Infinitely Content

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.

I understand nobody is likely to share this opinion but I think Jude Bellingham is a whining, greedy fucker with the best PR I've ever seen. Good player no doubt but seems a tiresome bloke.

Limbs in the Lyceum. Epictetus hoying pints about.

I thought we were far too predictable and lacking in any real creativity in the final third; we're very easy to defend against. I'm not even sure it's simply a finishing problem as other than Gordon's two opportunities I can't remember another clear chance on goal. I miss those patterns of play around the edge of box with Bruno, Almiron and to a lesser extent Miley. We need more clever movement and incisive passing around the box to start creating proper openings against defensive teams, which is a tactical issue rather than an individual personnel problem imo. The aimless crosses and cut-backs feel desperate and too basic.

Beautiful from Barnes. Gordon can no longer be our left winger.

Probably need an upgrade on Pau Torres, someone of Fabian Schär's calibre. Torres is decent on the ball but so lacking defensively.

Hatem ------------- Robert Ginola ASM