Lush Vlad

Nah. I really remember Brentford away when we came back to win and Fulham home, which was an awful late 1-0 win. He was behind Wilson.

I know. Yet every season it somehow feels worse and worse. Barely even back to it and it just stops every 5 minutes.

Agree with this. They have the ability to take us apart of they get it right and our press is off. But they arguably look even more fragile and open at the back than they did under De Zerbi. Despite winning yesterday, Spurs created loads in that first half. They've already conceded 10 goals, although TBF, they have played against better teams than us.

Not really for or against it. Just wouldn't mind a bit less rigidity, at times. That said, the top managers do seem to have their system and whilst they will tinker. The way the 11 lineup is often the same. I would rather have that and a coach that believes in their philosophy and that it will work. Than some of the chancers we've had over the years. Who would change formation and tactics week to week based on one bad result. Or stick to a certain tactic that is clearly ill-suited most the while. Like Bruce and that bloody 4-4-2 v Brighton when it could have been about 0-10

Second international break after only 7 league games FFS. What an absolute shambles.

I agree with this and who's to say Howe won't change things over time as the team hopefully starts to evolve. I still think 4-2-3-1 was what he played a lot of the time at Bournemouth, for example. But I just don't think in the whole time he has been here. He has ever looked to play a DM or a number 10 and the fairly flat midfield 3 has been a mainstay. The closest we got to the 10 was a few times when Isak played deeper behind Wilson. It actually looked promising. But a very small sample size from memory. Fulham at home for a bit, second half at Brentford. Can't think of many more times where they were both on the pitch in that kind of set up.

Saw a still image that some Everton gimp posted on Twitter when he is about to hit the ball. Fuck me, Pickford went early. He's almost on the deck and way off centre before he's even kicked it. You notice against City and on Saturday. He doesn't look at the keeper at any point during his run up or for quite a bit beforehand, actually. I guess every player has their process and the style of looking at the keeper, waiting for them to go is a fairly new and not that common approach. Toney, Jorginho, Schar off the top of my head, for example. Isak, at times waits for the keeper to start moving. But I think if you're not trying to give the keeper the eyes or see who blinks first. You really need to be hitting the corners or going for the Shearer thunderbastard special. Gordon certainly didn't do that, it was tame as fuck. Probably over-thinking it as it was just a pressure penalty back playing at a ground where 90% of the people there don't want him to do well and are audibly abusing him all game. But I'd rather Schar is our penalty taker if Isak and Wilson (haha, good one) aren't on the pitch.

It's his left shoulder that is dodgy. Again, the decent save he made was to his right. Small sample size, but it does look like he is going down awkwardly to his left. Although perhaps he has always been weaker this side and nobody has ever flagged it.

The game at Stamford Bridge looked like the polar opposite to the snoozefest on Sky. Watched the last half hour. It could have easily been 2-2 in the 13 minutes of injury time alone

Reminds me of when you play a push shot in pool/snooker. Such a weird technique. It’s like he’s trying his hardest to leather it and it ends up being tame as fuck.

Fell asleep after 20 minutes. Terrible game.

In hindsight, a game like yesterday was probably more suited to Miggy’s skillset. Against teams like say Spurs or City, where we won’t have as much of the ball and there is space to attack. Then I think you go with Murphy. A bit depressing typing that out, TBH. Why are these still our main options at RW after all this time?!

Not sure Isak, or Gordon for that matter. Would be particularly effective if we started crossing it regularly, mind. They’re not good in the air against centre backs. Perhaps different for Wilson, but that’s a moot point as he’s never fit. We do need to do more to create and support whoever is playing up top, though. We can often look tidy and at times, dominant. Right up until we get near the box. All that said. Even without the penalty. We created more than enough to win yesterday. We were just wasteful along with some good fortune for them.

Thoughts? I was watching in the pub, so never great for analysis. But it was almost like he was trying to do too much. In a good way, though. He was popping up everywhere and trying to force the issue and certainly adds a bit of pace and dynamism to our team. Did give it away cheaply a few times. It nearly cost us at one point. But as I said in the Trippier thread. Everyone was at it yesterday. Which could be seen as a positive for them with how they swarmed the ball and a negative for us with how sloppy we were at times.

Agree with this. Thought he would have come on but the injury forced his hand.

Fair play to him. Looks and sounds like he’s loving it. Would love to score down the local rec and celebrate with the fans like that

Still firmly in the camp that he should start ahead of Tino. But a lot of his passing seemed really wasteful first half. Usually straight to a blue shirt. Wasn’t just him, mind. Despite playing well overall IMO. We were very good at picking out Everton players when we were in the final third.

Yep. Repeating myself a bit from yesterday. But even allowing for the fact they were shit. I thought we looked back to our best, at least. Was a spell in the second half where we just kept recycling it and aggressively winning it back time after time. Thought we weren’t as passive and despite not scoring. Our attacks didn’t look as toothless as they have this season. Just annoying we have failed to win again. Two league games in a row where I think we could and possibly should have won. After barely deserving any of our wins prior. Positive signs that we have put two decent enough performances together at least.

Yeah. He seemed to be everywhere. Very unlucky not to score and all. Ndiaye knew fuck all about that and was pure luck to keep it out.

It feels like 2 points dropped. 100%. But we finally played pretty well. People want to ignore how much luck/variance is involved. The Bruno chance, Ndiaye has no clue what happens. That is 1-0 most days of the week. Gordon’s awful penalty. What’s that, a 75% chance of a goal. I have complaints about the performance. But context is also important. Result aside. I think that is actually a positive performance going into the international break.

Probably the best we played all season. Lack of a 9 and our obsession of playing it straight to a blue shirt when we were clean through cost us. Not too upset by that. Really should have won and it’s annoying. But it is what it is.

He very slightly reminds me of Almiron. In the sense he always has far too many touches for no reason. He looks like a stylish player on the ball, however. He just never seems to offer any FRET whenever I watch him.

About to say the same. What a difference a goal makes.

Agree with this. Didn’t he take it upon himself to drive to a hospital in the North West. Because there was someone asking how they would get in touch with him on social media. Does seem genuine and not just doing them because they’re mandated by the club. Even if they are, the way he comes across is always heart warming.