Gallowgate Toon

He will eke another streak out of the team to close the season and finish top 6 imo, but major upgrades are needed in the summer. We need 4 first teamers and better squad competition on top of that.

Meh. Axis of Joe for the final.

Just not good enough on all fronts. Once again, Brighton weren't even good. The team should be embarrassed, seething. Teams regularly come to our house now and outfight us. It's just not good enough.

Defending for the first goal was so poor. We had about 6 players in the box to their 3 but we just decided to leave Szob free on the penalty spot for some reason.

I don't think we'll be playing a midfield 2 in the final, tbf, unless we have injuries. I felt a bit for Tonali & Bruno - it asked a lot of them. Felt like Howe wanted to try something a bit different with the shape.

Isak still travelled so seems like it was a late fitness test. Suggests it's only minor.

Major credit to him. He always tries to be accountable and make things happen.

Their full backs are the main chink in their armour, imo. I don't think tonight's shape really helped us target them.

Well controlled in many aspects but also just meek & boring. Liverpool are evidently a good side but they're not great. Still feel buoyant enough for the final IF we keep everyone fit.

I honestly don't mind him telling us to shut up shop and hit breaks when 4-1 up. When we're at it, we're a fantastic sit & counter side, but it feels like we have taken that to mean we coast with our work off the ball a few times this season which is the crucial bit. That's the part where we lose control most rather than possession play, imo. Losing second balls in key areas & territory when our forward options aren't up for scrapping. Bournemouth & Fulham outdid us here massively. This squad is still very much learning how to develop an elite mentality.

Very important win but it's been increasingly evident this season that there's a mentality issue in the side. We aren't good enough technically to see games out at half pace.

I just don't think Forest is the game for Willock. They'll sit back so he won't be able to do his main thing without that space, unless we open the game up intentionally. Miley shows the signs of being a decent all-rounder who has good consistency in possession. Willock can be unbelievable in tight spaces but he can also be really clumsy. They'd target him for their press.

I'd start him against Forest, if there's no Joelinton. Only alternative may be if Botman is back that we go 3-4-3 with Bruno/Tonali as a 2.

He's still a very good footballer technically, but his physical limitations are there for all to see (and have been for some time). We have to use him just right until the summer. Tino needs to develop mentally - competition is the best thing to drive that. Doesn't help when his CB partner is also very, very slow.

So disappointing, I think we underestimated them more than anything. This team knows how to work when they're in the right mindset. There was a fair case for Trippier to start in that Tino hasn't nailed his place and needs to develop an elite mentality, but it's both good & bad that they're such different players when balancing form/tactics. Maybe Krafth needs to be taken more seriously now as a balanced alternative.

Feels like a throwback player. Love it, tbh (for now).

The curl on his shot for Murphy's goal was ridiculous. From the Gallowgate, I thought it was going about 2 yards wide until it smashed the post. What a footballer.

Nicking it off that overrated gimp, Rice

I'm on cloud 9, man FUCK

The build-up before the teams coming out was fucking incredible. Recency bias but I enjoyed this more than PSG. It was euphoric.

An absolutely monstrous performance. Havertz's Dad.

God.

I'm not mad that we've not spent on a perm this January, it's more irksome for me that we've not looked to secure any loans. We saw with Targett the benefit in doing it, but we're asking the same group of players to give it all again with another promise that next time it'll be better.

I actually rate him and felt he'd have been a really useful player with us had he had a proper run of games, but this is a great opportunity for both himself & us. Smart move by the club. It's just a crying shame if we don't secure an incoming this month, even a loan.

I feel like the most concerning thing is that we're not even seeing flashes in his cameos. It's mainly just lots of bad. All players are confidence players but he's the most confidence-y of our lot by a distance imo.