Smal

ASM key here. I doubt they'll double up on him and their full backs should leave him a load of space to play in. Hope he's on it. It's the sort of game where we know Leeds are way better than us, but they will always give us a chance because of the way they play. Especially with no Phillips or Bamford.

Playing Jonjo Shelvey as the only protection for a weak back four is absolutely insane stuff tbh but he’s done it for nearly all of his 10 games now. Think we need to switch to a double pivot asap. He needs to show signs of trying to find a system that actually works for the players we have.

Not seen anything from VdB to suggest he can play in the PL anyway tbh.

Wonder how much Dele Alli would actually cost. There is always way too big a gap between our striker and any of our midfield and you’d think he’d solve that. Honestly our midfield does nothing .

And you won't care a jot when he saves us from relegation for the third season running.

Eat shit haters

Need more of ASM going down the outside.

Would try swapping Fraser and ASM to see if ASM does any better when he can go to the byline. He's bang out of form, like.

I'd be amongst the first to defend him, but ASM is really not on it at the moment.

You can pass through our midfield without even thinking about it.

The alternative is playing Matt Ritchie and we lose.

GK Krafth - Schar - Lascelles - Tripper Willock - Shelvey - Jo Murphy - Wood - ASM

I think Joelinton is best as a wide central midfielder in a 3 who operates in the half spaces; not as a defensive mid. You want to make use of his pressing higher up the pitch so he can win the ball in more dangerous areas, I think. I just wish he'd get in the box and try to score more. We need someone to play the deeper role. Shelvey does not offer any protection at all. He has definitely been running around more recently but he has to because he's never in position. I suppose Kamara would be ideal for this from what I've heard.

nah, pen all day. You can’t grab someone round the neck and drag them to the ground. Saved!

Auba got covid just last week whilst in Africa.

‘kin hell man. Hope he’s ok.

Ake has played 14 times for the best team in the country this season and City would only have 3 centre backs if they sold him. He’s not close to realistic as a January signing.

Initial instinct is that this is an absolutey terrible signing.

Like the look of Brennan Johnson at Forest. Few prem clubs linked atm.

I like it a lot to be honest. Arteta clearly has standards.

There are problems all over the pitch to be honest. We can blame our defence for recent losses but today the midfield and forwards looked totally clueless apart from Shelvey. To the extent where you're not sure what they worked on in training.

Hopefully Eddie knows the rules better than this

Honestly I really hate Matt Ritchie.

I know he's in midfield now but you really want Joelinton doing more in their area when we have the ball wide. Longstaff too.

I think ASM is fine as a striker if we're having to play on the counter, but not in a game like this. Doesn't make the right decisions.