nortoon

I think Howe's aim is to have the whole squad comfortable on the ball, especially centre halfs. Can see new/new/Schar/Burn the squad if he wants 4 centrebacks already next season. Possibly Lascelles or Fede to stay. But i think Schar is the only one he will be actively pushing for keeping, as he is the only ball-playing centre back we had when he came in.

Some quick ratings from moi!

Dubravka 7 - meh had to do very little. came out when he needed to again.

Trippier 8 - you saw how much poorer we are offensively when he went off. Incredibly important player -

Burn/Schar 8

Manq 8 - Shame he had to go off

Dummett 7 - didnt look as comfy.

Krafth 7 - Did his best and was more comfortable after we went into 3 at the back. But he isnt Trippier.

Shelvey 9 - Thought he was excellent, fit and defensively great too.  Couldn't believe the amount of times he actually tracks his man and stays on his feet.

Willock 9 - Not the greatest on the ball but kept winning it time and time again.

Joelinton - 8 Not as effective with a yellow early on. Still worked so hard but lacked some shithousery since he had to be a bit careful.

Maxi 6 - Disappointing but still caused them 3 yellow cards and a couple of good chances.

Fraser - 7 works incredibly hard and has a great understanding with Trippier.

Wood 6 - Needs a goal but seems a bit crap. Works hard as always.

Thought Howe got everything spot on. We looked vulnerable after Trippier went off and it didnt take long for him to change the formation because and we nullified them after that. Luckily Targett is back for the next one. I didn't really feel nervous now and I think it showed that the players didn't either.

With half the team hobbling around and we already used 2 subs i can understand not bringing Bruno on in the 60th though.

Our team is so balanced and good. If Fraser and Wood were slightly better we would be so dangerous. Midfield has been bossing it. Feeling like Guimaraes for Joe because of the yellow is on. Shelvey been the best player for me. Incredibly surprised when he followed Ramsey for that run.

Maxi been quiet, their left back seems pretty good. Hopefully he can get some joy in the 2nd half.

Think it will be easier to drop Shelvey for this after watching MOTD of villa vs Leeds. Leeds play a bit similar to us and Coutinho cut them to shreds with Leeds' high line. Our back 4 with Shelvey slouching around is a wet dream for him, I think Howe will play Bruno for this.

Started watching this guy after the takeover. Beats the shit out of most pundits and has good knowledge.

Best interview i've seen from an NUFC player that.

2 minutes ago, Mr Raspberry Jam said:

Is it spoilt to say I'm a bit disappointed we only scored 3?

 

Just wish that Murphy or ASM chance at the end went in. Would have been a fairer reflection on our dominance. 

Some humiliation would have been delicious with the amount of dirty stamps and challenges they got away with. Really the best team won on all counts. Can't believe they tried to "pass it to the goalie" and then score when they should have given us the ball.

Oh and thought it was funny as hell Southgate sitting with Amanda. When we scored he couldn't really celebrate and just sat there while everyone was going mental.

Dubravka 7: Ran out when he needed to, wasn't really tested.

Trippier 10: Absolutely world class, every touch is so good. He also is so clearly a winner. Winding up the opposition and not going over the top himself. He is everything we've been missing for so long.

Schar/Lascelles 7: Both were pretty good , nothing special. It's a bit worrying how easily a ball over the top can unbalance them, especially Lascelles. but they have the fight and you can see how much they care. Lascelles was absolutely gutted after the OG he couldn't do much about. What a bullet header he had to make it right right off. Also noticing his leadership skills with trippier getting in their faces and pushing the scumbags away when there were handbags.

Targett 8: Didnt notice that everton did anything down his side. If we can have a competent left back playing the whole season it will be fantastic.

Shelvey 7: Did ok i thought, works harder and gets around as much as he can with his limited physicality. Still has that red card in him thought and could have ruined the game for us after 20 minutes or whatever it was.

Joelinton 7: Did ok as well. Contributes to so much fight and ball-carrying in midfield. Please just ban him from shooting or something.

Willock 8: His technique isn't great and he often puts too much or too little in the pass or carry. I think he usually plays better in the 2nd half as players get tired and it opens up for him to have a second longer on the ball. His work rate was absolutely immense though. Ran his heart out for 95 minutes and was unlucky not to score. I think a goal would do him a world of good as well. I think he has the off-the-ball movement for the role he has, but he needs one for them to start flowing.

