timeEd32

League games we're supposed to win still make me tilt a bit because I really want us to qualify for the CL again, but otherwise I am also very calm about everything and just enjoy watching us. It's a far cry from either not caring at all or only caring because I didn't want to see the club disappear into the Football League.

I think all of the following are true: 1) Dortmund are better than many want to give them credit for. Their only two losses this season are to PSG and Bayern Munich and we're just a few months removed from them throwing away the Bundesliga title on the final day. 2) Bayern's 4-0 win provided some optimism, but teams don't usually come here and win. This past weekend was their first loss at home since August of 2022. 3 points was always going to be difficult even in the best of circumstances. 3) We didn't play particularly well, which was probably a mix of nerves and more importantly it being our sixth game in 17 days with almost an entire first XI out injured. 4) Every bounce of the ball in these two fixtures seemed to go their way. Some of that is a subtle quality they have and some is just bad luck like hitting the bar twice at SJP and a few silly things tonight. With all that said we were fractions away from both games being 1-1 with 20-30 minutes to play and who knows what happens from there in either game.

My biggest takeaway from tonight is Livramento can play in any game anywhere and not look out of place.

Seriously?

I think most aren't giving them enough credit honestly.

We have a great alternative to Tripps on set pieces. We'll see him again in August of 2024.

Intriguing.

I can't figure out what we've changed other than this.

Joelinton reading a pamphlet on the pitch

Going to take a long time unfortunately. Getting into the EL knockouts would help.

Can we score before they go up 2-0? Seems 50/50 at this point.

Livramento is a spectacular crosser of the ball. Puts some serious pace on them.

Maybe if you'd controlled your betting habits we'd be in a position to do that.

What a stadium that is. It's not surprising there were some nerves out there, especially with a makeshift team and two youngsters filling in. I'd bring Miggy on before 60 minutes either for Hall or Trippier, who clearly needs to rest at some point.

Hall should have done better, but I'm pretty sure if we scored that we'd be talking about shades of Brazil '70 and not shambolic defending. The flick and the header were class.

Not having Isak for these two games (bar 15 minutes) has been a huge miss IMO.

I'd love to see us make it through a game without more injuries. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

It's weird because mentally I have a hard time processing Livramento as a winger.

If we lose some people will probably be mad at this but we just don't have a choice. Gordon has played a ton of minutes since the Euros.

In theory could be Hall in midfield, Tino and Trippier as FBs, and Joelinton/Willock either side of Wilson? Hope not though.

I know nothing about Dortmund's U19s but in my head they must be mint, so this seems like a very good result.

Vicario looking like a fish that just hit solid ground

Not sure anyone hates VAR like Graeme Le Saux.

Spurs stadium really is something.

Now that Chelsea have scored I'd love to see Spurs get one. Oh god