Lush Vlad

Was very good against Liverpool, mind. Know plenty of their fans (don’t we all!) They all said he was the best midfielder on the pitch.

I don’t think much has changed with his finishing since last season. He isn’t composed at all and doesn’t strike a ball particularly well. Maybe he just got the rub of the green a bit more and was kind of similar to Almiron during his purple patch. I know he’s young and he was playing for a crap Everton side. But he’s never seemed to score many other than last season I don’t think? Makes up for it in other ways, of course. His pace kills teams, his workrate is off the charts and infectious. He has also got a lot better at varying his game. He’s much better back to goal than he was and throws the odd trick in or drop of a shoulder to creat space for himself. He looks really dangerous when he drifts, as well. When he pops up with a bit of space in central areas you can see the defenders he’s up against visibly shit themselves (not literally).

What an engine. Not seen a midfielder for us get about the pitch since…. well don’t even know. He was playing CB, LB, LW and attacking mid towards the end of the game it was like he got bored and decided to start getting even more involved with everything.

He’s crap. All he does is score and assist

Such a strange player. Passing was loose. Put a chance in the top tier when it looked easier to hit the target. The turf monster got him when Isak played him clean through one on one. But even in saying all that. We do often look better with him in the team. He is rapid and his movement off the ball is great. Isak and him were often dropping off and then looking to go in behind. Ipswich were pulled all over the place.

Came in here to say this. It is fine in games that we dominate and like recently, when we’ve scored early. He has only really had two decent saves to make since coming in though. So it is when teams actually start having chances that I will worry a bit.

16 in 5. Long may Howe keep proving me wrong. Never been happier to get it so wide of the mark.

What a day and what an away end. Genuinely could have been 6, 7, 8 or 9. Hall and Tonali live are next level. They don’t give it away when it matters. They usually win it back if they do and all. Met Lewis Hall’s family and his missus. Great people. Oh and @Paully also a lovely fella. I’m off to get more pissed. See ya later.

I might be wrong. But I read the last bit like it was Kolo Muani. But I think it was in response to someone suggesting Antony might be a good signing for £20m!

Have we even been linked with Cherki? Or is this people just wanting him here? Can only see Liverpool rumours.

Just got a ticket for this out the blue. Result.

Assuming it would be Longstaff, if not. Moving Bruno to LCM would leave us massively exposed down that side when Hall and Gordon push up. Plus the right hand side of Tino-Longstaff-Murphy doesn’t work. They’re all bad on the ball. Longstaff rarely plays left does he? He’s been bad when he has played there, from memory. Willock in makes the most sense and means the least disruption. For all that he has been inconsistent this season. He looked sharp and back to full speed when sprinting against Brentford, at least.

I don't think they're dirty, but Schar and Burn are chippy and don't shy away from stuff. Big Joe is a maniac Bruno is a bit snide. Tonali is solid but not dirty. Not sure we have anyone else that gets particularly stuck in?

They are down there with their possession stats, bottom 3 in fact.. Used to try and play out from the back all the while and still do build from the back a lot more than us. But I think they have changed slightly due to the level and Muric being a bit dodgy with his feet at times. Might get some joy with our press. They have plenty of pace when they attack, though. Burns and Hutchinson are fast and direct. Delap missing up top is good for us. Hirst is injured and all. So guessing they might play Broadhead up top or the Iraqi geezer who's name escapes me. Neither are prem level. So famous last words......

See my last post to Decky. It’s in this instance I’d rather it was that way. Would usually want the second leg at home. Just the way everything has fallen. I’d rather it was the other way around. As my earlier post. Not particularly arsed. Just nice to be in it!

All worrying over nothing. What will be will be and all that. But going away to Arsenal without Bruno and with a half fit Krafth or Kelly at CB. To then try and get something to take to SJP. Nah. I would rather it was the other way around.

Would rather it was home first, TBH. Think getting something to hold on to and keeping it tight for an away game is preferable. If we need to open up at home to a top team chasing goals. We’ll get picked off. Still, nice problem to have. Actually being in the draw at the business end of a cup competition!

Forster with the 5 a side save when you don’t want to dive on the wet astro

Forster might be worse with his feet than Pope At least wor Nick just spoons it off for a throw most the while.

My favourite moment is when everyone was seemingly shit scared of that bird that had made its way onto the pitch. Oba just went and picked it up and carried it off. My old man who is a bit of an old fenland country boy got dead excited and proclaimed “that’s a bloody woodcock. What’s that doing on the pitch?!”

He lost like all his money, I think. Partly feel sorry for him. As he was clearly done over by dodgy agents and management companies by all accounts. Was owed millions, I believe. He left school at 13 and made it to the top in elite sport. But the stories of £70k a week and then having to borrow money and get loans. Sort of hard to sympathise too much with him

£8.5m would be a great deal. I was thinking he was going to be yet another player that we would basically have to give away and then have to pay 50-75% of his wages. The fact he’s not been playing and has looked so bad the last season or so. I didn’t think anyone would be interested for more than a nominal fee.

Man U are fucking crap. So they’ll win this 2-1 with a couple of late goals.

Pope’s biggest fan on here and don’t rate Dubravka. But I’m not sure a prime Neuer was getting to that through ball. Shit turn over from us and we’re caught square with men up the pitch and out of position.

I don’t think we’ve necessarily solved all of our problems. I’m on record on here saying I have my doubts about Howe turning it around long term. But that is 7 good halves out of 8 (excluding two massive individual errors at Brentford first half). We do still have to improve away from home and I would still worry how we would get back into a game if we go a goal down early. I’ll enjoy the improved performances, the balance to the team, the 12 goals in 4 games and the fact we’re now a threat from set pieces. You do you pal. But I can’t imagine what it must be like being so miserable. Try and look for the positives in another semi-final and some decent games and scorelines from us. You might enjoy yourself. What were you like under Souness/Fat Sam/Pardew/McClaren/most of the last 25-30 years?!