Lush Vlad

What a hit from Nketiah. Inches away from the postage stamp.

Two tap ins. Two outside the box. We did have late goals last season, though. Or games we came back late’ish. West Ham, Wolves, was Ritchie against Bournemouth last kick? Probably some others and all. Usually because we were often behind after a terrible period in the game and had to gung ho to get a result

Yeah. Great run from Anderson. The ref in this game is the polar opposite from a lot of what I saw this weekend. Think he’s ignored 4-5 what looked like fouls or ones that refs usually buy. I’d much rather that than the opposite.

The one where Jota is about to be clean through and they give a foul for Reece James’ delayed dive was nearly as bad as anything I saw in our game.

Wasn’t it Bruno that played him through for the one he missed not long before their goal. I think Tonali played him through and he took an age to get a shot off. I think from memory he just ran around with it until the flag went up. He was actually onside.

I do tend to agree with you in the way that we attack games. We do often seem like we have run out of steam late on a lot of the while. But this season alone, Isak against Spurs on 78 minutes to win us the match. Gordon at Bournemouth after 76 mins to rescue a point. Schar 75 and Barnes 80 at Wolves to nick all 3. Last season there were some late shows and all. Good and bad ones! We were getting results without playing well for long spells this season. Everyone said the energy levels were miles off and there was no intensity like a usual Howe team. The last two league games. I feel like that has been back in spades and it’s the best we’ve played all season. Yet we were a bit clueless and toothless late on and somehow come away with only 1 point. Deserved 6 I think. Yet we probably nicked points we didn’t fully deserve earlier in the season. Funny old game. Perhaps there is a balance to be found. Not going shit or bust early and then losing our way. But also not trudging along and being abject for 60 minutes or so. Allowing the other team loads of chances and territory whilst we mope around the pitch like zombies. Just sort of on the subject of previous games. The Bournemouth point actually looks good now. They played Chelsea off the park and somehow lost. They beat Arsenal, albeit against 10 men and they battered Southampton. They’ve looked good at home.

You obviously have a good setup. I know one of your scouts, ex-Ipswich. Said you got a lad from Luton recently who is already playing 2 years up. Think he even played in the CL youth game against Bayern the other week and in the paint trophy for the 23’s. Whatever that is called these days.

Do we love our players more than other club’s then or do we get too attached to them? Knowing players come and go? A massive hypothetical situation, along with some odd assumption about our fans being less accepting of players leaving. Villa have traded well and I don’t think we have, yet. But they did seem to have sellable assets early on like Grealish and then recently, Douglas Luiz. Where they had quality cover for the position. They have even moved academy players/done a PSR fiddle, as well, I think?

Anyone who pays to go to games and/or puts money into the club can choose to highlight how fucking ridiculous it is to boo a result like that. When everything is taken into consideration I am in agreement with Sima. Fuck those cunts.

They do. But they leave a shit load of space in behind. We’ve done well at times against City and Liverpool because of this and this Chelsea side are not at the level of those Pep and Klopp sides.

He has been great at crashing the box this game. Certainly taken his chance starting ahead of MacAllister today. He’s been great bar their offside goal.

Good game this. Chelsea have been the better team between the boxes. Yet Liverpool still could have gone in 3 up. Game on now.

Madueke is killing Robertson. I hope Howe doesn’t go for the more defensive Kelly. As he was backing off a lot when playing left back and Madueke is having a field day due to Robertson doing exactly that.

Poor from Jones for the offside goal. Took an age to release it to Salah.

These cheap ‘fouls’ that refs give to the defending team… It’s a pandemic this weekend if this game and ours are anything to go by. Jota went through 2-3 minutes ago. James dives after a delayed reaction and the ref gives the foul. Bullshit.

Yeah. Just had 5 Live on and they said it was disallowed onfield. Then they advised the review as Silva was not interfering with play. So he was actually changing his and the linesman’s original decision and not sticking to his guns.

We as a fanbase are very reactive or a lot better when we are the underdogs and backs to the wall. Pretty tame, otherwise. Probably the same at most grounds, though? Used to go away 5-10 times a season. But I don’t get to many games now. Most aways I went to we were usually losing so hard to gauge other club’s fans.

I don’t even know what the offside laws are now. But that feels like the right decision. Not sure I agree with it, though? He’s standing on the keeper’s toes and nudging into him constantly. Then at the last second, he moves out the way?! Seems a bit wrong to me. Not quite at the old man down the social club levels of “if you’re not interfering with play. What are you doing on the pitch?” But I think there are too many grey areas and ways to interpret it. I’m sure it’s gotten worse for things like this, handballs, penalties etc since VAR. As they are subjective calls and not black and white. So there is just no consistency week to week and even more of a microscope on every decision.

Love that goal from Gvardiol. Genuinely two footed and it is such a rarity in football. You wouldn’t think that was his ‘weaker’ foot at all.

So he is not on song very often? he has put in good performances under Howe, though and does actually get involved with creating chances and the odd goal or assist. But he is also woefully ineffective most of the time. The same as the other option we have on the right. No arguments that we need to strengthen RW as a priority. I think everyone bar the club have seen this as our biggest need for years.

Maybe a bad example. As Murphy does actually contribute with goals and assists when on song. I suppose my point is. We have a lot of players who have played above their level for a while and are now just back to their base level and not really contributing much. So then on top of that. When our actual elite or close to world class level players are below par. The whole team suffers as a result. Again, the attacking areas in particular. We aren’t exactly creative at the best of times. So if any or all of Isak, Gordon and Bruno are off it. Then forget about it. Barnes, too. Although he’s usually on the bench…..

The bit about form is the problem with the squad, though. Sort of similar to what @Heron was saying the other day regarding player ratings. Murphy in form and playing to the best of his abilities. Is still not as good as say, Gordon out of form. All teams are to a point. But we are heavily reliant on a few top players always being on their game for us to perform well. Especially in an attacking sense. They have an off day or just a bit below their usual levels and we struggle. We just have too many squad/back up type players still getting regular minutes due to the lack of depth at certain positions.

Howe won’t do it and I think he sulks when he plays there. But why not move Gordon to the right? When he gets in behind, his cutbacks and crosses should be a lot better. Plus he might seem more interested in getting to the byline and not just cutting in. Even if it takes something away from Gordon’s game and the team as a whole. Nobody can convince me Barnes on the bench and Murphy or Almiron on the right is the better option.

It does feel like he is always going to be like this. He’s an incredible player. But it’s not great that our number 9 and arguably best player. Is injury prone and even when fit. Is only sharp and able to keep to his levels for about 60 minutes.

Not sure what any of them were doing. Schar is miles off and then slow to react to the through ball. Hall tries to get round on the cover but doesn’t get there. Tino was weak as fuck with his challenge when I thought he was favourite to nick it. He is usually brilliant in similar situations.