Lush Vlad

I was about 14 at the time. So might be remembering it wrong. But I’m sure these two looked decent as a partnership for 4-5 weeks. Then Shearer returned from injury, despite being well past his best and that was that.

I know, I know. In Howe we trust. But that last bit would be a worry. Is this the third time he's been injured for a good while under in the last year or so? I don't think he's mobile or athletic enough to play the holding role and he's supposedly on £80k a week. Surely that could be put to better use if we really are tucked up on wages to turnover for FFP. I'd like to think we'll be looking to get proper competition in the midfield and looking for an upgrade on the likes of Longstaff in the first XI and Shelvey in the squad.

I'm hoping this is bollocks. NE journos were nowhere near the Wood news and have been feeding off scraps all window, it seems. Doesn't make sense to use Shelvey as a stop gap until the end of the season. To just then end up lumbered with him for another year on big wages.

Might let this ride a little while longer yet. Then have a good bet if it gets to like 2/1 or 5/2. Beats backing the usual win/win bet of us to get relegated, for sure

Wasn’t there something highlighting a load of these supposed journos or transfer experts. Were possibly not even real people. Nobody had ever seen them speak or met them. But they had somehow amassed a huge following and managed to get reliable news sources quoting them all the while.

We need @JNKto give his his opinion on him.

Looks strong for his age, great on the ball, quick and loves a slide tackle. What’s not to like. 10 mins of Youtube. SOLD. Get him in.

Shows what I know. Should never have doubted City’s ability to rip teams apart and Spurs tendency to do a Spurs.

Lloris might as well turn up to next week’s game in a full clown costume. He seems to be at it every week.

Slowly pass it about, trying to pass the opposition to death. Whilst Haaland and now also Alvarez stand up top between the posts not doing much. Then lose the ball in daft areas against a good counter attacking side, with too many players committed forward. It's a good system.

City just don't look like they have done for most of Pep's reign. Don't have full control of games, don't look like scoring every 5-10 minutes, either. Even more ropey at the back than usual. Arsenal have been so consistent and are going to run away with the league at this rate. Unless there is a massive turnaround, which I really can't see. Pressure is on us for Saturday now.

I can envisage us not getting another forward in. I can’t see us not adding anyone. We’ve needed a CM since before Shelvey was injured. So I’d be surprised and disappointed if we didn’t get one in after moving Wood on.

Andersen was superb at SJP, I thought. I'm glad that he's missing. The lad that came in for him last night looked pretty decent. But they were sloppy and wide open in their half for a good hour or so and Man U really should have been a bit more positive and got at them. I think and hope we will create some better openings this time.

Wilson starts on Saturday, I reckon. Unless we somehow have the luxury of a decent lead early doors, so that Wilson can be taken off and rested after 60 mins or so. Then Isak starts against Southampton, I reckon. Can't see Wilson starting two games in four days.

I'm hoping if ASM starts, which I'm guessing will be the case. That he might be able to provide a bit of spark and we can create some more clear cut openings. I know it has also been down to poor finishing and we did also play Arsenal in between. But we were about 5 minutes away from a third successive 0-0 in the league. Whilst we might lose a bit of control and solidity by playing ASM wide and Bruno missing out. It will hopefully mean the attack might be a bit more balanced, with a genuine threat from both sides.

Needs to be the aim, for sure. Don’t see the point in signing another CF when you look at what we paid for Isak in the summer and how good Wilson still is. Albeit injury prone. It would be a good way of getting more FRET on the pitch. But still playing the 4-3-3. Whilst also replacing Wood as another option as the main striker.

If you'd offered me a point behind Man U at halfway, I'd have taken it. Didn't think you'd be in 3rd, mind

Weird game. Man U looked in complete control without creating loads or doing much. Yet Palace were crap, but somehow had 2-3 great chances and De Gea has made two top class saves. No idea what to take from that going into Saturday. First half, Palace were pathetic. But looked alright after making those subs.

I mean, it probably should have been a red for a shocking tackle. Was my point. Oh and he should have scored at the end there

OOFT. Pick that out.

Flip is Casemiro's ride or die. Not worth criticising him or questioning anything he does

Rat Bruno with a dirty challenge because he got paced and put on the weights. Quality side under Ten Hag. Got that right mix of quality and awful, unlikeable cunts.

Casemiro keeping up his PL form of being absolutely fucking tremendous. Whilst getting away with murder. Surprised VAR didn't want to have a look at that. Bit of a naughty challenge.

Both he and Mateta have had awful touches at the business end all game. Mateta went off and Edouard just carried on. The amount of times they could build a counter through him and it goes under his foot or his first touch is too heavy.

Great finish. Lazy as fuck defending. Just watched Erkisen stroll past him.