Lush Vlad

If that gets going. It will be sung at Busta Rhymes pace once it properly picks up.

Not seen much of him back to goal in the footage I’ve been watching on loop since yesterday. But his touch, frame, footwork and ability to play off either foot is going to be a massive help, you would have thought.

Agree with this. Actually thought he was the better option to Almiron and Fraser, at times. As at least his pace caused problems. But he has somehow got worse under Howe. Just regularly makes the wrong decision, or no decision at all. Rafa signed some gems for decent prices. But Murphy for £12m when we had a tight budget, was not one of them.

No idea why Pope’s height is listed as 6ft 3”, even on official club sites. He’s 6ft 6” or 7. Looks taller than Burn, even.

Bellamy and Torres were never the same after hamstring injuries, were they?

Oh aye, for sure. I've had 4 ops on my right knee and didn't really play many sports to a particularly high level. So I can certainly empathise and the fine margins are much more noticeable at the top.

Probably had shit loads of time to be in the gym, where he can only train upper. Due to his legs being fucked (again).

He chucked Wood straight in. We didn't really have any other options, mind. I think Gayle was fit at the time, though? I don't think it will be quite as slow as Bruno. I'd like to think he'll get more minutes and get into the team earlier. Especially if we need goals in games.

I've said it a few times now. But even since he first signed with us, it seems like he has lost a yard and perhaps also plays within himself a bit. Probably by design to a certain degree, but there must also be something subconsciously affecting him. Kind of understandable after all of those injuries and him being our only decent striker. I was shocked by how quick and explosive he looked over short distances. But that seems to have been missing since he returned at the end of last season. Still really sharp and a great finisher. But he just never stays fit and hamstring injuries are hardly going to help on that score.

He was quality at pressing last season. After that, I'm scratching my head on what his strengths are? I really don't rate him and barely think he's adequate as back up. His passing is slow and often misplaced, his touch is pretty crap and I wouldn't trust him to play the deeper role in the 3 or provide much creativity going the other way. He just seems like another generic British centre mid, who doesn't really have any stand out qualities. There were quite a few poor performances last night. But in the same midfield, Willock, and Anderson in particular were streets ahead of him. EDIT - just as a caveat. I thought he looked woeful when he came on against Man City and also poor in the Arsenal game at the end of last season. But both of those games, the analysis nerds on Twitter praised his performances. So what do I know!

Don't know enough about the player to know if we are overpaying or not. But it seems every transfer, people will always say the player is too expensive. Fans will compare it to someone from a season or two ago, who went for a good bit less. Or they'll use a very basic 'if X player is worth £50m, then Y player must be worth £100m' comparison. Without any thought for all the particulars, additional fees, minute details and differences between each deal. Haaland is the one that really springs to mind this season. All that said, I'll be a massive hypocrite and still say I can't believe how much Morgan Gibbs-White cost

Come on now. I don’t rate him and he had a brutal game against Brentfors, but he clearly is.

I mean, he is certainly better than Longstaff. But I was hoping we might be aiming a bit higher than such a low bar. So hopefully it’s bollocks.

McTomiNAY/NO

Wait, what? It’s a loan deal? Rip them off for a massive loan fee or permanent transfer only. As I’m sure others have said. They messed us about with Lingard. Shouldn’t be doing those cunts any favours. Man U can get to fuck.

No maybe about it. Shocked at the lack of coverage on the elbow/flailing arm on Lascelles. He’s already used his arms for leverage. Then just swings at him. Probably because he was in a strop about getting beasted in the air. Proper snide challenge that.

This cunt moaning on about blocks. Mr Magoo was reffing tonight you dense cunt and you should have been down to 9 by half time. The brass neck on this fucker

I was hoping for a local’ish away or London away game. Winnable games, of course. If not, one of the worst teams left in at SJP. Palace will be a hard game. But we do seem a lot better at home under Howe.

The one on Lascelles is the sort of challenge you’d go looking for the player after the game. That Hemmings one was a red and it’s shit. But I understand why he hs flown in like that. Nevitt has had a massive swing of the elbow after the ball has gone. That is just pure scum behaviour.

Fuck me man. Someone tell these cunts it’s not Red Card on the Playstation. Some of these challenges wouldn’t look out of place in Mean Machine.

They’re filth. Risking Trippier is making me nervous. Poor old Krafth. Been solid for us at RB under Howe. This game massively highlights why we need a couple of attacking options and another CM. The back ups in those positions are not fit for purpose.

Quite a few of our players do look about League Two level. Anderson showing some urgency and intent, at least. Looks decent. Shithouse elbow on Lascelles.

Have we really ended up with Hinchliffe for back to back games?! He better not be on comms against Wolves.

Possibly just semantics, but I get the impression he is a forward. Not just a striker or number 9 in the same way Wilson is, or Wood is supposed to be. That was how it was explained to me by my Watford supporting mate, who is also a scout and a bit of a tactics, analysis nerd.

I won't pretend I have watched them enough to say they would fit in. But I reckon you could get 2 of Isak, Pedro and Wilson into the front three. Wilson is always injured, Almiron is still to contribute goals and assists and we currently have a seemingly half fit Fraser and Murphy as the next off the bench to play out wide. The more the merrier with the attacking players.