Checko

Always hard to tell tbh because most of the pundits don't know the rules!

Where's that from? Is it an AI answer because it's not actually in the rules as far as I can tell. Chapter's 11 and 12 here if I'm missing it and anyone can point it out to me: https://downloads.theifab.com/downloads/laws-of-the-game-2025-26-double-pages?l=en

Didn't see the first half. Second half we were able to get pressure and stop them just boring the game out for the whole half. Unfortunately none of the set pieces came to anything. Just needed one to work. Realistically they looked very comfortable defensively and had pretty much all the chances but the performance was decent from what I saw. Shame we didn't have a Cherki or Foden to bring on. We really need another playmaker as we had a couple of opportunities to make a chance but the pass wasn't made. Good news is at least Arteta will be bricking it!

Still want us to go for Osimhen so we can have an announcement video of Tim Healy just going: 'Howay Osh man'

I'm the opposite - I generally dislike the garish blue on our badge but I think it suits a madder design better. Anyway, our shirts are normally boring as fuck and the design will annoy a lot of the people who are desperate to be as upset as possible at any opportunity, & who could just wear any shirt from the last 100 odd years instead if they like, so that's a good thing in my book.

Yeah, social media is basically an arsehole production factory. Everyone just desperately chasing the meagre dopamine hits of likes and shares, however they come. Like this post if you agree.

To be fair he wasn't going to get a chance until we were a few up, though it was notable Bruno took the pel in the league vs Brentford when Nick was on the pitch.

Yeah I like strikers who want the responsibility too, but it also seems silly for Trips and Wolt to get worked up in a game when we're dominating. If you can't enjoy it 4-0/5-0 when can you? Gordon's the #1 pelanty taker and he's nailed every one he's taken this year. You can ask but can't expect him to come off pels to let people pad their stats.

People are way overreacting to that goal IMO. When you're that close and leather it there's very little a keeper can do other than try and make himself big to get the best % chance of it hitting him and staying out. Even if you do a good job with that sometimes it's just not going to go your way. He's saved plenty this year doing similar, yesterday the odds didn't fall in his favour.

Also... Gordon was playing as the main striker wasn't he?

Shame for him, he would have got a decent number of games this year. Since Howe came in he played really well as part of the team that saved us from relegation. Since then he's basically just had the happy quality of being able to fill in when needed at CB or RB and with no match sharpness be able to give a solid 6 or 7/10 performance almost every time. You would imagine that would be it for him with us, unless we renew him just to rinse the Swedish FA's compensation scheme.

Also we've tended to either go straight out in cup compos (Cambridge, Sheffield Wednesday) or go quite far. As such we've probably spent a higher proportion of our cup runs at points where you expect to get drawn against PL opponents.

Into these keeper cucking cunts.

I think as well these clauses mean Man City have to be informed a bid's been accepted for him, to give them a chance to match. Means other clubs can't get him signed up quick before they realise. Edit: I'm not 100% on that as I'm sure agent would let them know anyway, but I think it's the case.

Maybe a Kebab with curry sauce?

Fair point!

The old racism stuff might have got him in trouble on social media mind.

Feels like he definitely prefers the deeper role. I can still see him still suiting the main striker position provided we play more of a 4231 where he has a No. 10 who'll make forward runs and look to stretch play when Big Nick comes deep. Genuinely think Barnes might suit that role really well tbh: his off the ball runs are terrific and giving him a bit more freedom to find the best position could be devastating. Plus he's got a great shot from range so getting him more central might give him more shooting opportunities. Can see Gordon cutting from the left, playing that slide rule pass he has into Big Nick's feet, Big Nick laying it off to an advancing CM who looks to play Barnes through as a potent combo. Bit like the third goal vs Benfica.

Ramsay's been good recently and I think Willock's been playing well this season. I think Ramsay would be the guy who can take the ball under pressure shield it and move it on like Bruno does, though without the triangle pass. Could move to three at the back to only 2 cms needed, or 4231 with, say, Big Nick or Willock in the No 10, depending on whether we're going to be more posession-based or counter attacking, with Ramsay, Tonali, Big Joe and Miley covering the two deeper roles when the last two are back. Could even see Barnes or Gordon in a 10 role. Would be very interested in seeing if Barnes could play as more of a second striker, popping up all over the place and making his runs from deep. Or just stick with 4-3-3 as per.

This is Dan Burn's doing. He's taking out the midfield now so we have to go three at the back and he doesn't lose his place. Every fucking time.

I like Forest but it would be hilarious if Nuno relegates them

Adding a 'and in the opinion of the referee gained a material advantage from being in an offside position' clause to every offside decision would be a nightmare though. If part of you is in an offside position when the ball's played you're offside. That's how it's always been. As with ball crossing the line, you're either in an offside position or you're not. 1/10mm is the same as 10m. That'll be the same wherever the line is because that's the nature of offside. As such there has and will always, always, always be incredibly tight offside decisions and people have and will always, always, always complain about them. VAR means more correct decisions, but it comes at a cost of delays, frustrations of not being able to enjoy the moment etc. I think most annoyance with the offside law is actually about the delays and loss of imersion and perhaps higher expectations of perfection with technology so every flaw seems magnified - even though there are fewer errors people get more annoyed when they think one's been made. Really I think it's a case of deciding if the increased accuracy of decisions is worth the hassle. For you it's clearly not and I'm kind of with you to be honest. It does feel a bit of a blessed relief when you play cup games and there's no VAR present. That said, was it Harvey Barne's late chance against PSG that was wrongly flagged for offside? If he'd buried it and there'd been no VAR to correct it I'd have been fuming! Again, as fans we're always going to complain one way or the other.

Of those I'd say bottom left would give the best performance

Does leave us with only one LW though, suppose Willock or Ramsay could cover there

Not entirely sure I completely agree - I think there's a certain optimal length below which performance suffer as well. We need the 23/24 lion's mane back basically.