Thumbheed

Now imagine this man managing a 25 man squad of absolutely top class players.

Immortal

Guy's a mental giant.

I've waited 15 years for us to be a good team. I'm OK with waiting a bit longer to be a top one, if it means we get to avoid saying our success was bought.

Not that I disagree that we'll not likely sign anyone, but we literally tried to sign Khusanov.

Our Dirk Kuyt

Tbf, heading is a dying art so bit unfair to judge a player on it nowadays.

My favourite player to watch in this team. Such a clean and tidy player.

Howe is turning excellent players into elite players and doing that without a world class infrastructure to support. The only limit to what he can achieve at this club is PSR.

Not really our fortè

Wing options now looking a little bit sparse. This was one of those games where our lack of pace at the was exposed but ultimately, the our issues today came from the front and middle.

I'm mean in fairness, his outstanding quality is his ability to avoid the press and progress, so it'll be practically muscle memory at this point. I'm not sure there's a top player in the world who would admit, midgame that an opponent is getting the better of them so they need to do something different. Just do what you do best - better. On this occasion his opponents got the better of him. Rare off day.

10 players who weren't sharp from the start who were never allowed to regain any rhythm at any point during the game. Think it's as simple as that. Not really a Howe issue.

Only player who'll come out of this game with any credit.

Reminds me of Speed in that sense.

Almost unfair to judge forwards playing in teams that aren't proficient at getting the ball consisntently into the final 3rd for a sustained period of time. Even Isak looked poor and out of sorts in the earlier parts of this season when we weren't getting the ball to him in the right areas or at all. He physically has every component you'd want from a striker, he's technically very good, he offers something tactically different to Isak and would be happy being number 2 whilst coming in on a lower financial package that would perhaps help us invest elsewhere. I'd have no issue getting DCL.

Said it before, he's a good player but someone we can and should improve on. The pace and power he has that break through lines is fantastic - when it comes off - but he's just not consistent enough with it to warrant a place in a side that is on an upwards projectory to the top, especially when you compare it to the likes of big Joe and Bruno who are consistently doing it most if not almost every game and agaisnt other top midfielders in the game who can offer 8/10 performances almost every game.

It's a shame we don't have this much empathy for our own losses...

I'd love Lee Kang-in. I've seen some extremely tenuous links but wages aside he'd be perfect.

At least we're shopping in the right market I guess

I'd had it in my mind that he wouldn't be as effective as Bruno in the 6 role because he was far easier to press and couldn't open up the game in the same way that Bruno could with his dribbling, but he's shown he can be just as affective with his quick thinking and first times passes. Ironically he's probably more effective, because he holds his deeper postion because of that fact he's not a dribbler which doesn't leave us exposed to the counter like Bruno did when he'd break the lines with his dribbling, plus his recovery pace is a gamechanger when we are countered. There's a number of times I've seen him recover enough just to hold up play a fraction more to give enough time for other to recover our shape and neutralise a counter that may have caught us out in the previous season. Fantastic player.

Wish he'd smile like

Allow me to be unpopular, may have said I wouldn't be keen in the past but I'd be OK with DCL. Howe has an eye for a striker and with the chances we create as well as having 2 solid crossers he'd be a very good second striker imo.

I'm looking forward to remembering what a top class player this guy is too. Easy to forget he's had about 5 bad games in his time here, and I don't remember any of em.

I had it in my mind that he'd struggle in the 6 role based on the fact he's not really press proof and can't evade pressure in the same way that Bruno can, but his first touch passes and vision are exceptional enough for him to release pressure before he's even relieved. What an exceptional talent.