Lush Vlad

That is the most concerning thing about the lineup. None of that side are particularly creative and their passing and vision is often lacking. It’s been tragic those 3 on that side together this season, like you say. I suppose. If it ends up an open game. Then they’re all good getting forward. Tino with the ball, the other two making runs off it.

Willock injured again? I wouldn’t mind the rotation so much. If it meant Bruno could still play further forward and we had someone who could come in to play the deeper role. Strong bench.

Yeah. I’m reading posts that seem to be half implying Liverpool have got this called off on purpose or something

Never been more fucked off with a result. Obviously we have had far worse beatings and ones that meant more. But I’d had a gutful of Peroni, stood in a bar full of plastic Liverpool fans and one scouser (who was actually dead sound) watching on me own. Whilst away on our anniversary weekend. What made it worse was. In a whatsapp group full of Liverpool supporting mates. When Nuñez came on, I said he’d cause us problems and I’m going to back Liverpool to win and draw. Was like 50/1 and 10s, from memory. Got caught up chatting, ordered another beer. Then he scored. Then he scored again…. I don’t think I said a word for about 3 hours after Actually getting annoyed typing all that out and reliving it all

He did for the second game. St Maximin seems very keen to defend him and assume what he meant. The same as the people wanting him punished for being anti-gay or however they see it are making their own mind up. It’s all just a bit odd. I still think he knew exactly what he was doing and the connotations of writing that on there. Sounds like his Dad is a bit of a zealot, anyway. So it’s easier to understand why he’s being like this with an upbringing like that.

Thanks. I’d erased that game from my memory. Well, I tried to.

Merseyside Derby called off. Shame. I was looking forward to that as the early KO.

It is still annoying we failed to beat them. Not had a win over them since what, 2016 or 2017, something like that? That was our best chance for a long while and the performance matched the scoreline. It wasn’t like we were hanging on bar a few spells in the game. I think that’s the next step for this team. The nous to win a game like that and kill them off or see it out.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/clyj2e3dg14o.amp Did his comments get posted? Doesn’t really clear it up. Hardly says he has no issue with gay people here. He would have been better off not wearing it. His Dad came across like a dick. But he was right in one thing that he said. Nobody cares about Morsy refusing to wear it or the Man U lad refusing to wear a jacket. But Guehi is copping all kinds of flak. I can’t say I’m arsed either way. It’s up to him. But I tend to lean towards the ‘he doesn’t like gays’ because of his religion angle. His comments actually make me think that more and all.

Or we just have him playing up front and he does what he did against Liverpool? Looking to get runners from midfield and out wide beyond him? Not sure losing another midfielder and almost playing an extra striker is the answer. Especially when Wilson is made of glass and looked way past it even when he played last season. Who's to say he would find so much space when he's playing as an actual number 10, as well? His movement from being up top to going into channels, in behind, coming short etc. Was what made it so effective. It must be a nightmare to know who is responsible for picking him up and marking him. Players having to constantly guess if he's going in behind, staying still waiting for it to feet, dropping off etc.

I think it is sometimes a coping mechanism for all sets of fans. “Take nothing away from you. You deserved to win. But we were shit. Worst we’ve played all season.” So take quite a lot away from the team that has won/played very well/made you look worse than you are for spells When we’ve been at our most effective under Howe. Most fans used to say it. As when we got it right, not many sides could live with our style of play and intensity. So they’d just put it down to playing crap and not turning up on the day.

Yeah. If he is back playing in training games. That’s quality news. I’d imagine he’ll still get eased in. But I was thinking he was just back with the group doing more controlled drills and stuff like that. Not actually playing. Albeit with reduced contact compared to a real game.

What trend are you thinking of here? That we can only win games when we have hardly any of the ball? I think we are much better when we have space in behind and room on the counter. We don’t have too many technicians capable of retaining decent possession high up the pitch. Whilst also looking threatening. But I do also think we are massively reliant on scoring the first goal or at least keeping it level. To ensure the game stays a bit more open for our style to work more effectively. Too many games this season. We have conceded first and from memory, often quite early. I’d imagine most teams struggle to come from behind regularly to draw or win matches. But even more so in our case with how we like to play the game.

The 8-0 at Sheff Utd helped massively, mind. Although we were scoring a lot more in general.

