Lush Vlad

The fact we keep winning and scoring plenty, I'm not sure it is an issue. But I do wish some other players would start chipping in with goals to take the pressure off Isak and Gordon a bit. Was it last season or the season before where I think we had the most or very close to the most different scorers in the league? We only have 7 different scorers this year and most of those are by Isak, of course. So we are 7th on total goals, but joint bottom on the number of different scorers. I have no idea what the split is like for other teams and I'd imagine it would be weighted heavily in the favour of the world class lone striker scoring say 20-40% of your goals on their own, at a guess. But after Isak, we have Gordon on 6 and he is certainly getting his eye for goal back from last season. Which is great to see. Barnes on 5, who is injured for a month or so. Not ideal. Joelinton has 4 but I think he could and should get more. His composure when presented with decent opportunities on the edge of the box, along with Bruno is usually lacking. Murphy on 3. He is actually unlucky he doesn't have more. The usual mix of good saves, his love for the woodwork and some wayward finishing. Schar on 2 Bruno has 1 I don't really know why I've bothered writing all this out or even thinking about it now I just guess if Isak went through a leaner spell or he misses any games. We need someone to take the load off. Bagging some goals from set pieces again would be nice. Tonali definitely has a goal in him. But his role prevents him getting too far forward a lot of the time. Left backs aren't usually a goal threat. But with Hall's technique, could he start to chip in a bit as he continues to develop? Now Bruno is back as an 8, could he rediscover his goalscoring form. 5 in half a season, then 4, 7 last season. Someone as good as him should have more than 1 goal.

Which time at Arsenal? It was usually great movement from Isak most the night. They didn’t know whether to drop or push. They were shitting themselves all the while. As he always does. He fakes to drop short and then spins behind and vice versa. His goal was due to Gabriel and Saliba getting caught up with trying to battle our twin towers from the Pardew set piece Then clever from Isak to pull off onto Odegaard and use that little shove. Which I think he has done a few times with great success. Wolves header 2 seasons ago. West Ham away last season/season before. Whenever it was he got a brace. For this. Isak himself looked surprised at the space he had. You could have driven a bus through the gap between them and to make it worse. One of their players just sprints out to close someone down and then stops realising he’s vacated an already massive space. Along with how deep Agbadou was. It was criminal defending. You can appreciate Isak’s ability to find space and the lovely through ball. Whilst also saying how shite they defended it. Imagine this place if Cunha did that pass to Strand-Larsen up the other end and we defended it the like that. I mean, Strand-Larsen would miss. But that’s beside the point

Plus the thousands of miles he has to travel and the jetlag.

Sandro Tawnyowli. I’ll get me coat.

It was and he is basically our only player capable of playing cute through balls like that. However, the CB’s are miles apart, all out of line and their new signing. Who unfortunately for him, was superb otherwise. Was about 2 yards deeper, playing him on. Two things can be true at the same time.

I actually thought he was a bit suspect defensively tonight and by his usual standards. Some of his touches were a bit loose and got him in trouble. Still looked class for most of the game. I feel like Bruno. He has set the bar for an average game as like a 7 or 8. So if he drops below. It seems like he has had a bad game. When in reality he’s still one of our better performers on the day.

Brilliant tonight I thought. I know we gave up too many chances. But they never seemed like they were the CB’s fault.

That is great to hear, Rod. Any vino tonight?

TBF. He keeps getting called out for Holjund being shit, doesn’t he?

Graham Hunter? Another arrogant tosser.

Yeah. Irritating fat heed cunt he is. PSG deserved an equaliser and a dodgy pen because of the xG. According to him

More, I’d say. Didn’t he sign a new deal last season? Maybe if they go down. Which I don’t think they will.

I think it’s because he also talks and holds himself like every generic Essex/east London borough LAD and it’s really jarring.

Listening to this and previous interviews. Rice seems like a nice chap and a decent fella. But also simultaneously the worst bloke in the world, somehow

So, so bad. TBF, for balance. It’s not just her. Said it on here before. But main beardy UKIP bloke used to go on about ASM being left footed. Then spent one episode banging on about Joelinton being left footed. Never pulled up on it. The good ones are rarely on the reviews now. Norman was good. Adam offered a bit more, too. Now it is all just “we are mint. We are fucking class. We will beat anyone. Bring it on.” Then we lose the next game and they’re all chipping away at Howe Anyway. Fuck them. Eddie Howe is “I mean. Like. He’s MINT. Like, you know. SO LUSH.”

The Arsenal anthem is fucking brutal. Whatevaaaa the wevvvaaaaaa

I really couldn’t see him turning it around. I said as much. It just didn’t feel like we were going to change system and approach all that much. But the tweaks he has made have been basically perfect. And I have been proven wrong. Yet again. Starting to look like we can control games a bit better and win ugly without always playing at 100MPH. He manages the players’ legs, injuries and intensity well. The balance always felt off with that earlier in the season and like we had lost our identity. Murphy, Dubravka being involved with the passing patterns from the back, Isak getting massively involved every game, Hall becoming a key player, Gordon regaining form. Oh and of course, the Tonali and Bruno switch. All changes that have massively contributed to our form.

Still a great defender and he was tireless getting up and down all night. But I think his lack of quality on the ball is starting to become a minor problem. I might be imagining it. But it feels like teams are putting a bit more pressure on him when he is deep in our half. Plus when it is Botman inside on his wrong foot and then Murphy in front, who isn’t the best on the ball. He doesn’t have an easy out ball.

If I have to listen to this fucking scripted shit advert for the women’s Cricket one more time …….

I thought Schar would be a miss. But I think this game suited Botman and Burn. They loved that contested ball first half with Hwang or Strand Larsen back to goal. Botman and Burn won that battle most the while. They are both very aggressive with their press and good in the air. Both the CB’s were decent, I thought. I didn’t feel like they were the ones at fault for most of the chances conceded.

Bruno with that lazy, tame as fuck shot at the end that was never on. All off the back of Tonali’s 50 odd yard lung buster. Then just trots back. Tonali puts in a 30-40 yard sprint to win it back for him

Sandro ‘Three Lungs’ Tonali superb again. Unsure on MOTM? CB’s were good and aggressive. Won most their battles. Isak class as always. Dubravka was good after being glued to the spot a couple of times. Some of the star boys were sloppy a lot of the game It felt like there was another gear there if we needed it. Seemed like we were attempting to manage the game and our legs. A bit like the Man U, Spurs and Arsenal games. We always look bad once we make subs. So I get why Howe is reluctant to do it. But then if those players never get minutes. How are they going to find any form?

Has anyone checked if he has a 3rd lung?

I know it helps with his pace. But I wish Willock would stop playing in roller blades this season.

Hell of a save. Got stick for those close range ones last season. Done really well to close the gap and the angle.