Lush Vlad

Aye. I’m distraught that they’ve signed Pepé Le Pew on loan.

Again. Luck is probably the wrong word. But I do think despite agreeing with basically everything you have said. Variance plays a massive part in such a low scoring sport and I do think the timing to play some of these games have worked massively in our favour. Of course you still have to go out and perform. We have of course built a bit of a juggernaut game to game and confidence must be through the roof because of it.

All of which I’ve referenced? I said luck was perhaps the wrong word. More timing and game state. We played a lot of those teams at ideal times. My main point was more that I keep seeing a very basic analysis like: ‘Dubravka has made us play loads better.’ ‘No. Tonali has made us better defensively.’ When there have actually been shit loads of factors to consider and it can’t be attributed to something so basic as that.

Not sure how anyone can pinpoint any one thing for this run we’ve been on. So many factors to consider. Dubs, Tonali, Bruno moving further forward, Isak getting more involved and bagging every 5 minutes, Murphy getting a goal or assist every game, Hall’s ascension and getting better every week. The way we manage the intensity and go hard early. Which has actually yielded results with early goals. We’re a different beast when in front. We weren’t managing the early goals earlier in the season. There is a while load variance involved here and hard to put it down to one player or adjustment. Game state has meant we’ve had a lead to defend and the setup suits us well. Botman coming back in has really helped the last two games when having to sit in. Also, not to diminish it. As it has been a great run and we’ve played brilliantly for the most part. Howe deserves great credit for the turnaround, along with the players. But we have to address some of the luck we have had in this run. Maybe not the right word. But we were due some after last season, anyway. It was a good time to play a lot of the teams and the fact we managed to get early’ish goals and/or the lead most the while has helped us to get back to our best: Leicester - looked like they’d never seen us play before with how they setup. Missing their starting midfield. We finally got a goal within 30 minutes. Created shit loads. Brentford - rotated the team for some reason. Early goal, second before half time. A properly professional performance. Ipswich - missing their best player in Delap and their back up striker. Played without a striker and we scored after 30 seconds. Again, their setup was suicidal against us. Villa - scored early doors again. They were coming back into it a bit before Duran’s meltdown. Played against 10 for an hour. Man U - two lads playing midfield who look like they’ve got arthritis and they were/are on a terrible run. Hit them early (there’s a theme here) and got the early goals again. Managed it well enough second half and sat off. Perhaps a bit too much and too early. Spurs - they had plenty missing and a makeshift back 4. Going through a shitty run like Man U are. Conceded first for a change. But again, we were so strong early and then just sat in. Lost control a bit. But still a solid defensive performance. Arsenal - rode our luck to a point. Again, we went hard early, got a lead and then at 2-0. Just went into full defensive mode. Let off the hook more than other games, I think. But also a bit of a defensive masterclass from crosses and set pieces.

Lock this shite now.

Fair enough. These things always have a lot of subjectivity to them and are people’s opinions more than just purely stats. Not necessarily a right or wrong way. I just find the notion that anyone could leave out the club and Premier League’s top scorer from an all time PL XI a bit mental.

Thanks. So that’s why we didn’t do it then. There is a PSR impact and we might even get a small percentage towards his wages from a Championship club.

And yet he still managed to score a shit load more goals and also successfully change his style of play.

Ings snatched at two half decent chances near the end there.

I know Bruno dives and Gordon is also a bit of a cheat. But Paqueta is a step up from both of them. Diving shithouse.

West Ham have fucked this right up. Villa not in the game until about an hour gone.

Mad he gave the corner. Was blatant in real time Onana had just shanked it wide. The ball never changed direction or anything.

Shearer being omitted from a prem XI is more ridiculous IMO. But I only saw Beardsley towards the end and not fully in his prime. His numbers are ridiculous, mind.

Roy Keane looks like he lives in a home with that cardigan on. The grumpy old man schtick not helping matters. Ian Wright wearing his novelty Austin Powers geps.

Makes some worldy saves and is a great shot stopper. He looks tiny though and is another who isn’t great on crosses/set pieces.

I thought I wasn’t imagining it. The Other 14 used to always have him low down on expected xG against and remember some clangers on highlights off the top of my head.

Whilst Flekken has faced shit loads of shots this season. Is he a good keeper? Thought he’s always looked like a clown show for the most part. Not seen much of him this season.

What’s the issue? Perfectly understandable to leave the Premier League’s top scorer and arguably NUFC’s greatest player in modern (ish) history out of an all time PREMIER LEAGUE XI

Get your point, as well. But when did that ‘flowers’ saying start becoming common? Only heard social media football ‘experts’ like that Chelsea twat Rory use it. Now I see it all the while. Annoys me far more than it should. As you can probably tell

There must be a reason why we haven’t done that? As it’s been clear for what? 2 years or more now he has no future at all here.

Contract runs until 2026 What a deal he got. Must have set him up for life.

In the minority. But not a fan of that kit at all. Looks like a kit from a 5 a side league, a TV show like Dream Team or a Gillette advert.

Always remember a lad up in the L7 singing section saying he’ll get the rounds in. As he’d backed 5-0 and 5-0 Carroll first scorer. Only for Cardiff to score in the last minute and not long after he told everyone What a night that was. Coppers on every corner.

8th March. I thought it looked like a bad transfer with how he’s barely played because of injury. Then noticed it was for £27m and he turns 32 next month. Mental bit of business.