Gallowgate Toon

It's well past time to go but it must be absolutely soul-destroying to witness your body giving in like this.

Caught the first half - really enjoyed it. Some very good performances but the best was Mills who is absolutely rapid (and very skillful). Was amazed to find out later that he's only 15

I'm all for rotation, we have good capacity for it in certain positions, it just seemed to me like we rotated out the midfielder who seemingly needed it the least. I was actually pretty happy to see Barnes start and he was a good threat - just a shame he made that one crucial error.

Tonali rotated out was a very weird move, especially against a side you know will break at pace. He's had a year off, played far less this season than Bruno/Joelinton (who looks like he's struggling physically at the moment), and we had a week's break after the game. Maybe Tonali had a knock but we were happy to get him on for 30 so he must be decently fit at the very least.

Howe has evidently made mistakes this season, some big & very irritating, but the drop in general standards points to something deeper imo. The club has stated its #1 aim but it feels to me that we have very little idea about how to get there, and the man we brought in to help shape/evolve that has gotten off to about as bad a start as you can get. Whether he was right or wrong, Mitchell talking to the press about players being overpaid for was fucking stupid. Even worse, I'm not sure the hierarchy have any further answers other than Mitchell + maybe a new stadium? There are legitimate complaints about tactics & selections, but we aren't doing the basics consistently well which to me suggests we are currently driven more by individual motivation rather than team motivation - we used to be exceptional at the gritty stuff, a cause worth sacrificing yourself for. We look tired, we have players who look like they know they have a public price and/or that their time with us will soon be up. We have the feel of a squad that knows its reward for doing well is likely going to mean losing a key player(s) anyway without confidence in the man in charge of replacing them. It basically feels like we're not really working towards anything right now, proper rudderless, going-through-the-motions stuff. Another chance at cup glory (ha!) may offer something different... Changing manager could see an upturn in results short-term, but we'd still be left with the some big problems that'd soon rear their head again imo, and we'd have lost a fantastic ambassador for the club along the way. The club's leadership over the last 18 months has been very poor and, worryingly, has gotten worse over that period. They're lucky fans haven't started kicking up more of a fuss, and they're even luckier that Howe has largely spearheaded the public-facing stuff admirably in the face of plenty of adversity.

He simply needs a level of protection, especially at this stage of his career. It wasn't there enough today. Joelinton has been disappointing defensively in the last 2 away games, appears he may be playing through something.

He's definitely skating on thin ice now, unfortunately. He has been let down in big moments this season imo but he's been poor with game management for half of this season to date.

It's just awful management in key moments - Howe obviously takes responsibility but some of the players should be embarrassed as well. Numerous defensive brainfarts, Isak fucking about after rounding the 'keeper AGAIN for the chance to go up which is crucial in away games. For me, we just don't look a serious enough team.

Fucking awful. Missed key chances in the first half. Dreadful in the second half.

It goes without saying but this is a huge, huge period for us now. We've got a largely fit squad, no international breaks for a while, top teams crunched in Europe, and we've just put in a good performance that should be a momentum builder. Howe has had us on some tremendous streaks in the past; we're due one and this would be the perfect time. Going into January in good form might encourage us to take more risks too...

Love seeing him further forward more often, he's a joyful player when given freedom. His play for the Isak penalty shout was just perfect - the type of ball Tripper used to play regularly that we've massively missed.

He looked overwhelmed first half but that confidence came flooding back after the goal. He was so much snappier and more decisive - it's class when he does a tearing run through the middle while midfielders try to keep up with him.

Just plays the role in such an orthodox way, and his pace is such an asset. I don't think he's always going to be the answer there this season, but that's the beauty of Bruno being RCM, you can switch them in-game pretty seamlessly imo or even explore some alternative shapes.

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.