Gallowgate Toon

Adam Harrison will be on the bench tomorrow.

Great post. No style of play is foolproof. For all the talk that our style is a reason for injuries, other teams who don't play the same way as us but have also been struggling to keep the majority of players fit. The natural reaction could be that we should tone it down and become more possession-based. City are obviously a cracking team but I find them and their robotic control very boring on most occasions, personally - I'd much rather watch us at full flight as much as we can. The best way to do that is to continue invest in the squad and academy which is what we're doing.

If there is a silver lining from the injury pileup, it's the emergence of Tino and Miley. There's still a chance for Hall to stake his claim too, all it takes is a good showing next Saturday to get the ball rolling. If that Wolves game was played now and it was the same situation at 65 minutes, I don't think Howe would have any qualms about chucking Tino in now to help shore things up or subbing in Miley if we're looking leggy in the middle.

It's gamestate in a low-scoring sport, innit. You'd clearly started the brighter but we had the 2 best initial chances in the game and didn't take either, you then go and score from a great move. If one goes in, that changes the complexion of the game dramatically... whether positively or negatively - who knows? The core problem for us isn't necessarily who is out as a genuine first teamer being out (although there are 5 really important players out imo), it's the churn of generally high level games we have with very little options to rotate even in-game while being in 3 competitions where we seem to consistently be playing really tough opposition every few days. Before yesterday, we'd barely made a sub in the previous 5 and were naming 3 'keepers on the bench. Similar to you, energy is a very big factor in our gameplan (tbh, it is for the vast majority of teams) but we know we're not going to be able to do what we want over 90 minutes because there's no actual plan b for the final third of the game. There's also the question as to whether a few of our available lot would even be playing if others weren't injured - I think there are a few playing through more than just knocks.

A lot of focus seems to be about our technical ability to play out from the back but it's something that requires physicality too. If you're not at it from that perspective, it'll fail, because it requires movement from others but also needs the player in possession to be capable of making their own space too. Even City can look ragged when playing out when they're not at their level.

Wonder how he plays the next couple of games, assuming that there are no more injuries (lol) and we can at least get Barnes back for the next 2. Feels too risky to chuck in the returners in from the start for either match so hoping for super sub situations to help see us through and gain some %ages back for the knackered lads.

While his goalscoring output has improved so much since Howe came in (obvs streaky), his assist numbers are abysmal.

Someone raised Klopp in this thread before but weren't Liverpool pretty shite the first half of last season while they had an injury crisis?

He's definitely made up meeting Silverstone, hasn't he?

Things feel sketchy now but I genuinely think we hit 35 points at the hallway mark which would be a very good platform to build on. Players coming back is huge, even if just mentally for the current players and beginning some rotation while others get back up-to-speed, as well as knowing our European fate. I think that'll have been a bit of a mental millstone the last week or so as they'll all be desperate to be in it.

Still think the big plan was for Gordon and Barnes to be our 'best' wingers, like.

Sometimes, you just need a bit of luck too. Spurs gave Villa a good run around but finishing was poor/injuries happened and Villa were able to work into it.

There really is so much left to look forward to this season and we've had some class highs already. Just a shit situation right now but hopefully starting to come out the other side. Win our next 3 in the league and it's 35 points halfway. Plenty to work with there.

Aye, he's definitely earned his stripes to be a genuine option with everyone fit. Done exceptionally well the way he's been thrown in after glandular fever.

Bit of a lesson for him today off the ball. Still, some lovely touches. (Joelinton and Bruno not much better.)

Got a weird feeling that we're going to win handsomely

There are some shouts that Pope has a ceiling too, like. Wouldn't dare get rid of him as he's class but finding some better competition is no bad thing.

This is just a fun opportunity in a season where we've got a chance of achieving something (still believe we can win a trophy this year, regardless of this week). Don't understand panicking about it. Although, I only actually speak with 1 mackem so maybe that's why

But he's barely moving Neither coming deep nor trying to work channels in the last 2. Just seems to plant himself between CBs at the moment. It's likely due to trying to maintain a base level of fitness but it's frustrating to watch when he can be so fucking good. For all the talk of service this year too he's missed quite a few really, really decent chances.

Think there's a fair shout that he's pretty rusty. If he doesn't improve before new year, I'd be going out for a keeper and sacking off one of the current lot.

Yup, don't feel selection was wrong today but the gameplan seemed lost. It's a shame as he showed in 21/22 that he can coach a really good sit deep and counter team but we're not seeing it anymore. It came out a bit last season when we needed it but, PSG aside, we always seem to try and stick to our core plan at the moment. I think he wants to see us control situations with possession now but that requires good movement and stamina as well. Felt like it might've been prudent to try starting deeper today as Spurs always start fast. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.

After some immense performances last week, he's been canny tragic this week. Nature of the beast with him. Likely due to the situation but I've found his tracking back the last 2 games to be very poor.

Anderson started 4 league games in a row before getting injured. Don't disagree about the defence, made that very clear already.

2 such un-Howe performances. We'll have the last laugh over Spurs at the end of the season.

I really think the rotation think is massively overplayed. Defence aside, we rotated plenty when a decent amount of the squad were available. Isak-Wilson, all 4 wingers getting starts, pretty much all of our midfield options apart from Miley (understandable) and Willock (injured) were used too despite there being some preseason hangover.