Gallowgate Toon

Trippier was a huge reason why Bruno playing deeper was less of an issue than it is now, he was such a good playmaker and basically ran the entire right hand side. He's not the future though and we need to adapt - Tino brings a different skillset and is a developing player. Free Bruno!

He has a big problem in Gordon. He's tried to continually back him but, facts laid out, I think he has 1 open play goal and 1 assist despite starting almost every game? Running is all good but they are pitiful numbers for a team trying to challenge for Europe when he's meant to be our next biggest threat after Isak. I think it's become obvious in matches like last night that he needs to free Bruno up as well. That's the biggest problem with playing Longstaff, for me, you lose in-game tactical flexibility because his skillset is effectively RCM or nothing.

I think he's also mastered the art of chasing the lost cause but neglecting fairly important other defensive work as well. Something just looks different about him even though lots of things are still the same - it's hard to put a finger on. I don't think his head has been turned but I do think he might've lost some sight of what made him so good last season; he was an absolute pest, first and foremost. His off the ball movement has seemingly become non-existant.

Also, fuck these stupid international breaks. I'm deluded/sure we smash that if it's the week after Forest.

I was disappointed he started left. The Joe-Jo axis is the whole point.

NUFC at its worst tonight. Flat/expectant crowd, brittle confidence, passive, lacking in spirit. Didn't do the basics well after the first went in, coupled with abysmal output. Heads dropped far too early for my liking.

The confidence drained out of him in real-time.

Dibling looks a lovely player.

It doesn't feel out of the realms of possibility that he could've been blackmailed to fix matches under the threat of releasing photos/info, like. Odds that it'll come out that PGMOL were already aware but are continuing to struggle with developing refs so decided to 'manage it'.

I think Barnes and Isak in the frontline is weaker on the defensive front than Howe wants - very capable athletes but not exactly pressing monsters. With our press, I think you can slightly 'carry' one man. I'm pretty sure it's just because we need to manage Isak's legs more due to Wilson being paper, but he's not the presser he was when he came back from injury in 22/23.

He can still play CM sometimes, definitely in case of emergency, but a wing role does bring out a lot of his strengths for the team. Opens up a clearer path for Miley to get gametime which is no bad thing either.

There's a busy period coming up so he's going to see lots of gametime. He'll play during the international break too, I'm sure, so Howe probably had an eye on protecting him. I do think the key with him and Bruno is rotating for gamestate/opponent. Tonali has really impressed me in the central role, he brings a more classic feel to it - good positioning, simple but quick passing, great athleticism. I don't think he's a dud RCM at all though, there are just games/shapes he'll be better there vs. central. Selfishly, seeing Bruno in the final third more is an actual joy too.

Whoever mentioned Willock is gold dust for him is bang on. Such a positive player who looks to get close to Isak and, crucially, run beyond him (at pace). I really liked the sort of 4-4-2 they were in against Arsenal.

The players looks so much fitter than the first few games. We've got proper competition in lots of positions as well now as the squad is finally looking well balanced fitness and sharpness-wise meaning players are genuinely starting to push one another. I was surprised at the Willock sub but it makes total sense to protect the player. I thought Howe's tweaks yesterday were very good with the Gordon-Joelinton switch and moving Tonali into the middle when he came on to free Bruno up. I'm liking Tonali in that middle role more & more - he reads the game well, thinks quickly with his distribution, and is so fast off the mark. There's a very decent amount of tactical flexiblity in this side, I want Howe to keep on exploring it. Hoping we break out that 4-4-2 shape against West Ham, I really like Willock in that supporting role.

It felt the obvious call today.

Very frustrating that we saw the benefit of a first time ball last week and don't seem to want to replicate it against physical defenders.

The left looks lovely. The right, by contrast, lacking in inventiveness. Hall looking just about flawless, once again.

Yates goes off uncarded despite committing 2 oranges, imo.

I'd personally not start him against Forest because I think Tonali-Bruno gives us a lot more flexibility to change shape/approach in games as well as more options on the ball. Longstaff does have a decent weapon against lower teams which is his timing for runs into the box, but without Trippier commanding that side in possession I'm not sure he'd even be picked out that often. Plus, Tonali's set pieces look really good. An unfashionable but very important tool against deep sides.

Pope Tino Schar Kelly Hall Tonali Bruno Willock Gordon Isak Joelinton I felt a lot of the ingredients yesterday were a better makeup for a starting away side, mainly the pressing energy we could surround Isak with. It really helped to consistently set the tone and has a good balance to it. Forest have real pace in their attack so I'd be looking to bring Kelly in to help with that. And as good as Longstaff was, we're likely going to have a more equal share of possession. Tonali just has more in his armoury to help that situation. If MGW is the starting 10, maybe swap Bruno for Tonali. It should be a good, tough game.

It feels like we've generally been building momentum, performance-wise, since City. Chelsea away aside, we've been much more like ourselves overall than the first few games and today was a culmination of the increasing competition as the squad's sharpness levels out imo. General application has largely been good, just certain combinations and/or sharpness haven't quite been there. We should've smashed Brighton, for example - that one still stings. It feels like we have some better momentum now and more clarity about what we need to be for the foreseeable, even if there are a few selection headaches for Forest.

Plugged gaps and used his speed very well in a tough situation for a sub. Personally, I think he's going to generally show most of his real qualities from RCM over a sustained period but it was the right time today to get him in centrally.

It likely isn't his best position compared to the left but I really think he can be effective there for a period.

Top man. We've whipped that 4-4-2 out a fair bit this season and I really like that it's an option. Really cool to see Willock in that position today, like. I'd love to see an Osula-Isak version.

Best I've seen him play in years, tbf.