Lush Vlad

Meltdown of the year award already sorted and it's the 2nd of January

We wouldn’t miss one of the best strikers in the world if we replaced him with Delap? I really rate the lad and he seems destined to go to the top. But that’s an outlandish claim.

Tyrone Mings and VVD are just two centre backs recently that can be used as cautionary tales coming back from ACL’s. So Botman is going to go from 60 mins for the reserves and not even being in a matchday squad for nearly a year. To starting away at Spurs or Arsenal? What absolute madness. Won’t be up to speed or match sharp. Mentally it is tough and there are always slight concerns in the front and back of your mind. I’ve come back from 4 knee ops in the same knee. I had a great physio and sought after surgeon, fortunate enough to get specialist rehab. It all still doesn’t prepare you to just get chucked back in at that pace. This is playing about 10 leagues lower than Botman and all

Can’t sign a pre-contract for another English club. Only teams abroad.

The diving to the left thing is massively overplayed. He did look unnatural for a bit going to that side. But are people forgetting the top class save he made against Liverpool? Mac Allister drilled one bottom corner and Pope got down full stretch to his left. His arm ending up in the same position as when his shoulder went against Man U. I do think the last 5 games have highlighted how much better we would be longer term with a keeper who is comfortable on the ball. However, I still maintain it won’t be cheap to find a keeper who is as good as Pope. But can spray it about like an extra outfield player. James Trafford is certainly not that player currently and who knows if he ever will be. If we really are hamstrung by PSR. Other areas need addressing first IMO. But in an ideal world, having a ball playing keeper would be class.

Again. He has had a year out with an ACL injury and has played 60 minutes of competitive’ish football for the reserves. It takes time to build back up. Being fit and match fit are two different things entirely. I’d be shocked if he started either and would imagine he’d look miles off it. Whole new level from what he has done so far. Bromley seems like the perfect game to come back into the starting XI. Random hits or not. I think it’s something like 70-80% of ACL’s are non-contact injuries, anyway.

What? No way he starts against Spurs, surely? Been out best part of a year and we’re gonna chuck him in from the off away from home against a big club?! Similar comments for Arsenal. I think he starts against Bromley and then builds from there.

As I said. MOTM by a country mile.

Watching the official 10 minute highlights the club put out. Just further reinforces what I thought last night pissed in the pub. He was MOTM. Involved in all of our good attacking play and was popping up all over the pitch.

Kelly actually has a really nice diagonal on him. Saw it a bit in pre-season. The fact he’ll be playing on the wrong side and isn’t anywhere near match sharp, based on his last game. Isn’t really ideal.

I think these will be a lot more dangerous than Man U. But with the way they play, they will still give us plenty of chances. Hard to complain too much with all the players they have missing. But losing Schar is a big hit to the team. Defensively and also in our build up. Kelly isn’t bad on the ball, so not a bad replacement. But he had a couple of howlers against West Ham.

I might have my timelines wrong. But what has happened to Dalot and Martinez? It feels like their drop off pre-dates Amorim coming in and the system change. I really rated both. But they look terrible whenever I’ve seen them this season. Maybe just an off night. But Diallo looked like a competition winner, too. Absolutely woeful.

Agree with this and depending on game state. I’d say it is more than likely this. We were the same from 60 mins onwards basically every game since Leicester. Liverpool have been similar and more selective with their gung ho approach under Slot. They have far more control over games this season.

We have had a great run over the mad festive spell. Where whilst we have had minimal rotation. We have conserved energy due to the state of the game. Leicester was over after an hour. Brentford the same and was all but done in the first half. Ipswich after a half. Villa against 10 for an hour. Game over at 2-0. Then last night was similar. Blitzed them first half and got a 2 goal cushion. Then managed it well, bar the odd scare and fuck up.

Diallo BTW. Looked worse than Almiron. Massive dive similar to Almiron, too

I think fans are understandably biased and also back their own players. We don’t watch other teams every week and vice versa. Odegaard and Rice are both absolutely quality. They manage to rotate their midfield 3, too. Havertz, Jorginho, Merino and the alleged *redacted* Gravenberch (sp) has been a revelation this season and my Liverpool supporting mates suggest Mac Allister is their most important midfielder. Szob has a great engine, plays off both feet, hell of a strike on him. Perhaps a bit inconsistent and should contribute more. Jones is very good and another who is up and down all game. A real all rounder with great feet and has started weighing in with important goals. I’m not meaning to diminish the efforts of our 3 and the qualities they have. They are absolutely class. But I’d imagine fans on other forums have similar discussions all the time and are often biased in the favour of their players.

Liverpool and Arsenal clearly have more depth and I think starting options, too. But the 3 that have been playing complement each other so well. Helped that Man U basically had a 2 that went MIA last night for half an hour. It won us the game. After Mainoo came on, we were nowhere near as dominant and barely created anything. Not that we particularly needed to, TBF. I don’t think I’ll anoint them as the best just yet.

Ando needs to have a word with him about putting it in the net.

1.01

This. He’s always been pretty good with his feet. Not hard to be an upgrade on Pope in that department, either. The team have been amazing of late along with playing against teams that haven’t had a shot. Which has helped. I still think he looks a bit unsure whether to stick or twist and not confident with crosses or set pieces at all. Pope is still quite clearly the superior keeper IMO. All that said. The way the last 5 games have gone. He has been the better option in nets. As we’ve been solid as a unit and he makes us better in possession.

MOTM.

Eddie Howe’s Mags. Amorim’s slags.

I highly doubt that if Isak were to miss out. He can barely get a 20 minute cameo.

Oh FFS. Really don’t rate Godon up top and our best player being half-fit or unavailable is far from ideal.

I was half keen on it for a split second. Then realised he doesn’t play on the right, he’ll be over-priced and he’s 29. Thought he was younger for some reason.