Gallowgate Toon

Miley is definitely getting better off the ball but it will be a slow burn. 7 tackles yesterday iirc against some really physical players.

Interesting comments from Howe on BBC Newcastle, talked about how the team personnel isn't the same (basically, midfield) so we may need to adapt to regain defensive control. Forest will happily give us possession next week and look to counter.

Fucking maddening what he did there. He knew there was a big gap if he missed it and he looked to half-arse it rather than ensuring if it wasn't ball then he had to take the man. Does have credit in the bank after scoring 2 tidy goals though

He's improved a lot. Still not a first choice these days but very serviceable.

Bruno is combative. He puts in very similar defensive numbers to Joe. Today didn't feel like a DM problem to me, what Joelinton is absolutely class at is winning the ball in the opponent's half which helps to pin teams in and resort to pumping long more often. They managed to get it to Barkley from GKs well and he was able to slip by a fair bit. Miley gets flak for off the ball work but Longstaff feels like a non-entity in this regard at the moment.

And recover faster too.

I think he's pretty great for defensive ones. Improved his attacking this year as well.

Great goals, tbf. Wonder is he's playing through something. Feel like he never makes tackles these days or doesn't really commit to them. Swear he used to do the odd cruncher at least.

Someone, at some point, said he didn't have a left foot. Or at least it was a swinger at best. That was a beautifully controlled strike.

He's doing what is probably technically correct in that he's giving them some distance to have a go and use his body to block them, as if he gets too tight he's absolutely done for considering his agility, but it feels like against Forest and today they could just knock it past with a 5-yard headstart and he's done in seconds. I feel like last year he'd become a lot more tactical as games went on against tricky players but he seems to just do the same thing now despite it not working.

He's so much better on the right. Did put in some fantastic deliveries. Nowhere near enough guile on the left though.

Proper KdB-style strike, watching it back.

Another trivela assist?

Think he's steadily improving off the ball, like. Some of his vision is lovely.

He won't overreact which is good, and 4 points from the last 2 is more than I thought we'd get. We are looking more like our old selves in many ways too but not quite there defensively which is a combination of factors. Got to start learning lessons about Burn now though. The targeting of him these days is a very, very evident pattern and is getting regular success now.

Class, like.

We had some iffy home performances against relegation-threatened teams last season too, it doesn't have to define the season. However, the lack of control today and vs. Forest is so different to those results. Partly the midfield problem but also Burn being a very easy target these days. Actually, Burn is being more exposed due to this but it just means we have to play someone who is better at defending pace 1v1. Our continued lack of tactical fouling when teams break is weird. If you can't get the ball, take the man ffs.

Teams who sit and counter have figured him out especially. Not so bad away when we are generally more compact but he's massively exposed with how high our line often is at home. His distances and when to make contact are all over the shop.

Sounds like Chelsea are whoring Broja about for a loan.

Olise is going to be some player if he stays injury free. He'd be my #1 pick for this summer, if we can get him.

The downside of their midfield 2 is that a 3rd man can find great gaps from the lack of numbers. Miley played a really intelligent game until he gassed out.

The worry here is that they do a Forest with the old sit back and counter. If we're without Wilson and Isak, I'll not be feeling too confident.

I've only watched Villa a few times this season. They were seriously impressive against City but the other times I've seen them have almost been a carbon copy - high line getting exposed but not punished. Underlying stats show they're a good team but have ridden their luck at times.

Once Tino had found the rhythm of the game after a couple of minutes, he was his usual self. He's a fucking brilliant sub in our current scenario due to his adaptability.