Gallowgate Toon

His set up for these types of games at home is often very good. I thought he could've made subs earlier tonight, we were losing legs on the left at 70 minutes and Hall was being exposed too much. But love that we kept going, and we deserved something from the game.

What a game. Could've done better in areas but you've just got to enjoy that as a spectacle. Just so happy we didn't lose.

Is his lack of mobility really an issue at CM? We'd have plenty of legs in and around him, the squad is full of good athletes. For me, you want him pressing high because he's really good at nicking the ball, and you want him handling things in the final third as much as possible because he's got genuine vision, touch, and control in there.

If Isak is fit then I think he needs to stick with the same starting XI again to try and get some continuity going. It's a side well suited to counters which is what we'll likely play. Gordon has been doing my nut in for the last 2 games but if there's a game he's going to perform in then it's this one - I fancy him against Robertson as well. If it's another no-show then drop him on the weekend. Hopefully, Joe & Jo have proper boots on. If they're on form then they could really help to lock down their right.

Gordon is a big problem for him - time for the bench imo, far too much is breaking down due to him. Did do well for the goal but just about awful apart from that. Hope we persist with some combination of Willock-Tonali-Bruno - the combo will come good.

Easily the best of the bunch.

9 corners without a shot on target is some going. Some absolutely stinking performances from the forwards, yet again. So many poor passes and touches in good positions.

Second half against Brighton: Gordon misses a header from 6 yards Isak is put through by Tonali but inexplicably runs into a defender Gordon is put through but decides to pass back to the 'keeper Numerous half chances as well, one right in Isak's corridor where Hall plays him in.

Isak's finishing has been poor this season - he's pretty much only scored when it's been put on a plate for him, but he'll start converting half chances again soon. Gordon's finishing has massively regressed and he's pretty much never in good positions to score scruffy goals anymore either.

At the time, I wasn't too disgruntled about Barnes coming on but, thinking back, our midfield to win the game vs. Forest was Bruno-Tonali-Longstaff. Should've just gone with that and introduced Barnes later.

Didn't Klopp push for his mate to be Director of Football on an interim basis to try and get his transfers through? Just turned out he was rubbish

Tempted to drop Gordon but he'll likely play. Main thing is the midfield mix - we're likely going to have lots of the ball, we need to enable Bruno in the right positions (if he's fit). Willock-Tonali-Bruno, for me.

Trippier was a huge reason why Bruno playing deeper was less of an issue than it is now, he was such a good playmaker and basically ran the entire right hand side. He's not the future though and we need to adapt - Tino brings a different skillset and is a developing player. Free Bruno!

He has a big problem in Gordon. He's tried to continually back him but, facts laid out, I think he has 1 open play goal and 1 assist despite starting almost every game? Running is all good but they are pitiful numbers for a team trying to challenge for Europe when he's meant to be our next biggest threat after Isak. I think it's become obvious in matches like last night that he needs to free Bruno up as well. That's the biggest problem with playing Longstaff, for me, you lose in-game tactical flexibility because his skillset is effectively RCM or nothing.

I think he's also mastered the art of chasing the lost cause but neglecting fairly important other defensive work as well. Something just looks different about him even though lots of things are still the same - it's hard to put a finger on. I don't think his head has been turned but I do think he might've lost some sight of what made him so good last season; he was an absolute pest, first and foremost. His off the ball movement has seemingly become non-existant.

Also, fuck these stupid international breaks. I'm deluded/sure we smash that if it's the week after Forest.

I was disappointed he started left. The Joe-Jo axis is the whole point.

NUFC at its worst tonight. Flat/expectant crowd, brittle confidence, passive, lacking in spirit. Didn't do the basics well after the first went in, coupled with abysmal output. Heads dropped far too early for my liking.

The confidence drained out of him in real-time.

Dibling looks a lovely player.

It doesn't feel out of the realms of possibility that he could've been blackmailed to fix matches under the threat of releasing photos/info, like. Odds that it'll come out that PGMOL were already aware but are continuing to struggle with developing refs so decided to 'manage it'.

I think Barnes and Isak in the frontline is weaker on the defensive front than Howe wants - very capable athletes but not exactly pressing monsters. With our press, I think you can slightly 'carry' one man. I'm pretty sure it's just because we need to manage Isak's legs more due to Wilson being paper, but he's not the presser he was when he came back from injury in 22/23.

He can still play CM sometimes, definitely in case of emergency, but a wing role does bring out a lot of his strengths for the team. Opens up a clearer path for Miley to get gametime which is no bad thing either.

There's a busy period coming up so he's going to see lots of gametime. He'll play during the international break too, I'm sure, so Howe probably had an eye on protecting him. I do think the key with him and Bruno is rotating for gamestate/opponent. Tonali has really impressed me in the central role, he brings a more classic feel to it - good positioning, simple but quick passing, great athleticism. I don't think he's a dud RCM at all though, there are just games/shapes he'll be better there vs. central. Selfishly, seeing Bruno in the final third more is an actual joy too.

Whoever mentioned Willock is gold dust for him is bang on. Such a positive player who looks to get close to Isak and, crucially, run beyond him (at pace). I really liked the sort of 4-4-2 they were in against Arsenal.