Kid Icarus

I think we're all also quick to forget that when he was up front we looked worse as a team and it was clear that either we needed to completely change, he needed to, or we needed to try someone/something else.

Not sure why it would do that like. If he had had a full pre-season and not fucked up his knee then it would maybe have some merit to it.

I think now is the first time I've really started to think it could happen. It's at the point where fixture difficulty doesn't really mean all that much because they're that terrible and heartless, whereas Leeds, Forest and West Ham are properly battling away. Frank wasn't doing a great job, but it looks like they've committed suicide with the replacement they've brought in. It's fucking mad that they've not won a game in the league since 28th December, in that time losing to West Ham, Bournemouth, Palace, and failing to beat Burnley and Sunderland, but that in that time they also beat Dortmund 2-0, beat Frankfurt, and drew with Man City

Stuff like them being elated that we drew with Barcelona immediately makes me think of that Dokko post about them. 'Well, it's only Barcelona'

The thing about Hall for me is that I'm still constantly surprised by his dribbling. His success rate when taking players on is unreal, he's almost more like tricky right winger who'd cut inside and shoot.

If we're doing the predictions thing, then I'll go for him being player #349 under Howe that eventually comes good and everyone just quietly forgets about the bed shitting that went on during the season he'd had no pre-season and fucked his knee.

He was injured before he had the chance to play for us. In those circumstances I'm not sure what's expected.

He's still a mile off where we want him to be, but I'd also say he's a mile off where he was when he got here. He's definitely going in the right direction, the next steps for him are working on his decision making and the quality of his final ball I think.

Should be a lesson really.

Years ago it was exposed that refs were told to 'protect the brand'. It's not good for the brand, or viewing figures, or driving content if Barcelona lose or Yamal isn't playing. Everything always ends up coming back to fucking capitalism for me, but it's hard for it not to when it's so obviously the driving force behind the enshitification of everything in our lives.

Waking up and feeling disappointed that we didn't beat Barcelona by the 3 or 4 goals we should have and could 'only' draw 1-1. How far we've come to be in that situation, particularly when it's in the context of a season where it's felt like absolutely everything is against us and another match where the officials were a disgrace. Imagine looking through the bookcase from Interstellar in 2021 and seeing us now.

Think Rich said the same, it makes sense like.

Fucking hell, actually feel bad for the 'keeper, that'll haunt him forever. Awful to be subbed but he had to be.

We've seen enough nou camp 2nd legs to know what they're like. Atletico went there 4 nil up last week and nearly lost the tie. I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic. Doesn't mean I won't go into it backing Eddie and the boys, or that I won't still be proud of them regardless of what happens.

Right down to throw ins, no matter how obvious it was our ball.

With Murphy's final ball he'd be devastating.

He's been punished for another one of the errors we knew was in his game when we signed him, but he's still been fantastic this season in spite of that.

Just raw innit. At least the disappointment is the best type of disappointment you can have where the pride is still there. Disappointment at dominating, not taking our own chances, undoing ourselves.

I need to watch some Jose Enrique highlights again to check, because I think Hall's probably better tbh. He's definitely better on the ball and going forward, just not sure about defensively.

Spot on set up. Infuriating that there were so many times that we were offside, then onside but the final ball was wrong, then the final ball was good but the finish wasn't there. Our goal was basically the only time that it all clicked, which is a shame. We're still so clearly a work in progress, we've seen it click loads of times before and I'm confident it'll happen again with more training time.

At least quote the complete sentence man.

For posterity, even though I've missed loads this season. Ramsdale: 7 Trippier: 7.5 Thiaw: 5.5 Burn: 7 Hall: 9 MOTM Tonali: 6 Ramsey: 8 Joelinton: 8 Elanga: 7 Osula: 6.5 Barnes: 7

Revolting yet again. I don't think we've had a decent ref this year.

Weirdly would have been happier with 0-0. I have serious emotional damage from this throwing leads away thing so it would have been a nice change. The stakes are the same as they would have been at 0-0 though, it's a straight shoot out at their place to get to the quarters. Think they'll annihilate us to be totally honest, bit going into it with a chance is still a great achievement, even if tonight feels like a missed opportunity at the moment.

Should have won it by a few tbh. I fucking hate this season.