Abacus

I think Tino will be off at minimum. But I'm actually not that fussed if he goes - availability being a key factor for however superb he is when he's on the pitch. It does mean, though, a couple of new fullbacks, and that's before we get onto anything else. Goalkeeper, striker and then for a reduced fixture list that's a team that can challenge at the top end. Until we get into Europe again and then that's a whole new box of frogs.

I don't think Gordon up front particularly works except as an under 21 international or vs Qarabag. Wissa or Walt up front please. Osula is more of an impact sub / player to take players off for a rest, in my mind.

A win here means we'd only leapfrog one team, but crucially means we keep up with the pack. I think we'll turn up and put in a performance today, for what it's worth. Whether that's a win or not is a different matter because I'm fearful of their attacking threat and sometimes this season I have no idea which version of our team turns up.

Either way, he can still get the Wolves result down his stupid neck.

Really can't see Spurs going down. They're in a real mess, but even just a couple of wins and they're clear of it. Where those come from is a different matter, but there are definitely three worse teams, who need the same wins and then some. The "three worse teams" thing is a way of looking at it that I used to hate when we were circling the drain btw, but it still holds true.

The Everton game was a tough one to take, every equaliser leading to what seemed an immediate response, taking the wind out of our sails straight away. It was a big one for me in terms of seeing how our league season might pan out, so now I'm expecting a bit of a trudge. We really miss Bruno when he's not on the pitch for his drive and commitment, but more generally we're seeing the same issues against organised and obdurate teams. Anyway, I didn't think we had the squad to play in four competitions and wondered if we might have abandoned the domestic cups to have a decent run in this bloated CL format as well as the league. That doesn't seem Howe's style though, to just abandon a game or a competition. It's admirable, but leaves us at risk of coming up short in all of them. Albeit a semi final and knock out CL stages makes me saying "coming up short" might come across as a bit daft.

I thought we were just quite bad today and not through lack of effort. At 2-2 I thought we'd go on and win it for about 60 seconds until they went ahead again, but even before that too many sidewards or backwards passes because there was no-one to pass it up to who could make a difference.

Bang on.

I think similarly. If you believe the blurb when he was signed it was that there was a plan to make him the no 9 here over time, but I think that plan was a bit scuppered by Wissa getting injured so it has been a bit of a mend and make do season for him and us instead. Having him drop into midfield now is more by necessity than anything else. The fact he seems happy and willing to play that role because we need it for the team is a credit to his character.

Heart says Barcelona, head says Chelsea. But really we've got a puncher's chance against either. Then just see where the draw goes after that and enjoy the ride. I'm not expecting to win it or anything, just want a few more Euro nights.

You've never heard of the director of brand and marketing?

I'm quite looking forward to it, let's see some of our second string on and give them some competitive minutes. Nice comfortable 2-0 please.

Better yet, in a revolutionary new idea, why not just add on the full time for anyone writhing around on the pitch with an apparent injury when their team is 1 up with 90 minutes to go and let the actual medical staff decide when they come back on? Nah, too simple. If VAR had one use extra use though, I think it should be as simple as a yellow card for anyone who is plainly kicked in the jacksie and then goes to ground clutching their face.

I'm still hopeful for him, with some time to train properly and having been out of the firing line for a bit. I thought he made some decent runs and got into some good positions for a couple of games after injury, but clearly wasn't still fully fit or match sharp and then dropped away after that in what was then a team struggling overall. Let's see him against Qarabag and then see what he contributes for the rest of the season before writing him off, maybe.

A really creditable performance away against a title chasing team, especially the second half when you'd expect the legs to be going after the fixtures we've had and all the travel. I don't think many held out much hope for this fixture beforehand, but we were an excellent save away at the end from grabbing a point. The players are definitely playing for Howe. Hopefully a slightly less manic week this week with the Qarabag first leg having been so one sided. Stating the obvious, but Everton at home will be a huge one for the league run in and trying to build a bit of momentum.

It would be helpful if you could say what you'd expect from a different manager whilst working under the same restrictions that Howe is. Rather than just planting a foot firmly into your own mouth with this sort of statement.

I didn't see anyone that needed digging out for putting in a bad performance last night. But watching matches, there are always a few fans that massively focus on a particular player that they decide they don't rate and then go on to bore everyone else about it. So every time they touch the ball afterwards it's "See! They're rubbish! They should have done X, Y or Z!". It's just dull, and here I speak as someone who has fallen into that trap myself in the past about Shelvey, even when he did OK.

It's hard to know what to make of that, except to be delighted with the win and we came out ready to blow them away from the off. But reading the sports reports (Martin Hardy for instance) a lot of it focused on the penalty spat, which is a nothing in my book given they hugged at the end.

BBC gossip literally just repeats the German source, as they do with every rumour without source checking, I think.

This is the main thing to me about having a limited squad - there are arguably advantages in knowing what you have and then trying to make the best of them. There's been a debate about Woltemade's real position within our formation (9 or 10 or something else unique), and without Wissa's injury, you'd think it's likely his build up to a no 9 would have been more gradual than forced on us by circumstances. I still think he can be an effective 9 with time on the training pitch and also the team adapting the way we play around him and so looking forward to that next season. But for now we use what we have the best way we can.

It's more the away game and potential banana skin element, given some of their other results, that has me not wanting to be overconfident for tonight. If we can get it done tonight I'll be delighted, but all that matters to me is getting to the next round by the end of the home leg.

What a shame, he was almost always solid when fit. I was really unconvinced when he signed, but he proved me wrong for a few seasons. Had he been fit, I'd have wanted him as an option for tonight for instance.

Did I read right that it's an artificial pitch? Hate having to play on those. A draw with no injuries wouldn't be the worst result.

Again, erratic decision making.

Anyone fancy another reverse sheep quiz? I'm thinking of chancing my arm in a few days running one and causing yet more distress to the forum with some erratic decision making.