Sibierski

Another side that’s relentlessly exposing our left.

We’re so blunt against a crap Chelsea side Games like this where our midfield shows up for lack of ball players. All on Bruno but he can’t pass and play between himself.

They've got some tough games too. Had we been on 44 points going into Chelsea game, I'd maybe back ourselves because of not having to play any of top 3 and Spurs needing to come to us. Left it with too much too do, the Luton/Forest double a killer really.

Bit annoying, that it's really going to be top 5 that's UCL moving forward so consequence isn't that bad. Would need Villa/West Ham/Brighton all to go out mid week, then Arsenal/Man City/Liverpool not going far to stop that.

He was signed a while ago. First season on loan, then arrived in summer just gone. Took the punt after one pro season.

This game badly needs a goal to change the patterns. Just dire.

Onana is the sort of player that you’d expect a good scouting network to pick up from Europe with ease for the fraction of the cost. Nothing about his game is unique or worth the big outlay.

Hope we stay away. Great player, but not reliable fitness wise and for the outlay, we need top end players that are there every game in same way Saka/Salah etc have been over the years.

Colwill for Dan Burn long term replacement. Kelleher for GK. Olise for RW. £130m spent.

With Chilwell/Shaw/Trippier all out for international break, Tino must have a fair chance of getting in as an option to look at for LB?

Just doing some snips and placement of same distance for perception, this is the size of the Spurs stadium on two options just as a reference point. Proper amateur stuff But just shows for a top modern stadium, there is room. Just would be expensive and the logistics both have (temporary location / existing arena). Still feel the 2nd option is best if it was viable for all involved. Can mean 1/2 of the ground is built (maybe more) before SJP is demolished to build other half, reducing the time period spent away.

Famous last words, and it's the hope that kills you etc. But I fancy us to go into this game with pressing/energy levels in a shape we've not seen since first home games of the season, and not seen all season away except that OT League Cup display. 3-1 to us, but that being 3-0 up after 60 mins. Their name carriers weight, but there's nothing I fear that much in their side. If we're in their faces, I can't see them having the maturity or experience to combat it, and going behind with their form will see them collapse with Wolves still in their minds.

It’s a shame we don’t have a relatively good size neutral stadium nearby, because adopting Spurs approach and building on same site slightly further north would be best scenario, but also the most expensive. Would likely mean 12 months maybe more playing elsewhere, and there’s only Sunderland nearby…

Low cost (ish) with big potential, could be Karim Konate. That’s the sort of player I’d expect us to target for those positions where we have a clear number 1 ahead like Isak.

It’s not necessarily the minutes he’s missing out on, it’s the in game situations that you can’t get from training. Literally not even getting that from PL2. Do think for us long term if we keep him, he’s possibly better suited for the CDM role. At the moment, Bruno has it on lockdown like Rodri has at Man City, but think with a tactical tweak next season there would be more opportunity in that position.

I’m not concerned about losing Trippier. Rather have all players fit for options, but at least this is a forced hand to look at things different and possibly train different. Our corners recent games have shown they don’t drop off, and we can speed things up and not need Trippier to jog across the pitch to over hit/under hit a cross no worse than Gordon. Plus on the counter, I’d like to think him holding back and using his experience to anticipate danger would serve us well too, rather than have him on wrong side and end of pitch.

Possibly, but with a new manager and maybe wanting to bring in some fees without needing to lose Salah, it’s an opportunity that presents itself that may not be there again. Wages would far lower than targeting someone like Ramsdale too, who’s already on those higher wages.

Based on recent games, one player I wouldn’t be against us testing the waters with an offer, Kelleher. Looks a very good goalkeeper, who’s strong with his feet. This summer may be the limited window where he’s available for the right fee, and could be the long term keeper we need.

Surely CB is critical position? Got to be looking long term, and outside Schar and Botman, we drop to Lascelles and Burn who’s slow as anything. Schar is amazing, but we really need a CB with actual pace in that defence as another option. Only need to see some of the top sides who have that pacey CB and how they can be more aggressive in their play as a result.

Now focus turns to Chelsea, where revenge and hopefully getting Poch the sack after we win.

I'm going to cling onto hope the tweet above is correct (or something similar). Hall understands the situation, happy, developing on the ground and Howe sees where he's position will be long term. And this is just a short term 'pain' for long term gain. Otherwise, why have him involved at all in around first team squad?

Tino getting a run in side at RB over Trippier if Trips misses 2+ games could be the forced hand we need for him to take over long term.

They're bit crap though, so them taking points of others is good, as we should be coming ahead of them.

Long over due some lucky breaks. Gordon

Murphy starting again over Almiron is a surprise. Thought Almiron coming off bench other night showed the difference in quality. Murphy good lad, but he’s proper championship level. With Trippier who doesn’t over lap, it’s a limited right side IMO.