alexf

These games are gonna be harder now and provide a different challenge second half of the season. First half season teams were probably thinking "it's only Newcastle" when they came up against us. Now more and more teams are going to defend deep. Which means we will dominate more and more as we did tonight, but we are going to need to find better ways to unlock defenses.

Annoying lack of time added despite the 8 subs and numerous injury stoppages. However looked like we couldn't score if we carried on playing all day.

I think it's either psychological or physical but he's not as explosively fast as he was. Think back to how rapid he looked against Everton last year or even Man city this year. Maybe he'll need a run of games to get back to that level or perhaps he's afraid of his hamstrings pinging and being back to square one. Or perhaps just the build of injuries has just slowed him down permanently. Think it is easy to forget how good he came be on his day, we were all excited to see the best of him under Howe. The man city game was a nice taster but so far it just hasn't happened yet. Hope we see it a few more times before the end of the season so if he does leave in the summer, atleast we get to see if he truly works in this team or if it will be right to let him go and get a player that Howe prefers. I think if he stays injury free, he will prove his quality and that he belongs in the first 11 still.

Yeah he isn't a fast runner. That's just a fact. He's very 1 paced. However he'll run all day and being slow is not an attribute that holds him back from still being an exceptional player.

As others have said, we might see a potential relaxing of the rigidity, possibly enforced by injuries and the personal available. But perhaps (in home games atleast) it maybe rewarding to play more attacking line ups and trust our back 5 to still keep things tight like they have all season. Especially those home games against sides we are now "expected to beat". Yes it may mean our amazing clean sheets record this season is in danger, but we would be far more likely to outscore the opposition and avoid those frustrating 0:0s. We shall see in the coming games. As mentioned, we are short on Cm's currently so likely enforced.

Would love a top level DM to cover Bruno but also play alongside when fit again and allow him to play abit more free maybe as people constantly allude to. Think all team in and around us have that in Rodri for City, Casemiro for Manu and Partey for Arsenal. Would possibly take us to another level in my opinion. Who that player is I have no idea though.

Think it's a shame if he needs to play that Bruno role now for an extended period of time. I think it's clearly he has been far more suited further forward as a pressing machine. So we lose that and also he's not as effective in that 6 role as seen when he's played there in cup games etc. Hope Bruno isn't out long and/or we get a dedicated DM signed. Think Longstaff is an integral cog in the midfield this year, even if his shooting has been erratic to say the least lately. It doesn't undermine the good things he has brought to the team.

Fair. But I think my memory might be skewered by the years under Bruce where he literally at times felt like the only goals threat many times. Btw I wasn't comparing to Messi. I was just trying to give the extreme example. ? Edit. I do remember there was a ridiculous stat back then where we lost every game he didn't play and won quite a few when did.

@HeronIt's just different when it comes to talented players. Take Messi as the example of maybe the best ever, he regularly loses the ball statistically more than most back in his prime, but you forgive it because you know he is capable or scoring the winning goal etc. Longstaff, if he's the example you wana give the other way, is frustrating because he's possibly playing at his maximum or ceiling. So when he's constantly missing chances like recently you kind assume that's just his standard and he's not magically going to be able to create something. ASM on the flip side has proven many times that he can create moments of unbelievable individual quality so if he's not at his best, you still know in the back of your mind that he's still capable of a special moment. However he's also a player that has struggled with injuries and fitness and therefore game sharpness and is trying to adjust to the managers style. I will agree with you that maybe he isn't suited to Howe's future vision or current ideal 11, but I disagree with going so far the other way and being abit negative about his performance today when I think it's clear he is trying to adjust his game for the benefit of the team.

I hope he can have a Papiss Cisse like impact on our season, where we had a strong first half but then just kicked on another gear when he joined. Hope we can rip some teams apart with this guy at 100%

Couple of times he got his head up and played some great passes to launch the counter attack and linked up well with Isak also. Trying to make out he did anything wrong today or because he didn't score a worldie just sums up the weird attitude some fans have towards him. It's the Ben Arfa effect of, because they sometimes can be unplayable on their best day, the expectation level is unrealistic compared to other players.

Howe did say transfers would be injuries permitting. Well then, Eddie get on the blower to the owners and go get an extra quality midfielder. ?

Might be Trippier's poorest game so far. Just had an off day in general it seemed but was never a pen. So pleased we managed to pull off the result. Think it will have a massive psychological impact now we have a 5 point gap to the rest.

Gonna be useful to have the tactic of having both of them on the pitch.

Thought he was decent and clearly was making more effort off the ball too. Takes time to find your sharpness and rhythm when your not playing every week. I think if he gets a few games in a row he will get better and better.

Almiron ripped Kurzawa to shreds last time so hopefully same again.

Would really help keep us away from getting mixed up in the chasing pack if we could pull off a win tomorrow. Just feel nervous due to Fulham's recent good run and the Joelinton question mark also. After such a strong first half of the season would be a shame to suddenly find ourselves slip down the table quickly. Win this and I think it will help the mentality for the team to push on and create a bigger gap over the next few games ?

There was the early red card, Palhinha suspended and Mitro clearly playing with one leg. Will be a much tougher game but I still expect us to beat them if we are on our game.

it's got a horrible air about it this game. Feels like we need to freshen it up with abit more attacking intent. Longstaff is so frustrating lately with so many chances dropping to him.

It's almost like it's another story that is total bollocks or something.

Let's smash them in the first and then rotate after 60mins in the 2nd for the ideal night. ?

Is it just me that isn't that nervous yet? Maybe if we get to a final then yeah, but still feels like it would be a big ask to beat Man City in a semi or final. Even Man utd at the moment would be difficult to get passed possibly. Still be buzzing if we get through tonight though. Just haven't got those nerves like it's realistic we can win it yet.

Bruno said in an interview recently with Sky that if he played with Haaland he would have 20 assists in a season. That's not far removed from what ASM said about having more assists of he played with Mbappe and yet I don't think I saw a mention of it against Bruno, but it's used as a stick to beat ASM with.

Best player on the pitch I thought. Not saying much mind.

Ball just bounces off him. Passes go to opposition, even ones that don't were really inaccurate. That finish was atrocious. Didn't even bobble so can't use that excuse either. This is his job. He gets paid fortunes to kick a football into the net. As others have said, surely we can pick up a better 3rd choice ST instead of him for cheap.