GEFAFWISP

The reason our players are looking below expectations is because of City, they're pressuring extremely well, causing all of the errors, especially for Almiron/Gordon who have less technical ability that Tonali or Bruno.

Interesting half, expected possession play, we need to do more with our half chances and great finish aside they've not really created much either in spite of their positional dominance. We can still get a result, Barnes and Wilson could be key subs.

Aye, I just hope they relegate it to a 4th kit or use other colours from next year, already sick of green after last two.

I'm all for the absolute embarrassment of an Adidas away strip, rather some tripe to look back on in 20 years with silly zig-zags than permanently playing in Saudi Green away from home.

Too busy ball hogging to sign his contract.

Fuck the monarchy and fuck MBS. Is that clearer?

Areet Neville.

Surprised they didn't go even harder on the emotive scenes pre cup final, all the letters from parents, youth coaches, and old teachers, although I suppose there would need to be commentary on how that likely had a negative emotional impact on the day, and that would go against the agitprop we're being fed. Yum.

I'm going to hazard a guess and say the support network was never there for him and some of that that falls on the club, especially when we move a lad up here at 17.

Taking it for what it is, a puff piece with generic sport documentary editing and overdone emphatic music. There's some emotive stuff in there though, mainly Burn, Longstaff and our flag displays. One thing I forgot was how much of a nothing foul was given for the FK leading to Man U's first goal in the cup final. Shite refereeing.

10 on 10. We have a club that tries again, whether I'm fully on board with the skills of a particular signing or not doesn't matter, we have a great team, manager and some cracking effort is going in to making us the best we can be, riding this wave after the stormy seas of the last 15 years and seeing where we end up is magical.

Quite, now they're drowning in buckets of it, lovely stuff.

Crazy that 30 million gets you someone with 12 first team appearances. Not overly convinced by him but he's 18, plenty of room to develop and Howe will make him the best version of himself so no qualms about this, especially if he's a Jacob Murphy-esque displaced childhood fan.

Nice goal, nowt like upsetting the Aussies.

I mean yeah most likely, Howe evidently learned a few tricks from Dr. Fuentes in Madrid.

Willock.

You don't know ball.

By the same token I'd expect Howe to adjust and figure out a means of playing in a way that doesn't require outrageous fitness for an international cup competition and be great in that, or any role, man is class.

Usual lot give midfielders grief when they're dispossessed from behind once or twice, Bruno has had that creep into his game recently by dallying in posession so now there's a giant magnifying glass on it everytime it happens, meaning they'll focus on that instead of the 85+minutes of decent to good play. It's remedial shit.

Yep, though I'm loathe to agree with Kaka (half joke) he nailed it suggesting comparisons with Ambrosini in addition to Gattuso/Pirlo, complete midfielder.

Absolutely loved the 15 or so minutes in the second half where he went full Pirlo and strutted about controlling the tempo of the game. He's magic.

But is he top 6 quality?

Give it a few months.

I see a new boo boy has been found now ASM left...

Didn't think he had it in him to cross like that with his left, superb assist. Great performance, him and Barnes are hopefully going to push each other all season.