Infinitely Content

Aye I'd be displeased and frustrated but it's nothing particularly exceptional. Big Ange and the Spurs comrades are sounding like they're a strong breeze away from going on a spree. Must be a North London thing.

I'm also not even sure the refereeing decisions are that outrageously contentious. Certainly there's an argument that could be made one way or another, but the tone of the discourse post-game suggests it's indisputable and scandalous which it absolutely is not. Every single weekend you see disputable incidents like those today, rarely met with this level of outcry. Bizarre really. On a side note, looking like this must be part of the job criteria of a football club media man. Simulation confirmed.

Pleased to have him back, but Schar comes straight back in to that right side once he's back from suspension, both for balance of distribution and simply because he's more than earned that position. Burn has arguably been our best player this season too so he maintains the left position. I wouldn't be too fussed if we didn't see Botman in the 11 regularly until next season.

I remember listening to Karim Benzema, who competed against Messi for years and grew up alongside Ben Arfa at Clairefontaine (France's Lilleshall), saying that Ben Arfa was as good as Messi in terms of his talent. And to my eye, in the generation they both played, it's only Hatem who made the game look as easy as Messi. Ball striking, ball control, dribbling, ability in tight spaces tying 3-4 defenders in knots with a simple drop of the shoulder. He was frankly absurd and outside of Messi, peerless and unparalleled. That said, he was a complex character and obviously didn't manage to bring his full talent to fruition over a sustained period, but I can't think of another player of his generation that was closer to Messi in terms of pure ability.

Perhaps, but in terms of 'ceiling' and level of ability, Ben Arfa was streets ahead; which is not a slight on Isak, only that I reckon Ben Arfa might have only been behind Messi in terms of technical ability in his generation. He was a genuine prodigy.

Hatem.

Goal of the century is a wild statement like Feel like we get a few half way line goals like this each season. Kemar Roofe's from a few years back was the pick of the bunch imo.

The Premier League's best full-back.

@Froggy what do you make of the Zirkzee situation, has he really been that bad? For all of the jest, I actually think Man United fans are generally very patient with both players and managers, especially in comparison to Arsenal for instance, so I was somewhat surprised to hear the reaction to him being taken off. Felt a bit sorry for him to be honest.

Carton of milk with a few shots of Bundy mate, give it a burl it's a real corker. Merry Christmas.

I can see that going poorly. I'm not sure I'd say he's overrated as he does have exceptional qualities, but he's certainly one of the most system-reliant players around. He can be excellent on the ball with space around him, but out of possession he's an absolute liability. Perhaps La Liga will suit his deficiencies, it's not a league I watch so I'm not sure of the style and tempo of play there.

Shouldn't be on the second page ever really. Imperious. I love it when he steps out of the defensive line to press the opposition in their own half. It's usually synonymous with a dominant performance and win. Just wonderful today.

I was gifted some lovely books for Christmas, but Villa Talk is a beautiful read this evening. Schar should have been sent off for raising his studs to Duran, Villa were much better than us until the red card changed the game, we're a poor team and they're man for man better than us. Lovely stuff.

Not sure it's close at all to be honest, Joelinton is miles ahead of Willock.

I don't fear Aston Villa at all come boxing day, this game is primed for them to put in a good showing. Manchester City are in disarray yet still constitute the raising of performance levels which come with playing a big team at home. Their vulnerability has rallied Aston Villa even more. At St James' Park I think we can put 3 or 4 past them, they're defensively weak.

He supports Sunderland apparently through his stepdad.

"ah what a ball" "^ Paul's here" This video is beautiful

We've been good here, two brilliant finishes from Brentford albeit assisted by some individual errors. In general play we've been the better side.

I was praying that would be a goal kick to Palace.

Are you Fyodor Dostoevsky?

That's fair aye, I think the point I wanted to make was that we're frustratingly haphazard and disorganised with everything we do in and around the box, it's always chaotic and desperate, last ditch and players are getting occasional chances without being set. I think this is more systematic than just poor finishing, I don't think the quality of chances, patterns of play and composure in the build up phase is anywhere near what it used to be, which is not an individual problem.

Feel like people have completely forgotten how good this side used to be. If that's our best performance of the season and satisfactory other than some poor finishing, then we've fallen. In the first half, Brighton were all over the place and we couldn't capitalise, we played decent with some intent and intensity but never looked like scoring. Second half we were utterly abysmal. Miles off it.

Everything we do around the box is so haphazard. We're miles off it.

I blame Dan Ashworth

Alexander-Arnold at left back probably (the lad who can't even really play right back convincingly whilst being regularly dubbed the best in the world), with Gomes & Rice as a midfield pair.