Viana

Yeah, Modric had his breakout season then joined Spurs despite Keegan’s best efforts. I have enjoyed Hope’s work previously, but this reads like a shameless hit piece. It could have been an interesting look into his time at the club, but instead it’s a string of poorly researched anecdotes and punchlines. Allardyce was never likely to thrive with us. His style was antithetical to our aspirations.

Diaby and Isak on the counter…

A well performing American is worth a lot financially.

Craig Hope with a scathing piece on his time at Newcastle. I can see him getting the Simon Bird treatment Saturday.

I was reading one on Barcelona and it’s not bad.

You know, I think after going away and considering it, you’re right. I’d say this; I think there’s talent at that end of the table, but I would preach caution. It’s easy to get ripped off for not considering the context of why a player excelled. I think too often we look at things in quite a reductive way and think “good player there means good player here.” Jamal Lewis for example looked a good attacking left back at Norwich but they couldn’t defend and built their attack around fullbacks. Sissoko was good for us because we counter attacked but once you put him in a ball dominant team his impact was heavily reduced.

His cohost has written several good books on culture in sport.

Ha, it’s not even a banter issue, it just feels a bit desperate to have feelings. Edit; to put more words to this, I watched Eddie Howe’s and I felt like I learned about his style of leadership. I think Howe is conscious of both his instinctual response to situations and also his external perception as a leader and how those two marry. Trippier’s perspective is more insular. He became more professional at Barnsley but couldn’t really indicate what that meant. I don’t think he’s able to offer a unique insight, which may just be down to him, but it’s not helped by the contrast in the two hosts. That’s my two cents.

Because he’s not their player? I think we can just agree to disagree here. This is becoming a bit tedious.

I never said that.

I’m only up to the Atletico Madrid bit and it’s been a bit meh tbh. It feels like they ask a lot of the same questions reworded to get sound bites. I get the sense Trippier was so present during those periods he wasn’t thinking about anything but playing football, which is fine, but won’t give you much in terms of perspective. Some of the patter feels a bit live, laugh, love.

Conor Gallagher was a loan player that’s different.

Worth remembering we have counted on Jack Colback and Jeff Hendrick as midfielders. This lad can have a bad game.

You’re right. I also believe the current system isn’t working. Go to the monitor has become shorthand for “you’ve made a mistake”. Thats why the same referee gave a soft penalty against us at Brentford after several minutes studying the screen. Meanwhile, Longstaff gets clattered and nothing is done but for some mealy-mouthed explanation after the fact. Those VAR calls are increasingly a second referee deciding what they think and applying unintended pressure to those on the field. Offsides I will always understand as there’s not a subjective interpretation, but outside of that you’re just asking for trouble.

Meh. In a tight game they got the bounce. The first goal was huge for them as they then sat off and made the most of the talent advantage. We couldn’t play through them, and had to manage the risk of a quick breakaway. They executed their plan perfectly, but I can also see why a side like City put them away quite easily. We were a fraction from having an early goal ourselves, and who knows what happens from there. We saw the limitations of some today, but in truth, when you’ve come as far as we have in 12 months you’d be mad to be anything but excited for the next game and the chance to put it right.

He is our Darren Fletcher. He doesn’t play the game with a cookie cutter role. He fills in gaps, he balances out what the other midfielders are doing, and he just offers us a diligence that’s hard to get out of our other players.

It’s a lot to put on one man, and one man can have bad games. His mentality and response to those games has me confident he’ll bounce back.

Just never felt Kavanagh was in control today. He looked terrified every time the camera was on him and it ended up with a lot of needless skirmishes. I personally don’t understand what the threshold is for VAR to involve itself, and I think the game is so unique and spontaneous you’ll never accurately define one.

No, total chancer that performs on camera. Find him irritating and unable to make a coherent point. Like many of his ilk on YouTube they profess to be a fans voice when in reality they’re just milking it for an easy job and an invite to Sky twice a year. Same with AFTV. Not all fan ventures are so vapid and irrelevant, but he most certainly is.

And just like that, Klopp’s antics with referees is justified. They’ve had the rub of the green these past two games and he’ll barely got more than a fine.

Carragher’s suggestion he could be the answer in midfield is one of the more amusing opinions I’ve seen this week.

Villa getting nothing from the referee against Wolves.

A symbol for where we were under Ashley. A ”that’ll do” signing.

He’s an intriguing player. When I compare him to our other wingers he lacks that same burst of speed. He’s clearly very technical, and at Bristol Rovers he seemed a decent finisher. If the chance to join Luton returns I’d be happy with that. There isn’t one way to develop a young player, but I don’t think sporadic cameos is going to move the needle for Anderson.

Kieran Dyer