Lush Vlad

That didn’t last long. Desmond after 21 minutes. Mental.

Mateta is back on fire. Same as last season.

First and last time

Agree with this and I personally think Miley’s best position and future lies in a more central role. So in our current setup, the 6. Our wider midfielders have a thankless task in some ways. They need a lot of athleticism and often seem to be involved in chaos ball and a lot of off the ball work chasing shadows. Tracking back, pressing high, covering the flanks. All whilst not being used all that much in the build up. It does seem a really unique position in this system. Which is why Joelinton and Willock (not so much this season) and previously, Longstaff. All worked well as one of our ‘number 8’s’. Whereas I wouldn’t want any of them in a more traditional central two or a deeper role. Bruno is doing well in some games. But despite all of his running. He is extremely slow and not always the strongest. Although he doesn’t shirk that side of things. Ironically, Tonali seems to have the attributes to play there. But often got lost and has only really shown his class as the deeper man and in the central role getting involved. I do wonder as the team continues to evolve. Whether we change the midfield setup at all. As I’m not sure there are many midfielders in world football who could offer both composure and passing ability and the physical attributes Howe wants. Not that we could afford, anyway. I’m also not sure we will ever have even a semi-consistent control on games otherwise. I know Howe has alluded to a more possession based approach and having more control, previously. Bit of a wider point on the whole team. But looking at the team Sunday. That second half highlighted how bad we are technically in a lot of areas. Hardly anyone who is going to put their foot on the ball and bring an element of calm to the game. Tonali helped a bit when he came on. But we seemed too far gone by that point.

So you want to move someone who until recently was getting heavily criticised for his lack of mobility and pace in the deeper role. To the other side of the midfield 3, to counteract Salah and then probably totally nullify his own attacking output in the process? What do you mean why would he be running after him? like football never becomes open and disjointed. Is he not meant to be keeping up with him to try and bracket him and stop him cutting in? Bit pointless having him there if he can’t get near him. You’d then be dropping Willock in the process, who actually had a decent game (well first half, they were all shit second half). As well as actually having some pace and ball carrying ability on the counter. He also links up well with Isak and was doing so in the channel much better than usual with Gordon, too. Miley could also play there and would make more sense than making another unforced change to the midfield.

Bournemouth They might finish above us at this rate and all.

So to counter one of the best attacking right backs in world football and a flying winger who can't stop scoring and assisting. We're going with one of the slowest midfielders in the league to help out on that side? I know Bruno covers a lot of ground. But imagine him running after Salah for 90 minutes

I'll give it a go. But I'm not as quick as I once was.

Doesn't Huijsen have a release clause of £50m. Trafford is going to be what, north of £20m? They paid £15m plus add-ons two years ago. Quite a bit over £100m if you then consider Mbuemo is probably going for £60-70m if he leaves Brentford.

"who literally are the worst owners in football history......" I thought we went overboard complaining about Ashley at times. Considering how many clubs that have went bust or even moved from the area they played in. But that is some next level bullshit.

Trippier’s ‘defending’ against Bournemouth and City this season make me think he should only be starting in a back 5 or in games we’re expected to dominate. He’s never been great defensively. But he’s been getting exposed one on one for a good while now.

Yeah. He's poor in the final third and unless he is driving forward into space, he's not great on the ball. But he looks like Maldini in his prime compared to Trippier, defensively speaking.

Going to get to Isak and he'll get logged as a D

It's all hypothetical. I don't want us to sell any of them. £130m is too cheap if we are still using the likes of Rice, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez etc as yard sticks. But I just think there surely has to come a point where fees start to taper off. Or if certain clubs were in for him and perhaps we aren't in the CL. Such a daft some of money would become tempting for us and his head would possibly be turned on top of that. When you're talking about competing for the top trophies and probably doubling your salary, who can blame him. Although good luck replacing what he brings in one player. Hall is top drawer. But by no means the finished article due to his age. Probably worth more, I agree. Not really sure what I was basing that value on. Just seems mad to say Lewis Hall - £80m

Are the results that are showing not still for Dubravka?

Probably not. I just did some quick maths in my head which I think was something like the below. Isak £130m Gordon £80m Hall £65m I suppose the fact we paid £25-30m for Hall and he has improved so much, plus him being young and English. Means he's probably worth more. I find Gordon hard to weigh up what he is worth. Just signed a new deal, again like Hall, he has improved since we signed him. I just think I judge him a bit harshly as I don't rate him as highly as some and find him a bit limited as a player in lots of ways. Surely transfer fees are going to have to settle down and become a bit more realistic at some point? Nobody can consistently afford such daft numbers, can they? Even some of the cartel clubs will struggle. Although we're yet to find out if the rules actually apply to them or not.

Yep. Fair play to him, he's really developed into that role and either seems fitter or just more tactically disciplined. Probably both. I always thought he was a bit positionless here. Looked like he should be playing further forward and arguably better wide. But also not really quick enough to do it and we didn't play with a more attacking mid, number 10 type. I know it's a different role to what he was playing in the midfield 3 here. But I always found him a yard too slow and seemed like he was never quite there in time. Now not only does he have the engine to get about the pitch all game. He looks fairly quick throughout the match, as well. He did a really good job of bracketing Salah when they played at the City Ground. Always seemed to be back there in time to support Williams I think it was when Salah was trying to cut in. He had one where he got back to Willock on Sunday, too. Admittedly, he also got skinned by him a couple of times, as well and I think Willock could have bought the free kick on this run in question and he was too honest. But he tracked him a good 50 yards to win it back.

You wouldn't get much change out of £275m for those three. No chance.

I think he's trying to slap his arm down so he can then block his run. Just ends up slapping him in the face

D seems harsh. But he’s not really a C either, IMO. C minus it is.

She demanded Dubravka be allowed to run off to Man U again and that Howe should be sacked.

Out for the season.

Perhaps ‘this level’ as in the entire prem was a tad strong. Say our level, then. Can he play regularly, stay fit and perform to the levels required for a team whose ambition is the top 4 and perhaps more? I’d say no. He barely gets ‘more than 15 minutes’ here and there. As the fucker is never fit and it’s always as if he is working his way back to fitness after yet another injury. He’s not good enough to spell Isak and start games. As we found out last season when he looked miles off the pace and just doing doggies up top chasing shadows. So he’ll get the odd cup game. Or he’ll play too often when Isak is injured and then break down again. Yeah. He chipped in with some goals. Not sure that part of his game will ever fully desert him if get gets the service. But did you watch him last season when he was actually available and think he did a good job? He will always be capable of getting goals and I think I’ve even said in here that as a bit part player. You would like to think he can chip in with goals here and there to help us to end the season. ‘IF’ he can stay fit. Which is half why I’m surprised someone lower down in the league or abroad didn’t take a punt on him and/or we didn’t consider trying to move him on whilst he still held some value. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-wilson/verletzungen/spieler/123682 Makes for grim reading. Can’t be relied upon at all for any meaningful minutes or over a prolonged amount of time.