Gallowgate Toon

It is noticeable just how stale the squad is, like. Effectively having to reposition players just to freshen it up a bit isn't a good place to be. *Just* a few really astute signings can massively help bolster this squad.

Tbh, it was just refreshing to not roll over and provide some occasional threat against a good side. Not that that's actually good enough, like. Some positive tactical tweaks today, considering he never changes anything

Feel slightly fucking robbed after that, tbh. Liverpool don't need additional help getting wins, you cunts.

Absolutely this. Clubs work in so many aspects of the business into deals now too. Single commercial deals can span front of shirt, sleeves, front of boards, back of boards, fanzones, digital static & dynamic (which can break down massively), digital takeovers, hospitality coverage, social, pre-roll etc. etc. What level of scrutiny are they expecting to go into here?

The majority of clubs have so little common sense or market knowledge when it comes down to their own commercial deals - how the hell are they going to help regulate others? It's nonsense. Also, sponsorship deals can be structured in many different ways and are often packaged with digital rights where there's currently a shift into valuing fan data etc. Not a chance that can be easily regulated.

Hopefully, Howe is nowhere near as short-sighted or emotionally OTT as some in this thread. Poor performance after a good showing. I'm not convinced about the main shape of the team - feels like 4-4-2 hybrid asks too much of these players against good sides. I thought going 3-4-3 would help us but we got absolutely whalloped when moving to it. Centre mid is such a problem for us, especially against good teams. I think the best route is to pack the midfield - he used 4-3-3 at times at Bournemouth and it feels like something we need in our locker. I get the calls for Hayden but I don't think he's the answer alone, and he comes with other issues. Most importantly, he needs to keep calm and analyse where things went wrong today (players seemed very, very lax after last week) without ripping it all up. Some progress has been made but we can't forget this team was absolutely tragic before him for a reason. Always loved this about Rafa - never too high, never too low. He's absolutely seen the worst of this lot today so his next decisions will be really interesting.

I've just figured out where this is. Why is she in there!?

A 'kid playing with adults' is a pretty bizarre overstatement in the context of that game. He was fine. He made tackles, kept the ball moving, made a couple of good runs, forced a decent save and was a block away from maybe sneaking in a goal. Also made some poor decisions in good positions. My main criticism of him over the last 2 years is that he's become too passive. He too often takes a safe route which is a routine he needs to get out of.

Personally, I'm really enjoying us not having one of our midfielders be defensive. Unless you've got a Kante type, they can often be a bit of a waste imo. Willock will rebuild his confidence. Seems like this week was hard on his legs so he's got to get into the best shape he can first & foremost.

Did something it feels like he used to do a lot but hasn't in an age... Make a run in behind the defence. Some good efforts today.

Love the feeling of hope this guy gives. Seems a tremendous person.

What was Howe's record like against big sides? Feels like his style of play means you can nick the odd result against a 'big team'.

Very nervous first 20 but we've found some pockets since and the game is starting to open up a bit which I think is in our favour. Not convinced about this shape. Feels like it limits passing options forward too much.

Come on!

That's the trade off, though, isn't it? If you start being fluid in shape, it should theoretically make it easier for the other team to get through if you turn the ball over with their man over. Just seemed like we felt their weakest threat was to lob in crosses so we closed the space off in the middle and have players close enough to eachother to be able to break. At the time, I quite wanted us to play 4-4-1 to keep Maxi on the left, but it would've probably just isolated Wilson a lot.

I'm going to remain positive. We're often competitive in games, other teams, amazingly, have actually lost more than we have this season. If we can turn the tide on a couple of those draws before Christmas then we could just stay within enough reach for a big January to blow the doors off. Tbh, this is probably hugely naive, but I'm relaxed about relegation. I still feel like I'm basking in the club feeling resurgent - things like actually liking a manager & owners, having hope for the future, our atmosphere actually returning. This is all under the assumption that the owners don't jump ship if we go down, of course...

It looked like we opted to try and keep shape more than anything else, which is pretty understandable for such a long stint with 10.

For anyone slamming Howe for playing Clarke & Ritchie, this works both ways. I never wanted to see Shelvey again after his sending off, and we'd all seen how pathetic Joelinton had been for pretty much his entire time here before the last couple of games. Lewis had never had a solitary good performance for us that I can remember; he always looked like a 15-year old playing against men. This is what happens when someone new comes in. They have ideas and beliefs some of which will be proven wrong but you expect they'll learn from quickly. Even world class managers need this time to figure things out - see Conte.

Quite looking forward to this. Expect we'll go for it with a no fear attitude and it'll be a goal fest. 0-4.

I didn't think CM was the problem today, like. They were stretching us down flanks very well.

I'm pretty certain we played 4-4-2 in the first half, like. We then switched to 343 when Murphy and Almiron came on. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but feels like we should've been from the off at a team rocked last week. Thought the subs were too delayed as well when it was obvious things hadn't changed 10 mins past half time. Didn't expect anything from this one really so hasn't changed my mind much.

Need to change shape and personnel.

Think we need to get to 3 up top somehow in the second half. Getting dominated physically by their CBs.

Feeling optimistic as for this Reality is we'll probably have a go, actually score and play some good football, but be undone on the break a few times.

Just takes small margins. Norwich went 10 games and have now won 2 on the bounce... Form can quickly change. I'd say I'm a 5/6 at the moment.