Gallowgate Toon

I keep getting frustrated that we're taking it long from GKs etc. and then see our defence trying to build play Disappointed in Hall, like. Fairly standard stuff for an away cup tie very early on in the season. We just need to build some rhythm.

Aye, he's had the ball in decent positions and been very wasteful. It is important we keep trying to get him in the game though. Not easy for a lone man against a back 3.

Looking very decent

Hopefully just a precautionary measure with him. So tough to see him distressed.

Pretty sure we're going to end up with either Disasi or Chalobah, tbh. Maybe loan, maybe a cheap permanent.

Fairly promising that this has come from the guy that Palace clearly brief? Although, that could mean he's been asked to basically do a 'last chance to buy' bit of PR before they resoundingly reject the offer Strange goings on at Palace, likely driven by the ownership turmoil. Potentially losing quite a few key players/characters without securing great replacements.

Would go strong. We need to build fitness, sharpness, and rhythm with our best 11 - it's a bit early to be worrying about rotation too much imo. Also, we want to win a cup!

If you asked both Barnes and Gordon if you'd rather be on the bench or starting RW, neither are saying bench. It's telling that Howe plays them both when we're chasing games - we can configure a starting lineup with them both in.

Midfield options

We had these exact types of performances then too though. Second game that season was Brighton away and we were well beaten in general play while looking very leggy.

Thought he looked weirdly heavy today.

Aye. Seemed we set up to counter for some reason - looked like we didn't want to get into a firefight with them which doesn't feel a ringing endorsement of Howe's trust in the current state of the squad. 4-4-2 can't work with Gordon and Isak though as they're both weak - when you inevitably need to knock it longer, they can't do much more than just get in the way or maybe scrat the odd lucky second ball. We had such a poor platform to try and control the game.

I think our general change of shape and Barnes helped just as much. Tino is a good dribbler but passing needs to improve - somebody a little more technically secure than Longstaff ahead of him will help.

No issue with him not starting today. We need to be really careful with his fitness.

He'll be class. Midfield setup fucked him, tbh, and others.

Appreciate we're managing returns to fitness etc. but he's paid the price of a very poor starting setup. Whatever he's doing with Gordon needs to stop - he's a menace in space, don't plonk him in packed areas. If he's not fit enough to do the yards out left then don't start him.

Stop fucking about between him and Gordon and play both.

For everyone referencing 22/23, we were absolutely battered down Brighton at this stage and got lucky there as well. We paid the price for a very poor setup first half. Poor shape, poor approach to building play. We looked a lot better last 30 as we had better players on - it's not complicated.

Aye, I usually see sense in his tactics but this has been almost fearful.

Absolutely baffling setup, tbh. No LW while we're playing a defensive left back? Why are we so obsessed with going for killer balls if we're so scared of them countering?

Why are we playing counter 4-4-2 against Bournemouth?

He'll get plenty of minutes this season. Think this is the right call for today.

Got a nagging feeling that we're so calm about this due to Chelsea who are surely going to be the masters of this coming week. I'm expecting a decent chunk of that bomb squad are going to move in some capacity which would likely unlock a fairly massive domino effect.

Do Brighton have anyone to consistently score goals?

Score draw feels about right. We've got some very decent options off the bench though, if the lineup is as expected.