David Edgar

I think he is improving. Woof

Cos we can discuss things like adults and not have to rawk threads.

5 points from 9 is bloody impressive with Man City and an game away to Brighton. 4 is probably a solid par score.

I bet Howe bins him next summer if he doesn't maintain his efforts consistently. Which is what he should do. Hopefully, he carries on his newly discovered mega professional approach and has a boss season for us. No guarantees on that, but early signs are promising.

This was awesome to see in the interview. Looks like Trippier has given ASM a proper life lesson.

I think he needs to show consistency before anyone is seriously interested that isn't a sideways move for him.

Being pragmatic doesn't have to mean that. I think we're a little too high on the risk versus reward. Like, maybe it makes us both more likely to get a result but also get battered. I'm just a bit more Rafa in that regard.

Yay.

I've calmed down a bit now. Think today owes an immeasurable amount to 2 players. ASM and Pope. Call me a bed wetter or whatever, but I think we lose handsomely if those two aren't playing at a crazy high level. Like, how often is ASM that efficient with his final third play? Is Pope gonna pull off that many saves every time he faces 15 scoring opportunities? Probably not. But then you can argue that Howe and the team got those performances. So I'm kinda saying that we could've played that system as well as today and without those 2 performances or a bit of luck, Man City score 4 or 5 and we get panned. Doesn't mean it is the wrong approach. It is absolutely the right approach for us moving forwards. But that's what I was getting at early game saying he isn't pragmatic enough. His way is very aggressive and very, very brave. But it can mean we get battered. Today, a lot went very right and you can see that he has done a lot with the players to increase those chances. Think we can expect similar results against the likes of Man City, Arsenal (this year), Liverpooland Spurs, but it can come unstuck and lose by loads. Once the playing squad improves, we'll be proper well set to go toe to toe with the top 4. He's proven he can set a team up to play that way and reap rewards with more quality.

I think ultimately that's what you want, but right now we can't get anyone who can do that AND do the other aspects as well as what Pope does. So we have him and play around his weakness. His quick throws are laser accurate and rapid. I think cos of that, he actually disrtibutes better than Dubravka.

Needs to start on the left of Brazil's midfield 3.

So yeah, massive upgrade. Enormous. We lose today without it.

Fucking gutted. Amazing stuff.

What a fucking point.

Blow the fucking whistle you bent dick.

Fuck off ref

That's a ducking foul

Not another corner. They score off them all the time.

Tried the defender dive. Gets a foul at the other end.

And again

Pope saves us again.

Gonna be +7 or more.