Infinitely Content

You can't give pens for that shit man

Griezmann attempting the Cisse v Swansea finish

Do you think Vini has the composure and range of finishing ability Kvaratskhelia has? Kvaratskhelia can score all types of goals. I also think he's far more aggressive, has a much higher work rate and is more physical than Vini. Three attributes which are instrumental in facilitating the big moments he comes up with. Again I'm biased, but Kvaratskhelia is a far better watch than Vini, and simply a better football player imo.

Also Harry Kane is the complete, almost perfect footballer. He's genuinely phenomenal. I get the sentiment of Woltemade perhaps being able to model parts of his game on Kane's to increase effectiveness and involvement in the game, but he's a million miles away from being the footballer Kane is unfortunately.

Aye fair, forgot about him somehow. Although I don't think it's as clear cut as it sounds, Doue, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia are all capable of individual brilliance in the way Mbappe is, but all three of them are fantastic playmakers too in a way Mbappe perhaps isn't. You would probably still have him in there though as he's arguably still better than all three of them on his day. Although I am biased towards Kvaratskhelia due to living in Georgia.

Pacho is better than Gabriel imo. Think Saliba would be his partner and Bruno would be a great stylistic fit for their midfield alongside Neves and Vitinha. Was thinking also about Real, and how probably only Courtois would get into their team. Kvaratskhelia is who Vini dreams of being.

Maybe Saliba and Allison. Bruno G. possibly gets a game in the midfield too over Zaire-Emery/Ruiz. Not many like, they're superb.

His style can be superb against the top teams like, we can genuinely blow them away if we get things right. Needs to develop in other areas of course, against the 'easier' teams, but there's not many other managers about capable of conjuring up what Eddie can on those occasions imo.

Eddie is King.

First team to score 4 against them since we did it. The fact we kept these to just one goal in each of the 3 fixtures is extremely impressive like. Yet some want Eddie gone for someone like Glasner, nah man.

Best in the world.

We would need 15+ goals from the two wingers imo, like Mane & Salah and c.10 each from the 3 midfielders. It's a big ask. Woltemade could definitely help facilitate those around him and contribute himself, but I don't think we have that kind of goalscoring ability in our side currently. We would need big additions to function with a playmaking striker whose focus or strength is not getting in the box and scoring himself. I'd rather just sign a proper striker personally.

Since none of us really know anything about him prior to this season and whether or not he's even a striker or a good finisher - good enough to get the goals we would need him to to justify playing that position for us - I went and checked his career stats... 170 apps - 40 goals, 10 of them in German third division. for context... Bruno G for us 191 apps - 31 goals It's hardly screaming clinical finisher or goalscorer to me. He's obviously a playmaker, and unless we get a Mo Salah-esque winger to be the main goal source, I don't see how it can possibly work out for him here.

The idea I've heard discussed is that the pitches are firmer and the layer of grass thinner to accommodate the retractable system beneath which may lead to players having less grip, slipping more and the firmer surface taking more of a toll on the body.

It's really not as simple as "play to his strengths" when his strengths require a complete overhaul of everything else we've been set up to do as a team over the last few years (and had great success in doing so).

He would probably do quite well as a CF/F9 in a possession-heavy side who have goals in the wide players and midfielders (although I still even have doubts there as he's far too physically weak for this league at present). He's a playmaker, potentially a very good one, but he's not a striker at this point - we've seen this from his poor movement in the box, lack of intent and instinct to get into the box, and lack of that killer mindset in front of goal on occasion. I also have question marks about mentality, tenacity and aggression seem lacking. The problem is we're not that kind of side, and there's only so much Howe can do without ripping it all up and starting again. You can't just become what you're not overnight, it takes time. The idea that there's a clear solution which Howe is just too stubborn to try is lazy and is just something being used by his detractors to find further fault with him and justify their position imo. If you're going to rip up your entire philosophy and start again for a player - that player best be something special, and I don't think Woltemade is. He's talented, but not that talented. The mistake was buying him, not trying him in midfield or benching him.

Liverpool top for me. Their fans are largely sanctimonious and insufferable. I also dislike Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal but I don't think those are part of the general consensus in the way Liverpool, Sunderland and Man Utd are. I actually don't mind the latter as much as most.

Kvicha is the man. Pretty much the only player around at the moment I'd actively rearrange plans to watch play. He's still playing 2010's football and it's glorious.

These can't win the league man, they're a miserable football team. We've been better than them without really having to do anything noteworthy.

Did any of you watch Spurs today? Absolutely awful. They would have to win 3 out of 4 with us not picking up a single point out of 5 for us to go down. It's shit that it's even something we're even talking about, granted - but it's not happening.

Why? Is it Howe's fault that someone else decided to leak the team news?

For those who were wishing to see Woltemade in the team today, how exactly did you expect Howe to use him in what will clearly be a counter attacking game? I don't see a big issue in his team selection personally, apart from Hall but perhaps he's had a knock or something...

Looks like 4-5-1 to me with Willock on the left of the 5. 1-1, Thiaw.

One of the worst opening 25 minutes of PL football you will ever see this. Abysmal standard from both teams.

Can see Gomes getting a goal against them today.