Gallowgate Toon

Was a really nice move from Howe to do that. Isak can definitely play as a lone striker but he's a player that likes to get on the ball and find spaces; Wilson is more traditionally territorial and gets into CB battles. It's something as we phase Wilson out that we'll have to counter as Isak leaving that space means we need mids and wingers to pick it up instead. While Bruno's out, I wouldn't mind us going 4-4-2 at all. It's class to have the legitimate option in games as well.

I'm warming to the Neves idea a lot. I imagine they'll know today how bad Bruno's injury is, but Howe made the point that we're light in this area regardless. Shelvey is a decent player when motivated but not someone I'd stop making transfer plans for even before you account for his mounting injury record.

Not sure if it translates well on TV (if you weren't there) but there were quite a few times that he made some odd runs or, should I say, lack of to make himself available when others needed options. Definitely looked a bit lazy at the time but he might've been told to stay higher, or he was maybe conserving energy cause it looked like he was blowing out of his arse on occasion. On the ball, I thought he did exactly what we needed him to do and it's great to have him back in the fray.

Looks like Bruno took the cameras to Bolam Lake. What a guy.

Good cameo but he was making some very odd runs

Just shows how much it pays to have proper goalscorers on the pitch. He's got lots of ability, can't wait for him to properly get into the groove.

Gutted for him - thought he looked right up for it as well with that dirty pass. A very timely reminder that we need reinforcements.

What a moment. Thought we were deserved winners despite not being at our best. I was actually disappointed with Fulham, I thought they'd have more going forward. Hopefully, Bruno isn't out for long. Can see us going 4-4-fucking-2 in his absence. For all we play some great stuff, we're wasteful. It's important to have more than one proper goalscorer on the pitch.

Think Neves is overrated, tbh, but he's the right profile to unleash Bruno.

Just can't see Howe starting him (or even having him in the squad) for the weekend. I seriously doubt he's happy about him being out that late anyway (he's talked about lifestyle standards for maximum recovery before in interviews) even before the drink driving. By many accounts, Jo is a great lad and likely knows this was very fucking stupid. Still, he's got to pay for it as a role model and should be made a reasonable example of.

Would be interested to see underlying numbers to Fulham's recent form. I'm sure I read that they concede quite a lot of shots and don't have many themselves but are very clinical. This may be part of their masterplan but could just be one of those runs too. Silva is quite a streaky manager, isn't he? Anyway, I don't think he'll start Joelinton this weekend (may completely drop him, tbh) so we'll need to think about who takes the LW spot. I think he might surprise us with Isak from the off, especially if ASM isn't fully recovered from his illness.

At some point, Howe is likely going to get some PED accusations chucked at him considering the turnaround of these players and our relentlessness.

Loved his run for the Bruno through ball - started looping out right and then burst left. His movement is looking very good since the return. Definitely a positionally free striker. If he's going to lead the line on his own, we're going to have to make sure we fill up that central space with others as he looks for space, whether that be coming in from the wing or late runs from midfield.

Palinha is a good player but he's not exactly flanked by others of the same calibre in there. Would fancy Joe/Bruno to sort him out. He's a set piece threat though.

Their defence isn't great but they have fret going forward - I think Mitro is good foil for our CBs though. It'll be a good game which I think we'll edge 2-1. Isak off the bench to blast in the winner from 20 yards.

Schar was definitely caught out once or twice but it's just more noticeable because we give very little away during most games now.

Did it against Leeds as well.

Human dynamo. He's been incredible off the ball since the move deeper but sometimes patchy on it. Seems to have really found a groove to help open up spaces more by using his body and skill. He does some absolutely fantastic turns.

When he plays with aggression, he's bloody excellent.

Fucking exhausted after that. What a night. What a fucking team.

I just love watching him.

Actually feeling a bit nervous for this one already. Going to be a good test of our mentality as a whole - this has a bit of a different feeling about it; expected pressure, something more immediately on the line. I think we've got experienced heads to deal with it on the pitch but I'm not sure how we as fans are going to be

Aye, I think it's pretty clear he's got a plan of some kind to play him there if everyone is fit. Don't buy the defensive shift stuff either. ASM is hardly a workhorse, we simply shifted Joelinton's out of possession position last season to cover him when he didn't track back and ASM popped back into more of the LCM role. When ASM tucked in going forward then Joelinton would often make the outside run.

I think he might go with the same team as vs. Arsenal, to start with, as it's so solid defensively and we'd have good options from the bench in Isak and ASM. My only concern there is Joelinton, it'd likely rule him out of a start vs Fulham.