Lush Vlad

Agree there. Didn’t give up loads of chances and we were playing against a far better side. I thought there were similarities with how soft and tame it all was, though. No real intensity or belief.

There have been some crap away performances. So sort of makes sense, I guess. But I know plenty saying they’ve been getting worse and they often sound shit on TV. Only been to a couple. Chelsea was crap and London away ends are often a mixed bag. Ipswich was a proper old school away end. Even before the game in the pub and in the concourse it had a different feel. Lots of chants from years gone by, too. Perhaps the time of year and the long boozy journey on a Saturday 3pm helped. I’m one of the ones now locked out. Been going on and off with my mate since I was 16 using one of his family ST’s. So I’m probably biased

Small sample size. But after his early season form. Barnes has rarely impressed IMO and since coming back from injury recently. Defensive work and any speed has been totally missing from his game. I was half calling for it earlier this season and would have been more justified, I think. I wouldn’t want to see that now.

This and keep him away from ever playing centrally. Totally ineffective at both. This is going to sound incredibly harsh and I don’t think having self-confidence is a bad thing. Top level players clearly need it. But I feel like he has main character syndrome. The same way a lot of elite players who are the main man at their club do. But I don’t think his technical ability backs that up. Wanting to be on every set piece, the way he comes across at times, demanding the ball and then fucking up the pass to link play. Which kept happening tonight. His technique and passing are actually quite poor. He’s not Barnes levels of one dimensional. But I just think he is at his best playing fairly wide, changing between drifting infield or going down the line and generally getting up down the wing all game. Which was mainly what he did last season and he was probably our best and most consistent player. I think/hope he played more central to help Wilson with the press and to cut off their passing lanes through the middle. As it didn’t make much sense otherwise. He should have been going at TAA on the regular. He certainly worked his bollocks off. Which he almost always does.

He’s been shit with the ball at his feet since youth football. But his other skills meant it wasn’t as noticeable or that you’d be happy to put up with it. Sadly for us and for him. It seems like the other skills have deserted him and he’a aged 7 years since his shoulder injury and another 3 since the knee.

So if Dubravka drops a clanger on Sunday. Is it going to be Pope’s fault because he might have ‘lost confidence’ After losing his place to our fit again number one and also after a crap game himself at City? Honestly. The absolute bullshit in this place regarding keepers. Neither are good enough now. Dubravka was past it last season and Pope’s drop off has been horrendous. Gone from being streets ahead of Dubravka. To barely noticeable. Basically, we should start Ruddy.

He didn’t play. He got injured last game. Not sure we can blame the Liverpool game for that.

That we know of. Not sure Isak counts. Unless he got crocked in the warm up.

At least it was only minus 2 goal dif. No injuries (that we know of). No suspensions. The rest of it was tame as fuck and a bit shit. Forget this shite, the same as every season and move onto the next one.

We haven’t played that bad. But also it feels like from 1 to 11, to the fans, to even Howe. Did we ever believe or look like getting owt from this game? Been a bit of non-event.

Gordon’s technical limitations being exposed a bit. Love his work rate. But he is a bit crap on the ball under pressure.

Novel approach to never try and get at TAA. Considering how bad he is defensively and the problems Doku caused him on Sunday. Like we were getting him isolated at times. But just not bothering attacking him.

Ahh. The Howe special. Make a load of changes once the game’s already gone. Sound.

Of course he can. He has been criticised in here. Weird thing to keep going on about.

Hard enough against these cunts. But not marking their midfielders in the box for cut backs is a strange approach that isn’t working so far

Wank from Tonali. Giving it away twice in the build up there. Scared to make a tackle in the box.

Just seen it. I thought it was going to be much worse. Like Fulham away or the weekend bad. He should do better. But not as much of a howler as I was expecting. We have two keepers that can apparently only dive one way now

Gordon up top and Barnes on the left then. Osula to get on at 90+1.

“Oh fucking hell.” Brent voice.

Has TBG hacked your account

Makes sense. The last quality, quick right back they had. Who was a bit ropey going forward and on the ball. But a very good defender. Worked out pretty well for them.

Paully’s blood type is 76% lager

This is where I am with him. It is almost sad that he has stayed here too long. A bit like other players from fairly recently. Almiron, Ritchie and someone else who I've forgotten. Gayle, perhaps? They end up tarnishing their reputation a bit with the fans a bit by hanging around, even when they're miles past their best. Not their fault at all, of course. The club have decided to keep them or failed to shift them and they're under contract. But it is still how a lot of people view it and then recency bias clouds your judgement.

Bradley is injured, I believe. Gomez and all? So you'd guess TAA will be at right back. Quansah, if not.

Nah. I know they're not in good form. But it is still extremely tight, with a lot of these teams still to play each other. I think, I've not checked everyone's fixtures. Brighton got slapped 7-0 by Forest not long ago. Now they're on a bit of a run and look right back in it. I'm one of the worst for it. But it's why we shouldn't get too low off a loss at the minute and not assume the performance defines us. It is so tight 3rd to 10th and it seems like everyone bar Liverpool and Everton are now struggling for consistency.