Smal

the majority of CBs are too slow or not good enough at defending wide areas to play in the outside positions of a 3 at the top level.

got to be a new smiley ffs

All 3 CB positions are specialist as well as the two 10s in his system.

We seemed to be deliberately trying to keep Murphy and Gordon up against their back line in the first half with Joelinton as more of a 10 than usual in an attempt to link play. Felt like we were trying to manufacture counter attacking opportunities in behind them. Credit to Howe for trying something different against Iraola who has schooled him in the past, but it didn’t work. Both full backs got exposed badly. Isak way less involved than usual too.

Iraola does seem to have his number, like. Looked wrong from the get-go for us today.

Gordon up against Lewis Cook should be where we try and get some joy. Overload that flank. Not confident here. Bournemouth know how to press us.

yeah, would like Fab back in because Bournemouth will know Botman is a bit hesitant on his right and they're one of the best pressing teams in the country.

do wonder if Man City have had word that their punishment is going to be a long transfer ban. Signing all these young players and handing out obscene contracts to existing ones seems mad. Their only previous significant January signings under Pep have been Laporte and Gabriel Jesus I think.

they've won 7 penalties in the PL this season - more than twice as many as anyone else in the league. One to watch out for.

remember when his kid insisted on having an NUFC themed birthday party or something?

Tino’s had a poor night overall.

Love VAR <3

few of ours looking very tired now

Dan really should score, bloody 50p head

been watching Isak

Botman did really well there

Need a lot more from Bruno in the second half here. If we’re gonna have the ball he needs to be creating for us.

need another before Cunha comes on and they start going for it.

Big Dan incredible again

brutal deflection

Bruno seems more bothered about winning fouls than playing football tonight so far

not enjoying no right footed centre back against a low block so far. Sven’s trying but looks a bit awkward.

if we're keeping Dubravka beyond this summer I really hope we're selling Pope and upgrading our first choice keeper.

I'm going to assume that Mr Ryder has copied and pasted his scores over from the Spurs game and forgot to remove Botman (who made a mistake early on vs Spurs for their goal). He is a big fucking dipshit

In our system athleticism is most needed in the 6 rather than the 8s. Think the recent changes show that. To me he's most similar to Bruno. Capable of threading a pass but doesn't have the athleticism to play 6 for us. I don't think he has the defensive awareness, positioning or aggression either. I think naturally he's a 10 and that's where he's played in his youth career iirc. He clearly has absolutely bags of technical ability and composure.