alexf

I think they are likely to spend in January and I dunno, just expect them to go on a run at some point. But yeah I suppose there always a chance there patchy form wil continue.

Yeah said it in the other thread. But if we get through the "easier fixtures" then I think we're on for a serious finish to the season. But agreed, these games won't be easy by any stretch. The expectation to win, coupled with fatigue and other factors means they aren't sure things. But congrats to our great manager for putting us in a great position to potentially kick on.

I hope everyone keeps their heads once we inevitably drop points again. Things like 7 game winning run records are "records" for a reason. It's hard to do in this league and as we have shown many times this season he games against the "lesser teams" have caught us out before. Wolves for example have had a new manager bounce, will have Cunha back after a suspension(rest) and we might have exerted ourselves with a tough away game at arsenal plus most of the same 11 having played almost all games over Dec/Jan. So hopefully the home crowd will roar us home in the upcoming tricky fixtures and not turn up expectant. We are also a Isak/Tonali injury away from being severely weakened. So I'm determined to enjoy the good because things can turn quickly. Hopefully we ride our luck and have a great 2nd half of the season.

Fair. Just in this case, I thought it looked a painful one on the replay. Regardless, he had Werner in his pocket today.

Loved when he took over a few times and ran down the clock almost single handed in those final minutes.

Dude got slammed into either this stomach or his nuts by someone's hip bone. Cut him some slack.

I remember Dyche going on in the media when he was looking for another job, telling the world that he's not just anti football long ball merchant and it was just because it was Burnley and if he got a chance at a bigger club he'd show he was more than that. I know Everton were in a desperate place when he came in but it feels like they are going even more extreme in their anti football, survive at all costs mentality. He should have progressed and evolved them by now if he's as good as he makes out.

Good way to look at it. Yeah there will be far slower and more comfortable games for him to play in future, so this was a good litmus test to see where he was at. I thought he got up to speed with things after a rough start incredibly well considering how long he's been out, bodes well for the rest of the season.

I know fans should be allowed to fantasize, but where exactly are we pulling £100m from to spend on two RWs when we apparently need to sell to buy in first place, not to mention the need to strengthen other areas also.

"And then we played Tottenham without Schar and they said you're definitely losing this time. I put in Botman after 10 months out, won the game 2:1 and said what were you worried about."

Would probably be more preference also I think. Although wonder if he's be tempted to play willock or Joelinton on the right instead. Joelinton looked tired again today though I thought.

Don't think you can drop Tino after today especially as he and Hall shut down Arsenal once already earlier in the season. Just hope we have enough to grind out a result to keep the tie alive for the 2nd leg.

Feels like we're going to be in a tit for tat battle with Villa, Bournemouth and Fulham potentially for the rest of the season. It's gonna feel like we can't drop points now if we want to secure 5th. With Man City likely to have too much to finish outside of Top 4, we need to hope our good form continues and one of Forest or Chelsea to have a rough 2nd half season. Even though the last few games have been incredible results, I actually think the upcoming games against Wolves and Bournemouth are the potential banana skins and are going to be a real test when expectations are to win. Hope the crowd doesn't take the opposition lightly and gives the team the backing it needs.

Not his best game today but great players score the important goals. Hopefully more involved Vs Arsenal as we need him to be on it for that one.

Worried for him after that opening goal. If he was sharper I think he cuts that cross out. Grew into it though and despite playing on the wrong side, had a few moments of the old Sven where he nicked the ball high and set us on the counter as he used to do. Also read a few other dangerous situations really well. Was surprised to see him play the full 90 and to be fair to him he only cramped up on the 91st minute. So he's clearly worked his arse off to get back to full fitness and I think with more games to get that sharpness back he's going to be great to have back for the rest of the season. Well done Sven 👍

Class. Clear MOTM despite McCoist giving it to their goalie

Got the important decision right first half But classic "homer" performance 2nd half. Felt like we got waved play on for loads of fouls on us but they kept getting soft decisions. When he did give a foul against them he wouldn't book them for clear counter attack stopping fouls. No penalty for Gordon but then Botman gets a foul and booking against him for doing far less at the other end? Was gonna be seeing if that had resulted in a goal against. Then 12 mins seemed massively excessive, especially when you consider the same ref blew dead on against Liverpool when we were counter attacking. As usual with these guys it's the chronic lack of consistency that exposes either their ineptness or their unconscious bias.

It's so frustrating to know that even if we have an amazing second half of the season and finish in a champions league place, it's going to likely be even worse than last time. We won't be able to spend, likely need to sell someone we don't want to lose, weakening the squad. Also not being able to improve squad depth with players being even older will result in another fatigued, injury ravaged season where we can't even show our best selves in Europe.

Have to say, as fine as he's been the last couple of games. I want Tino back in for Spurs. They play a fast paced attacking game and I don't really wana see Son Heung-Min taking the piss out of Trips again. I think Tino will deal with him far better.

Yeah not a chance he starts and nor should there be. Not unless we wanted to undo a lot of the good work he's done to get back. Needs to be eased back over the next 6 weeks or so. Even then he's probably going to be back up to Burn until he's truly back to full sharpness and playing like he used to.

Think we are reliant on the bulk of this starting eleven staying fit and avoiding too many suspensions etc. You take Isak, Tonali or Bruno out and I think our form suffers. But if we can keep them all available, then sky's the limit.

Yeah was some strong performers out there but overall for the dictating of the the pace of the game, the combo with Tonali and some great tackling and ball retention second half, he was my motm also.

Who plays on the right though, him or Burn? Gonna be awkward for either one, but it's say Kelly looks slightly more comfortable on the ball than Burn so maybe best to play him on the right as he might cope better? Mentioned it before in regards the Arsenal cup game, but Schar is such an important part of how we play. It's annoying taking one player out is going to cause big issues but unfortunately it's true, we will need to adapt and that makes the game instantly more difficult.

Yeah he's phenomenal. It's nice to hear when others are so envious of our striker. Makes a change from days of Emmanuel Rivière. But the scary thing is you can see there are still parts of his game that he can improve. Definitely is more of an instinctive finisher than when he has time to think about it. He positioning, awareness are elite and as much as they tried to focus on poor defending, you have to give credit to the likes of Isak, Haaland. It's not by fluke that they get so many goals. But yeah this year especially when he's through 1v1 with time to think he's missed quite a few now. But I think you have to take that with him, he's tried that little dink a fair few times now and rarely comes off but then I remember that Villa game last year when it did. If I could compare him to someone like Salah for a second, who at the moment is at the peak of his ability, he would have smashed that in and Isak has the same talent as a Salah but he's younger and can iron out and fine tune his ability. Hopefully with us.

They clearly score goals however, and we did gift a few too many gilt edged chances that we should have been punished for. So we are going to have to try and outscore them. Lads looked abit tired 2nd half aswell so may need some of the subs to step up around 60 mins and help make a difference. Sort of game that might suit Barnes for example if they play their high line.