Ketsbaia

Number 6 midfielder + a creative Almiron replacement as the absolute, mandatory minimum. Ideally a Dubravka improvement too.

Starting to develop a physical reaction to seeing him play. Not a good one. His time is up.

Damn, so that really was just some flukey form. Enough to con us into thinking he was something else. But he's just average.

Considering there'll be zero points throughout January, I do worry about Howe. Although 'worry' might be wrong, as his predictable tactics + questionable in-game decisions are a big part of this complete freefall. Suddenly the season is destined for 8th-10th, all those good times quickly forgotten. I don't know how we get out of this.

Another matchday ????

A Champions League footballer dressed like he's just sung at his school's carol show.

Oh fuck... another match

I'm one of the many who've had all four bench players bring in a return Each benching made sense: 8 pts - Areola (Fabianski will start) 10 pts - Gabriel (Liverpool will score) 8 pts - Archer (tough game for Sheff Utd) 6 pts - Taylor (he's Burnley)

Immediate names that come to mind are Almiron, Wilson, Burn, Dubravka. Got confidence in none of them, looking forward. Gonna ease off Trippier a bit, considering something is definitely up with him. Today, gotta say Longstaff + Bruno were poor.

It's a sad decline

Even a top sixometer will look ambitious once we've got past Liverpool/City/Villa. The worry is that the January signings will be too late because these will have effectively chcuked away our season by then. Twiddling our thumbs for a 7th-9th spot. So disappointed in these guys.... a lot of goodwill and credit has rightly been earned over the last 18 months. But it's quickly slipping away.

Done with this one. It's the end of the line for a few, after today - Almiron is part of that.

Another match? Fuck off, man Probably the usual late conceded equaliser after attempting to hang-on with a bunch of questionable in-game decisions. Let's pick Guimaraes and Miley for injuries, this time.

I still can't shake off my decades-long apathetic attitude towards this competition. Just felt that we'd never have beaten Liverpool anyway and, pre-match, instead of excitement it was more about being pissed off that yet another match would inevitably bring more injuries. So it is what it is. What's frustrating is that we played with 50% effort and still almost beat them comfortably. Not once did I believe their half-chances would go in. But Kieran

That's what we're trying to figure out at work - whether the PL want to call it at 1-1, play the final 25 mins or do the whole thing again from scratch. Got a horrible feeling it'll be the final option, where spending four points to buy Solanke ends up being bad rather than good.

Fucking Villa, man. Just stop.

A 1-1 minger, continuing the rot.

Bit bored of watching him tbh. This upgrade needs to happen ASAP.

To throw away the game like that to a truly poor opponent.... it's gonna hurt for years. Honestly, can't believe we let that happen. It was on a plate. Absolutely gutted.

On the bus to town Haven't got a ticket but just want to be nearby, in case tonight turns out to be an all-time special one.

Feels like they're always winning. Should've put money on this one because it was so obvious.

Most bars through town will be showing this, right? Haven't done it in a while so not sure which to avoid and which are canny

It's risky because he's had one* job and it's gone well. How does he react to setbacks? A new set of players? The Championship? I guess from his point of view, there's no chance he goes straight into a Premier League job. *just seen that he very briefly in charge of Beerschot, as interim

Being willing to make this move is the first red flag tbh.

I've never met him, sorry