Nine

That’s a huge loss for them.

I agree with you but it’s obviously not an exclusive trait to our club. Highly emotional, fickle people with short memories seem to make up the majority of the entire football fanbase. It kind of comes with the territory.

Think he’d be a great signing. PL experience at a high level, physically capable of maintaining his fitness to play our style consistently and his general profile suggests he’d fit in well. Has he even ever been injured? On the surface, at £40m it’s a solid signing.

Or it’s just Howe being Howe and staying lowkey on making any substantial comments about transfers as he’s done since he’s been here.

A highly physical side like them is a nightmare for a gassed out, wounded squad. Hoping we get an early goal.

When you see an older, been inactive on the pitch for 18 months+ Ritchie being played ahead of him it says enough really. The lad is way off being trusted in one way or another, if I had to guess I’d say it comes down to not carrying out positional and/or tactical instructions to the level expected.

Man, our 4 games in January are brutal. Winning here could be huge to build some momentum going into that run of games, going to be a big ask with our availability issues obviously.

As good as Livra has been I can’t help but feel Howe will go with Burn/Trippier at fullback whenever both are fit and available.

It’s sad that a player who contributes so much to the way we play gets totally overlooked by some fans because of he’s one footed or lacks end product at times. Hes been so key this season.

The fatigue was really setting in there in added time, moving the ball slowly and the tempo is way off our capable standard with a fitter squad. The options are so limited though, the freak injuries and bans really put alot of stress on our squad especially of course due to the standard of fitness needed to use this system to good effect. I have a feeling we’ll scrape this one in the end, and if we don’t I’m logging off here for the night

To many emotional outbursts for a 0–0 at half time, Milan hangover is in effect

Don’t forget 10 month bans for gambling

Christ, and when we lose because we used a weak starting 11 using those players you’d be saying why did we start them.

Rotate with who though?

It’s clear Hall isn’t trusted yet

It’s a matter of fitness, he isnt quite there in terms of staying consistent while starting 4/5 games over a 2 week period and not many of our players are currently. With Wilson back he can be utilised well again and rested enough to get the most out of him.

I won’t deny that, but if he had that end product quality he wouldn’t be here.

Good performance as usual, if you can’t see what value he brings to this system then you don’t know what you are looking at.

Phillips could be a decent answer as cover but the issues are: Phillips is naturally an out and out defensive 6, but he won’t start over Bruno there under any circumstance. Perhaps we view him as able to be deployed as one of the front 2.. then the question is how fit is he? Considering his lack of playing time at Man City is he up to speed fitness wise to play in our system? I know he played Bielsa ball well enough to earn a move to city but that was a few seasons ago now. Then you’ve got the issue over the fee and wages, we won’t sign anyone without an obligation I am convinced of that. Age and the recent emergence of Miley is against him also.. a good player but to much stands out against the idea for me for it to be a reasonable option.

You think Pope would be happy to sit on the bench after how big of a part he’s played for us? It’s not that simple. Plenty of reactionary posts tonight..

Poor for the 3rd, and the fans negative emotions will be focused on him now. Time will tell if he can really be up of a good enough standard as a stand in for this season, so far he hasn’t looked like solid enough in his decision making.

In our current predicament the first goal is vital, we can’t go chasing games at the moment. Having no options from the bench and fatigue setting in for most of the first 11 is tough, but historically this fixture favours us and if we get ahead early on or go into half time ahead we will likely go on to win.

The inquest begins

Some fans are pathetic. The squad is on the bones of its arse and we are having to put out the same 11 game after game, and still people cry after one bad performance even though we put together a solid run under the circumstances. We are playing passively away from home to conserve what energy we do have, Everton were up for this tonight and came out on top. Simple as, we move on.

Dirty, edgy physical side. They know how to make it difficult for sure, the first goal will decide whatever way this game goes.