Lush Vlad

They were funneling/we were forcing all of our play down that side for ages and it was painful to watch. The same as when we would have say Tino, Longstaff and Murphy on the right. You don't have much chance of working nice passing moves and retaining possession. Funnily enough, that spell in the second half where we either went for the long diagonal or passed through the middle. We absolutely dominated. Our ponderous passing along the back 4 and then hospital balls down the line are a problem most weeks, I think. As plenty of others have mentioned. We have our wingers too involved in the build up and it just isn't there game. Going off topic here. But we need to find a way to get the lines and players closer together centrally. Woltemade is just an interested/frustrated observer for most of the game.

Like most them, I thought he was dreadful in the early exchanges. But as the game opened up, he came into his own. He needs an open game with space to really flourish and be at his best. I thought he showed that he can still be somewhere close to his best when he has his conditions. Albeit against a fairly poor, injury ravaged opposition. What was most promising was he was back to making those runs off the left. Could have had a hat trick on another night. I don't think he is back, based on a goal and a decent showing against a weak team. In the same way I don't think he is finished based on a few below-par performances and a bad game on Sunday. I think the same can be said for most of the team after last night and the West Ham game.

Most round me were singing it with the correct words and at the right pace. Yet when the chant started later on, it was back to 100MPH and the wrong words. I'm sure some people manage to shoehorn Scotswood Road in 3 times

This is still one of the worst things in modern football. It is fucking cringe. I die inside when he does his little camp Bruuuuunooooooo. I've actually become quite fond of ENJOY THE GAME Atmosphere was a fair bit better than Benfica, I thought. Low bar, but there was more singing around the ground and it was coming down from L7 across the Leazes more than usual.

Sat in the Leazes near to being inline with the corner flag. Seeing it clipped over and how much time he had. I thought he was going to try and head it back across or even volley a cross in. Outrageous to score from there. I assumed he had somehow looped it over the keeper. The replays are insane. You can tell how wide outside the post it starts just from Botman's reaction. He doesn't celebrate until the very last moment as it draws back in. Like the Roberto Carlos free kick of headers. Hang it in the Louvre.

I hope he gets a bit of a run on the left now. He drifts out of games and at times is a bit of a nothing player. But he comes alive in the final third. He's always trying to get it out his feet for a shot, or work space for a cross. Seems more than happy to cross on his left this season and all, which is helping. Murphy is far less polished yet more effective in some ways on the other side. Bit he is another who is always looking to GET THE BALL IN THE BOX (Gary BirtlesTM). It would be nice to have some creativity from out wide. He is probably still best as an impact sub. But seeing as the starting left winger is having no impact at all and is apparently injured. Barnes deserves another go.

Easy to say in hindsight. But this was my thinking after realising early on his hip was clearly causing him bother. If he genuinely did come off on Sunday with that. Then why is he starting? His form for most of the calendar year has been rancid. We have Elanga who needs to find some form from somewhere, Barnes who has been more effective all year and then Murphy, who on form is our best winger. I hope he doesn't go away with England only to make it worse. He often recovers well from injuries. But we could do with him finding some form, fitness, a first touch, a pass and a shot from somewhere during the international break.

This morning has been a slog. But well worth the 500 mile round trip and various road closures. Not the best performance and I think we can be guilty of playing down to the opposition still. As we were sloppy the first and last 15-20 minutes or so. In between that, I thought we were actually really good and should have got a third. The subs kind of ruined our flow. But it did feel like we were just managing the game by that point and despite some decent long range efforts and saves. We were mostly untroubled. Bored of giving Thiaw MOTM. I thought Trippier was excellent and up against what seemed like their best player on the night. But he really rose to the challenge. Great comeback into the team from him.

He makes a fair point

Thanks for the insight, Jack bunch of numbers.

The defending is absolutely criminal. One bloke sort of tries a backheel tackle, quite a few just get squared up and take themselves out the game. Only one bloke even looks like he is making an effort. He is freakishly fast, mind and it’s an outrageous goal. But it’s not like teams aren’t aware of this and it shouldn’t catch them off guard. Been one of the fastest in the league since he signed for Spurs.

But is it though?! Needs to find something to get his edge back. I’m not even bothering with that article. We know he speaks pretty well and actually seems like quite a level headed bloke. But he was more effective when he played with more passion and emotion to his game. Talk is cheap.

The Messi v Ronaldo argument is really annoying. As on ability, Ronaldo has what over him? Heading and better off his weaker foot? When both in their pomp, Ronaldo was more explosive as a sprinter, too. That’s it. The rest isn’t even close. The only one I can kind of see. Is Ronaldo’s big game record. It’s more of an intangible. But Ronaldo always seemed to come up big in finals and in moments. Then again, he played his best days as a striker and the entire team trying to create for him. Messi didn’t. Longevity, maybe? Are we counting that? They’re both past it and playing in lesser leagues. But Ronaldo arguably put up better numbers for longer. Not that I care much now they are both well past it compared to their peaks.

Didn’t they stop inviting him after a game with Portsmouth? He started abusing their fans. Something like ‘where’d you park your fucking minibus?’ ridiculous.

Shades of Neymar, Mbappe and Messi at PSG.

Just seen Coventry’s goal dif! +25. 13 ahead of Stoke’s GD and miles clear of the rest. Some job Lampard is doing there.

The VDV goal was outrageous. But hard to put into words how pathetic the defending was. As for the 4th on the counter

Again. And again.

Nice. Cheers lads.

Do the Back Page sell scarves? Gave one of mine to some kid in Brugge years ago and lost/left the other one in a pub at an away day. Could do with getting another tomorrow, really.

Most the crowd would need to learn the words first and to stop singing the Makina 200BPM version. Also, they might need to turn the tannoy (PA system, sorry Partridge) down from 11. Not sure you’ll hear the fans otherwise

It was a brutal, needless tackle like. No idea how the ref didn’t give a red to start with.

That tackle from Diaz on Hakimi is disgusting. Red card all day long.

Courtois is a joke.