ExiledGeordie

?

I laughed when I heard, seems an odd choice I agree

Here’s a good one for the forum ? Jordan Henderson on loan. Patient I spoke to who’d spoke to one of the coaches (works in a role connected to the club) who’d said they were enquiring about him on loan and he’s interested.

Barrring severe injury or some collapse in form he absolutely looks the real deal.

Get him out he’s shite!

Any type of win today was vital ? Hopefully the injuries aren’t too bad. Great to see Krafth do well and Botman back.

Think positive ? Mind we desperately need another striking option

Does he? No he doesn’t ffs ?

??

People’s frustration at the volume and length of injuries seems to be influencing their overall opinion of the medical staff. We had few injuries last year, we’ve had a fuck load of games causing loading based injuries and some freak traumatic injuries. Initial injuries to players puts an increased load on other players causing further injuries. The club has spent more money on treating and preventing injury than probably any other regime previously. Shit happens, we’ve been unlucky, we’ll be ok. Theyll clearly be doing everything they can do and I have no concerns about the medical staff.

Isak like a few needs a restart in the new year.

And the fact he was almost certainly facing a lengthy ban with the weight of the world on his shoulders ?

I think it’s extremely difficult to find the Bruno replacement but I agree Tonali was probably their plan B. The reason I think we might go for Philips is it’s another option in midfield to do something different especially away from home even if it’s just providing the back four with extra cover. You could quite easily have Philips or another more defensive midfielder sitting and then Bruno plus one other providing the more creative, attacking side of things.

The signing makes perfect sense, has a point to prove and if anyone can get him back to top form Howe can. I think our lack of a 6 type player is one of the reasons we’ve struggle away from home with teams playing through us far too easily.

I suppose how he does the next few weeks before Jan massively impacts what we do in Jan.

If they win we’ll literally never hear the end of it. If we win or even if we give them a pasting they’ll play the “well we were never going to win this” but they’ll definitely go quiet and their bollocks will be put on the back burner for a while. Lose and it’ll be constant crowing.

?

hardly a surprise really

Maybe not but say they lose Watkins or another key player that will affect them. Theyre a quality side but football changes quickly and we’re only on December. Our brass hope is kind of a reset in Jan when we’ll know where we stand with Europe injuries and potentially new signings. You stick even half of the injured players on the bench and we’re a totally different prospect.

As bad as the current situation is things can and probably will swing round in our favour. Villa are flying and may well be having the kind of season we had last year but it only takes a couple injuries and a drop off in form, there’s a way to go. if we have a good run next year with both Isak and Wilson fit plus most of the squad available we’ll be a totally different team and far better away from home. There’ll also be a couple of additions I think. Long way to go yet.

Yep agree with that.

Dubrakva was rusty but he’ll get better with game time. He's never going to be as commanding as Pope on crosses and commanding the box but he’s a solid enough keeper. I guess if he really struggles through December we might look at options.

Yeah it’s a really tough balancing act, bring players in but the team becomes so weak that you are almost nailed on to lose. I was surprised Hall didn’t get in at all last night to be fair. I felt we might hold on for a 0-0 or one team might sneak it due to a mistake. The way we conceded and then fell apart has all the hallmarks of a team completely on its arse. I’m not absolving them of any blame but if you look back at the games we’ve had and big big games with minimal squad options, results like last night will always be possible. I thought our attacking play was poor in the main but Isak looks completely shagged too. I mean howay look at the players out, like a possible full starting 11 eleven, key players. With even a modicum of a bench we probably win that last night and would normally batter that side which we’ll do at home. Shit result compounded by the fact it’s to those cunts but hey ho this stretch was always going to be really tough with the situation we’re in.

Yeah my worry is some of these starters get injured just before the other lads start coming back.

Howay man give him a chance ffs ? I agree he looked shaky but he wasn’t shite and was bound to be a bit rusty. No doubt Pope is bar better though.