Gallowgate Toon

Also, on the nods to Hall and Tino being up so high often against Burnley. I feel like one of the bigger plans for this season was for Bruno and Tonali to often sit as a 2 in possession and do the whole box structure thing which could allow FBs more license to get forward.

Easier to play CBs at full back when you have top class versatile midfielders and forwards. Feels like wingers are so much less direct these days too which means more lean towards unit defending?

Fucking loved that he matched up 4-4-2, like. Felt to me he knew we could murder them by going man-for-man. It's just fun to see it wheeled out as well.

Good interview with him on NUFCTV talking about Howe pulling him to one side and clearing his mind a bit. Clearly been taking the recent criticism to heart. He's done my head in loads this season. The criticism has been justifiable for some of his poor decision-making but he's clearly a great lad.

So pleased for him. I fancy him to get 12/12.

Few Fulham fans at work think he's a solid squad buy. Good athlete and can be very decent in possession, but he does have some concentration issues.

Too good to be true.

Staying felt really important to me. How feasible is it that we'll be able to get to 65k this route?

Got a nudge through a colleague https://www.digitalsportnorth.com/events

We've apparently nabbed the Head of Digital from Chelsea.

The finish for his first

'game changer away from home' is niche criteria. Could also easily apply that logic to Gordon considering his form away, I guess... The lad pulled is points back with heroics against Luton and West Ham. Very clearly can be extremely impactful in adverse situations.

There's absolutely no chance he's good enough to be anything more than 3rd choice now in relation to where we want to be, imo.

He really grew into the game. Obviously a very talented player in terms of technique. Really excited to watch his progression.

Feel like his dribbling/control in tight areas has really been improving this season. Some fantastic turns and bursts today.

Obviously, this season isn't as remarkable as last, but he's basically had to work with 3 fit midfielders for the last 5 months. For a team that needs energy and snap, it's impressive we've got to where we are despite very few options to rotate, make in-game changes, or even manage legs in a match in what is probably the most important area of the pitch.

Paid canny well to play a bit-part for the team he supports, training alongside some world class players, and with his 2 best mates there every day - Dummett and McDermott (became kitman after failing to make it at Heed iirc). Amazing stuff.

Watching Bruno playing in the passion vacuum would be so sad to watch.

We definitely shouldn't be sleeping on Championship players. Twitter knobs demand 'CL quality only', whatever that means, but you can get some really fantastic buys there. Especially pathway players who you can develop over 1/2 years when you know first teamers are likely to be on the way then.

That first goal is a tough watch. Krafth has the ball and evidently needs a clear option - Murphy behind him, Gordon is tucked 10 yards inside where it's already congested rather than wide, and nobody else is there to show for it so it ends up with a rubbish punt while Murphy is out of position. Palace's pressing in that moment was hardly amazing either, we just abandoned basics and then made a series of defensive brainfarts.

I wasn't that impressed with Wharton. Good, snappy work off the ball but I thought he misplaced quite a few easy passes.

Wilson aside, we don't have a good knock it up for a tussle option either. Was hoping we'd see Isak drop in more today at times to help us progress the ball or get a grip. Felt like he was always looking for the chase.

Weirdly for him that felt quite a scared set up. Back 5 hybrid, sit deep, ping long counters. In a way I get it in that their real talent is up top but it seemed we needed to get a grip of midfield & spread the pitch out more once the counters weren't working, especially as they play 2 in midfield.

Absolutely wank. Some dreadful individual performances but Howe has had one of his worst games of the season tonight, imo. Was clear from minute 20 that the shape wasn't working. It's a strange choice against a side who have average fullbacks & a light central midfield. How Krafth stayed on is beyond me.

Feel like 4-3-3 is a better bet here to hold the midfield.