ponsaelius

I never rated Mcmanaman either despite him getting some hype. However he was undoubtedly instrumental in winning the FA Cup for Wigan. Gordon hasn't really done anything at this level to justify the fee we paid.

I've never seen it with Gordon like. Somebody like Callum Mcmanaman showed more than he has at this level. Didn't want us to go near him for the fees reported last summer. In January I convinced myself to trust the club, as he is clearly liked by both Ashworth/Howe, and seen to have promise within the England set up. However so far he has remained a disappointment. Apart from one cameo when he made his debut off the bench and looked 'sharp' I've not seen anything from him. Definitely disappointing all-round.

Never watched Luton this season. Like watching an NBA side, land of the giants.

I'm definitely becoming negative overall but I don't think it can be overstated just how much better a point was today than a loss. I think we can take positives from it and attack these two home games knowing we can do it if we win them both. Lose today and I think we'd be done. And we very much could have lost today.

It's an option in certain games against tired legs to move Isak into where there is space. But as your starting move it's a waste. Feel like Eddie has bowed to pressure a bit to play them both together.

Now I'm over my anger I think it's not a bad point.

Could really, really do with a favour from Leicester.

Brighton is first.

Might just go for a walk or summit

I can't even watch. Minutes behind so just refreshing on here instead

Botman and Schar from set pieces are doing my nut in now like. Wish one of them would just attack the ball properly.

Need to change this system. The front three is all wrong. I can't believe he's stuck with Isak wide after the Arsenal game tbh.

Yeah we're bottling it

In the words of Danny Dyer, I am fucking shitting myself.

Sevilla were 4th favourites for the EL when I looked this morning. Another example of odds being out of whack when you consider the fact they basically win this tournament by default.

Shocking remembering to not remember Shota Arveladze.

It's LinkedIn Premium Account with a dash of Mens Mental Health™. I enjoyed the Eddie Howe episode cos Eddie is Eddie but it left me never wanting to listen to another second of the podcast.

I much preferred it to last night's game But then I happily go and watch the Northern League on the regular so I don't think pure technical quality is the only thing I'm looking for from my footy fix.

Personally prefer a one sided final to unbalanced two-legged semi finals. Anything can happen in a one off final on neutral ground - so at least there is potential for chaos factor or a shock. Both of these semis should have been well matched - Milan have just been dreadful. Both Milan teams have had luck with that side of the draw but equally a lot of big teams in Europe have just been shite this season IMO. Inter deservedly put out Barca in the group stages. La Liga and Bundesliga teams have not contributed well to the tournament. Two of the PL teams in Spurs and Chelsea have been really poor all season and their league form was reflected in this competition too - particularly Spurs.

Milan are a weird team like. Even within this season they've flipped from being a defensive shambles to then putting together runs of ridiculously solid defensive performances (1 goal conceded in 4 games Vs Spurs and Napoli to get here). They do massively rely on their two best players in Maignan and Leao, the latter of which is a big miss tonight. But I said when they did a number in Napoli it was a huge loss for the competition and it feels like this semi is proving it the case (as much as I'm thoroughly enjoying the overall spectacle and atmosphere).

Good player but only a wing back - never solid enough to be an orthodox left back at club level I don't think.

Both just sell home season tickets for each team. Both average 70k+ this season and that's their own fans. The away derby fixture is just like a normal away fixture so you don't have a season ticket for that game. For the derby there is a designated away end like in this game - usually just the upper tier of the curva (about 7k).

It's quite a good comparison because both players are categorised as midfielders but probably have had the best form of their careers playing effectively as second forwards. Gerrard was at his best when he played off Torres for Liverpool IMO. De Bruyne in this city team doesn't actually get the ball a huge amount for a team of their quality - comparing him to a other Guardiola midfielder like Iniesta for example. But he's ridiculously direct and effective one he gets it. Last night was a case in point. Personally I think De Bruyne is the more effective but he's played in a completely dominant team which has made his life easier. Gerrard carried some very ordinary Liverpool sides to great things.

There were some on here who didn't even want his contract renewed last summer. I was always a defender of Longstaff but never really expected him to become an ever present the way he has done. Even if he becomes a squad player rather than first choice over next couple of years I think it's huge to have players in and around the squad who are from the area and have a direct emotional investment in the club.

Fair play to make that VAR call, good decision. Not a foul.