Gallowgate Toon

A strange end to a strange season. Some fantastic memories made but not too gutted it's over, it's been very intense. Feels like everyone needs a break. Hopefully, City batter Man U in the cup. It's not unimportant to finish above another Big 6er either but it's a very small consolation for a season where I thought we'd finally break our duck.

Frustrating to see him back and quickly showing his level. Just shows how important physical presence is in the PL. We want to have increased technical ability, of course, but the best midfields in the league all have athleticism.

It's actually quite annoying watching Joelinton and Pope back for us. What could have been. Jk, class to go out with a bang. Let's get at least 5.

Agreed with the Man U sentiments. Really not had any connection with him since the loan.

I genuinely can't remember the last time he put in a good tackle.

What I like most about him is that he takes responsibility on the ball himself. Really, really impressive.

Pope injury aside, I do think the midfield away from home has been our biggest problem. Not enough physicality to grab games, not enough technical ability to help us control pace and build play, but also seemingly awful at winning second balls. All the good things you see away teams coming here and doing we've not been able to do. I don't think it's a shock when you consider the other mids who've played most have been Longstaff and probably Miley. I feel like we'd have been able to get around this more with physical players up top who could help us gain territory but only Wilson has the profile for that really.

Aye, same. Murphy does have good moments in him, his delivery can be excellent, but I find all other attributes of his game are so variable that they can really hinder us in general play. He's not canny with the ball, it's a bit all or nothing depending on his one trick.

This one's going to sting for a while. The chances we missed ffs.

Yup, it's just about the perfect competition for the state of our current squad.

Feels like we try to be too clever with him and Gordon a la Joelinton/Willock when the mix of attributes isn't the same. Gordon is such a a threat when properly wide as he has options to use his pace.

Just don't get the tactical decision to start Murphy at all. Howe will be kicking himself tonight. We should've gone for it early against a fragile side with a patchwork defence.

Why didn't he chop back, man?

Thanks for everything, time to go.

Let down by someone of his stars/seniors tonight but he should've made changes earlier as well.

Only Gordon and Hall can come out with any credit tonight. Knew from the moment Isak didn't score that we'd not win this. Still too much deadwood and not enough quality as we all know.

Really wish we'd stop pinging long balls forward so much. That's what the likes of Evans want ffs. Got to go for this. Joelinton and Barnes on.

Caught 50 mins or so. Really like the look of Harrison.

There was actually a moment on the weekend where Hall was on the ball approaching the halfway line, Bruno came deep to get it off him but Hall seemed happy to keep hold of it & was telling Bruno to move forward. It led to a pass mix-up, iirc, but it felt telling that Bruno wasn't used to it from our left

I don't think the plan will be for Tosin to be a de facto #1 RCB. Obviously, he'll be in contention for it if he plays well, but I think the more likely plan is this will be Schar's last season and we'll then go big on a young CB like Scalvini.

The idea of having some recovery pace, man

The pre-match and early atmosphere was class in the Gallowgate.

He was very leggy and made some weird choices on the ball. I took him going off as a sign we needed to protect him with 3 in a week meaning Wilson is likely out for the season now. Hopefully, he was just ill and Wilson will make Wednesday.

Chelsea have a very difficult fixture in Brighton away, like. Also, Brighton fans at work hate Chelsea for being pilfering cunts. I think they'll be well up for it.

All being well, we have a reasonable bench for Weds still. We have a lot of decent firepower and Man U are so light defensively. If only it were that simple