et tu brute

I thought Almiron had sneaked in at left back yesterday. Gets into great positions, but unfortunately due to playing out of position, he was cutting back onto his right all the time. Just the way it is with injuries, it's weird how he seems to get forward more and in better attacking positions, when he actually plays left back.

Mustn't think they would beat PSG anymore

Nissan must have a big project on tonight

Grealish is great with disabled people, no doubt due to his relationship with his sister who is severely disabled. However, as soon as drink is involved he is an absolute knackered. Nothing displayed this better, than when he took the piss out of Almiron (one of the most honest and friendly people you will ever see), whilst mortal drunk. He's also one of the most arrogant footballers I've ever seen.

It was a shame his overall attitude wasn't good enough. Should have been a name football was talking about for years to come. Unbelievable but unfortunately wasted talent

Big difference is that this trophy gives you champions league football, which is pretty crucial in terms of PSR movement and also for attracting players to the club. Your standing and history as a club won't attract the top footballers anymore. Ten Haag was right it did save your season, as it meant that you had two opportunities for champions league football at the start of the season; and if you hadn't won the cup, then your season would have been finished last Sunday. You still have a massive target to sin for despite your worst season in decades in terms of league form.

Aye I agree the back four are just not up to the job and I just can't see Liverpool not taking advantage of that. It would have been better if the cup final was this weekend as they may have taken a few key players out due to the second leg of the champions league being all to play for

A not match fit Wilson should have had two goals, so we can definitely cause problems and Isak has a good record against them. Midfield is paramount all three have to be at there best on the day. My big concern (as will be everyones) is the defence (especially centre half), we have to ensure that the midfield are given accurate balls from the back. We can't have either Bruno or Tonali keep dropping too deep to get the ball, as teams have cottoned on and are straight onto them. This is happening though, because Burn struggles to pass the ball more than 10 yards and Schar who was very good at playing out, looks like he struggles to kick a football full stop currently. Trippier gives the ball away too frequently also and we will miss Hall and Botman badly, with these being our accurate output to our midfield higher up the field. Liverpool have the tools in their defence to bypass our midfield with one pass (most teams do currently), whereas we consistently give up possession within a few passes. Just got to hope Schar, Trippier (especially) and Livermento can find their passing boots on the day. Burn needs to just feed those three and cut out trying to play the ball forward and thinking he's suddenly turned into Beckenbauer. If we ensure we have a consistent press (totally missing recently) to ensure that Liverpool haven't got time and space to play through us; and ensure that our midfield are fed the ball in more forward positions, then we have a chance. If we don't, then it will be the usual comfortable cup final defeat. We need a repeat of the first half home performance for as much of the 90 minutes as possible. Bruno has to be in the 8 position also.

I just can't see Isak leaving for at least one more season, unless a crazy bid comes in, which is virtually impossible to turn down. Think he will be given a new contract. Last player club will want to sell and Eales has already mentioned that this week. Will a purple player go, possibly but I think it would more likely be Bruno or maybe even Gordon or Tonali, than Isak.

Must admit I didn't know that, thanks for correcting me

We need to preform like we did in the first half of the home game (we totally controlled it) and cut out the stupid errors where we gifted them goals in the second half and the away game. Our midfield I still say is a match for the Liverpool midfield, but our three need to improve by a fair bit, their current form. Isak , like Arsenal's pairing, has the Liverpool pairing full of nerves when he plays against them. Even in the away game Wilson had to big chances where he fucked up both. Gordon missing is a big miss mind as the size of the Wembley pitch gives wingers as massive opportunity The big worry is the defence, as we have two centre half's out of form and a big liability with their passing. An aging right back, who although one of the best to play for us, is now so error prone and costing us goals quite regularly. Livermento has actually looked decent when he has played left back, and I would argue gets forward more when he plays there. The midfield three I believe are the key to whether we win or not. Those three playing their best and I really think we can. Obviously the centre half's have to. Improve also. The press has to be there also, as from the Bournemouth game, we have totally looked like a team of kittens waking to be tickled. If you allow decent teams time and space on the ball, they're going to put you in the back foot and in all probability, win the game. Our out ball and control of the ball has to be better than it has recently, a lot better

Howe will be looking for protection down that side and Barnes won't provide that

I've got a feeling he will not play Barnes and have the old Joelington and Willock partnership of the left hand side

So someone has appeared today with no history at all in the past regarding any other injuries or fuck all else for that matter. Until I hear officially from the club, am I fuck listening to someone who only just joined and has only 8 posts

Thanks fit that, your input is greatly appreciated

He was the only one in the whole game actually looking to create today. He was trying everything to get the team going. I also thought Tonali played better when Bruno came on

Her shares were taken over, but it's been well reported that the shambles of last summer was down to her running of the finances. Eales and Ashworth also objected to her interference

Not when it effects the operation of the club and the effect it has on following seasons All aspects of the club will have an impact

I agree, the performance earlier in the season was far better also. We lost that and were pegged back today by burn being totally out of position, when he should have been in the middle of the pitch doing his actual role. Not the first time, so either Burn is not following instructions or following instructions to the tee. I know which one I would put my money on.

I can't see Howe being kept on by the owners if we don't get European football this year. They already have shown with Staveley that they are fully prepared to move on personal if targets are not achieved.

Liquid piss come and tell me one thing which is incorrect, with what I said. It wasn't even challenging to see the deficiencies, in fact it was obvious, as it has been for most of the games recently. As I said the usual sheep will start to bleat

People can have their opinion, but as with Rafa, a few will not have anything said against Howe. It was quite obvious those tactics today do not work, as they weren't for quite a few of the games recently . You're at home playing Brighton in the 5th round of the cup and with what should be an excellent chance to move to the quarter finals, take the game to them from the off, put the pressure on them, instead of allowing them to walk literally at will into our end of the pitch. He started those tactics (wrongly), but yet again no sign whatsoever of in game management or an improvement after halftime. He actually does a change quite sharpish, but again it's like for like

5th round of the cup at home against Brighton and he sets us up to allow Brighton the ball, allow them plenty of space to bring the ball forward, with virtually no pressing and then to hit them on the counter. It hasn't worked in any of the games recently he's tried the same thing. Absolutely woeful tactics and again his in game tactics totally non existent. I'll await the sheep to start bleating now

It's happening all the time now, pressing just about non existent and then sitting back letting teams come at us, hoping we can then catch them on the counter.

Burn and Schar together are total shit. Totally sick of Burn constantly being out of position. You're a central defender, stay in the middle of the pitch. I argued this last time we played Brighton also when he done virtually the same