Checko

Interestingly with the Lejeune comparisons, Lejeune's played at least 30 league games every year since leaving us, and is still starting in LaLiga aged 34! Made 21 appearences already this year. Only one injury of 32 days listed on transfermarkt since leaving us! - https://www.transfermarkt.com/florian-lejeune/verletzungen/spieler/127108 Good on him.

Yeah, I think he has some great raw materials to his game: big, great athlete, got dribbling skills and a cannon of a shot off either foot. I'm happy with him being 3rd choice, covering some minutes, even coming in on the wing. He's the sort of player you don't want to face when you're getting tired near the end of a game. BUT, like Elliot Anderson he's at that age where he needs to play first team football week in week out or he's never going to have a chance to properly develop the mental side of his game. He feels like one of those who could become brilliant or spend his career in the championship/league 1 and I really don't know which way it'll go.

They're having one of those years where they start out way better than expected, have a few results that go their way and confidence is brimming. They're basically playing with house money now. They've done really well.

And with those expectations, imagine how annoyed you'll be if he's shit!

If he's shit I'll be very annoyed

We played pretty well for the most part so that's actually encouraging. They scored with pretty much their only 2 chances, that can happen. First is a good ball in from a quality winger and we get well-beaten near post. Second feel Ramsdale was a bit slow to react, if he just takes a half step to his right when it initially happens it he probably saves it. Obviously still missing the one or two real quality playmakers we need going forward. They were pretty bad for the most part though and thought we deserved the win so a real bugger to drop points.

That's the line-up I'd predict as well.

Think LB's higher priority than RB personally, we've only got one at the club. Though assuming Trips leaves end of the year we probably need one on each flank unless there's a good youn'un coming through. Krafth I think is fine as emergency RB/CB if he's fit and here another year.

I have a theory that fullback is the most undervalued position in football. Even seen Gary Neville say a FB isn't as valuable as a CB on the overlap, when ex-players were discussing what their current values might be now. Top fullbacks ideally have the athleticism and defensive 1v1 ability to cope with an opponent's quickest and trickiest attacking threats as well as general defensive instincts. They need the engine to get up and down the touchline all game long and the technique and passing and ideally dribbling to move the ball out of defense and contribute in the attacking third. They need a very well-rounded skillset and can't really afford to struggle in any area (unless you're Trent). They're just very important in defence, progression and attack (see how important Trips was to us as his peak). Anyway, Lewis Hall's a bloody good one, and still relatively inexperienced as well.

Might as well just keep him out and have his wages covered while he's away at AFCON then.

It's the movement and anticipation I'm crediting him for really.

His job was to press hard and try and stretch pay with his movement, and he did both of those. When we did break we looked dangerous with our movement. When it was played into feet he was neat and tidy (one of Woltermessi's first actions was to trap an easy ball 10 yards and concede a counter attack). In his role a lot depends on service and there wasn't that much for him. His anticipation and movement in the box that got him on the end of Tonali's cross and his deflected shot from that led to the goal. Whe he got a chance down the right channel after some good movement he put a good shot in from a difficult angle, forced a save. If Tonali had rolled him the ball to shoot instead of taking a rather tame left footed effort I reckon there's a good chance he buries it near post, he was set up for it, then the narrative around his game completely changes because in football that's what happens. Had Gordon done what Tonali did everyone would have slated him for being selfish but no-one will mention it about Sandro. It's not like he tore it up, as I said, he was fine, no more, no less, but there were quite a few worse than Gordon today and he wasn't playing in his proper position.

Like the game against City, one of those games that could have gone either way, this time it went against us. We had chances, particularly on the break but the final ball or finish wasn't quite there. But they had some chances as well. De Zerbi's still a full-on pass-around-the-back nonce. They were very good coping with our high press and looked a good side on the ball. Wish we could do a bit of that, whilst sounding like a broken record, our inability to move the ball out of defence under any kind of pressure is a real hindrence. In the end a keeper howler separated it, though Pope did make a couple of good stops otherwise. Just not a particularly good performance overall, don't think it was awful, but not particularly good. A few of our big players were a bit off and and we lacked a real quality playmaker type to change things.

With the space they've left at times this game would have been perfect for murphy RW. HE can't pass to his own team in his own half. Is Hall on the bench? Could he come on and move Tino RB?

these are the sort of situations where we lack composure and rush and make sloppy mistakes.

Double bum.

Bum.

As usual we remain possibly the worst team in a top european league at passing out from the back, which is quite annoying. We look like we can make opportunities when we do spring it but the final ball has been off. Can see either team scoring another. Just for some balance I think Gordon's been one of our better players this half. Made lots of good runs, pressed hard, one good hit from a difficult angle from the right, his anticipation and movement got him the shot which deflected for the goal, linked play when we've had it to feet. Had Tonali rolled it to him instead of taking a weat left footed shot he probably would have scored.

He's been absoulutely fine this half you bunch of conformation bias nonces.

Karma for the keeper deserved that for the dive.

Sensible to rest Big Joe before he incites the Marseilles ultras into burning down the stadium.

Interesting to see if we're in a back 4 or 5. Greenwood seems to play on the right mainly so makes sense to have 3CBs and Tino at LWB to shut him down, but obviously 433's more familiar for us. Seems a high pressing/counter attacking lineup with gordon and willock in.

Think he was CF when he scored against Arsenal but might be wrong. It's not like he's played there much for us but got good reviews there for England at U21s. Would obviously rather have a specialist striker as back to goal stuff's not really his thing, but he's fast, got good movement, should press hard. Think he could do a job there with some service and won't hurt to give Bick Nick a little rest.

Think the Gordon can't play CF is a bit overhyped tbh. Yes it's not ideal, but I think he can do a job there. If it's the plan I imagine we want an aggressive press tonight as well.

I do like bricks. If Wolves stay up no way they're going to be able to score against us with that shirt.