Lush Vlad

My worry is us just going with the same XI and tactics. Forest will play a totally different game and it won’t work. I’m not saying Howe will do that. But I don’t think the same team will work well against them.

So a few weeks ago, according to most on here. Villa were miles better than us, Emery had done a far better job than Howe, they’ve bought better (they have in fairness), the club was better run etc etc. Win tomorrow and we go above them. Funny old game.

I remember my first beer.

The way they’ve played all season says otherwise.

I can’t blame him for leaving, at all. Maybe felt like he could have waited until the end of the season. But the club was a mess from top to bottom under Ashley.

Pope. Given made some outrageous saves. I think Pope makes a lot of world class saves look routine because he’s a big fucker. Alisson is a bit like that too, IMO. Pope is better controlling his box and off his line. I also think his deficiencies around his kicking wouldn’t have been so obvious back in Given’s day and vice versa.

Obviously doesn’t tell the full story. As he has made a few mistakes with shots. Fulham was a real howler. Spurs was poor and then crap from Burn to top it off. Chelsea he should have done better, but it was also criminal defending. Without looking into it, I don’t fully get the stat? Has there just been some bad finishing when it was a high xG chance? Isn’t there another one they use called post-shot xG or something? Either way. I still found it interesting. His kicking has always been crap. I think him punching it is over-played as well. Everyone seems to be copying Arsenal with loading the 6 yard box this season. Followed by loads of grey area fouls on the keeper and other defenders. Fair enough if he wants to punch in a lot of those situations. I do think we take for granted what a good ‘keeper’ he is.

No chance. Bruno is the first name on the team sheet when it comes to league games.

Well, I know through a few good sources, as in direct from players or those that are close to them, friends or family members. That top level footballers (our players included) do in fact get pissed up during the season. I’m not saying I agree with it or that it is ideal from an optimal performance standpoint. But the season goes August to May, then assuming no international tournament. Back in for pre-season in like late June? To quote Sir Bobby “They can’t be monks, we don’t want them to be monks, we want them to be football players. Because a monk doesn’t play football at this level.”

I was at that one. Met @Scoot and @Terrymac1966 after. Was meant to be back at the missus’ grandparents in Seaham (her family are mackems) at 4:30 for Sunday Dinner. Got back just before MOTD2 absolutely nailed

Just seen Van de Ven is out injured again. His hamstrings being made of cheesestrings and mainly being a great defender because of his freakish pace is not a good combo.

Can’t disagree there. I’m sure he used to be automatic at them and has actually been worse since that stupid run up. Based on absolutely nothing other than my shit memory

I hate Hindsight Hinchcliffe on co-comms. But I don’t mind the main guy. Him and his Scottish mate that loves the phrase ‘got through a power of running’ seem to get a lot of our 3pm games. Both always seem to be enjoying themselves and maybe I just associate their voices with a lot of decent memories from recent seasons.

The game has moved on a bit from a sports science POV, mind. Wages, as well. I don’t think he should be getting hung, drawn and quartered because of this. But players getting wankered whilst injured is not really optimal from a recovery standpoint that’s before you even consider the optics.

Yeah. Agree with this. Cheating on your wife and mother of your children is pretty reprehensible on the face of it. But I don’t know all the ins and outs and it’s hardly a rare thing in society. I’ve made terrible mistakes and done things I’m ashamed of in the past (not that, thankfully). Not sure just assuming he is a scumbag and wanting the club to jettison him is a stance I would agree with at all. If he is going to be disruptive and constantly ‘injured’. Then fair enough, you get rid. But nothing he has done has really suggested that. It was only a month or two ago most were saying we’re a much better side with him in it.

Unashamed King Lewy fan boy, BTW. One of my favourite non-NUFC players since his Dortmund days and my Grandad was Polish. So have a massive soft spot for their national team, too.

I see he still actually got alright numbers last year, all things considered. Just looked finished at that level when I saw him playing. Can’t stop scoring now and looks sharp, again. Plenty of tap ins. But just shows the system is working perfectly for him.

Lewandowski on 99 CL goals. Think that’s 19 overall for the season already and all. Looked like he was on the way out at this level last season. But he’s scoring for fun again under Flick.

Not sure I would go that far and it is early’ish days still in some ways. But if the blue chip (gambling pun intended) signing from last summer. Who cost around £55m. Can’t displace Longstaff out of the team and start games and contribute on a consistent basis. Then doubt he’d stay here too long if he was sat on the bench most weeks. Like I say though, it is still pretty early on with that discussion. But plenty of people seem adamant that we are better with Longstaff in the team and we know Howe is a big fan. If Tonali can’t replicate that and more, then it would have been a monumental waste of money more than anything.

Kind of agree. I think his off the ball work at both ends of the pitch and his engine do get overlooked. But that is why I think he is great for games like the last two at home. Not so much as against, say an Everton or a Forest (I know they’re doing well. More their style).

I hope you joined in with absolutely losing your mind about where throw ins were taken from. But otherwise sat in silence the whole game

No, not really. I think he will start, but I wouldn’t be against him coming out. We are about to play a team who have the 3rd worst average possession in the league and like to sit in a bit of a low-mid block. Horses for courses and that is not Longstaff’s type of game at all. Again, no. Not black and white or binary, at all. So many variables to consider. Joelinton going left. Willock coming back in. Isak finding some fitness and form. The teams we have played. Loads more, as well if we wanted to sit and go right through and analyse each game. I don’t want to FWIW, I thought he was quality the last two games and looks like he has taken on a slightly different role and tactical instructions. But we did play 2 games at home with about 30% of the ball, which certainly helped him. As that is where he excels.

Completely anecdotally and I don't have stats to back it up. But Schar does try that 'between the lines' pass into feet a fair bit. Just nowhere near as good or as accurate at doing it as Trippier and it gets us in trouble when he mis-places them. He found Willock in the centre circle a few times with it on Saturday. Agree on your broader point, though. Our build up is cumbersome, predictable and usually harmless. That said, I actually thought at times in the first half against Arsenal. That we moved it much quicker and the midfield interchanging worked a lot better than it has all season. Popping up in different areas, 1-2 touch passing and looking to get up the pitch. If we can build on that, then it's a start.