Lush Vlad

We’re really bad in the final third of late. Rarely seem to fashion a good cross or decent shooting opportunity when it presents itself.

Alex Murphy, no?

you have to be a professional data analyst to use xG as part of your analysis and reviews of previous games and form? Righto

It’s not perfect and I don’t fully understand it. But isn’t it just a way of putting all of that first paragraph into a number for analysis purposes? Obviously if you’re talking about your team down the pub with mates. You’re going to talk about specific chances and goals we should have scored. I think it’s a great tool to have to help form part of a bigger argument and debate. But pretty pointless in isolation or to use it as the be all and end all.

Pretty much every player would do the same in that situation and Gomes steps right across him at pace. Not a foul. Not a dive. Still funny as fuck. As he spends most the game cheating.

Ironic that he finally gets booked when it wasn’t actually a dive

I often find, even when we are at full strength. Our midfield 3 is can be too flat or a bit disjointed. Meaning in 1-2 passes. Teams get in behind our midfield and into a 30-40 yard gap between them and the defence. Bruno starts deep and then has licence to roam. The 8s outside are usually very wide and often high. Often seems like they are regularly caught in a horizontal line together high up the pitch, as well. I do wonder if at times, having a recognised DM might help. But then Howe has never really suggested he’s going to play that way here. We have also missed Botman’s ability to step out from the back and play as an auxiliary midfielder. Plus we haven’t had a fully fit Joelinton many times this season. So hoping both of these back will help.

Only saw their highlights. But considering they were playing with 10 for 3/4 of the game. They created plenty. Hopefully they’re not getting a new manager bounce and we’re just our usual selves at home. Top 3 side at home. Bottom 3 away.

He was massively important to us earlier in the season. Personally think he looks half fit and even slower than usual in everything he does. He’s been like it in basically every game since coming back. Probably another player that is starting as it’s needs must. Who might have had another 2-3 weeks rest if we had some midfielders available.

Has to be scoring that. Difficult flicking it on like that. But he’s about 5 yards out.

Much better

Well yeah. If he loosens up. Then happy days. But he was playing through an injury anyway, then got another knock. He’s not had the same pace and drive for a while because of the groin problem. Now looks even more sluggish. They all do, to be fair.

Gordon looks even further off the pace. Can’t believe he’s starting based on this.

Think Luton win/draw double chance is the bet. We are crap away from home. Look to have picked up another injury or two to go with the two from the weekend. Plus so many look to be running in treacle after less than half the game gone. I know they’re right in the relegation battle. But they have only been losing by the odd goal and look tough to play against at home. Plus we will probably have Ritchie at left wing and Wilson has played 3 full games in under a week. Annoyingly think a game like this is ideal for him. But we need to be mindful of him breaking down yet again.

He seems to be playing through an injury and/or has something else on his mind that is effecting him. As he is making uncharacteristic mistakes all the while. His touch is usually so assured and automatic. But it’s deserted him the last 4-5 games when it’s mattered. Caught in two minds, gifting the other team the ball, flat footed and no man’s land defensively. Seems to mainly be away from home, mind. As Milan and Man U he was still solid/class. Possibly reading too much into it. As he is hardly going to look all chipper after some of our results and performances of late. But he just doesn’t look or seem himself. He is such an important player for us. Hope he can get whatever it is sorted.

Was Ritchie’s first touch the penalty? I don’t care how crap Hall has been in training or him not fully understanding the system. You can bet he would have had more than 2-3 touches in 40 odd minutes on the pitch and contributed more than Ritchie.

Brutal. Get the lot on Luton Saturday. We really have a lot of players that are dead on their feet by the half and some others playing through injuries. Still, as gutted as I am. It’s hard to be angry at the players or Howe. They really do put it all in.

I know he’s young. But if you can’t get 40 minutes or so ahead of a 4 years past it Matt Ritchie. Then you’re not worth £28m and it’s a bit of a worry (N-O trademark).

Lewis Hall must look utter wank in training if Matt Fucking Ritchie is getting a gig ahead of him.

The least he could do after trying to maim him first half

Embarrassing that he’s been left on this long.

Nice not to have VAR, the lino has been spot on so far with his decisions and the ref is letting loads go. But not sure how the ref can only give a yellow if he sees that challenge from Caicedo. Absolute shocker from the cunt. He’s surely decided to get one in early. Knowing there is no VAR? Red card all day long.

Gordon, Longstaff and Wilson are all half-fit and it shows. Miles off the pace. Almiron has been awful, too. Too many of them just look leggy. Which is understandable. Still, nice to have a lead away to hold onto for a change. Not really many options. But I’d be tempted to take Longstaff off. Complete passenger and barely looks like he can run. Solid defensively and hopefully we can build on that in the second half.

I seem to be saying this regularly in here. But he comes across really well in the media. Foster gets a bad wrap and if I listened to him all the while. He might start to grate. But he always comes across as so jovial and friendly. It’s hard not to like him.

Sort of what we did against City at home. Not sure how much of that was by design, mind. But it worked on that occasion. I don't want us to go with a really weakened team. But we could field a strong enough side all things considered. But still have the option of Gordon, Trippier and perhaps Isak as options off the bench. Who all sound like they're struggling to complete 90 minutes and are playing through niggly injuries.