Heron

I mean, I get what you're saying albeit I'm not sure it's a similar situation like. I mean she must be stupid to decline, right?

I generally don't have issue with Everton but I think since our hounding of Pickford they've taken a real disliking to us and us having Gordon really has got their goat so to speak. The commentary from Carragher regarding Gordon was always "Left for bigger things" etc. on Saturday almost making it out they were hard done by. He's played in the Champions League for us since and had his most productive couple of years, improving as a player after being bullied and hounded out of (I believe) his boyhood club. That, is the reality.

Belter that

Mind, I love referees dishing out cards for dissent. The way it should be. Have some respect.

I occasionally watch Inter owing to family connections and they're a really good side but my God they let some silly goals in. Overall, it's a canny entertaining league like.

Liverpool also lost to Forest (h). There's no real shame to the results we've had thus far. Okay, performances have rarely been there but if performances improve (as they have) and results remain, we'll be amongst those chasing down European spots.

This is the correct way to be but I think all the staticians and what not generate a psychology around each fixture that unfortunately even some of those playing in the fixture might tune into.

Tonali was sloppy in possession (in parts) irrespective yesterday.

I genuinely think it'll have helped being alongside Dan Burn to be honest, for his experience and leadership. I know it probably adds difficulties to the role too.

That's a big assumption (that they even go up let alone the rest).

A wildcard would perhaps be good but probably wouldn't fit the Howe mould. Someone like Eze if I were to be idealistic.

Noticed that in the commentary it was all about how Gordon moved on to try and achieve better things. Not that he was being chased down the street and threatened in his car. Or the fact he's gone to Newcastle and played in the Champions League instead of fighting relegation.

That's fair. I too thought we were sloppy at times on the ball - particularly Trippier and Tonali but that is perhaps because I hold them in such high regard/expectation. I was just trying to lay out the managerial options we supposedly had in a basic form and for me, as desribed, I don't feel we did all that much wrong with regards to tactics and strategy. It was more individual playing errors.

Personally, I feel we're one player doing better (yesterday) from folks' perceptions being entirely different. We've had folk (myself included) saying previously we needed to demonstrate we could control a game without going hell for leather. Yesterday, we did that. We missed a pen, had a fortunate off the line clearance and missed a sitter of a one on one, along with a few other situations where on another day and a bit more composure or quality we'd have comfortably won. Sitting in and looking for the counter, where we are currently most dangerous, (with space in behind the opposition to burst into) would have led to a bombardment of balls in the box from Everton where they'd have ultimately been stronger in the end and a plethora of long distance shots to deal with from the likes of McNeil. Instead they did virtually nowt, with only the "penalty" chance. Had we have played with our "supposed" identity it would have stretched the game and been shit or bust. We didn't, we opted to control the game and that, we did. A safer approach to not being beat and potentially getting the win. Which was achieved, albeit not with the three points owing to said lack of individual composure and quality in the moments that mattered. I think before the game a lot of folk would have taken that performance and that point, to be honest, but because we didn't win despite said dominance are now looking for folk to blame (again myself included). That lies predominantly with Gordon for me, who ironically had a really good game, but cost us on two key moments. Otherwise we'd be hailing this is a solid, comfortable, tactical win on Howes behalf.

Hardly derby day is it Got nee interest in Durham.

Fotmob has it as 4 3 3 but for me it was more of a 4 2 3 1 with Willock pushing into the 3 and us being entirely over ran across midfield owing to a lack of cohesion. Get the point being made about Bruno and Tonali or a double pivot or whatever. Just think it all depends on our personnel and who we're playing.

We played 4 2 3 1 against Fulham in essence and got completely over ran if I remember correctly. Our one defeat of the season. EDIT: Not according to FOTMOB tbf but it certainly looked that way when watching.

Was pleasantly surprised by some of his defending yesterday. Positionally and simply not diving in and waiting for his chance to knick the ball. Great to see.

It's shocking like. When you look at Man City and Chelsea in particular - why are all those charges taking so long to be investigated and how have Chelsea managed to side step the rule book? Makes you sick.

One thing I found noticeable yesterday was the lack of carrying the ball from midfield. Instead, we slowed play down a bit generally and made a controlled progression up the pitch. I think a part of this is that we aren't as good passing the ball out from defence at present - so the midfield drop to receive it and ultimately this allows the opposition to reset, defensively. When we break at speed this is when we are most dangerous, playing direct and isolating defenders man for man with our pace, on the break. Yesterday felt like a Wilson game where a 'proper', old fashioned striker probably makes the difference, we didn't have that so instead we relied on that pace and quick transition. Irrespective, we did enough to win and just didn't show the composure - Gordon in particular.

😱 Yeah...he's gone.

Delicious

For me we were simply lacking Isak's calm composure in the final third or wed have been out of sight. That being said Wilson would have also done the job, I reckon. We did enough to win that game and win it comfortably. Sadly, there wasn't players in the right positions in the box more often than not and with a mix of bad fortune (Bruno's cleared attempt and numerous where the ball didn't quite fall right) and a lack of composure (Gordon) we didn't get the goals we should have. I'd have taken a draw pre-match. I think winning home games and drawing away is where "we are at" as a club, picking up the occasional win on the road and maybe the occasional loss which hopefully more than offset in our favour (see Wolves and Fulham). We're ahead of where I'd expect us to be I think, by a single point, which is good and hopefully with players returning and time to work together for those not on international duty then hopefully we can continue the toward trajectory of performances and maintain the same level of results going into the next section of games.

He is according to stats on the FOTMOB app too.