Happinesstan

Time ran out as I was selecting him as captain. All I had to do was click 'save team'.

Aye. The chance to win 3 points or lose one, when in reality there is little danger of the latter. I'm always taking that bet. The chance to gain +1 GD against losing 2 points. No sir!

Hence why I said he offers something different. He scored in pre-season, playing that role. He assisted Isak, by getting into that position. He assisted Bruno against Arsenal, playing in that position. Willock has undoubtedly contributed to our overall performance, I'm just lauding the fact that we have options.

Time drags when you're bored shitless.

He always does. He'll be a fantastic sub when we're fully fit. Him and Elliott [And possibly Almiron if we play Wilson and Isak together.] should be enough to ensure we never see Murphy again.

Both good points. I guess it boils down to how much Palace raise their game for this. They're at as much danger of underestimating ourselves.

Yeah. I know it seems like Howe wants to push Bruno up, but I think Longstaff in Willock's role offers us more, maybe not more, but different. Willock is all enthusiasm at the moment, and I love him for it. But Longstaff is a little more effectual, I think. He takes more risks with his passing, whereas Willoc takes risks with his runs. Anyway. Bruno and Joelinton should be our double pivot, and we should use Willock for our counter attacking and Longstaff when we seek to control possession.

Just goes to show how good he is. Despite knowing the line-up, it's only just hit me how under supported he was in the middle.

I think he and Bruno are more than adequate as a pair. A lot more. It does look as though the intention was to go with Joelinton and Bruno in front of Shelvey.

This is why I've tempered my expectations. I think we were always likely to be heavily dependent on the squad, and would inevitably miss some of those opportunitires. After the first few games, though, I'm less worried about our backups. And if you follow @Optimistic Nut's chart, we actually appear to be doing better than expected. Once we're n full flow things should begin to take shape quite nicely. Nobody likes injuries, but I stand by my thinking that [Krafth aside] it's been more precautionary than necessary. Howe has never once given any impression that the team on the pitch isn't capable, and they've backed him up.

Same here, crazy as it sounds. And to be honest I've no reason to doubt the team that Howe puts out, but we were up for it vs Liverpool, and Man City. This is the first home game that doesn't have any particular edge to it, and Palace are to be underestimated at our peril.

Doesn't really have to decide anything. Like the European games, just shift a game to the Sunday, if there is a midweek game following a Sunday game. Admittedly that looks a lot easier to do right now, with no cup games until November. Next year might be a nightmare.

The transfer window is. In about 5 hours.

I think we've also recruited a few potential young 'uns, as well. Not to be overlooked when judging the window.

Yes. But we won't. Okay we might. We've vastly improved the spine of the team. We now have a top class striker on the bench, whoever starts. And two brilliant CB pairings. Okay maybe take off a point for losing Dubs.

At least Ando only posts once then fucks off. Disclaimer: I don't know who PP is, I assume he's another Pied Piper of twitter.

Pope, Botman and Isak, for a combined £90 million [not forgetting securing Targett] is 10/10 for where we are right now. Don't care what anybody says.

I try not to think about reporters., at all.

It's not rocket surgery. He's used to playing in a team of orcs with a striking partner. I suspect he's more of your typical poacher pouncing on lose balls in the box that arise from Burnley's tactics. He's never a lone striker that's for sure. Could pick up a couple of goals if we ever bring him on to partner Isak or Wilson.

I'm going to put my neck on the line and say no more transfers. Journos know this but they're not going to tell you, obvs.

Putting the football to one side, this game was perfect for the tories. At a time when cities such as Newcastle and Liverpool should be uniting against the insidious corruption going on, the two cities now hate each other. And of course everybody bites.

And especially when you've had one day less to recover from the previous fixture, and another in three days. Just looking at the fixtures, we play 3 games in 6 days, but Brighton, Man U, Leicester an Arsenal [the teams playing this Sunday] play 3 in 8.

No. It was a shoulder. But here's the thing. With the technology at their fingertips, can they not isolate incidents like this where the player doesn't use the bit of his body that is offside. Like how a back pass isn't illegal unless the keeper picks it up? Obviously if his head is offside and he scores with his head, you can say he gained an unfair advantage, but what advantage was gained in this instance.

1/15 the value of Joselu puts things into sharp perspective.

Guardiola is different class to this muppet, like.