Lush Vlad

Yeah, I suppose it is more his passing. He is great driving forward with the ball and trying to crash the box or run into the channels. Which those stats kind of back up.

Solid in the air, doesn't mind showing the winger the line as he has a great turn of pace, full of running all game. Most impressive for me is how he tracks the ball and rarely seems to get stuck under it or let his man run off him. He'd make a great cornerback There were some times earlier in the season I thought he seemed to lose concentration a few times and he did look a bit flustered under pressure on the ball the last two games. But the back 4 is quite well balanced now, with having Hall the other side as the ball player and Tino as the runner.

https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/pfa-player-of-the-year Get your money on then. As I think he'll only get shorter!

Struggled first half. He was making some brain dead decisions I thought. Second half was more his game, as his off the ball work really came to the fore and we weren't relying on him to try and make something happen in possession. The one near the end where he chased a lost cause, stopped it from going for a goal kick, then stopped it going for a throw. To then hold it up and win us a throw instead. Just mad levels of athleticism and desire. The passion and drive he brings is just an intangible. As his stats are probably often quite bad on the ball. But I can't imagine it is much fun playing against him. He's like an attack dog just tearing about I said it a while back in here. But mates who support other clubs often message me saying how great he has been, MOTM in a game where they're watching as a neutral, moaning about him when it's against their club etc. I do think we take him for granted at times and we maybe would like a midfielder who's a bit more polished on the ball. But he's great to watch in full cry when he goes into battering ram mode. EDIT - I just read Kaka's post. Just read his. It's more concise

9 goal involvements in 8 games. Incredible stuff.

I've not seen it yet. But my mate messaged me saying he had some really nice words for the fans in his pre-game interview. So I think you're right there.

Yellow card bans from the prem and league cup are competition specific. Red cards cross over. See Pope and Bruno two seasons ago for reference.

Is Isak continues at this pace, I'd say he has a great chance. But Salah is putting up some freakish numbers. So I'd say he's clear favourite, without looking.

I still can't get over how disorganised and decidedly average he made two top level CB's look. Saliba and Gabriel constantly not knowing whether to push up or drop. Saliba getting roasted a couple of times one v one, which basically never happens. They were in a panic every time he got on the ball, as were the crowd. There is a reason why Isak is the only player I can consistently remember giving VVD a hard time. VVD is IMO, the best CB in the league and one of the Premier League greats. But he clearly hates playing against Isak.

We need a compilation of all 50 of his goals. Preferably one that isn't about 45 minutes long like a goal compilation the official club released the other day.

Might be talking complete nonsense here. But I wonder if there is any correlation with him being a good cricketer and how calm he is on the pitch? As you have to be pretty assured, calm and patient a lot of the time playing cricket. He does just seem to have an elite mentality, so vice versa, really. Rarely looks troubled and flustered, even when he is under pressure and in a difficult spot, like HawK kind of alludes to above. I thought he got a hospital pass from Burn quite a few times last night. But he didn't seem arsed.

Joelinton likes loves this.

Me neither. But Cambridge was at a totally different time for us as a club and with the players we had available. Sheff Wed was a shitshow. But it was away to one of the best sides in League One. Not at home to a mid-table League Two team. I think we can still field a strong side with a few players that have been starters for us over the last season or two and some of the fringe players that deserve a go.

Wouldn't usually advocate big changes for the cup games. But without looking past this round, we are at home to a League Two side and actually have a decent'ish squad for once. It wouldn't be like we are chucking loads of kids and stiffs in. Quite a few could come in that were regular starters as recently as November/December. Or experienced pros and starters from previous seasons. It sounded like a few were struggling with niggles. I think Botman, Isak and Tonali coming out are no brainers. I also think Hall should get a rest, seeing as he is only 20 and has played A LOT this season. Not sure on the state of the players with knocks, like those above and Willock. But something like the below is pretty decent, I think: Vlach (not Lush) Trippier Schar Burn/Kelly Targett/Kelly Longstaff Miley Willock Barnes Osula Murphy Not sure Burn will be rested as he is so important to our shape and organisation at the back and he just loves playing for the club so much. Plus I'm assuming they will look to set pieces for some success. Maybe Bruno for the first 45-60 minutes from the start if Willock isn't good to go? You could still have a bench with all our main men on bar maybe Isak if his hammy is a risk and Botman.

Bruno also manages to make it convincing. Even though IMO, it is gamesmanship/borderline diving most the time. Genuinely is diving at other times. There was one early on where Trossard invited the challenge but it was actually a shoulder from Gordon and never a foul. He flops quite a bit after the contact and the lino buys it. But rich that Gordon then called him a shithouse, mind They played for set pieces all night. Even corners. The Arsenal of old would turn back, play back or sideways, retain possession and keep trying to work an opening. They were just happy to blast it off the defender for another corner. Even though they never had a chance of getting a cross into the box. Actually suited us in the end. As their set pieces always seem to take a minute or two. So just ended up helping us run the clock down.

I'm not as misty eyed as some about him leaving. I actually think he wasn't very good last night and made me nervous at every cross. The upturn in form can be contributed to a number of things and he has certainly helped in games where we have wanted to play out from the back more and have more control. Which we haven't really done the last 2.5 games. I'm just glad that he got the chance to right the wrongs of last season. As there were some absolute shit shows from him. He has been here 7 years and was a great keeper early on. Before I think the injuries and his confidence took a hit after the Euros/WC or whatever it was. So it is nice for him he gets to go out on a high and remembered fondly. As it would be different if he left in the summer, I think. Fully signed up member of the Pope fan club. But this has given us a glimpse into the future of what we need from our goalkeeper and reluctantly agree that it is more of an area that needs upgrading than I perhaps first appreciated. As the team has evolved, the need for a ball playing keeper is now perhaps greater than it was. I didn't think it was a big issue for the first two seasons of Pope being here with the way we played.

Thought he really started coming into it second half. He was anonymous in the first. He was finding space behind their midfield. Always a willing runner to make them constantly turn and sprint back facing their own goal. Did really well to find space for a break. Then a poor pass (and poor play after) to Isak. Was much more involved, at least. Felt like he was going to be important as the game wore on. Then he seemingly got yet another knock and we shut up shop, anyway. So he was always going to make way at that point.

I might be wrong. But I thought they are wiped. So you can miss the first leg from the last rounds because of yellows. But no bans now. You would have thought the commentators would have mentioned it when cards were dished out, otherwise. They usually do.

Jamie Redknapp was just saying how good our options on the bench were and that Arsenal just don’t have that at the moment. Yeah. Thos youth players Jesus, Jorginho and Zinchenko are all shit and Longstaff, Almiron and Kelly are much better……

I mean. It’s a tough call. But just let me bury my face in Daddario’s tits. It’s all I’m asking. I’ll get my lines wrong so we have to do between 90-100 takes.

Not seen a player cause that CB partnership so many problems and basically all on his own at times. World class.

He’s so classy on a ball. Could find space in a phone box.

NOOORRRRRFFFFFF LAAAAANNDAAANNN FOREVVVVVAAAAA*** *** until we are 2-0 down at home with 10-15 minutes to go

I tell you what. Talk about a redemption story. Fucked off to Man U. Came back and was utterly hopeless for half a season. Then comes back in as we go and win 7 in a row. Thanks for the memories, Dubs. Solid servant in the end.

Murphy to Isak is automatic. Said it a while back. I’d love to see how many crosses and passes into the box he makes per game? We don’t really have anyone else who does that in the squad. So even with his flaws. He massively suits this team.