Lush Vlad

Howe confirmed it as cramp, I believe. Also a comment about how that was a proper welcome to the Premier League. He is so classy. Always finding space and wanting the ball and to then progress it. Which is what our midfield desperately needs. But he did get caught on the ball a few times and lost it 2-3 times in quick succession at the end before coming off. Excited to see how good he can be once he has had a run of games in the side.

I loved that we shithoused our way to a win. Just slowed them down, gave Howe a chance to get any messages across and gave us a breather. I don’t mind it! How good is Walker-Peters by the way? Salisu looks quality, but has some mistakes in him and we exposed them at times. But as for that nippy fucker. We couldn’t get the ball off the cunt Great team performance. Burn MOTM and a top class performance from Dubs. Maybe he is just better when he has more to do? I also thought Shelvey had a much better game than last week. Bar the massive fuck up early on. He helped out defensively, plus contributed at the other end with the assist.

I’m sure my judgement is clouded due to him scoring and us winning again. But he did look better tonight. His touch is still horrendous at times. But he showed some good link up play dropping a bit deeper and as always, he lead the press well. He was also better as a target man overall and with his back to goal (that chest down at the end!) I felt like it stuck to him more than it has in previous games, plus he won his fair share of headers again. What annoyed me was. That for once, his knockdowns and flick ons were all pretty accurate and right in the direction of Fraser, Murphy or Willock. But they all seemed to be flat footed and not anticipating them in any way.

Started slowly and he infuriates me how sloppy he is with the ball at times. Miscues simple passes and wasted some promising positions. But the more the game was stretched and the longer it went. The more it suited him. He has that canny knack of getting a toe on the ball when seemingly second favourite. Deceptively fast, but good with the tempo of his runs. Like he’ll slow it down ever so slightly to draw the tackle and then he accelerates and is usually off and away or he gets fouled. Some engine on him. He spent most of that second half off of Wood for knock downs. Yet somehow comes up with a block 8 yards out in the 90th minute. How the fuck did he get there?! Must have teleported.

He’d beat The Angel of the North in the air.

Think he has had a groin problem and also another niggle for a while. Hip, maybe? Hammy could be something new. He has played so many games for Howe and always putting it in. I’m hoping it’s them managing a slight problem and not that serious. If he were to miss say 3-4 games. That would be a huge loss.

Was half listening to the Gallowgate Shots preview pod earlier. I’m sure they seemed to be suggesting that he was back in France this week. But he was in the training pics, so not sure how that works? Odd that he’s not even in the squad. Hopefully he’s not re-injured himself after Brighton. Can’t imagine Howe would have rushed him back for that, Brewcie style.

No Joelinton and not even the threat of ASM off the bench. Bit of a worry. Also in the ‘take a point’ camp.

The front three doesn’t really work together somehow. But I don’t even think their midfield or their defence usually looks ‘that’ bad. They were just all over the place tonight. But I never seem to know what their gameplan is when I watch them in Europe? Just seems to be leave the front three up. Try and get the ball to them and see if they can win it.

They looked crap bar getting presented with space and chance after chance from PSG’s shitness. Once they got their tails up, there was only one winner, mind. The old boys still looked class for them.

Is Poch a bit of a myth? Nearly won stuff with Spurs and probably over-achieved. But still fell short when it mattered. Gone to PSG, has an amazing squad and one of the biggest budgets in the world. Yet they look all over the place whenever I watch them. It’s not like they are getting any closer to winning the CL.

Some of the worst defending I have ever seen at this level. They’ve given them three goals and tried to give them about five more

Real Madrid have been poor/PSG have been good. Mad that it is so close.

Salisu was out completely, wasn’t he? I didn’t realise Walker Peters came on against Villa. He has always impressed me whenever I have seen Southampton and his directness worries me a bit.

If Salisu and Walker-Peters are both missing. That would be nice. Seems like there is hope both may play, though. I’m guessing we will rotate 2-3. Manquillo, Bruno and maybe ASM/Almiron to come in.

Best thing to come out of Switzerland since Milka. Absolute dreamboat.

Nice moment at the end of the game where he jumped over the boards and hugged his friends/family in the East Stand. He looked delighted at full time. Another great game from him. I thought Schar and Fraser were outstanding again. But Burn was probably MOTM.

Yeah. Great summary from @Yorkie But I agree with your West Ham mate. It might just be all the positivity of late rubbing off on me. But usually at 2-1. I would have been a nervous wreck. shouting and swearing, chewing my nails, heart rate like I’m at Helter Skelter rave and a sweaty mess. As you can probably tell, I don’t deal with pressure and nerves very well Yet I felt fairly calm and didn’t really feel like they were going to score. For all of the ball they had. Even the goal felt like it came out of nothing. They don’t create much.

They definitely seemed to target him and he did pretty well. Cucharella was brilliant and attacked all game. Had 2-3 times where he easily could have taken the man and ball and put in an absolutely pathetic tackle, though. Still seems a bit hesitant at times. I’d rather Manquillo plays when he is fully fit.

Thought he was passed round and bypassed with ease. Shelvey’s lack of mobility got dreadfully exposed yesterday. Joelinton is better without the ball. Willock started well and then got worse and kept wasting promising positions and misplacing passes. Which is the opposite way round for him! He is not the best in possession, either. Unless he is driving forward. As good as the midfield 3 have been. It still feels like we lack control in there. Still not sure who drops out, probably Willock. But I’d rather leave him in to support the attack and replace Shelvey.

By his standards of late. Fairly quiet. Yet he still played centre mid, 10, left back and right wing. What. A. Man.

The Brighton number 17 was absolute mustard by the way. Get him signed. Not the best performance and we still won. Burn, Schar and Joelinton were all superb. Plus Fraser got through a POWER of running again.

Can’t see ASM playing. Maybe 20-30 mins off the bench at most, if we are losing.

As just posted in the fixtures thread. After this weekend. 4 aways on the spin, two of which against Chelsea and Spurs is hardly ideal. But if we can get through those and still have a bit of a cushion to the bottom 3. Then there wouldn’t be as much pressure next 2-3 home games in a row after that. This all seemed unimaginable what, 6-7 weeks ago? Massive turnaround.

Ahh. I should have checked properly. I saw there were no midweek game for them. That would be why! 4 aways in a row. Need to slog through that and still have a cushion to the bottom 3. Go into those 2-3 home games on the bounce with some positivity.