Sibierski

That said, just not Diasi because he is horrific. Rather roll out Ashby invisible cloak instead.

If it means having a defender (s) on bench, then it certainly is a valid answer. We have an insane amount of games coming up, with injuries across the back line and others likely to break down form needing to play every min going. If there’s short term deals to be made to ease burden and keep long term options open, then I’m all for it.

He doesn’t have to move house and they’re in Europe at least this season. Probably best move he could get really when moving away from a Sky 6 club.

Gives us hope we can get similar for Elanga in 2026 (or 2027).

Think there will be three changes. Same back 5. Willock - Tonali - Joelinton Murphy - Wissa - Gordon Be surprised if Pope is back in, think FA Cup game will be his gateway to coming back in, unless Ramsdale makes an almighty error before then.

Villa are also renovating their stadium before us

Is there?

I must be watching a completely different player because ball possession is one of his top skills. Can fizz it into him and he will majority of time take it under control, and either play it back or move in side to draw a foul. He’s as close to a Grealish type in that style you can get, and Grealish is the elite ball possession player. What lets Gordon down is his inability to score when coming inside and taking on players when it’s a standing position facing someone up. You reduce space for him to run into, he can be shut out of a game easily, but ball possession is something I’d never say he’s weak at.

Yea, they’re seeing a work rate with pace, which in the Bundesliga will yield goal scoring chances because of how shite and wide open teams are at the back.

At the time it would’ve been 2nd choice striker. With scope to sell in 24 months for profit. I guess club viewed the hamstring issues he’s had in the past, with need to press from the front, as too much risk. So instead spent £55m on someone with a clean injury record.

They’re running out of steam because of how little Glasner can rotate. They should be mentally cooked when they come to play us. You’d hope their owners invest in the January because they have a very legit chance of winning Conference League. Don’t win that and get Europe again, losing Guehi in summer and potentially someone like Wharton too, might be too much this time (on top of Glasner leaving).

I suppose the caveat is when Abu Dhabi took over Man City, rules were a bit more relaxed in early seasons so they spent loads to get to number one, then when they started to tighten up, had to start building infrastructure soon and quicker to ensure they remained at the top. Whilst the rules are known for us, infrastructure etc. should’ve been sped up from day one to help us get to number one. I likely could see a renovation of Gallowgate being the end choice for our stadium plans, with wording effectively saying long term a new stadium is the aim but 60’000 and remaining where we are is best for all in the short to medium term. Just can’t see a new stadium coming here any time soon when they’ve got to sort out their own mess for the 2034 WC still.

Superb ball by Kudus.

I don’t know why Slot hates him so much, especially if Slot wants to move away from Salah. Elliot would be a great player for Isak. I’d still happily have him at us, but would have to require us moving away from the current style.

How many times we pump the ball into the box, he’d have been perfectly fine for us.

What was the reason Staveley left? Was it because of the PSR issue and Eales telling PIF she had to go?

I do think we are not far off being good, it’s just what undoes all the underlying stats is the mentality part which we have all said since start of season (at least) is weak. The late goals / sitting off after starting well and going ahead / away form. All three of those will completely undo the good, and I will say most of the underlying stats will be heavily skewed by our home games where we are always on it and create some really good openings.

Sunderland winner as Leeds are out of gas is nailed on here.

Sunderland have to lose this, sick of them keep getting results despite being poor in games for majority.

FFS. What was that keeper doing. Just nearly gifted a goal / pen.

Seeing Leeds pop it around, I really don't know what the fuck we were doing in the derby.

Sunderland season reminds me of Burnley's last decade, where they qualified for Europe with like 38 scored, 38 conceded. Just got to hope second half of seasons, teams will have all the data they need to score twice past them in games, because they have fuck all goals in their side.

It's good Sunderland got promoted, hey.

Was a key cog in an unbeaten title winning season for Leverkusen. Be loads of clubs thinking "Why the fuck did we not sign him".

This is something I don’t understand, because that was something our CMs used to always do. When Bruno first arrived, he was regularly crashing into the box. Willock done it loads during his peak, Longstaff was always there (but then largely poor with the positions he found himself in), Tonali has done it. Then this season (and it was shifting last season as a start) it’s non existent. When we played Bilbao at home, Joelinton was back to doing that. But that’s more an anomaly this season.