Gallowgate Toon

Thinking of the other scouse game in 21/22.

He knows the score but it's a bit worrying that this message didn't transfer to the players, like. Disclaimer: he should be under no pressure whatsoever.

Thought he was poor for the first 25 but then picked it up and won loads of physical battles. Again, seemed weird to take him off.

Not the first time we've fucked up against 10 with Howe either. Christ, I'm fuming

Objectively, we controlled the game fine for 95% of the second half but it felt so not us that you could tell it was off. I thought we needed to keep it controlled for the first 10 of the second half and then go through the gears again. We did the first bit but then just kept that tempo which was strange. Just utterly unprofessional from everyone involved in that second half.

He was canny loose at times but it was stupid to take him off especially as Longstaff has looked rubbish so far.

Didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Tragic that he was subbed off.

Thought he was back after about an hour. Then gaps started appearing in the midfield once Tonali went off and he started to make stupid mistakes.

Felt like we were far too scared of them and compromised everything that makes us good. Bad subs too.

Ne intensity, rhythm or patterns. Also, for the ridiculous amount of money spent, they don't really have many goalscoring threats either. Guess they lost Nkunku but you'd think you'd have a pretty stacked squad for £1,000,000,000.

Chelsea's midfield is over £200m in talent but they've been so lacklustre despite having almost all of the ball. They look like a midtable team here.

He's become quite underrated the last couple of years imo. Very capable despite some obvious limitations. He had some fantastic spells under Rafa where he looked a proper PL defender. I'll be sad to see him go because of what he represents, but he's getting closer to the end of his career and deserves a shot at real playing time. He's only going to get dribs and drabs here unless injuries occur.

Gordon has played more on the right than the left in his career, iirc. I'm absolutely positive they don't see him exclusively as a LW.

They're unpredictable and do have some real frets going forward but I'd be really disappointed if we don't dominate the midfield battle here. They have enough talent that they will have at least one really good spell in the game which we need to see out but the lack of defensive nous in their mids and attackers is there to be got at and taken advantage of for the majority. A pretty average Chelsea side managed to keep them pretty boxed in for long periods - there's no reason we can't do the same. Can't give TAA the freedom he had at SJP last season to pick his marks.

Schar's replacement sorted. 10/10.

Aye, really want to see this soon. Gordon has shown he's got a decent enough left peg that he wouldn't be one dimensional on the right too.

Lascelles was great for the PL games he came in last season, no? Very dependable squad defender.

It's already been pointed out but Diaby wasn't a fit for us because he has very little appetite for the defensive side of the game. We just got rid of a player who is very similar in that regard. Early days with Diaby too. I thought he looked OK against us (good goal & some nice breaks but he was easily muscled off a number of times) but excellent against Everton. Howe obviously doesn't see RW as a massive deal right now. It's easy to hone in on Miggy but we also have Gordon and Murphy who can play there. I expect Gordon to claim that spot over the next 6 games or so as Barnes acclimatises and starts banging 'em in from the left.

I don't think a DM is going to help much while we press so aggressively. Sometimes Bruno is the highest pressing player in our entire midfield despite being the deepest mid. He keeps up pretty impressive defensive numbers despite this but it's fair to say he's not a defensive player? I think Howe will focus more on how to manage space between defence/mid better instead.

If anything, City's performance should reassure us a bit that we have loads of class players and none are infallible. Rodri is unbelievable and he turned the ball over twice in dangerous areas against us - it happens to the very best.

Eze aside, very little guile in this Palace attack.

Didn't do a very good job of tracking Foden either. It was a very lacklustre showing from him but City popped it around him so well and he was just chasing shadows.

Dias played Watched it back. Intriguing game if a bit dull; however, City managed it expertly. Watching them form a back 5 on multiple occasions against us says it all about our progress. Terrific gameplan - Pep really is a master regardless of the talent at his disposal. We had some really decent half opportunities in both halves where a bit more composure could've seen us properly in. We picked up some great spots in those 'half spaces' but just struggled with touches/passes. Isak not being on it as an outlet was a problem as well but he was very well marshalled. City have a great mix of defenders who are physical but also technical. I still like Almiron but he does stick out in games like these. I'd be very surprised if, come the end of the season, Barnes isn't our starting LW with Gordon on the right.

Tbf, Foden overloaded that zone because Alvarez was often there as well.

If he won't learn to use his right foot then he could at least become half decent at trivelas.