Gallowgate Toon

What a man.

Did he meg Rice as well?

He's basically played 5-a-side today.

We've definitely not been outplayed but we are getting a bit outhustled at times. We've had more possession, played more passes, and we're winning Rice is doing what Rice does well - getting stuck in and driving forward. Don't think Paqueta has been much kop at all.

Feels like a very first gear performance so far. Howe fuming during that huddle about our lack of intensity to get more, I think. Seemed to sit right off after the second, probably with the Brentford game in mind.

Cursory look at Villa under Emery and they're slightly overperforming XG but have been lucky with XGA. Brighton are a legit side who have tough fixtures but will still pick up some points. Villa feel a bit more like a Fulham/Brentford streak from not too long back.

Maybe but there are frustrations around his managerial style that have hampered league campaigns in the past (but has been effective in cups).

Emery is a good manager but I'd be very surprised if he finishes higher than 7th next season unless there's extremely significant investment.

Bruno was a massive miss that game. He keeps the ball and build attacks so well - it really helps to contain opposition & force them into a deeper shape. Joe was a decent stand-in defensively but his passing IQ & movement into valuable spaces are levels below Bruno.

It seems a bit weird that this is taking so long, no? Feels a long, long time since the initial charges were brought forward.

He looks massively invested judging by some of his reactions yesterday to events (Willock flop, massive celebration etc.). He's such a cool character that I wasn't sure if he'd fully buy-in like, say, Bruno, but it absolutely looks that way at the moment.

He should already have 2 assists to his name, tbf. He was very close to playing a lovely ball in to set Isak through yesterday as well, similar to that Wilson chance he set up against West Ham, just an extra yard or two on it and it would've been perfect.

Think he's always had some talent but he seemed way too nice & meek for so long. He'd often look scared to take risks and end up doing nothing. It feels like he's really embraced a WUM character and it's almost given him the freedom to express himself.

Ten Hag trying to have a personality did seem to trip them up for this. I think he felt they had our number after the Cup Final and a few snipes would have us playing too emotionally. He's better at just being a (very good) robot coach.

Strikers go through patches of form. His overall record for us is near 1 in 2.

A delicious footballer. That pass for the first goal was perfection.

Looks so much better when he mixes it up and goes outside at least a little bit. Wasn't doing his weird run as much today so I think he's over his niggle.

Seen Villa a few times and they don't look that convincing to me but Emery is a good manager. Don't feel we should be going there scared though.

Some of his touches today when in danger were sublime. Got that Arsenal grad comfort on the ball but pairs it with such speed and stamina. If he was better at finishing, he'd basically be Bellingham.

His positioning has been a lot more flexible recently which suits him & us more. It felt like he was much more fixed as the deepest mid before the WC but we're now seeing more interchanges and midfielders moving.

Chuffed for him. Been a rough run and he shouldn't be starting still but he's a cracking option off the bench. If we make Europe, I think he can be a valuable squad member (we'd still need another striker).

He was astonishingly good today as his work off the ball was so fucking class. His absolute quality on the ball is almost a bonus.

I am buzzing. Keep the squad for for the run-in and we have a real, real chance. They were absolutely shite on the day.

Feels very un-Howe to drop a player in from the start even after a relatively minor injury. He's a pretty good sub to come on though with his pace and movement.

Was at the Blyth game and they were massively outclassed. 'keeper pulled off some unbelievable saves to keep the score respectable. Team organisation seemed all over the place.