Fraser 7: Did his job, works well with trippier which is why i think he will keep his place for the remainder of the season. Shanked in a goal which is good. We need more of our midfield/strikers to actually get goals.

ASM 10: Absolutely fantastic

Wood 6: Another one who probably needs a  goal. But looks a bit shite to be honest. Cannot fault his work rate and heart though.

I think we saw a well run club adressing the weaknesses in the squad and plugging as many holes as they could in the transfer window. We have been hearing for 14 years that we need "the right personalities", and very often seeing the wrong personality come into the club because they were cheap. Every single man out there had the heart and didnt stop for the entire 90 minutes, and everyone knew what the plan was. Everton on the other hand acted too late and probably got the wrong man, who also signed 2 similar players who havent gotten into their teams at their previous club and already look like they are not up for a fight.

Absolutely loving it!

Lampard, such a little Bruce.

Crying out for a Bruno for Shelvey sub here. Please dont take maxi off. id get fraser off for murphy or almiron too

Fraser/Wood/Willock/Joe. Neither have seen able to put the ball in the net for so long. It's  a shame because thats 4 out of the 5 most likely to get the chance. 

They have barely troubled us but i fancy them more to take a chance when it comes.

We've been the far better team, but if you don't put them in its gonna be another Brentford/Watford etc. Can't really blame Lascelles for the OG and you could see how much he wanted to just smash it back in the other side, Bullet header.

Shelvey on a yellow scares me to death, hopefully we get to see Bruno early on.

How would people line up for this?

Would go:

Trippier - Schar - Burn - Manquillo

             Guimaraes

                              Joelinton

          Willock

Fraser           -         St. Maxi

                Wood

Expecting it will be Shelvey and Targett in for manq and either Willock or Joelinton.

I mean Fred played last game.

Zapata for 5m.

Keep watching sky sports guys!

Happy to sign Raphinha and Paqueta from this Brazil side.

Where is the Sweet prince? Bedwetting like crazy over here.

Exactly what i want in a signing.

But yes, if the medical is on Friday i will be shitting myself for 2 days straight!

Liverpool rules.

Really wish we just stopped linking his shit articles. Weird man and couldnt care less about what he says.

Cornet 6, wood 3. Ben Mee 2.

Burnleys top scorer today is a cb

Kavanagh should have just worn a Leeds shirt today. Gave them absolutely everything while we got nothing. Even if the penalty incident didnt happen I'd have been absolutely furious at him.

4 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

Murphy/A New Player should really be starting instead of him. But can’y fault his graft again. 

 

Don't think Murphy gives you much more either. Maybe a bit more pace and strength with worse end-product. All our options are pretty terrible for this position but cb/sm seems more urgent. A quality player on the right would be a fantastic upgrade though. I am a bit surprised about how poor Fraser's finishing and crossing has been since he became a starter though, he got plenty of assists at Bournemouth, seems to have lost a yard of pace too.

1 minute ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

Dubravka 7

 

Trippier 7.5

Lascelles 7/Clark 7

Schar 7.5

Dummett 6/ Manquillo 8 (was so impressed with his sub performance)

 

Fraser 6.5

Joelinton 7/Longstaff 7

Shelvey 7

Willock 7.5

 

Wood 5

Saint-Maximin 5

Have to disagree with that. Saint-Maximin isnt perfect and won't chase lost causes. But he should have had 2 assists this match if our midfield could finish. Putting him alongside Wood who had the ball bounce off him every time it was played to him is very harsh.

I'll give it a go too!

Dubs - 8 - huge save in the first half.

Trippier - 7

Lascelles - 6, had a few wobbly moments

Clark - 7, was too busy jumping around to notice him.

Schar - 9, motm by far for me. so composed and didnt put a foot wrong in defense

Dummett - 6

Manq - 8

Shelvey - 7

Longstaff - 8, ran from start to finish

Willock - 6, shit in the first half but grew in to the game and ran until the 95th. I think he is a weak player in duels and so frustrating at times, but seems to need a lot of confidence to get going. Also pretty terrible end prodcut mostly

Fraser - 5, runs and runs, but no end product, good understanding with trippier though.

Maxi - 8, frustrating when he doesnt chase down, but should have had a penalty and also a few free-kicks in dangerous areas but the ref was playing for Leeds. Seems to be our only end-product, and Arguably both Fraser and especially Willock should have scored from his lay-offs.

Wood - 6, Doesnt lack for effort and won some duels. Also fouled the opposition a few times and didnt have the best touch. Clearly not our end-game in the striker department.