Lush Vlad

Not much chance of doing that when you're down to the bare bones, squad wise. They were cranking up the pressure, making attacking subs, changing formation. We didn't have that option, save for maybe Hall, Dummett at a push. Plenty were dead on their feet, and understandably so. When we then had a chance to retain possession, mental and physical tiredness crept in. Sloppy touches, passes, wrong decisions etc. In fact, all of those games you mention, save for Milan where I think there were mitigating circumstances. We have had fuck all options off the bench and the XI on the pitch at the time have looked knackered. I also think sometimes credit has to go to the opposition. I doubt it is a fully conscious decision by Eddie and the players to drop off that markedly. The other team's tactics can force that upon us, as well.

L'Equipe gave him a 5/10

I might have imagined it. But I'm sure slow-mo replays, for handballs in particular. Were originally not going to be used when it was first discussed? The majority of potential red cards look horrendous in slow mo and all. But often a yellow at best in real time. Sometimes even getting the ref to over to the monitor. With the frame frozen on the exact moment the players studs makes contact with the opposing player's leg. Not even showing it from the start It's a complete and utter shambles and this isn't a recent opinion of mine based on last night or Wolves getting fucked over every week, for example. It's been shit since it's been introduced and is unquestionably getting worse, not better.

I would love it to be binned, personally. Goal line technology and maybe for looking at obvious violent conduct off the ball stuff. So that the punishment fits the crime and the red card is issued there and then. As opposed to a three game ban afterwards, which doesn't help the team you've just committed the offence against. Never going to happen, though. The first howler of a decision and everyone would be screaming for it back and wouldn't be able to revert back to accepting human error. Can't stand how it is used for such subjective calls, how long it takes, how much everyone talks about it rather than the game itself. It's somehow ruined the standard of refereeing and all. It's complete shit the way it is implemented. I think the best we can hope for is automated offsides, goal line stuff and somehow reducing the number of times it is used per game. But by the sounds of it, it's going to get worse and be used more, not less.

Yep. Plus PSG have lost both of their away games and not looked particularly good in either match. Dortmund are ridiculously good at home and won't want to finish 2nd and risk getting the perceived harder half of the draw. So with PSG having to force the game and go for the win to make sure, it could well work in our favour. All we can do is win against Milan and hope the result goes our way in Germany.

It’s not really madness. To suggest that maybe, we could have brought on a player or two to disrupt the game or get someone on the pitch that could break into a jog. Isak was totally spent and Gordon could have gone up top to make a nuisance of himself. Haven’t really seen anyone suggesting that he’s made some catastrophic error in not doing so or criticising him. More that they’re questioning could the disruption or fresh legs have changed anything. Arguments for and against. Sometimes in the same post. Can see both sides of it. Fans are always going to review what could have been done differently after a result. I’m sure Howe does the same win, lose or draw. Hard to legislate for the incompetence from the officials at the end, of course and I guess this discussion has come about because of that more than anything.

TBF, they missed a couple of sitters and Pope was also superb to deny them a few times. But you need to ride your luck away to a team like this in Europe. If they had won 3-1, then I don’t think we could have any complaints and it would be easier to accept. The fact they’ve relied on a dodgy as fuck decision to get a goal, in the 95th minute is what is hard to take.

Agree with this. I also thought Trippier was very good for 60-70 mins or so. Struggled a bit once Barcola came on. Whereas he kept Mbappe really quiet.

Was going to say. Further to travel and even bigger game for them than ours tonight. Plus 24 hours less to prepare for our game and we’re at home. They have injury worries, too. But still a lot more depth than us and 2-3 coming back to fitness, I think. Probably be the same XI for us again. Would fancy our chances if we get a lead early on. If it is tight around 60-70 minutes. We might come unstuck.

Colossus.

Aye. I thought Hall and Dummett should have came on. Isak was a statue towards the end and we were that deep and not bothering with the press or trying to counter. An extra defender would have helped. Hard to criticise him or any of the players, mind.

I think it is, you know. When he launches it to nobody or bypasses everyone. Or when it goes to Isak who invariably does nowt with it back to goal (not his game and isolated, TBF). I said to a mate you might as well just kick it off and then reset. As our shape is so good when we get a chance to regroup. Maybe Howe thinks the same He was class again. Same as Dortmund away. But at least it counted for something tonight. Got closer to the pen than I realised.

Zaire-Emery missing helps us just as much as Marquinhos not playing. Thought he was their best player in our game at SJP and has looked quality the few times I’ve seen him.

Hopefully the white shorts and socks, same as the home game. 4 goals for us again would be nice and all.

‘Roll our sleeves up’ made a comeback and all

Can’t disagree there. Our songbook is wank.

I’ve been regularly going to games since 2005. It has always been the version of Blaydon Races sung at x3 speed and with the wrong words. Probably better off it dies out if that’s the shite that gets belted out. Absolutely butchered our own song/chant.

Who else can he realistically play in his place, though? Hall out wide and then Gordon goes up top? Ndiweni? I know we can’t carry players. But I think he will start both and maybe get told not to press like a lunatic. I thought he looked to be managing his sprints and output at times on Saturday. Understandably so. Him playing within himself and perhaps not at 100%. Is still far better than anyone else that we can play up there at the minute.

Thought it was clearly not a penalty, myself. Gets a good touch on it and the ball changes course away from Cairney. Cairney is also diving into the challenge as it comes in. Looked nailed on in real time, mind. So I get why the ref gave it. The bar is high for overturning it. So not sure we needed 20 replays of every angle when they were never going to suggest the ref should go to the monitor.

That’s not a penalty IMO. But yet again, VAR has had 200 looks at it and still doesn’t seem sure what to suggest. Semedo clearly gets a good chunk of the ball, making it change course. Cairney is already on the way down by the time the follow through then slightly catches him. I think it is clear and obvious that it wasn’t a pen based on the angles we saw. Yet in real time, I thought it looked nailed on. So I can understand the ref giving it. But then the threshold is seemingly even higher than before for reversing a decision. So it’s never going to get overturned. It all just seems really messy and slow. Causing more arguments and debates around the decision than ever before.

How out of touch are these cunts? Surely it is the minority of those involved in the game at any level. That are looking at football And thinking “I tell you what we need to sort this mess out. More VAR.”

Was just watching that clip. Carragher and Ljungberg very complimentary about him. I didn’t quite realise how good that run was for the goal. Proper blindsided Badaishaile and made 2-3 yards for himself.

Called Enzo's shot wide and all. Didn't mention Pope saving it until Ando did.

Still unlikely to make tomorrow, I think Howe said? I don't think anyone is back, bar Hall and maybe Krafth (or not), who missed Saturday through illness. I suppose Hall is at least one player we could bring on who might offer something going forward. Outside of that, it's looking pretty grim. EDIT: Just seen below Krafth isn't registered for the CL.