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You don't disrespect the manager like that.

Don't think anyone is suggesting he play number 6? But to the other point, I wouldn't pay attention to how he's performing in an underperforming side. We more than anyone else should know not to write off players based on their performances in a shite team

Nah, he defo deserves his place in this team but I keep thinking about how he played when he was a number 6 and how one of the biggest things we missed when Bruno was out was how he could evade presses and open up the games and disrupt opposition shaoe with just a couple of touches, whereas Longstaff would usually play the way he faced meaning the opposition could keep their defensive shape. I think that ability is absolutely priceless as a midfielder and someone like Gallgher possess that quality as well as all the others Longstaff has in his armoury too. Tl;Dr: Gallagher can finish and evade press, Longstaff can't at the moment.

Aye, don't disagree. Much like Willock if he had that little bit more composure in front of goal there'd never be any talk of replacing him or selling him but should it happen I do think Gallagher would be a great option.

I've always been a fan of Longstaff but if we were to sell him and it wasn't to be Bruno to pick up his role, then I think someone like Gallagher would be a really good option in that number 8 role.

Probably the most accurate breakdown of our playing style I've seen from a neutral commentator.

Yeh, he was definitely involved in some nice bits of play (although I felt that was partly down to West Ham downing tools by that point imo), but thought he turned back a fair bit when Id have exoected him to push forward and just wasn't as intense as I'd expect him to be considering he's not played much. Compare that to say Isak who came on as chased down everything as well as being positive with the ball anytime he had it, I just thought it was a good, but subdued performance from him.

Thought he had a really strange cameo appearance tonight- didn't do anything wrong per se, and was involved in a couple of good moves but he just doesn't seem as intense or as positive as I'd expect/hoped he'd be.

Take back anything I've ever said about this lad, didn't think he'd have it in him to adapt but he's proving me wrong. Clearly learning to make better decisions and coupling that with a really good work rate too - just needs a goal or 2 to boost his confidence. Really pleased for him.

Still have to pinch myself that we've managed to sign a player of his calibre and reputation at this point in our journey when there's only about 10 players of his ilk out there.

If he works on his composure in front of goal then he's a 10 goal a season midfielder.

Honestly think having a conventional winger makes such a difference to how we play, hope Howe sticks with it. Really pleased for the lad, it's his place to lose as far as I'm concerned.

He's the perfect proponent of how much difference top class technique can make to a team. His first touch is pure silk. Loved his reaction when Willock skied that cut back from ASM

Of course we should be trying to improve on what we have, that goes without saying and is not as insightful as perhaps you think it is, but correct me if I'm wrong but aren't these the very samw players who've had us playing champions league form for the best part of 15 months now? They've very much earned their right to play I'm a top 4 team as that's exactly what they have been doing. Milner, Henderson, Fletcher even Park Ji Sung have all been mainstays in some of the best teams in PL history. It's not outlandish to say the likes of Willock and Longstaff can have similar impacts, they certainly have done so far.

You'd assume he would be if Ekitike was.

As you say he's often doubled up on which makes his job exponentially harder and yet he's still able to produce at times, so how do you factor that in when discussing 2 dimensional stats? And yeh totally agree his influence goes beyond what he does with the ball. I remember Jonas having the exact same impact, strong dribbler who would drag opposition teams shape and create space for Barton to produce - which he did. Jonas was often slated whilst Barton got all the plaudits. Not getting around the fact he's been poor this season, but of those 18 games only 9 were starts and he's often been subbed on in the latter stages of the game. I'm not actually his biggest fan myself, but I can't discount how important he was under Bruce and that's contribution alone shows how good a player he actually is.

Why do teams double up on him if he's not a threat? Edit: Aye one for the ASM thread

I'm not his biggest fan but to compare him to Lua Lua is crazy, especially when he single handedly saved us from certain relegation twice. Also there's a reason there aren't many dribblers of his calibre around and that's because it's arguably the most difficult skill to master. There's certainly charges to be made against ASM but not being isn't one of them.

I absolutely think this is a directive from Howe and the team. I wouldn't say overcomplicate though, I just think they've tried to improve his decision making and it looks to have gone the other way.

He needs a club that will let him do his thing like HBA had at Nice. I really want it to work out for him here but he's clearly been told to pass a little more and its just completely taking away his natural game.

Isak Halaand Kane Lewandowski Vlahovic Osihmen Benzema Lukaku That's a pretty short list of genuine out and out strikers - feel like we're very lucky to have snagged this lad and £60m will look an absolute bargain when you look at the prices the others could demand / have demanded

I did think Isak and ASM should have started because there was always going to be space to exploit for them both but I don't really think it'd have changed too much of a difference results wise. We created 4 good chances without them and that's more than you'd normally need (or even get) in these types of games. Ultimately though, as I've said in a different thread, better players will make better runs, have better touches, make better decisions and passes as well as cross and finish better and it will be the culmination of those micro actions which will get us over the line in these games in the future.

I think I'll start worrying when we start to play badly, but until then I'll put results like this down to not yet having the quality of players that make the difference. Did well for the most part, created good chances but as has been the case for most the season we're just not clinical or decisive enough in the final 3rd.

The type of game where you end up loving your club just that little bit more. Wasn't to be, but absolutely no shame in that loss. We were hindered by the point in time of our journey, not the quality of our play.

I'd had no problem letting him go, but not getting a replacement in always seemed irresponsible to me. Same feelings with Wood.