ponsaelius

It's weird how much confidence and composure of a goalkeeper feeds into the rest of a defence. One of the most noticeable differences between Dubravka and Pope when you watch them both play. That said he's certainly not the reason we lost.

No guarantee we win on Tuesday considering how we've played in all cup games this season (shit).

Two third round exits to lower league opposition. Big blemish on his record here IMO.

Sorry like, but that's just unacceptable. One of the worst PL forwards we've ever had - and pound for pound probably the worst.

The three subs made us worse. Came in completely off the pace of the game.

Isak crocked himself again. RIP.

Rafa's signings in the Championship were obviously very pragmatic. Likes of Gamez, Hanley, Lazaar didn't play many games because they never needed to. They were squad signings. Ultimately we assembled a squad that won the league - which was no small feat when you see the amount of player turnover we had that summer.

I know, I was there. These kind of teams always worry me. Yes it's better than the opposition on paper but half the problem is that they will have never played together.

League One is about his level these days tbf.

Ritchie, Murphy and ManquilIo

Even this summer they spent £50 million on Garner, McNeil and Maupay. They're the ultimate cautionary tale in how easy it is to spend a lot of money on players who aren't good enough to take you to another level. The 15-30 million pricepoint is so dangerous. Can very quickly just waste hundreds of millions going nowhere.

Finishing top four isn't a 'long shot' at all based on bookies odds.

Was two great seasons. 6th in 2021 and 7th with a Europa semi in 2022. Probably just gone a bit stale.

I don't like. They're clearly a very good side.

I live 2 mins walk from multiple pubs so I'd normally just go there to watch but at that price and this many televised games it'll probably save me money on pints.

For those who haven't bothered to set up reliable means to watch our matches (like me) Now TV Sky Sports is on offer £20 a month for 6 months with free cancellation at the moment. I've just bit bullet and will probably keep until end of Feb with how many games we've got on there.

Agree. For all this talk of improving the catering and drink offering in the ground to improve the 'matchday experience' I'd honestly much prefer it if they just didn't offer anything at all. Nowt more annoying at footy than people wandering aimlessly back and forth from their seats rather than watching the fucking match. Love pies and a Bovril at a non league match because it's part of the experience and you're not irritating anybody. But I just never bother at SJP. Like you say there's so many places to eat and drink before and after that negates any need.

I didn't blame him really for looking for a move, and even to Man United kind of made sense if he thought he'd get European games. But he defo went on like a knacker - that Instagram post was just weird.

The biggest issue is that he's just not really the right kind of player for home games against teams who are looking to defend. Especially when we also play Joelinton on the wing. What works in away games and against big sides isn't right against the weaker sides at home. The biggest missing piece in the squad for me is a creative and versatile midfield player for these kind of games. I personally don't have much interest in signing a 'no6' or any of the physical box-to-box players with terrible goal records we seem to keep being linked to. Certainly don't think it would make an immediate difference to our short term results.

To suggest his ceiling is the Championship is just nonsense. He's been performing well in a side that is in the CL places. He's easily a solid PL player even at his current level.

Tbh I'm definitely a bit of a hater with him. Conversely I'll defend Longstaff because he's a local lad and academy graduate. But Wood cost us a fortune - and he's just nowhere near good enough IMO. It's really pissing me off that Isak has had such an extended lay off.

Don't think he was that bad overall tbh. We know his limitations. But those two finishes were absolutely shocking. He had another opening towards the end where he should definitely have took the shot as well but clearly bottled it because of the earlier misses. All the more annoying because he makes the right kind of runs where he could really do with offering a goal threat - and when he was out on loan as a young player shooting seemed to be one of his strengths.

He's had an incredible career but he's gone out in a way that will add a permanent blemish. I'm sure when he did that ridiculous interview with Piers Morgan he thought he would tear it up at the World Cup and get signed by somebody else. If anything he basically did the opposite and proved he was done at the top level. Messi winning it at the same time as all that nonsense will be what a lot of people remember of him bowing out of the game. That said if he was willing to take a pay cut or change his expectations for starting games there is no doubt there would have been clubs willing to sign him and I'm sure he would have had lots to offer. It's a thing both he and Messi seem to have tbh. Being the highest paid players in the game is all part and parcel of their insationable battle to be the best over the last 15 years. There is absolutely no willingness to reduce their earning potential. Messi signing that deal with the Saudis is probably even part of this decision for Ronaldo.

Wonder if he'll keep playing for Portugal or indeed keep getting selected by the new manager. If he'd stayed in Europe (even in Portugal) then he would have a legitimate justification for a manager to keep selecting him. Now it is absolutely reasonable to essentially view him as retired and stop picking him. If the above happens and Messi keeps playing - there's probably a reasonable chance he could be overtaken on the international cap/goal records.

Well I'd say they don't. They're free to chant whatever they like and rightly hail him as a club legend. And obviously 60,000 people aren't a homegenous block. There was a clear split of Wenger in and Wenger out (with everything in between) for years.