54

Completely and utterly bullied Mateta all game.

Thats a really big win, and one that we deserved ultimately. It was a very solid, if unspectacular performance, that felt very "professional", we knew what we needed to do, and did it. As the game went on, particularly after we scored, you could see the confidence come back to the players, hopefully we can carry that into the Leeds and Wolves games. Miley was player of the match, his close control and short passing ability is slowly becoming elite, to think people wanted to loan him out 3 months back. Bruno, was just Bruno, Thaiw absolutely bullied Mateta all game, and Joelinton and Tonali looked like they where getting their game back. As an aside, I don't know if its just bias, but I feel like we always look better when Barnes is on the left, his final ball and finish was lacking today, but the runs he makes are really intelligent and can lead to some decent opening. Thats not to say I thought Gordon was poor, I thought he had an alright game, but we just seem more cohesive with Barnes in that spot. Overall, a good day at the office that puts us into a decent position.

The ref not giving Liverpool a soft penalty when they're not winning at Anfield and its injury time.

Favourite Match: The final, 5-0 vs Palace, 3-0 vs Benfica, Barnes 1st vs Man City Favourite Goal: Dan Burn in final / Dan Burn vs Bilbao/ Favourite Moment: Tonali doing his shoelaces in the 100th minute in the final Favourite Player: Bruno, Tonali, Barnes

I'd argue the year he won his first major trophy, and got a club into the Champions League for the second time in 3 years would be the most important year in his career to be honest.

Just went through and checked this, we currently have 26 points, and are 4 points off 5th. 5th in previous season had the following points at this stage: 2024/25 - 32 Points (6 point difference) 2023/24 - 36 Points (10 point difference) 2022/23 - 33 Points (7 point difference) 2021/22 - 29 Points (3 point difference) 2020/21 - 33 Points (7 point difference) 2019/20 - 30 Points (4 point difference) 2018/19 - 38 Points (12 point difference) 2017/18 - 34 Points (8 point difference) So this season is basically around or slightly below the norm, with the 10 point difference being the outlier.

I agree with you, but when you've had countless foul throws given against you, as you're a full back and shit at throwing, then see Premier League players getting away with it, it slightly annoys you

I have a hot take that 90% of all Premier League throw-ins are foul throws. Unless its going long, everyone throws them downwards.

In regards to the subs, its probably worth remembering we have a game every 3/4 days until the 12th February, and the four players that came on today are the only 4 senior outfield players we had available.

In that second half up until the 70th minute, we where absolutely diabolical, truly and utterly turd, Burnley could have scored several, but weirdly from that 70th minute point we actually saw that out pretty comfortably and professionally. Three points is all that really matters, so meh, and we now go into two very winnable home games with a slight spring in our step, win them both and we'll be in a much better position, big IF mind. I still maintain our biggest issue this season is the lack of a killer goal, in previous seasons, after the start we had, we'd win that 4/5-0, but we spurned so many big chances to kill that game, on another day we score 7, Wissa's header, Barnes 1-on-1, Gordons fluffed chance, Murphy's open goal (this was offside granted) and we just don't take them, its infuriating. Then when we have pressure put on us, we panic, sit deeper and deeper, and just invite the opposition onto us, and at present, we just don't have the technical players to deal with it so we pump it long, and the cycle repeats itself. The lateness of Howes subs initially annoyed me today, but then I remembered we have a game every 3/4 days until the 12th Feburary, and we had 4 kids on the bench. Tonali's form is a worry as well, he looks knackered, and he seems to be making a lot of errors he wasn't previously, if he wasn't filling in at RB, i'd say Miley should be playing in that position for the next little while, so he can rest, but we don't have that luxury. Frustrating game in some regards, positive in other, the 3 points on the road is all that matter, and its good to get an away win. We're somehow only 4 points behind Chelsea, mental

Just seen the news...

I was on about the Sunderland game, yesterday was a good point, if annoying due to the late equalizer.

This is probably bait, but i'll bite... Got two Champions League runs, saved us from certain relegation, completely transformed the side, plays in an attractive front foot way, countless amazing perormances and results, some of the best in a generation, has us in good form having only lost once in 6, and has us only 3 points off a Champions League spot, in the quarter final of the League Cup, and in a position where we are basically guaranteed to progress to our first ever Champions League knockout stage, and WON a fucking cup. But yeah, sure, get one arbitrary bad result and thats it, its over, sack him.

This please:

So basically qualified for knockout football according to this:

Thought he played well today to be honest, made so really smart saves, and his distribution was decent. I do wish we have a hybrid of Pope and Ramsdale though, Ramsdale doesn't inspire confidence in the command of his box, whereas Pope does, but Ramsdale is good at distribution and you feel like hes an outlet when we have possession, shot stopping, they seem similar though Pope probably edges it. They're literally ying and yang and its kind of frustrating.

I think, on current form, he gets into our best 11.

This thread post full time is so very bi-polar

Except that didn't happen, we hit the post and made Fekken into a outstanding save when it was 2-1.

I don't get the whole "He never changes games" thing, we where pretty poor in the first half, and then he made a couple of tactical tweaks at half-time and we where infinitely better, and could and should have scored a couple more. The issue also isn't seeing games out, its not scoring more when we are on top to make sure we don't have to see said game out.

Annoying that we conceded late, as we created plenty of chances when it was 2-1 to kill the game, but a point away is decent, and probably a fair result overall. It also all but confirms we'll play some form if knockout football too.

I feel like having a finger missing wouldn't be ideal for a keeper

Lets hope Ramsdale doesn't get injured/ sent off, as Thompson is going to have the debuts of all debuts