TheBrownBottle

The keeper is an issue too. We need Pope back desperately

As frustrating as it can be at times, it’s another entertaining game of football this.

I like the way he told the midfield to disappear and Dubravka to stand as if he was in birthing stirrups

Poor at the back from us that mind

I do think BDB should try to commit to a tackle quickly in those situations. He’s not catching the lad once he’s wriggled away

Yes! Absolute class that

You do, no argument there from me. Burn’s still ok vs a winger when he tucks and plays deeper - he’s not too bad 1 v 1 in all scenarios - the real problems arise when he pushes too far out. Anyone with pace then causes him no end of bother

Agreed re on here. A player or manager would have to seek it out, and if you’re going to get upset by anonymous posters on a football forum then you’re looking to be upset. Boils my piss when I’ve heard it at the match. Don’t see how it helps. They can target him when the protection of Willock / Joelinton is missing. Miley offers no support (just a kid, etc)

Bruno looks correctly paid to me - around the Maddison / Paqueta / Mac Allister etc bracket. Joelinton isn’t in that bracket.

Just thinking that. I’m getting increasingly irritated at the volleys at BDB. The lad gives 100%, and he’s one of us. If he’s out of form, that’s for the manager to pull him out of the side. He’s hardly picking himself.

We don’t have the personnel to play a 4-2-3-1. We don’t have an attacking midfield playmaker - a ‘10’. Tonali isn’t a deep lying midfielder, and Miley is lightweight there, looking better further forward but might as well not exist in front of the back four.

Ritchie and Manquillo were playing full back, not wing back. Ayoze and Almiron playing LM and RM makes it a 5-4-1, not a 5-2-3. They weren’t playing as proper wide forwards.

Just went back to check just in case I was misremembering, the PL official website lists the games I’ve looked at towards the end of 2018/19 as being a 5-4-1 formation. Looked at the games vs Fulham, Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester. Game vs Everton in Feb was a 3-4-3 like you said. I honestly don’t remember Benitez not playing 5-4-1 towards the end, though - I wouldn’t describe it as a 5-2-3.

Benitez played a 5-4-1

Because playing wingbacks and wingers defeats the entire point of playing wingbacks? You usually play wingbacks to allow for a three man midfield

Except the Italian clubs are tied to the same UEFA rules as English clubs, so they couldn’t bend over backwards to do that. It doesn’t matter, as it’ll be about as true as the Inter links which went on for a year or so.

Don’t worry I think he’s a wanker too

I know the rule says no, I’m saying it’s another rule which needs reformed

You’re not a fan, then?

They’re scouse and therefore the victims of a conspiracy. Their club shouldn’t have been held to account for obviously breaching rules that Leeds, Leicester and Southampton didn’t

No, because abstentions don’t equal no votes. 14 votes gives the two-thirds majority of clubs - two clubs not voting doesn’t mean that those two clubs don’t exist Another PL rule that should be reformed

Hate to say it, but I think you’re right. When fit, he’s the second best proper no.9 I’ve seen in B&W tbh. But he’s just a nightmare for injuries.

Wilson would be philosophical tbf - the bloke spends half his life injured

Tbf I did say earlier that I wasn’t looking to knock his achievements at Bournemouth - his track record there was incredible. Not suggesting that Howe isn’t a top manager - but it is the case that most of the top managers in the game had actually embedded themselves in history at that age - a decent number (Michels, Sacchi, Clough, Mourinho, Benitez etc) pretty much had their best years behind them at that point.

Different meaning, though you could definitely rhyme them in a poem.