Sibierski

Deep freeze, starting Saturday. Off at HT. Surgery on the Monday.

Would hate to see us go with a low block/5 at the back. We just can't defend consistently well, and inviting wave after wave of attack is just asking for a limp exit. Just like when we played Arsenal, I want us to go for it first 45 rather than sit off. We sat off instead, and just was a clueless mess. Our best form of defence right now is to attack. Same team as last night, but Anderson & Murphy in for Longstaff & Gordon (with Almiron on LW).

Think what works in our favour, are his injuries over his time with us. Someone paying £80m+ will want more assurances he won't be injured regularly.

Key with Klopp, they played in bursts. Like they would have a relentless press for 15-20 mins in a game, then change it and either sit off the ball or control possession. We can’t drop off (just concede) and can’t control possession well. Two areas need improving that can go alongside a press.

Great guy and I’ll be forever grateful for his impact at us, but he’s a bit washed up now in the top game. Approach just doesn’t cut it any more in the top leagues IMO. Think he would do well in the Championship though at the right club.

Back end of last season he was looking good, gave me Ross Barkley early career vibes in his style. Felt the start of this season he would really break out then got injured Hope it hasn’t ruined him, because he was on the right trajectory. A player that can be a strong squad player for rest of this decade for us IMO. Playing in that advanced CM role or LW.

Positive of Barnes/Gordon being injured, he’ll get a good run now. Negative, he’ll need to play loads and break his back again

“Knee problem that came on gradually”. Well, yea. He was limping around for like 10-15 minutes before he finally succumbed. Was pretty obvious something wasn’t right and it should’ve been taken out of his hands before it got too much.

He’s already been replaced by Tonali. Just needs moving on in general so we can generate funds for that elite RW. Don’t even need to replace his squad place as Bruno / Tonali / Miley / Anderson / Willock / Joelinton is more than enough in the middle. It’s only a CM needed if Joelinton is decided to be moved on. Edit: Even Hall is a natural CM, but guess he’s probably being viewed by Hall as a LB.

How about a reijig with the coaching set up that’s around Howe? Obviously Howe has final say on that so it’s down to him, but some different voices and input on the training pitch may be needed. See it often with the top managers, they refresh things around them so they’re challenged, see things differently. Maybe Howe is stuck into a mindset because no-one is offering alternatives.

One of the main arguments for positives come Feb onwards was games just once a week, more time on training ground etc. Yet by large, we look worse for it as things haven’t improved. Same issues defensively, same issues in midfield. Simplistic, but Man Utd away (just because it’s OT) is only league game that we should be 2nd faves in. Spurs at home probably other due to league positions, but outside top 3, we should be faves for all home games. Good 20+ points easily left there. Think anything less than 60 points this season is a disaster.

Still has credit, but think it does cause issues moving forward. Howe will clearly want more power over the DoF, but then do we want to do that? Feels like a big decision needs to be made. Basically go all in on Howe and what he wants, or go opposite way, likely piss off Howe and it the beginning of the end. Can’t see there being a middle ground.

Dont beat Man City at weekend, I can see us totally writing the season off. Going to be brutal few months. If we got players who need surgery, just get it done and accept its a shit season and after November, been one massive L.

Conceding three to this shit Chelsea side is poor. Just as it looked like we maybe have turned a corner, we go back several steps.

Old cliche, but next goal is huge. We get it, their fans will turn and we can kill it. Needs us to wake up as we’ve not really turned up yet.

Twisted knee, got to be a couple of weeks. More gutted for him if that’s the case as he was a near certainty for an England call up.

That’s a terrible effort by Willock again. Done the hard part

I’d be half tempted to change things up and have Bruno play further forward. That’s where danger is and to exploit Chelsea. Leave Longstaff deep.

FUCK ME. That defending

What a classy player.

More he was clearly injured for a while, could see he was limping around. Yet we left him on till he could run no more. Never proactive on the injury front.

That Murphy first one was delicious. Biggest player on pitch, no where near. Pointless Burn.

Isak now to play full 90 and get injured at some point probably tonight or in Man City game.

Yep, broken Gordon at last. Getting so pissed off with our player management this season. Fucking joke.

Gordon looks like he’s limping? We’ve finally broken him?