Heron

Well that too.

Those numbers man, minging. To think we struggle to retain health care professionals because of their salary...

I guess there are ring leaders even at SJP. Those with the loudest voices/who care the least about what they look like tend to start the songs. I think the difference in the UK though is that it is very reactive or provocative or influenced/influential of what's on the pitch. Ultras on the continent are more coordinated and actually its more like a music gig that sits beside the pitch with little relevance to the game, other than when a goal is scored. We have seen it since the CL. Ultra groups just bang the same drum all game and nothing changes. At least in England it ebbs and flows. I also feel there's a lot more variety to songs here in the UK. Speaking with Canadian in laws and even my Italian brother in law they find it hilarious that we sing about Coloccini, shagging our wives and his curly hair for example. I know there's always a desire to sing for 90minutes but I truly believe it's better that it ebbs and flows. The atmosphere can be taken for granted if its a constant noise for 90mins. My Dad used to tell me to use my voice wisely at the stadium - don't sing at the wrong times. Pick the right song for the right times - and he is 100% right. Singing the Blaydon Races when the opposition has a corner for example - is just stupid. If they score it falls flat, it's too long, etc. Where as a quick "United, United" or "Toon Toon, Black and White army" might be better to encourage rather than celebrate (albeit not in that same scenario). Timing the song is also important - listen for what is going on around you and join in rather than compete or if you know you can drown it out and get something better going just go for it. I know this all sounds canny extreme but it's true, and without wanting to sound arrogant has proven to be successful for me in the corner (and beyond). This all being said - I love all of the flag waving/tifo/unity and of course volume generated which is night and day from the sanitised shite we now have here.

Subbed off. Not really, but thought it might being extra joy to counter last night.

I didn't say people couldn't ask questions. I said he is still the king, and he is. We are a little less than one third of the way into the season and have barely had a full strength side out yet. We have been either striker-less or without our star full backs who are pivotal to our style of play. My one criticism of Howe presently would be starting Pope. That has to stop. Other than that there is a logic to his decisions. Ramsay has bene injured and Elanga (I read) is struggling to settle but also isn't playing great, so it protects him to play him less when he is struggling. Other players may prefer to be played and work through it, I'll trust his judgement on that. I think criticism can absolutely be levelled where it's justified but a lot of what I read on both here and WhatsApp is unjustifiable a lot of the time, it seems to be people finding problems rather than considering solutions, or considering what the viable alternatives are or would be. The vast, vast majority of what Eddie Howe does is with much consideration and logic, far more than that being applied by us, myself included.

A win this evening would have been perfect for us that's what is frustrating. It would leave Leverkusen as the kind of allowable outcome that we had tonight ahead of a pressured derby day and to rotate a tad more across this busy 6 or 7 weeks. Pope cost us that. I am sure Eddie knows that too. However, let's say we get a win at PSV and losses in both our remaining CL away games, we likely still go through, if not automatically, to the qualifiers for sure. We are capable of going on long winning runs as a squad, as has been proven before. So no doubt that Eddie remains the king for me.

Still the king.

Did some excellent tracking back at around 33mins. Thought he wasn't a noticeable flaw to our game plan tonight, can see why he was picked and thought he gave it a decent shot but he isn't a striker for me. Pope doesn't drop that clanger and we get the draw we would have otherwise deserved then perceptions change I reckon. A win vs PSV and we'll likely go through anyways.

Very direct, very quick. Ideal for counter attacking football.

I can no longer defend. Cost us the game tonight. Nice lad, half decent keeper, zero confidence and some degree of head loss. Dropping him would be for him and for the right message to the squad.

Has to start now.

WHAT WE PLAYING WILLOCK FOR?!?!?!

TBH like I just trust Howe. I don't have that much faith in Gordon as is well documented on this forum but I'm not gonna whinge if he picks him up top. He's doing it for a reason. He's always doing "things" for a reason. It's not just blind faith. He won't always get it right but he will the majority of the time as has been proven time and time again.

All solid as fuck with weapons and their pals.

The amount of whinging about our team selection tickles me like

You'd have to think that if a striker was making striker runs Murphy would be finding him...based on the same time frame. However, I do tend to agree that we've had some imbalance with regards to stability and attacking fluidity over that time period.

Aye. Fair. Just haven't seen him do it at PL level.

But we've tried Gordon there and he's done nowt previously and finishing is pretty integral to a striker. As mentioned on my previous post (in the thread) I think I'd prefer a fluid front 3 than a designated striker omof Gordon is to play 'CF'

Agree on giving Woltemade a rest and I actually think Gordons pressing is decent when he is in the right frame of mind. Versus Arsenal hadn't he moved back to LW by the time he scored? I'm not entirely sold on him as a striker though. I think if we have him as a striker I'd prefer us to play with a really fluid front 3 that interchanges rather than keep him permanently central. He just isn't a striker for me.

On what basis? I mean isn't Barnes a better finisher?

Has he actually ever scored at CF? Genuine question. I can only recall him scoring after a CF option has come on and he's been pushed back wide.

For me it's attitude. He needs to wake up if he wants to go to the world cup. At present I'd have Murphy there over Gordon.

I mean. It was just a genuine question I always feel it's a bit of a social media made thing tbh. Couldn't really give less of a shit about Everton tbh, personally. It's only cause Pickford acted like a twat against us, so we went in on him, they've defended him and that's stirred up some "hatred". I wouldn't go as far as saying I like them like, but they're just a half decent PL club historically. I reserve my hatred for Man United and Sunderland generally. Each to their own.

Apart from Pickford, why?