timeEd32

There are many flaws but quite proud of our last 20 minutes or so. We’re going to need to score because I don’t see how we keep them out for 90 minutes.

How is that a foul let alone a card?

There are gaps in this press if we can play quickly and make the right pass.

If we were playing Hull or Bristol City no one would care about their form. I know the stakes are higher but really only two things matter for this game: 1) are we still in a rut with tired legs? 2) does the occasion get to us? If the answer is no to both we will smash them.

I’ve always been pro-Phillips and even more so now. Get him here next week and in the squad for the derby. Then he gets a few weeks to train (I’m assuming he wouldn’t be able to play City) and should give us a solid option starting with Villa.

Before the season started I had this game circled in my mind after last year. Wanted it even more after the collapse at home. Now I wish we could skip it.

I can’t keep track of who’s joking and who’s not. But please stop.

Worst 15 minutes of the season. Flat out bad.

Honestly the thing bothering me more than anything this season is that 3 or 4 times we just stop playing when we think the ball is out or offside. It’s infuriating.

I’m just going to enjoy Miley and ignore the various problems.

I think it’s very likely we’re not comfortable with how many minutes he’s had to play in the last 1-2 months. He only returned in May from his ACL injury.

ASM would have spontaneously combusted having to play a game every 3-4 days.

Not going to criticize Gordon. He’s only out there because we have no options - he can’t even run properly. And yet he still should have an assist.

Think we’re going to score at least 1. Not sure if we can keep them to 1 though.

People wanted to see something else. Here it is.

Lascelles probably out for a few weeks. Hope Botman is ready.

He’s so bad at being fouled.

Our away form is pretty tightly linked to both injuries and fixture congestion / fatigue and requires some context IMO. We’ve drawn three away games we were winning in the 89th minute (riding our luck in one but also one we definitely deserved to win). Today will be our 8th game this season where our opponents are playing with a rest advantage and 6 of those have come away from home. There have been complaints that we don’t really have a plan B, but I’m not sure we’ll need one in the second half of the season. I’m confident we’ll be much better away from home later in the season if we get a squad back.

Far too much season left to call anything as our fixtures in the last 2+ months are very friendly and we’ll have minimal distractions. It’s very possible we go on a big run if our injury problems subside even a bit.

I’d be surprised if they don’t find a way to still include 36 clubs. Could have one more group and then add some superfluous playoff knockout round. More games, more money.

Eh, in the 1980s there genuinely wasn’t much money coming in to be shared, especially when split 92 ways. The game was in a bad place. I can at least understand how the Premier League came to be. This is a whole other level of greed based on the money pouring into the game.

Feeling quite thankful I have no idea what you’re referring to.

We probably win if he's able to maintain possession for any amount of time.

From the end of last season...

This will be our 8th league game this season where we have less rest than our opponent. 6 of those have come away from home.