Lush Vlad

I hope so. Seem to see it getting mentioned all the while and just assumed that was the case in general. Not that they’d know, anyway. They may have been briefed, they may have been told bollocks on purpose. They might have just made it up, TBH.

I suppose it isn’t a massive issue and we can afford to pay the premium. But I find the constant ‘Prem experience’ thing a bit odd. If that is indeed the case with Howe and his preference for signings. Arguably our two most impressive players that have bee signed under Howe. Are Bruno and Botman. When considering their age and what we paid for them. Would also be our most sellable assets and would bring in a huge ROI, I would have thought. Not that we are a selling club, of course. But just found it interesting. Of course, we have signed older, Prem experienced players with great success, as well. But they’ve mostly been a bit older and more experienced. Hence a more reasonable price. The likes of Caicedo, Neves, Maddison or even MacAlister if we wanted to dream big. Would all cost a fair whack and I’d imagine demand a lot more money then most players from abroad.

Silva’s teams are not known for being defensively sound, are they? Can’t see them sitting deep and doing a Palace or Bournemouth.

We do go direct quite often and win territory high up the pitch. Either from a throw or winning the second ball off the counter press. Or a free kick, of course. So no worries if they want to press high. I have the same opinion on Southampton, after what they did to City. I don’t think we are overly patient and are quite risk averse at the back when building in possession. Don’t get me wrong. Our system is great and sexy as fuck at times. But we have no issue with the old fashioned ‘TURN ‘EM ROUND’ approach and then building from there. It will be decent to watch a more open game. Think they’ll be like a more efficient Leicester, as opposed to Leeds second half, Palace, Bournemouth etc.

Great cross. But WTF is Kepa doing, man?! So unconvincing. Never really committed to coming or going. Second bit of crap keeping that’s cost them a goal in their last two league games.

He was always a striker, though? He has adapted his game a bit over the years. But it's not like he's gone from playing up top for Spurs to a box to box midfielder.

Yeah. That does seem to be a glaringly obvious one, that didn't come to mind when I spent 30 seconds thinking about other players.

I've never seen a player so fast, that doesn't look like they're running fast. Always looks like the defender has him and they're getting up to full speed quicker than him. Then he just strides away from them. Looks like he's jogging. Must be well annoying to play against. It can be frustrating, at times. But it is also clever from him that he will check back, pass and keep possession 30-40 yards further up the pitch than where we started. He doesn't always look to get to the byline or drive to goal. Usually because nobody else on our team can keep up with him to support

Agree. Diame was a pretty decent turnaround, I thought. But that was just a slight change in where he played in midfield and then improved form. This is a complete change in position. Going from someone who looked about as useful as a bag of gravel playing up front. To some kind of real life T-1000. I know you are always biased about your own club and I suppose the transfer fee does have to be factored in to some extent. But I doubt there will be many bigger turnarounds in Prem history, that also involved moving position.

Was it not Burn, then Willock? Big Joe with the lovely lay off and then BDB just waltzing through and casually slotting home

That will hopefully be achieved by getting some genuine competition for places. I think we need to be signing starting quality players, to genuinely compete for starting spots and possibly even replace them in time. The same way Bruno did when he came in. Would be nice to have some tactical versatility and proper options off the bench. Like a different type of midfielder to say Longstaff, a more typical left back than Burn and a different wide man to someone like Joelinton or Willock. ATM, the only ones you can bring on to change the game in an attacking sense are ASM and Isak. Both have missed a decent chunk of time through injury and all.

Just to say it again. As watching highlights and the stuff at the end. Henderson seems like a right bellend with his carry on. To think they wanted circa, I think, three times as much as what we paid for Pope. So glad we didn’t sign him. Got the better keeper and not one that goes on like a kid, who’s had too much Happy Shopper cherryade.

Feckin hell. They have an FA Cup game in-between, albeit against Blackpool. We have a nice weekend off. As Phil Thompson would say, CHANCE! Be still, my beating heart.

Nah. The fingers in the ears was the main one. Gibbs-White doing it to the Wolves fans. Then Cunha mocking it was pretty funny. Then that runt Colback decided to do it. Totally ruined it, for me. One too many

Shootout was fun. Henderson comes across as a massive egg, doesn’t he? So glad we got Pope and not the Poundshop Pickford.

Long shot, but I’m after a ticket for this if anyone has a spare. Usual mate who I go with is using all 4 ST’s and my other source is also using all 4.

Spoke to a Leicester supporting mate earlier. Said similar to him. Must piss you off as a Leicester fan when both games, before and after. He just praised NUFC loads. Even after the games, he almost looked happy. Casually chatting away to Howe and not looking arsed that they’ve just been played off the park.

Fucking right. If it means I can get to a game. I’d also be happy with Southampton somehow getting through and watching it on the box

Forest/Wolves away first leg on the Tuesday would be great. If it was one of the Manc clubs on the Tuesday or Wednesday that week. That would also be ideal. Head office is in Ashton, just outside Manchester and I’m up there the Weds/Thurs that week. So could get to any of those games en route or while I’m there.

2 for 1 with the cannonball from Bruno. Absolute madman

I'm glad it's not just me. Every missed chance or misplaced pass "He REALLY should be doing better with that." Has the most annoying, whiney voice and all. Horatio Hindsight Hinchcliffe. Can't abide him.

"Take it on the chins" Cundy just assuming that the absolute disgrace he is talking to, is a fat mess.

I thought the ref was good overall. So possibly a bit harsh to moan. But he let Leicester carry with their attack for about 10-15 seconds when Schar was down with his customary head injury. Yet when we were about to go through on goal, he whistled straight away when Tielemans was down. Pretty sure he didn't give a free kick and it was a drop ball, with us keeping possession.