Gallowgate Toon

Pretty unsavoury moment coming out of the stadium. A young Asian lad with a Milan shirt on had apparently been sat in a home seat. He didn't look like he had a clue what was going on and didn't seem to speak much English but someone tried tripping him up from behind and started demanding very aggressively how he'd got his ticket. He was fucking harmless and probably petrified. People should be taking issue with the club, not randomers.

Isak even dangled his leg as well.

Really hope he's backed in January. The way he works, it's almost better to get some players in for Jan to help prepare for next season.

Aye, it's been absolutely class. The feeling on the day is just immense. For all last night ended up in disappointment, the collective joy in the Gallowate when we thought we could go through when up and Dortmund went up was brilliant. CL was always a free hit for me this year once we got that group but I'm still gutted about how last night unfolded because we were so close.

He just doesn't inspire confidence in others, above all else.

Ultimately, the key is what his bosses think. Context innit but my suspicion is that if we ended the season 7th but didn't progress in any further in comps then they'd not be best pleased. Seems the exact reason we tried to bulk out the squad more this summer. Howe is class and will win something here. I feel it in me bones. Edit: I don't think they believe qualifying for CL again is realistic either with every other front to compete in.

We're a serious club again and, for me, we have enough of a platform already to go and win something and that's exactly what we should be doing. Top 4 and cup final last season was great fun, we should be trying to do at least one thing better this season. If you gave me EL/ELC and a trophy this campaign or a top 4 finish alone, I'm taking the former every single time.

Some great posts in threads about how he went for CL next round option as he is that kind of person, caution to the wind etc. - that will bode well in the future, I'm sure. That said, how it feels to me tonight, we need to win something this season and the EL was another realistic shot at a trophy so I'm gutted about how we've come out with nothing.

Trippier had a very noticeable limp during the lap at the end of the game. Definitely a knock.

Would definitely start him against Fulham still. Longstaff can play rotation option.

Love him, place in the squad, but we need Barnes & Gordon fit + someone in Jan.

Honestly couldn't believe what I was watching as he just strolled about. Maybe he's injured but he trained yesterday and he moved fine when he had the ball.

Unbelievable.

Came across that way. It was either go for CL or fuck it all off.

Feel like I should feel proud etc. but I don't. I just feel angry and like we should've done better. Maybe I'll feel different tomorrow because some of them put in a massive shift and have been for a while. Also, not sure how it came across on TV but I thought isak put in a disgraceful shift in. Usual nice touches but didn't move off the ball in either direction while Joelinton was everywhere.

Not shitting himself anymore and apparently been passed fit.

Great move.

Have it on quite good authority that Dubs has the shits really bad

Adrenaline is pumping now. Really, really hope we're in some form of European competition after tomorrow.

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.