Gallowgate Toon

If anything, it seems like Howe went overly tactical with the approach Still find it very weird he took Woltemade off for that last part. Yes, he wasn't playing well, but he's a bloody massive target that attracts bodies in the box when we were evidently going to start chucking it in. It would've been far more helpful for Wissa too, rather than battling with 2 lads who are about a foot taller than him.

I think their 'keeper is actually really good, tbh. Has done pretty much everything well this season.

Thought he and Hall were easily the best of our bunch in terms of trying to take responsibility on the pitch, they're players who evidently have a lot of self-belief to get on the ball regardless. Thiaw was also good, to be fair to him. It did seem like many were scared to do anything. It's like Bruno said, pretty much nothing happened it was a bit bizarre, really.

Remember when everyone hated this lad for being an absolute prick on the pitch? I get people mature but it's like he's had a personality transplant. He looked overawed today.

Hard to believe that was the same bloke as the lion from the cup final. Something seems very off. Not seeing much of anything that made him so good, outside of some recovery running.

It's all just fucking boring, more than anything. Bar Bruno and Hall, the team looks terrified to do anything. Won't press, won't get early crosses in so we piss about with shite triangles, won't take players on etc. It feels embedded in fear. We have a decent squad, we should be able to manage our energy to bring Plan A most of the time.

Forget the fact it's a derby. They aren't a good side (we're obviously not great either) and we need points on the board. Why are we regressing tactically?

Why? Because he scored an OG? They were always going to sit in, we aren't a creative side. Our best bet would've been to have our 2 goal getters and to get balls in. Whether you go 4-4-2, 3-5-2, I don't care.

Wasn't the FB on a yellow? Piss scared

Woltemade is a striker. Whether you class him as a striker or second striker, that's exactly what he is. Hence the fucking class header.

What has happened to him? Feels like he's evolving into some Arteta-style fool who is far too pragmatic and driven by fear.

Aye, his general game has been very poor since Everton. Passes going astray, winning less duels etc.

Seriously, chasing a goal, and we don't have the 2 strikers on. What the fuck?

Very out of form. Need to get Wissa 45 mins from the start on Wednesday.

Abysmal from the manager and majority of the players. Only Bruno and Hall showing any of what's required. Negative and passive.

I do really hope he starts on Sunday. The mackems are generally a low possession side, they'll happily give us the ball until we make mistakes. Miley is safer on it than Joelinton while also having a better eye for a pass - he's also got a decent g/a return relative to his minutes so is proving more of a threat in the final third currently too.

He's not really played much lately, has he? His baby is due any moment now, right? Could be playing on his mind.

Fantastic cameo.

We've done it loads this season and it hasn't worked. If we aren't capable of managing battles while sitting deep then it isn't a viable way for us to manage the game. They were in acres of space to start the move in the first place. As I said in the original post, it was a much better/very good second half. We didn't manage that end well and it's hardly controversial because we conceded.

Are there only 2 options? We have to apply pressure somewhere, we are in a bad pattern of conceding territory and momentum. It isn't working.

Watch how deep we are for the second goal.

Fantastic second half.

In isolation, it's a good point, but just the shite management of key phases again. Second half was much better. Gordon excellent.

Too fucking deep. Christ alive.

Has he been on the end of a through ball since Villa? Feel like he never makes runs between defenders anymore.