but it was one of those where I really don’t think he meant it. I’ve seen it rugby too (was also a red fwiw) but once the player has jumped you just can’t change your trajectory. Felt a bit for him but, as said dems the rules.

I’ve been a big advocate for him. I think he may have the best left foot in the squad. But I thought he looked a little lost when he came on. Not all his fault as he wasn’t involved much by the others when open. Once or twice I thought defensively he looked a little less than good. But also some a couple of great passes, one in particular, couldn’t see anyone else on the left doing that… Very tough to judge him. Very talented ball player. Just trying to see what it is EH doesn’t yet fancy in him. I’m very much hoping getting him games will allow him to feel part of it all and he then raises his level til the point he’s always in the conversation.

Think we need the left foot of Hall here. I'd be surprised if it happened, like.

He looks knackered to me. His head movement when running gets more and more exaggerated as he flags.

Think Miley’s physique and one touch passing accuracy will lend itself to seeing him playing deepest of our midfield 3 once he gets to grips with the tactical nous necessary.

He looks like a CF playing on the left. He only offers a fraction of what Gordon does there. But, if he’s got a knock and his fitness is suboptimal then he will look bang ordinary.