alexf

I think if any team has a bad blip or poor run of form this year, there will be plenty of others to take advantage. So it will all be about being consistent and hoping injuries and suspensions don't hurt us too badly.

Why don't West Ham play Kudus? Looked good against us and is highly rated.

I loved this goal at the time for that exact reason. Runners everywhere confusing the defenders and giving us lots of options. Shows the coaching going into the team and why we are so effective regardless of who is in the line up.

I wonder if the Everton fans who thought he was shit and gloated that they robbed us £40m for him have swallowed some humble pie.

? Jaime Redknapp's superb punditry on display again that day.

Seems to be alot of criticism of the loud music and speaker guy for awhile now surprised the club haven't noticed this.

There's a very likely scenario Bruno will be banned for this as I'd be shocked if he gets through that wolves away game without picking up a yellow. But fingers crossed. Would be nice to test ourselves against Arsenal with most of our first 11 fit.

We are going to absolutely smash Luton when we get them to St.James'

Those diagonals ?

He reads the game really well defensively and offensively. Alot of last year I was frustrated with his finishing or decision making. But he definitely improved as the season went on and has carried that on into this. I would say that fantastic move down the right where he tried to drill it across, he should have spotted Gordon for an easy cut back, but apart from that he was excellent. Took his goal well. Felt like we signed Tonali to replace Sean's position in the first 11 but the way the season has started he is making his claim to hang on to it. And likely will now with Tonali's looming ban.

Feels like he's playing the best football of his career at the moment. Just everything seems to have come together for him and now with an older wiser head aswell he's in his prime. He should really be first choice for England on current form but Walker's pace will always grab attention and I can see why someone like Southgate would prefer to have that recovery pace. But if he was a more confident manager I think Trippier gives you more offensively than Walker.

Yeah it's not really a shock when he plays well anymore but it still astounds me the turnaround in his performances. Like other said, always felt he had great attributes with his speed and decent cross/shot. But he never seemed to have any confidence or game awareness. Is there any players left from the Bruce era that Howe hasn't completely turned their performances around? Maybe just Ritchie? With his old man legs I doubt it, if he ever got a game again but nothing would shock me anymore ?

Reflecting on this some more. I'm starting to think that it is a bit messed up these lads are getting hit with long bans. The Toney one sort of felt the same. They obviously have a problem and need help to overcome it, but taking away the one distraction they have just doesn't feel like the right solution. Obviously if he was betting on anything that would call into question the integrity of the game like betting on his team to lose then yes a ban of some form would probably be needed but I just wonder the logic behind banning these guys for full seasons etc. I think the more this happens, there will be a change in perception of gambling and the punishments will change. Unfortunately for us and Tonali these sort of cases are still fairly new and he is likely going to be made an example of like Toney.

Yep, definitely seemed to be something new for us, him picking it up infield. He absolutely ran the show first half and was imperious.

Bit late to the post-game chat but just wanted to add my thoughts if similar hasn't already been said. Thought that game really showed our growth. Some of the patterns of play, Trippier drifting into the deep lying midfield role at times, the clear threat down the right with his overlaps aswell, Longstaff always finding that pocket of space in the box, even Joelinton and Gordon had some promising exchanges of passes at time. Just a really accomplished performance and just looked massively the superior team, which considering they held us to three 0:0s last year, shows great improvement as a side.

I mean there has to be some form of addiction as he has broken rules knowingly due to his inability to resist the temptation. Where the grey area is, is if he has willingly broken the rules because he thought he could get away with it easily and could have stopped gambling at any moment. But i imagine the truth is somewhere inbetween.

Just an exquisite volleyed cross. Exceptional as always Tripps.

Pedro Neto has been exceptional so far this season. Only 23 aswell. Wonder how much he'd cost to get him out of Wolves.

Likewise getting points on the board early helps massively. Allowed us to still finish top 4 despite our mid season blip we had. I feel like if everyone comes back fit soon we could easily go on one of those big winning runs that we had last year. Then it will be down to whether we can maintain while we have other competitions going on and hope other teams hit a rough bit of form.

I didn't realise a few of their main money signings this summer haven't kicked a ball for them yet. Scott & Adams for example. Still going off the highlights last night they looked god awful against Everton. Was licking my lips looking forward to our game against them.

We're gonna be purring once we have fresh legs and those key players back from injury.

I think this season the bottom half is significantly weaker than the top. So I think any games against the expected bottom 10 is must win really. Because it's looking like all our competitors will likely win those games. Spurs won comfortably with 10 against Luton for example. However I think the top 7-9 teams on their day could easily beat each other. It's gonna be really close this year who finishes in European places and will depend which teams can put a run together. Being spread across so many competitions hurts us, especially compared to teams like Spurs who literally only have this and potentially the fa cup to think about now. Which was where we benefitted last year. With the start they have made, but for an massive injury crisis, I wouldn't bet against spurs to potential snatch one of those top 4 places. Likewise Chelsea are only two points behind us I think and look like they might be turning the corner a little.

If we can get most the squad back to full health then we could be looking at our best performances soon post break. Botman worries me as feels like they are being coy about it and knee injuries in general are abit of a problem. But fingers crossed we get the bulk of them back fit then I feel like we could finally smash Palace rather than the 0-0 tepid affairs we have had recently.

Deserved a hattrick. Was the one bright spark first half but wasn't getting any support. Sharp in the box and some lovely finishes for the first two. Gutted he could bury the 3rd. The difference between 3 points and one in the end but considering the Bruno lucky moment and the way things were looking first half. I think a draw is alright ok reflection. Hopefully his knock isn't too bad. Looked like he pulled something before coming off.

You have to have young homegrown players to flush out the squad. Behind the scenes they are doing alot of work to improve this but it takes time for young players to come through. Anderson is essentially 6th choice midfielder? Or 3rd/4th choice left of the three if we consider Willock, Joelinton and probably Tonali ahead of him if everyone is fit. I don't quite get the reason for piling on to a young lad who has done well to fill in for us during these injuries. Every team, if they get down to the 6th choice midfielder would be playing one of their young home grown players. If he was "elite" level he would not be happy being in that sort of squad role. Due to FFP we can't just flush out the squad with quality internationals immediately, when we get injuries we have to play players like Anderson who has, all being considered, done well so far.