Infinitely Content

His crossing is Murphy-level, but with explosive pace and ability to beat his man more often than not. He's going to be a tremendous player for us. Dynamite.

Slot saying he couldn't see any tactics on show and that it wasn't a football game is basically outing himself as not being good enough to be versatile and make an imprint on a game played with physicality and intensity (ie. one in which he can't rely on superior technical players to dominate and play the game at their pace). One-dimensional manager who will be found out before long.

Absolute little bitch of a man. Pathetic. Don't want him anywhere near this team of warriors, he's unworthy. Get a proper player in.

11 v 11 we win easily. We were outstanding and I'm full of optimism for the season ahead. Brilliant. What was Slot's plan? If I was a Liverpool fan watching that from a tactical point of view I'd be concerned. He's not an astute manager, but one of great fortune and with riches of talent. Howe is on another level.

Absurd how good he is. England's best centre back by an absolute landslide. It's not even close. One of the best in the world.

Slot is a tricky one for me, he won the league so you feel silly not including him in the top 3, but I'm not sure I can rate him that highly just yet as his team never really impressed me that much last season, and this season I'd be tempted to suggest they look set to continue with the haphazard defensive work and the over-reliance on world class attacking players producing moments. Not overawed by his imprint on the team from a pure managerial, coaching point of view. I'd probably go: Pep, Howe, Arteta, Emery, Slot, Iraola. I do think Arteta is an excellent coach, one of the best around from a tactical awareness and discipline point of view, although sometimes perhaps to Arsenal's detriment when they need to take the shackles off a bit. The opposite to Slot in a sense.

Laurent Robert would have scored from there.

Fuck me, Fofana and James on a day trip out of the sanatorium. The Hammers truly finished.

Diafra Sakho was the last one who actually did a canny job and he cost about 5p.

Would love him here, but I couldn't bear the "Paquet-arrr" shite from English commentators every week. No idea why it became the agreed upon way to pronounce his name when the correct pronunciation is staring them in the face.

Joao Pedro is looking quality tbf.

Not sure like, would you trust him to empty the tank in May against West Ham at home if we need 3 points to secure European football?

An odd situation, I think he can and probably will play for us again, but I'm not sure he can be entirely reintegrated. Reintegration implies complete unity and trust, and I wouldn't want him anywhere near our first 11 in important games towards the end of the season. Our season rests on the Wilson replacement, not on Isak coming back into the team imo. He may fill a shirt and be a body, but a void will be in place of his presence, and I won't feel any positive emotion towards whatever contributions he makes. I would much prefer it if he never plays for us again.

Burn starts regardless of whether Botman is fit I think. He's a better centre back currently. Schar still plays imo too, as I've not a clue how good Thiaw is yet.

I fucking love this fucker. This transfer window has threatened to draw all of the life out of this season, but as long as Bruno, Howe, Joelinton and Burn are here, who are the fire, the heart and the foundation of this club presently, I could never not be all in.

I agree that if he were here in his current phase of development, he would be close to Joelinton - but I feel like I rate Joelinton higher than most. I think for some reason it's easier for people to forget or overlook just how good he is, and I often cast my mind back to the cup final where he put in a performance of such a standard that it would be hard for many to get even close to matching it. That's what he has within him, that performance wasn't by any means an exception either. He's still one of our most integral players imo.

Love him but he would still be a sub for us. Hope to see him back in 2-3 years as a marquee signing when Joelinton is moving towards the end of his time here.

Great goals, especially the first with the cross in from the new centre back. Difficult to replicate though.

Still underrated by certain portions of our fan base too imo. Feel like there's often doubt cast over him and many feel ready to write him off. Schar is outstanding, I don't think we realise how hard it will be to replace his unique skillset. Generally most centre backs need to be "ball-playing" these days, but it's one thing being comfortable to receive the ball and move it side to side, or produce a switch like Botman can. What Schar does is on another level to that, his technique is perfection, he doesn't break a stride and can find any pass, of any weight, to anywhere. One of the most underrated Premier League players in history.

Tonali played immediately (although granted he had preseason with us), Isak fittingly enough started against Liverpool just 4-5 days after signing. I think Dan Burn started about a week after signing too. There's probably more, my memory isn't great with such things.

I trust Eddie to harness any hostility, anger and disappointment the lads have been feeling and use it as fuel for more running, more intensity and more determination. I think we will be a horrible team for them to play against on Monday night. We saw it against Villa today, we hounded and harried them off the park. Against Liverpool it will be to a whole other level. Their new lads in Wirtz, Frimpong and Ekitike will not know what's hit them.

I doubt it, I think he's been known to make exceptions if the player is both good and experienced enough, and also we're looking at a situation of absolute necessity. Gordon through the middle doesn't work, we know it, Eddie knows it. I think if he's signed by say Wednesday next week, he will start Monday night.

We will see. I've watched the entire game and they've been mostly poor. A better team than West Ham (which is almost all PL teams) puts them away in the first half. I have no problem giving Sunderland credit, I'm not a very tribal Newcastle fan, but they've not particularly impressed me today. Few headers following corners and a 3rd when West Ham were going gung-ho.

Not playing like they have today they won't. They've been largely outplayed at home by a relegation contender.

Lovely goal that.