Lush Vlad

Have Benfica massively improved over time since Mourinho has been there? They looked woeful when we played them. But they are right in the game here against Madrid, they beat them last game of the league stage and it was a tight scoreline last week. Even if they were second best.

Barca. The better tie and the thought of playing Chelsea three times in a week, with the 2nd and 3rd games being away, does not appeal. Chelsea and all their various options and athletic players isn’t something I think will suit. We’re historically crap at Stamford Bridge, as well. Sounds mad to say it. But I think we might match up better against Barca with the way we have been setting up of late. Their high line and wide open way of defending plays into our hands. Would massively need to ride our luck of course. Plus need a lead of a goal or two going to Camp Nou, though…..

He’s good at saving pens, mind.

Thought it was too congested and busy for him through the middle. Although he was trying to link play as best he could. Brilliant once he was switched to the left.

Looks alright until he gets near goal. Should have had a couple tonight. Not an intelligent player at all. Still think he’ll do a job between now and the end of the season. Just from being a nuisance and using his pace.

I mean, it is. Using a player who has been fine and probably a 7/10 for the newspaper ratings. To get a dig in about people who have given Gordon stick? Strange behaviour. Special indeed

Were they jeering him when he started pirouetting and slowing the play down for no reason?! He’d only been on 2 minutes

Ah. The old N-O special. To try and defend a player they like from perceived unfair abuse. They dig out another player, using some rhetorical scenario Osula robbed Barnes of 2 assists in a minute and he’s been fine outside of that. Nowt flash, but who has been tonight?!

I get that he has been playing a lot more safe and secure on the ball than some of the others and maybe trying to impress more to force his way into Howe’s plans. But he has been really assured tonight. When plenty of others haven’t been. Makes me feel a bit less scared about needing him to fill in at left back or CB.

Still plenty to work with. But for a huge outlay. It is starting to feel like ‘wait until next season’ with him. TBF, tonight where he has been poor. He has still shown flashes of brilliance. Touches and passes nobody else in our squad is capable of. In the current setup. He is a bit positionless. We don’t play with a 10. He doesn’t work as the lone 9 and he is too leggy to play that wide left role in games that get stretched. His best position for us is arguably up top when we play a 3-4-2-1. Like we did at PSG. Get legs near to him to occupy defenders and runners going beyond from midfield and wide. Then I think he could be a great link man.

He’ll be watching some girls on film to pass the time.

The number 44 for them looks good on the ball. Elvis Jeffersonairplane or whatever his name is. Scored twice against us the fucker.

Burn has been poor. Maybe playing within himself because of the potential ban. This has gone from a stroll in the park. To us shooting ourselves in the foot. Only with a BB gun. But it’s all a bit daft.

Why in the fuck are we bringing on three first teamers in, a game that was done last week?!

We do not like clean sheets, do we.

Pretty boring as expected with a dead rubber game. It’s even worse having the CBS feed. As it is just one commentator and she couldn’t sound less interested if she tried

Was about to say Woltemade had been poor. Then he nearly gets our assist of the season. I was waiting for the net to go. Murphy was great in those sort of positions last season.

Not sure. But anyway, if they get booked tonight. They miss the first leg of the next tie.

Jacob Murphy or Shahar at right back was surely the way to go. Elanga could do with the practice of starting another game and all

Eddie can’t really complain about fatigue when he has picked that team I know we don’t have loads of options to rotate. But that’s not far off our strongest available team. Ramsey injured?

NYC. Doesn’t count I got Nets and Mets tickets cheap. Padres in San Diego, too. You just need to pick crap teams nobody supports

8-9 homes games a season. Plus a meaningless couple of pre-season games and maybe play-offs if you get home field advantage (not a dig BTW) Not really comparable. Although I’m sure basketball and baseball where they play about 200 games a season are also a rip off.

Gordon’s dream dinner guests. Trump, Gervais and Maradona. My Spanish isn’t the best. But I’d only really be interested in talking to Diego and having a shuffle about the kitchen

Nah. I think for some reason refs are actually quite lenient with Joelinton most the while. Amazed he has never got a second yellow considering how many times he has lost his head with refs I think he sometimes gets a free hit or two before getting booked, as well.

He'll probably cost too much now and isn't exactly an exciting signing. But since we were linked with James Garner, I've tried to pay a bit more attention to him. He always impresses and is really versatile, too. Decent set pieces, good on the ball, works his arse off. Would offer another option as the 6, I think could play as an 8 and was decent at right back last night. Would be yet another 'HOWE ONLY BUYS PLAYERS FROM THE PREM' signing. But I can see us being linked again, if the price wasn't obscene. Signed a new deal last month, mind. So it probably means we're now priced out.