Lush Vlad

Fucking hell. We are masters of our own downfall again. Embarrassing.

Feel for him for England. As he must have had a chance at making the Euros squad. Even allowing for Southgate being clueless.

Was holding the top of his knee and highly doubt it would be an ACL if he managed to walk off like that. They would try and check on the pitch pulling at the back of the kneecap and would stretcher him if they suspected that, I reckon. He seemed off his game from the get go. Pulled up in the corner and seemed fucked after that. Hoping it was whatever he felt from that and it’s more a strain than proper fucked ligaments or tendons.

Spindly old legs and smashes it in like that, side footed with minimal back lift.

Convinced he is playing through an injury. Which if true, is quite commendable. He’s never been the most agile. But that one early on where he took 3 touches, all nowhere near him and still managed to run it out. Wow. He isn’t as mobile as last season and seems scared to snap into tackles. I’m sure he used to be more physical? The fact he is flopping/diving even ore than usual would also tie in with that.

Cannot stress enough how bad they have been. Yet we look soft at the back when they attack and are doing our best to gift them goals. Game is there for the taking if we could be a bit more composed and patient in attack. Some of their players look about as interested as the home crowd.

I do sometimes wonder what we work on in the week in an attacking sense. Real lack of anything creative when we don’t have space. But I guess that is as much to do with the players we have as it is with coaching.

Gordon’s not having his best game so far. Gusto not giving him space to attack and his close control is letting him down all the while.

Feels like this game is there for us. But we’re just so sloppy on the ball in the final third (again). I don’t think we’re playing badly other than that.

Started so well then concede that. Shite clearance from Botman and scruffy as fuck after that.

Their back 4 doesn’t look great. But then our attacking options that are starting and off the bench aren’t as good as they could be. Barnes has had a nightmare first year. Hope it’ll be similar to Gordon next season. As he’s not had a run of games to find form, is vying for the same position as our player of the season and hasn’t been overly impressive the few chances he has had. Totally understandable, mind.

By Jaques Talbot. Is he the new Indi Kalia? Not sure I’ve ever seen him call one right.

Oh I don’t think he’s great or anything and I’m sure it was tongue in cheek. But “looks about the worst centre forward I've ever seen” was obviously nonsense.

11 goals in all comps says otherwise. He wastes some decent chances and takes an age to make his mind up at times. But he actually scores goals, 1 in 3, I think. Fairly recent history shows we have God knows how many strikers who were worse than him.

Wouldn’t he be more likely to cut inside constantly from the left? I still think his best position is midfield and the fact he linked up so well with Willock on the left. Meant that he looked better than he actually was as a left forward. Playing in that interchangeable/dove tail role with Willock. Either way. A new right winger/forward required urgently.

Fulham have been alright of late. Fancied them to get a draw and do us a favour.

If we could just find a right footed version of Gordon…….

Yeah. Really like Neto. But that’s the second hamstring injury this season. Assuming it’s the same one and all. I think he missed plenty of time last season injured and I think he did his ACL a year or two before. That’s a lot of bad injuries for a 23 year old. Think and hope we steer well clear.

As I was saying.

They’ll win 3-0 whilst playing shit.

Only got it on the radio. But Matterface is regularly getting very excited about Everton. Sounds like they’re the better team. Pardew on co-comms

Was Elliot playing in Krul’s absence when he was injured? Don’t remember him taking over as number one. But I do remember him playing a lot more often than he should have been. He was crap.

My memory isn’t what it once was. So many of those bad years are just erased from my memory Anyway. Bit weird to link it to Pope. Who has come back fine from this injury before. I think it would be more if our medical team (no laughing) think it is likely to reoccur for a third time. Or if Pope himself has any mental or physical issues with it second time around.

I think Krul went downhill after the ACL after being moved on? I remember him being decent enough before that and noticeably worse after it. Didn’t even remember him doing his shoulder. Rafa moved him on as he was crap with his feet. Oh the irony here Worth mentioning Pope has done the same shoulder before and come back fine. But the fact it is the same shoulder would probably be a concern for him and the club alike.

£170k was the rumour flying around when he signed there.