Checko

Dewsbury Hall sounds like a second rate period drama. Not interested. It would be interesting, if we don't spend and have a little PSR leeway, to see if we can profit from teams desperate to sell in June.

Had a look at his stats, pretty crazy that in 21/2 and 22/3 he scored 9 goals in 67 appearences for Burnley, us and Forest. Last couple of seasons at the ages of 31, 32, 33 he's had his best PL years with 28 goals in 52 PL appearences [28 in 58 appearences all comps]. 4 goals from 4.9 xG in the league for us from 1773 minutes played (in the league at least). So well within statistical variance. Interesting thing here is how little xG he was getting. We were either not making chances for him or he wasn't getting on the end of stuff, though some of his minutes, particularly near the end, were just to come on and see out games. Last couple of years: 27 league goals from 19.4 xG. This year it's 13 goals from 7.4 x. Not including penalties it's 11 goals from 5.9 xG. He's scored almost twice as many as you'd expect from the chances he's shot from. Crazy clinical. This must be a massive reason for Forest's success this year (along with a sold defence), Pardew-style profiting from an overperforming striker as we did with Ba and Cisse. Seems a good bloke as well so good on him. I guess if there's one place you'd expect Wood to thrive it'd be Forest.

Think he'd probably be absolutely fine if he got a bit of a run of games. CB's so rarely get subbed you just don't get any game time unless you're the starter. If we sell him and make some money then fine, but that just leaves us with a ton of old centre backs, Botman aside.

We're going to be the Steve Parish in this negotiation

I think Arsenal were punished enough by not sending him off so I doubt it.

Now we've gotta go a month without him how do people think our depth at wing looks?

Isak's now a world class striker in the beginning of his peak period. Realistically this summer or next he'll be making a big decision as to where he wants to play his career-defining years. Financials aside I'm sure he'll want to be challenging for league titles and trophies. Hopefully we continue to do well and he feels he can do it with us.

Schar or Botman is the only selection dilemma here. Burn will start, not because Eddie loves him unconditionally but because he's been excellent and doesn't deserve to lose his place.

I think Miley's a lot faster than he's being given credit for. Like Big Jow he's leggy with a long stride length so he doesn't look like he's going fast because his feet aren't a blur, but he can cover good ground.

Na, that's just normal levels of schadenfreude.

In hindsight expecting Huntington to cover RCB and LB was a mistake.

Yeah I remember us being like 2 or 3 nil down in the first half and playing with absolutely no urgecy. Seem to remember Given taking an age to take any goal kicks. Was infuriating.

Oooh, Brummie vs Leffe

Could do without Man U starting to get some feel good back, but can't grumble about Paelladyce having a bad day. Man U's penalties were class as well. Most of Arsenal's were as well to be fair.

I swear I didn't copy you

Raya needs to stop going a second early every time

Looks like he's auditioning for Saint-Maximan: The Early Years. Nice he's got his debut.

Lot of players have barely played in ages so there's a lot of rustiness. Desperately lack a bit of flair in the squad. Still think we should swap the wingers over for a bit and tell them to just get to the byline. Almiron's game on the right is based on quick one twos behind the defence and that really doesn't work against a low block. We get to the corner of the box and then just turn round and go back! Get down the touchline, get a couple more in the box and start drilling it across. Lovely hit by Miley. Dubravka's much better when the opposition don't shoot on target.

I'd try swapping the wingers over for a bit. Against a low block sometimes you just want to get the the byline and drill it across the box

Think Miggy kept that in

Fucking love Miley. When you watch him play he has that look of classiness that top players have.

With a name like his he absolutely should be wearing sunglasses like that IMO.

I seem to remember him needing oxygen on his debut cause he was sprinting so much. Did that happen or am I misremembering?

We'd better have a good crowd vs Bromley today!

Plus it's fucking cold and everyone's skint in January. EDIT: Though as @midds points out, if you're going to keep banging on about important to your sense of self-worth attendence figures are you gonna have to accept a bit of ribbing when they're bad.