Chicken Dancer

Bar 3 or 4 league games we’ve been shite all season, yet unbelievably are 3pts off 4th.

For anyone worried you can get about 3/1 on them to beat us, which is ridiculously high. Can't believe we are odds on (10/11).

Eurgh. Would be a tough game anyway, but given the away form/performances and the 17:30 kick off, it feels like a nailed on defeat.

To be fair even I scoffed at the chance they’d do us. How wrong was I?

He’s an absolutely glorious player and I love him to bits but I can’t deny he’s had a detrimental effect on how we play. We need to change to him, rather than him to us imo.

When you spend £40m on a midfielder you were probably behind signing you surely start him in one of the 3 games in 7 days? You build a squad to be able to rotate and manage the volume of games, yet Howe seems really reluctant to mix things up which is killing us. I really thought we’d see more rotation this season, especially after that Bournemouth game back in September. Moving Tonali central was the spark last season, I’ve no idea what we can do this season. Maybe Wissa coming back changes things, but it’ll be a long time before he’s up to match speed that’s for sure. Any talk of folk wanting him gone is frankly crackers, but I do wish he’d be a bit more bold with his team selection. As soon as Lewis Hall was fit he should be starting LB. If you’re dead against dropping Burn then stick him CB with Thiaw. Feels like a carbon copy of 23/24, except for the fact this season we can actually rotate our players but just don’t.

I can’t believe these were 15/8 and I can’t believe you can get 2/1 for Marseille in a few weeks. And Everton for that matter.

That was as bad as it’s ever been under Howe that. Awful, awful performance. Toothless and deserved absolutely nowt. Away form is a huge concern.

Is something funny? Shall we have a look through your posts from summer in the Elanga thread? Or are we going to reserve judgment until he’s played for us for a lot longer?

I hate that argument as I’m no scout, but the keeper the mackems signed seems to be doing ok.

Nah Kane is absolutely amazing, though I do discount a lot of his England goals due to the weaker opposition.

Yes I did. I still don’t rate him, but can acknowledge he had a good game. I also rate Pope a lot higher than my match day party as well. It’s the beauty of football - we all have different opinions. Sometimes we’re right, sometimes we’re proven wrong. I hope he gets a decent move next summer but I wouldn’t want him as our long term #1, no. He seems a very decent bloke and a likeable character, but I’ll hold off crowning him as Pope’s successor for now.

What's your point exactly? At that point in the summer it was embarrassing. We were being held hostage by our star player whilst being knocked back for basically every replacement we were trying to bring in. I can't remember many people being overjoyed with signing Ramsdale on loan ffs Thankfully, we landed Woltemade who's been a revelation and 'saved' the summer somewhat. Ramsdale had a good game but it would be madness to suggest he's going to be our long term #1. He's played 180 minutes of football for us, I'll reserve judgement until there's a larger sample size. I still think paying £4m for a year of a backup goalkeeper isn't the best use of resources, when we could have spent 3/4 times that on a younger goalkeeper with the intention of him being our #1 long term.

My seat is towards the back of the Gallowgate nearer the milburn. Was a good atmosphere up there imo, people stood for long durations - in fairness people always seem to congregate to that stairwell and it’s never policed - but who cares. Felt like an away game at times. Suppose it depends where you sit/are seated. Was miles better than Dortmund and Milan imo.

You forget how good he is when he’s injured. Absolutely love Schar & Burn (and Thiaw too) but this lad is our best centre half. Comfortably as well.

Nah that’s what I mean. I was in the ground at time so was making it short and sweet, I said the other day I think he will be effective for us long term. But aye, he’s not technically gifted whatsoever.

He’s been crap so far like. Can’t dress it up.

Pope Trippier Thiaw Burn/Botman Hall Tonali Bruno Miley Elanga Woltemade Gordon Ramsdale, Krafth, Botman/Burn, Schar, Joelinton, Willock, Murphy, Barnes, whoever else 3-1.

I didn't think he was man of the match and found myself being frustrated with him more often than not, a view that was shared with the company I was in. I do think some of his deliveries were superb and he's going to be a very effective player for us. He's electric, that's for sure.

First to hold me hands up on this one. Thought given Como had a €20m (I think?) bid accepted weeks before we paid what we did, we’d had our pants down. He looks good. Feel guilty for even questioning the signing now. Now I feel guilty on Schar, but I think it’s clear already that Howe intends to rotate this season to navigate the schedule.

Aye it’s early days but they’ll comfortably stay up mind. They look well organised and they’ve got a knack of playing teams at the right time. Man Utd and Wolves their next two as well. Could well be on 17 points after 8 games.

Im a peasant mate, was walking past.

Just spotted Hurst and Robson walking into Heroes. They do alright mind.

As long as it isn't a proper mission into town for you, I'd head to the Box Office and they'll issue you a paper ticket.