Lush Vlad

Lowkey quality game from him again today. Massive for the third and has been everywhere again. Got through a POWER (???????) of running, as always.

For someone so good on the ball. Bruno’s shooting is bloody awful Schexy football this.

Lovely second half. Wilson and Isak need to be on the pitch together more often.

They’ll sit even deeper now and we have already looked to force the ball in behind a bit too often IMO. Maybe get Wilson on after 55-60. We have controlled the game. Only time they’ve had a sniff has been off us losing it in stupid areas. So maybe worth waiting 10-15. Does feel a bit flat and pedestrian at times, mind. So freshening it up might help.

Looked really good for most that half. Got a bit predictable with his take ons. But positive and full of energy and was making the right runs. Probably our best player the first half an hour or so. Didn’t even get excited both times he went through, mind. His finishing is awful and has been since his Everton days. Just looks lacking in confidence all the time.

They’ve been fucking awful. But have hit us on the break a few times when we’ve given it away cheaply. Not learnt from our mistakes at all.

.com usually have a full list.

Still think Big Joe will go back into the middle and that is what I’d like to see, anyway. I think he is much better in the middle. Joelinton has been great wide left in that hybrid role he plays. But it does help that in both games. The alleged right back thought it would be a good idea to stand 20 yards away from him all game. Can’t blame them, mind. I’d be shit scared of him too.

Thinking back to the tackle that crocked him. What is the law around that? Seems like if the ball goes off for a goal kick. Then it’s open season for defenders to do whatever the fuck they like. As it was clearly a foul and a yellow. But they never seem to get given in those situations.

No idea if this a reputable source or not. But that’s far from ideal for the run in. Think we could get away with it today. But against the likes of Arsenal and Brighton. We could really do with him. Covers Trippier so well and almost plays right wing, at times.

Bahahahaha.

Willock for me. As good as Isak’s was, I don’t even think it’s close.

The workrate was there, as always. But the quality wasn't. I know he's been out of the team, it was a scrappy game for most of it and so I shouldn't judge too harshly. But I found him infuriating to watch. Constantly fucking up basic passes, over-running the ball, always wanting 5-6 touches when 1-2 and then an early pass was the way to go. He was our talisman at the start of the season, but as Ed alludes to above. We have been a better attacking side without him in it of late.

Genuine question, does he have something wrong with him? I saw him walking up to the Spurs game past Chinatown on his own. Wasn't filming and didn't appear to have headphones in or anything. So guessing he wasn't recording? But he was mumbling and muttering to himself under his breath like an absolute madman and looking about all sketchy.

This. He lost it a couple of times when he wouldn't usually. But often showed his class by getting out of trouble and still managing to find a forward pass. He was our best player first half, along with Botman. I genuinely think he has set such a high bar. That a 7/10 performance from him is like he's not playing well. I remember when he got MOTM away at Southampton in the cup and I thought it was a strange choice and others were better. Then they showed his highlight reel and he was incredible. It's like we take his world class performances every week for granted.

I can never remember their names, but there are a few on BBC that I don't mind. MOTD and 5 Live, you hear them more for full games when the big tournaments are on and not just highlights and the odd radio clip. I want to say Mowbray and John Murray, but I might be wrong. Most of them I don't really notice, or the opposite. I find them incredibly annoying. Matterface is absolutely horrendous. Tyler just phones it in these days. Fletcher on BT just chats shit for the sake of it. Waffles on constantly. There is one guy on Sky that seems to love us and it winds the mackems up. Alan Parry, is it? Never noticed if he's good or not. I just remember his voice from most of our Championship games under Hughton.

Love the bloke and on the one hand I want him to stay. As I think he's more than good enough to be a regular starter here, even moving forward. But his injury problems have now become a massive issue and it seems a waste of a squad place if he's never going to string 8-10 games together before being crocked again.

Tough game to come in for his first start since September, or whenever it was. I thought he was noticeably better on the ball than Burn and was good for the opener. Very up and down defensively, mind. I know he's quick and strong, but when he got ragdolled by Iwobi, after attempting to foul him. Embarrassing

The players have always said that and that he was superb in training etc. But outwardly on the pitch, it quite clearly has. Not surprising when you think of the state of the club when he first signed.

Feet like Michael Flatley. He can certainly play wide left. No debate there. Interesting to see if he comes back in for Wilson. The same as after the West Ham game. Might even get a start along with Wilson. Depending on Longstaff’s fitness.

Totally transformed as a player and seemingly as a character, as well. He seemed really timid early in his career here. Now he is trying to fight everyone. Gives a foul away every ten minutes and looks absolutely disgusted with every refereeing decision that doesn’t go his way Machine.

Went from being anonymous in the first half. To arguably the best player on the pitch in the second. Gets a lot more room drifting wide and I do love how direct he is. Even when it doesn’t come off. Really unfortunate not to get two goals to go with yet another top class assist.

Well he certainly came to life second half.

Willock is such a strange player week to week. Was arguably MOTM against Spurs and heavily involved in most of our good play. Been AWOL tonight and not got into it at all.

The longer is stays 0-0 and they are tearing about like loons. The more confident I’ll be of getting the win. Can’t see them being able to keep this intensity up. If they nick one, though…….