Lush Vlad

Fucking hell

I actually feel more confident after last night. As it is two away games in a row against decent sides. Where we have played well for the most part and created plenty. We were struggling to even have a meaningful shot earlier in the season. I’d imagine Joelinton will be in for his height and physicality. But Miley should start. Barnes on the right feels a bit of a square peg. Even though I think he should be starting. If he isn’t going to switch with Gordon now and then. I think I’d rather Murphy or Elanga there and have decent attacking options off the bench with Wissa and Barnes.

Even though in the grand scheme of things, it’s a good point. I woke up just as pissed off as full time last night. Certainly agree with others mentioning how fine the margins are. I said similar on here when discussing how we view the players after a positive or negative result. But it is the fact we have yet again dropped points from a winning position and more annoyingly, because of a late goal. That is what is pissing me off. More so than the performance itself. Which bar a crap 25 minutes or so in the first half. Was decent overall. If we didn’t concede say half of these late goals. Then the season might look very different and the conversation around our season would be a lot more positive. As it is. Howe needs to yet again work his magic and get a glaring weakness sorted. Because it’s becoming a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy now. You can see the late goal coming. It’s in the fans heads and I guess the players’, too!

Why does this come up every time FFS Were many people on here clamouring for Bruno or Tonali before they signed, for example?! Gordon wasn’t a popular signing. Woltemade there were 2-3 posters on here that were keen. Nobody else even mentioned him. Do we not have a scouting network? Are there no keepers out there better than Ramsdale and Pope?!

Howe’s rotation and subs have been much better of late. But it did feel like we could have got Wissa and Ramsey/Willock on earlier. It does feel like I’m using hindsight here because of the result. But we have a decent squad now and games galore. We need to use it and not have certain players getting run into the ground every week.

Start him on Sunday FFS. Barely seemed like he was in Howe’s thoughts for quite a few weeks. But since he has been given a chance. He has generally been great. Having someone that can just recycle possession and look after the ball is massive. Our usual starting trio seem to struggle with that.

Pope comes straight back in next week and it’s not even close. Even with all the fuck ups he’s been making. He plays like he’s half a foot shorter than he is. He is slow to react to everything. He is rooted to his line/the spot all the while. Rarely comes for a cross or to sweep up. His shots on target to goals ratio must be really bad. As it seems like he rarely makes a decent save. Too many goals conceded where I think he could and probably should be doing better. It is nice having him ping the ball about and find players in space, mind. Just the actual goalkeeping part I have an issue with. I don’t think we’ll do it in Jan. But we need to go big on a keeper now. Feels like it’s the main priority and it’s cost us a lot of points already this season.

I’d start Miley ahead of him on Sunday. But I don’t think Howe will.

Are they? He slipped on the edge of their box and then ran 80 yards to massively help out the defence and stop them scoring. Along with the countless other recovery runs he made. On the ball he has been wasteful and seems far less involved. But his workrate hasn’t dropped off at all IMO.

Brilliant again. It’s a shame it means Barnes plays out of position or not at all. As he is wasted on the right. He has still had a better season/year than Gordon and all. But it is good that he’s back to form.

I thought he was good on the ball, he always is. Just not a good goalkeeper. Think he could/should do better with both goals.

Would have taken a point. But that feels like a defeat. These late goals are killing us. Must be a mentality thing.

Decent the last 20 or so. Not having a proper 9 is hurting us a bit. Felt like some decent balls and scraps that a finisher would have thrived off. Our final ball is a bit off, mind. Wide open when they attack. Bruno and Thiaw a bit below their usual world class levels.

Plays with concrete boots on. Always rooted to the spot.

He’s shite.

We made loads of changes at the weekend and spent a whole half in 2nd gear. Big enough gap between now and Sunday. This is arguably the more important game. Even if us fans don’t see it that way.

How many times has he played there? He was good against Arsenal and once as a sub, from memory. Then looked naff the other few times. Almost like he didn’t want to play there. He’s been shite on the left most this year and all, TBF

Arguably our strongest team. Hope Barnes isn’t just shunted out to the right. Deserves at least some time on the left and I still think Gordon’s skillset is more suited to the right than Barnes’ is.

Like a young Harold Shipman.

Liverpool fans I know, only a few actual scousers, granted. All wanted Slot gone weeks ago. But at the same time, have been fairly damning in their criticism of Salah this season. Not sure if bombshell helps them or not. I suppose with the latter it does. But maybe the board then stick behind Slot. Although if Lord Varys keeps talking so much shite. He’ll talk himself out of the job. I think he said the other day something like the only way to score against a low block is a moment of magic or a setpiece. That is Bacon Bruce levels of bollocks.

I used to think Joao Gomes looked good, their number 8. But I’ve barely watched them this season and he can’t be doing too well based on how shite they are. I thought Agbadou might be a project to work on. As he is rapid and a right unit. But I assumed he was early 20’s not 28. He has all the positional sense of a cat with a cone on its head. JSL if he was going for peanuts compared to the summer. But he’d be 3rd choice. So I can’t see him wanting that or us spending so much on someone who will hardly play.

Wolves are going to finish with the lowest points total ever, surely?!

Burnley v Millwall. The STOP THE BOATS derby.

FFS

Proper FIFA goal that. Just ran it into the net