That’s that then. Usually no coming back from this, is there?! They are bipolar as fuck, mind. Defeats to Palace away and Ipswich at home. But either side of that 4-1 against Villa and 4-0 away at City. Playing both off the park. Some similarities with us in that regard. With how their style clearly works better against certain teams.

Should have beat Chelsea and all. Mad they lost that game.

We sort of got them at a good time. Their performances and results from when we played them was the start of it all going south, wasn’t it?

A bit reductive that. Does that demonstrate that?! Not really conclusive, IMO. There is a huge amount of variance/luck involved with football. When goals are scored, the fine margins of shots needing to be 6 inches one way or the other, available players on the day etc. Then of course the fact teams play totally differently to the bigger sides and are happy to stand off and let us have the ball. I do think we have certain players who seem more up for the big games. I said so the other day and it is human nature in some ways. Certain personalities up their game, even if subconsciously. At any level when you play sport. You can end up finding a few percent from somewhere and to raise your game against better opposition. It’s one of the reasons why you get underdog stories most years in cup competitions. I think it’s incredibly simplistic to make out like it’s because we try for the big games and we’re apparently not arsed against the so called lesser sides. There is clearly more to it with that regarding tactics and it is nothing new from the last couple of seasons. I suppose that is a different argument. If Howe can’t find a way to break down teams who let us have possession and defend deep against us. Then it might be one of the things that ends up costing him his job long term.

Harry Kane is an outrageously good goal scorer. But for years has also been extremely good with his passing and vision and dropping into pockets of space a bit deeper. Like Conjo says, they're not mutually exclusive. If anything, he looks more dangerous when he's dropping in and out. It's what caused so much confusion with Liverpool's back 4. He'd come short, he'd pull off onto Gomez instead of VVD and vice versa, he'd get in that full back/CB channel quite a bit, he'd look to go behind, he'd stand offside and just ghost back in without defenders realising. It's the most I can remember him being involved in a game overall and coincidentally, we played extremely well. Long way to go. But I think and hope with the sort of new look midfield and playing wide men that want to go beyond him when they have the chance. It will mean we consistently get the best out of him.

Seemed less involved than usual and with less touches and passes. But much more involved if that makes sense? So much of what he is doing in these clips is directly resulting in chances, counters, assists, shots etc. Really hope he is going to make this number 8 role his own and we can see him with more passes like last night that caused all kinds of problems.

I'm one of those that are annoyed at some of our missed chances against so called lesser sides. But football doesn't really work like that. I'd imagine Palace, West Ham and Brighton fans might have something to say to counter the above. Palace - they missed an open goal, one cleared off the line and we didn't have a shot. Brighton - very good for an hour or so. Ran out of steam/ideas. They massively came into it towards the end. Away performances to get a result often rely on scrappy play and some luck. West Ham - we were great for a half, we gifted them 2 goals. After that, they could have won by more and we didn't have a kick.

They're very good at home. We are not particularly good away. Performance wise, I mean. The results haven't been dreadful this calendar year, I don't think? Their great home form is slightly misleading, however. Palace, Southampton, West Ham, Wolves, Ipswich, Bournemouth and Leicester. I don't see loads of them. But I feel like they'll come onto us and leave space a lot more than some of the teams we have struggled against this season. Score a lot of goals. Ship a lot of goals. I think another higher scoring draw might be on the cards. But I do actually think the way we want to set up will work here. It is nice to have genuine options in the squad to freshen up the midfield and front 3, too.

I might be wrong. But I think it's to do with how he strikes the ball. He never gets any power into it and you never expect him to beat the keeper from long range. Not necessarily down to his accuracy or finishing ability if he is in a bit closer. It's not a disaster. He is very good at other things. But his shooting is weak as piss, IMO.

He has been brilliant for them this season and all. Having Tonali central and Joelinton or Willock in there too should mean we are a lot more mobile. Jones and Gravenberch get about the pitch and the latter is pretty fast, even. It helped that Bruno was often matched up against Mac Allister, as he is slower than Bruno, even. I was impressed at how well the midfield did and how balanced it was. Even if Joelinton faded a bit 2nd half and Bruno was dead on his feet. That's where I think we could have done with some fresh legs in there. Especially after they made their incredibly attacking triple sub.