alexf

Been good every time I've seen him that Bradley.

He's probably barely been able to exercise with this particular injury. Part of his whole thing seemed to be that he had excellent cardio coming into this season. Expecting it will take awhile to to get back into the swing of things when he finally returns, bit like Barnes.

Need to keep Barkley quiet. Whenever I see these he seems to be the one that's making them tick and certainly caused us problems in the reverse fixture. Is Townsend injured? Didn't seem to be playing last night and is another that played well in the reverse and can't be doing with the former player scoring bullshit again.

Yeah, can always fault his technical qualities but never his effort. If everything had gone to plan this year he would have been a back up player to Tonali but circumstances have changed that. Just need to hope he kicks into last season's form and has a stronger end to the season because there is no one else until Willock returns. Then we can rotate him and Miley for that right side role.

A performance that just showed, if we had just had a handful of key players available for more of the season we would be having an entirely different season. So important to be able to rotate or tweak tactics when necessary which we just haven't been able to do for the last 2-3 months. Let's hope we can have abit more luck with injuries for the remainder of the season and show everyone what we can really do. Although with Isak's injury maybe the curse continues.

Didn't react to being kicked all over. Good performance.

He was excellent. Really impressive workload for someone who's been out so long.

Thought he should have been on sooner as we had a few warnings down Burn's side before the goal. But glad Howe made the sensible decision. Was surprised they didn't start Bailey. Burn was fine first half, was cutting things out well, but Bailey was always going to be too much for him.

Ugh. Only negative from tonight. Praying it was a precaution but didn't look like it. So typical, as soon as looks like Wilson is coming back, Isak goes down again. Rinse and repeat.

Yep, will never forget the way he went on during those dark times. Guy is a prick. That's not even the worst one. He did the whole "fans should buy the club off him themselves" thing as well didn't he? and also the "Rafa should spend his own money to sign players" or was that the other twat Richard Keys?

One thing is for sure. If we somehow did come out with a win tonight. That could be just the catalyst we need to attack the remainder of the season with some positivity as players slowly start to return. On the flip side we can lose as expected, lose Bruno to suspension and pick up more injuries

Feel like I say this most weeks now but Tino in for Burn to help deal with Bailey. Also would give us some pace at the back which we seriously lack and Watkins will run us ragged if we get caught high.

Current starting midfield and lack of options from bench means we will be lucky to get anything from this.

Lol ?

Man Utd needing to to go full strength against these. Feels bit harsh, could have given them abit of a chance atleast ?

Felt clear as day again last night that we can't persist with the midfield 3 of Longstaff, Bruno, Miley. It just doesn't really work. Obviously we can hope to get Willock back fit and even Anderson would maybe suit that left mid role better than Miley and Longy but it's a big risk to the end of the season, especially as Bruno will miss 2 possibly 5 games depending on cards he picks up.

Would anyone rate Van de Ven higher than Botman? Certainly has more pace and seems to read the game well.

The last few posts sum up this place beautifully ?

I mean he probably does to be fair. Ideally he won't want to lose any fit bodies currently ?

Nailed on to be Alonso. Most hyped young manager currently out there and obvious Liverpool link. However, no matter how rated he might be, Klopp's are huge shoes to fill and it's safe to presume that Liverpool could definitely slip back as a force and make them easier to catch-up with now. So has to be seen as potential long term good news for us if we can get back on the ascendency next year ?

I think he said the same things regarding ASM before he was sold. "Wants to keep him, valued member of the squad etc"

I mean if our only reasonable offers for players we are willing to sell, are being coerced by us from our Saudi friends, there is going to come a point where some players will say no. The club were kinda lucky that ASM agreed to go I suppose.

Agreed. I'd hate to think they are panicking and thinking an entire rebuild is needed off the back of this season. This year has been abit of a freak in terms of the injuries and Tonali etc. If we kept the entire squad as is and started fresh next year with no champions league group of death to deal with and I think we do well. That being said, I'm sure it's more down to financials and wanting to get some money for older players who they don't see as key to the long term project.

Feel like Gibbs-White lacks the pace and composed finishing to be a truly top level player in that forward role. However put him amongst better players and he may look even better to be fair.

No doubt it's likely a pretty poor deal, hence our decision to walk away. However that could ensure West Ham finish ahead of us this season, although they probably would have done anyways unless our form dramatically turns.