Smal

the other alternative of course was to sell Minteh and actually buy a right winger instead of fucking around for a month chasing a centre back who we didn’t even sign!

guys our current right wing options are Miggy Almiron and Jacob Murphy . Of course it was terrible business to sell this guy and not get a RW in.

Don’t see why those attributes have to be limited to a double pivot role tbh. They seem transferable to an 8.

think he looks understandably rusty with the ball but I really like how he’s constantly trying to make things happen, either it be through movement, winning the ball back or first time passes. Confident he’s going to be really good for us once he gets some match fitness. Next step for him would be getting himself into the goalscoring positions that Longstaff constantly gets himself into from that position. He will need to contribute goals for us.

I don’t think we created plenty of chances at all? The Gordon penalty came from mental defending rather than good play, and aside from that we had <1 xG. Only other good chance I can think of was Gordon’s poor effort over the bar.

thought Joelinton kind of got in his way and dragged more defenders out wide than was necessary, which made it tough for Barnes as he was often crowded out and couldn’t create a shooting or crossing position. There are some occasions where crosses come in from the right and I feel like Barnes needs to make more of an effort to get to the back post though.

I don’t think you ask him to be our primary source of ball progression from the back 3 and then also ask him to provide threat in the final third. It wasn’t his role in the team yesterday to do that… you could see it was clearly Joelinton’s role to back up Barnes and provide overlaps. That’s very much a tactical decision from Howe.

I thought he was good actually, and grew into the game. He’s improving in duels but the main thing he brings will always be this: He’s a real upgrade on Burn in that LB/LCB role for our build up.

dire game and another poor performance from us. 1 good performance this season?

bottled it

thought Barnes had a poor game tbh. Don’t mind the sub but would’ve preferred Osula I think.

Their CBs are absolutely shit. It’s such a shame we don’t have Wilson or Isak fit, man. Wilson would be absolutely battering them.

you just knew it, unfortunately. Shocking pen.

Pen all day on Tonali. What’s VAR for.

Can’t help but feel Joelinton needs to provide a box threat rather than hanging wide as much when we’ve no striker on the field. Need more presence in there.

Gotta say I like Trippier and Hall in the side. Gives us loads of options for progression along with Schar and Bruno.

the wait for VAR on Burn's goal was agony too . Tried to rule it out for both offside and handball!

always has been very obviously a much better player when confident, but he gets nowt but dogs abuse from the fans. It's really frustrating.

7 minutes here. Mostly I love that it was Miggy, Longstaff, Burn and Schar who got the goals with Big Jam skipper . Just makes it more special somehow.

greek keeper guy kicking the ball straight back to them with 30 seconds to go

Osula has looked quick, at least.

he’s been a bit like this all season. Really different to how he was playing last season. Don’t think I’ve seen him dribble past anyone this season yet whereas he was doing it for fun last year.

Livramento’s really not got going at all this season.

1 touch for Osula this half

completed all 4 of his passes!