Lush Vlad

Haaland getting bullied by the Sunderland defence. Mukiele in particular. Doesn’t look like he fancies the physical stuff with back to goal.

Yes. Because that’s really comparable He’s only scored pens in that run, hasn’t he? Leverkusen, Spurs and Burnley. Then the pens against Union SG earlier in the season. Plus the two CL goals from open play v Barca and Benfica. So is that revised total not wrong? It’s 0 goals? 8 games as well, no? Although a couple were late sub apps. Probably similar to Barnes…. Just using goals and assists as a metric can be flawed, yes. Pogba got 4 assists one day and I think 3 of the 4 were basically a 5 yard pass to a teammate who scored from outside the box. Ozil had a similar season when he got nearly 20 assists and there were many similar. Barnes got an assist for that Tonali goal v Brentford Then you have the Gordon cross for Joelinton that isn’t an assist from the other night. Or the Isak one against Everton that doesn’t count because of a slight deflection. He is the designated penalty taker and they have a 75% success rate or whatever it is. His career conversion rate might even be higher. So I do think just using 3 penalties as some reason to praise him against other wingers. Ignoring the other context around said wingers. Is a bit tunnel vision, yes. I do actually think Gordon offers a lot more than just goals and assists. Or at least he used to on a pretty consistent basis. His workrate and aggression on and off the ball made him great. I just don’t see that enough from him now and rarely have since the middle of last season.

They’ve got 7 points from a possible 21. Which started with that draw to Arsenal when the media and I’m sure some fans. Were going on like they would be challenging Arsenal and City for the league going into that game. I think the fans have started to turn the last few games and all. Weren’t they like 2 points off Arsenal and are now 15 behind.

I mean. It’s 3 penalties and 2 assists and he’s played way more minutes than Barnes, I would say. Along with the fact when Barnes has been starting. He’s been on the right if Gordon plays and he is totally ineffective there. 137% of the time. Stats can be misleading. Murphy is still our best right winger and almost our only option there. With Elanga out and poor when he has played and Barnes not being much good there. But he is certainly missing Isak up top. Plus he’s been playing through two injuries by all accounts. Certainly below last season’s standards. I think Gordon was great against Chelsea. Crap against Man U and decent for spells against Burnley. He was really good against Burnley at home, too. Certainly feels like he is getting some of his form back. Albeit slowly. I just still think he is playing in a different way than before when we saw him at his best and it’s detrimental to the team and his own performances.

I doubt they’re all English, TBF. I think the way JonBez made the point was a bit extreme. But I still agree. Miley is quality. But he isn’t good enough for Man City. Certainly not yet, anyway.

Only watched the first 16 minutes or so. But you can see why we went on that run and why we are struggling a bit in attack now. Isak was unplayable during those few months and defenders just shat themselves. Created so much space for others because of it. Need to change the way we play and not keep trying to repeat the same style with a totally different player in Woltemade. Same applies to a lesser degree for when Wissa plays, as well.

The bit about Souness saying how hard it is to manage us. I know former managers and players have referenced it to varying degrees. But in Sourface Souness’ and Bacon Bruce’s cases. If they didn’t follow managers that were successful (in relative terms) and who had a good rapport with the fans. Then start playing disgusting football whilst insulting the intelligence of said fans. Then they might not have found it such a hard place to come.

I also don’t think it looks like there is a lack of effort or like he is struggling because of an illness, fatigue or an injury. He is still doing the work. Without looking at the numbers. It feels like the number of sprints and ground covered hasn’t dropped off much, if at all. But his passing and how often he gets dispossessed must be worse. He has never been elite on the ball. But he regularly has a bad touch or hangs onto it too long. Or he tries a quick early pass, which is often straight to the opposition. I suppose your technique takes a hit when you’re tired. So it could still all be related to him being ill, having COVID or whatever.

Wasn’t it Arsenal that complained about Tindall always being in the technical area, as well? Leading to them changing the rules. Might have misremembered. But the cheek of it if it was them.

Not a foul on Martinez, for me. Watched it over and over. Surprised it wasn’t given, mind. They usually are.

Same. He seems like a really nice person and he’s a very unique player. Howe needs to change the system a bit to consistently get the best out of him, mind.

He had just scored 14 goals in his first season in the prem. They kept hold of him after already losing key players and he’s gone to shit, along with the rest of them. Not a gamble that has paid off. As his value is going down with every game. Not that he was ever worth £60m plus in the first place.

Not sure him and Thiaw work that well as a pair. Might just be Thiaw having a bit of a drop in form. But he hasn’t looked anywhere near as assured without Burn next to him. Been suspect at times the last few games, even.

Two on there. We tried to sign Sesko and Strand Larsen

I do agree with what you’re saying. But I think there are loads of factors involved. Cost, ballot and the type of people going to games, like you’ve already mentioned. Although I think at least two of those are the same for most clubs in the Prem. I do also think entitlement has crept in. It’s not even meant as a dig, as it is human nature up to a point. We’ve got used to being half decent and the bar and expectation levels have been raised. The best home atmospheres have always been when we’re underdogs and up against it. Showing plenty of fight and defending for our lives. Or when the crowd feel like they’ve been fucked over by the ref. That even gets the East Stand lot going (along with players stealing yards off throw ins) Nowadays when I go. It often feels like everyone is waiting to be entertained and there is far less jeopardy. Always seems like we’re going to score and/or get something out the game. Even when we’re not playing well. It wasn’t like that to start with after the takeover. As it was still a novelty, not being shit I’ve been going semi-regularly since 2007 and when we were crap and in relegation scraps. The nervousness and what was at stake did add to the atmosphere at times. A lot less riding on games now and the crowd seem to want something on the pitch to cheer. As opposes to trying to support the team and help them to perform better.

The execution was all horrible. Didn’t really fool them or work room for the shot and like you say. Having Gordon as the one to take the shot was madness.

Thanks for reminding me about that free kick Good God that was bad.

I thought Villa would come unstuck. But not like that. They seemed right in it and the better side first half from what I saw. The second was a bloodbath. Could have lost by more.

MOTM.

We’ve been shite second half. But I’ll take it. Desperately needed an away win.

Yeah. I hate to be a negative cunt (standard). But whatever the result here. This second half has been abhorrent.

Howe’s in game management is getting worse. Thought it was alright earlier this season at times.

Did we forget to bring subs?

We’ve shat the bed here.