Lush Vlad

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.

Same. Tin hat on. But I’m not actually much of a fan of Shearer off the pitch. But the astonishing lack of self-awareness from Barton. Calling Shearer a snake, a dog, a liar and whatever else. Barton’s highlight reel is more like a rap sheet of a career criminal. The man is absolutely insane. I see he was offering Roy Keane out the other day

Harry Darling? Played football with his brother. They lived on the same street as me Mam for a few years. Always knew he was decent at Cambridge. But surprised he has gone this far and well up to the level by the sounds of it.

Couldn’t stand Klopp towards the end. But that’s doing a massive disservice to what he did at Liverpool. Could easily argue the other way that he has built such a good, strong platform for someone else to come in and build on. Not that I think you’re being totally serious….

I can’t describe it properly. But he just annoys me looking at him. That’s before watching him play. Reminds me of a dog. Scottish Terrier, maybe?

Just came in to say this. Decent player. Glad he’s going to be missing.

Strand Larsen yet again. Really like him. Would love him here. Not that I think he’s necessarily available or that he would come to sit on the bench. Seems to score whenever I watch him. EDIT - just read Wolves have an obligation to buy him for 30 mil. So no chance, either way.

Not necessarily playing styles. But they kind of remind me of us under Pardew for that 5th place season. Not sure how sustainable it is longer term. But they keep racking up the points and it’s halfway through the season now. You’d think they would have started to slow down if they’d been found out.

Wolves haven’t created that much of note. But Spurs have left loads of space down their right hand side all half. Hopefully they go with a similar approach when we play them.

Poor Rob Lee. His legs would quite possibly fall off as the midfield 1

I’m glad Garth Crooks is still getting work since he stopped doing team of the week.

Proper football cliche and it is the case for almost every game. But the first goal is massive here, more so than recent weeks. We have been scoring the first goal often of late and we’ve managed to start scoring early on again. We’re a totally different team when it’s level or we’re ahead. If they get one early, it’ll settle their crowd and players down and I think they could hurt us on the break if we need to chase the game. If we get one early then I’d be confident of us going onto win by a couple.

Absolutely bonkers that he wasn’t sent off before it even got to VAR. Ref is stood right next to him. Disgraceful that VAR didn’t deem that a clear and obvious mistake. Reminded me of an incident when I was playing years ago. Against a bit of a rough team. They were dirty as fuck and had a rowdy home crowd. So the ref was scared to make decisions. A lad threw a punch at me after a bit of afters. I ducked out the way. Ref booked us both and said “if that punch would have connected. You would have been off.” Seems similar applies here. Throw deliberate elbows all you want. Only a red if it connects.

I mean. Playing the game at any level is almost irrelevant. If you’ve ever tried to avoid standing on something or someone or a pet, dog shit, anything really. Then it’s blatantly obvious that he did all he could to hit Schar. Not the other way around. But yeah. I played a bit and you know when someone goes in to do someone or not.

He was very unfortunate. He tried to miss him on 3 separate occasions by moving his legs in Schar’s direction.

Only mild criticism of the last 6-7 games or whatever it is since Liverpool (ignoring the Brentford second half). Is how we often take a long while to make subs. Then when we do, we tend to get noticeably worse. Had two games that were done and dusted at 4 nil. Plus yesterday against 10. Cup game was comfortable, too. So we may well just be cruising by that point. But it seems like we finally have a bit of depth. But regularly rely on the same 12-13 players and rotation from the off or earlier in games doesn’t seem like an option. As the drop off is a lot bigger than you’d expect. This is me looking for negatives, mind. I suppose the worry will be when we have injuries and suspensions. We are more than likely going to struggle. But that’s true for most teams up to a point.

He’s a force multiplier.

Did his finish take a slight nick on the way through? I’m sure they said so on comms and the flight of the ball does look a bit off. But I can’t see it. I’ve watched it and all the replays roughly 15 times and all

Just a stamp and then a kick/raking motion with his right. Both being unnatural and deliberate movements to hit Schar. No red.