TheBrownBottle

I still think top five is a big ask - and frankly if we win a cup, I don’t give a shite if we finish top four / five or not.

NB one of the replays shown over here made it look like he was comfortably offside for that tap-in. Doesn’t make it any less bad a failure to hit the net, but it didn’t cost us.

I think it’s perfectly reasonable to criticise his technical ability, while still believing that the lad is as honest a player as the day is long. He’s a hard player to dislike due to his graft, but no side looking to kick on being competitive has Almiron on their RW.

I’ve known plenty of lads who’ve worked in KSA (including on major residential for MBS), and doing things half-arsed at great expense is very much the way that govt operates.

It is in principle. Tonali is a Milan fan, whether he came through their set up or not. Maybe Jacob Murphy would be a closer simile.

We don’t know if he’s a gambling addict or not. Defences of him and finger pointing at him on that basis are futile - though I do agree that not everyone who gets into trouble or does something stupid because of gambling is an addict. In the same way that not everyone who does something stupid when drunk is an alcoholic. Besides, being a gambling addict doesn’t mean that you have to bet on football matches, particularly ones you’re playing in. There’s loads of ways to feed that addiction. Tonali acted like a selfish, spoiled little shite to do what he’s done - and both he and his agent were certainly aware of what he’d been up to, whether Milan were or not. And yes, there is the ‘well would you have told Newcastle’. I might not have - but I wouldn’t have signed with it over my head. Integrity and ethics do actually exist for some of us. And if I’m being completely frank, the only reason he has been indulged by the club instead of run out on his arse is because they’d just committed serious wedge to him and his transfer. If this was Matt Ritchie or Paul Dummett or some youth team player, they wouldn’t even feel the door slam behind them, they’d be booted so quickly. The club had no choice but to support him - I’m not convinced this support is due to how lovely and cuddly they all are. Edit: gambling addiction is a very real and very horrible thing. Don’t take from the above that I don’t think it exists. It does.

‘What do you mean I’m getting another ban? I wasn’t playing, surely I’m alright?’

I always felt Dubravka was a good enough back up - but that was to cover suspensions / minor injuries. If he’s in nets for the rest of the season, we’re going to struggle to be successful.

It’s kind of unnerving when there’s a close up and I’m reminded that he is a kid Plays like someone with experience at CL level - can’t think of higher praise for a young player

Howe is a smart bloke, and I can only guess at how much the European campaign will have taught him. We weren’t embarrassed in the toughest group possible, when we’re still in the middle of a squad recycle. I doubt many of the current players will be there in two years time, which is when we’ll really be able to start kicking on to the next level I reckon - but Howe (hopefully) will.

Looks like I watched a different game Bruno has been back to his best after the new contract until the last couple of games. Thought he was hit & miss tonight, tired legs perhaps.

He’s a weird little man. If we had a billion pound squad he’d have a point.

Making a virtue of a reality has a lot to do with it, I think.

Offside anyway. But as much as I love Almiron’s energy and commitment, that fear of using his swinger is infuriating

Yes, but Milan were desperate, hence the four forwards. They’d have presented chances in the following ten minutes. Going gung-ho was stupid. Their desperation was greater than ours.

I do get it, it’s not complicated, but it’s not something which required an act of desperation at that point. It was naive. And given we have won literally nothing for six decades, I don’t think we can talk about ‘second best’. The UEFA Cup isn’t a booby prize.

Not looking to scapegoat, to me it’s an example of the naivety which has been consistent throughout the European campaign. We didn’t need to push. Milan did.

There was almost ten mins of play left. We’re in the UEFA Cup, at a minimum, at that point. If we were in Europe every year, then perhaps we can sneer at the thought of the ‘step down’ into the UEFA Cup. But we qualified for Europe once in 15 years before this season.

We weren’t close to be as dominant as PSG were. Bruno’s saved shot onto the woodwork aside, I don’t remember any other real chances. (Almiron was offside).

Because we were qualifying for the next round of European competition if he doesn’t?

Yeah, I think that’s about it

Milan aren’t a poor side, even if they don’t have a Maldini or a Van Basten

Hmm, I didn’t think Lascelles and Bruno had particularly good games tbh.

I think he is. Lad is clearly miles away from match fitness, though.

Botman is class, and his absence just makes him even better. I reckon a pacy no. 5 might be next to him next season - can’t wait