Stottie

Mitro had more attempts per game than any other player at the WC. 15 in three games, for one goal. So far he's on 15 in three games for Fulham, for three goals. Averaging five attempts a game is Kane/Aguero level, way beyond a decent PL striker. So he must be doing a lot right. He's also getting a lot of supply, which he wouldn't here. His three Fulham goals have been from a combined distance of about twelve yards. You would expect anyone to score them. My lasting memories of Mitro playing for us aren't so much missing chances but of really shit attempts at playing the dark arts. With three red cards in less than PL 2500 minutes, his cards were also marked as an easy player to send off. I suspect the last one when he came on as sub was the last straw for Rafa. Maybe it helps that Mitro's now at a nice middle class club with a reputation for pretty football whose lads can't be "that type of player". No neutral is going to admit they screamed "red card" every time Mitro went near the ball for us.

I've got a Japanese commentary on and all they said was "they have VAR in Spain but not in the Premier League".

Bent ref

Nice shot by Rudiger, but that's not on target.

They're mad for leaving Kante on and not playing Willian or another attacker.

Not bad. Park the bus, of course, but its going well. I'm still watching and didn't expect to be. 1 am here. Wish we would aim a set piece at Schar instead of the knock it back at the far post routine.

You won't say that when you see the two Mitro goals today. Both Champo defending.

On the positive front, it might be good to get this out now before a difficult game than one where it is vital to get three points off a relegation rival. That's assuming lessons can be learnt and bridges rebuilt, and this is not the start of a slide.

I was quite hopeful an hour ago, but this now sounds nightmarish. Hope the fans direct any anger in the proper direction.

Yeah, no Shelvey or Lascelles. Ah well, good luck to them. It's a big ask.

Chelsea looked vulnerable against Arsenal, more than West Ham did yesterday, so I wouldn't write this off completely. We'll have to be organised, but we usually are under Benitez. Kante is one of their best players, but I don't think he's as good further up the pitch. For us, I hope its Murphy or Muto and not Atsu on the left. Rondon must have been acquired as a starter, so I hope he's ready now. No minutes last week might delay it again though.

Cardiff fail to beat a 10-man lower half team for two weeks running.

I think we'll be fine, but the Cardiff game was poor, in terms of what we did and the limited extent of what we attempted. The match was very badly refereed right from the start, which is annoying for an early season game when you are trying to gauge how the team will get on during the season.

Had Arter tripped him, it would be yellow for cynically stopping a break. Having a full swing at knee height bumps it up to a red for me.

So does the ref get a bollocking for seeing it but not awarding a card to go with the free kick? It is obvious violent conduct.

What did he give Kenedy? An 8?

I don't think the Vardy one is a red. If were a head-on tackle and the other player was behind the ball when Vardy starts to play it, then fair enough, but he wasn't. It looks like they are at right angles. The other player runs into the follow through of a fair attempt that gets to the ball first. A yellow for over enthusiasm at most, I reckon.

Just for the striker thing, Kane has 109 in 154 games, so 0.71 per game.

Looks relegation material.

What hype? The only "hype" I've heard about Cardiff this pre-season is how they're bound to get relegated and have no chance at staying up. Wolves and Fulham on the other hand have been nothing but hyped up. Sorry if it wasn't clear but that is what I meant. Recent history suggests the entire bottom half will be meh and that the majority of them will sack their manager.

Worthy of a bump! That shitshow just confirmed its going to be another season of attrition. Still Cardiff were worse and others are inevitably struggling to match the preseason hype. 3

Aye, bottom of the league. Played three, lost three, goal difference minus eight.

Trippier beautiful free kick again. Got it up and down over Mitrovic in the wall.

I understand that we have a poor squad and that Ashley is to blame, but it was disappointing to see us play long ball against such bad opposition.