Sibierski

Would also be 2 seasons of reduced games. It’s either fully commit to him or be open to offers and goes back to many previous debates of knowing when to sell.

Have to wait for news, but if he’s injured again, he suddenly raises up the ladder for potential sales if one is there.

No appeal. Probably a club punishment on Gordon call that.

As bang in the middle C player as you can get.

Also really gutted for Hall. He was nailed on for Tuchel squad, and if he’s not even back for final game of season (which sounds like that’s the case. He’s missing two squad call ups under Tuchel which is huge.

We REALLY need Trippier to step up big time now. Hall absence is painful for his progressive plays. Now need Trippier to bring his A game and what he was doing in 22-23.

Jealous of Villa UCL run. RB Leipzig one of the top seeds faced. Big named sides of Bayern / Juve / Celtic all at home. Just an ideal UCL run for first time in it with this new format. All whilst we had that horrendous group last season, which I still won’t forgive club for tossing away Milan game when a draw and Europa would’ve been perfectly fine. But nope.

For ones not high on Gordon, who at LW in rest of league would you take over him?

I mean, it’s clear that once he’s gone to see specialist it’s a at best 2 months out, at worse 4 months and season over.

But based on yet another average showing at home with our ‘best’ XI, why are people so scared about deviating away from it? People were saying it’s stale etc. then want the same side rolled out yet again and expect things to be different?

And that’s a team missing Dubs, Schar (lol), Tonali, Murphy and Isak, based on most people’s perceived strongest of who’s available. Isak only one that moves the needle IMO.

And if we play like we do as we’ve done in majority of games for 2nd half’s, a full strength team will get a hiding. Certain players don’t warrant starting again. A kick is needed prior to cup final.

Semi rotation required for me. Both with cup final on horizon but also to give players a kick up the backside as current form past month does not warrant spaces being safe for them, because it’s showing. Pope: Trippier, Krfath, Burn, Tino: Miley, Bruno, Longstaff: Willock, Osula, Barnes

B, but very close to A IMO. Only thing stopping him from being that is more goals in final third which the elite world class wingers bring. He gets downplayed far too much by our fans. Guys output against the top sides is bloody great, it’s just about getting it consistent across the season which I don’t think is far off.

What's the possible outcomes to an appeal? Because if it was violent conduct (I assume that's what referee classed it as), does it mean an appeal has to be no ban or upheld? Or can it be deemed a red and just be one game? I'm assuming not because a red for violent conduct is 3 games and it's either that or not.

Probably so, bit like Arsenal away. Just my worry (it's same whatever approach we take) we haven't looked like locking a side out confidently all season. Get we beat Arsenal 2-0 away, but we was helped immensely by Havertz being Havertz and missing sitters. Even at home, it was Odegaard sitter. We're going to need the same again, and Salah to have a very unusual game and him miss chances of same level. But I'm not optimistic we can restrict Liverpool to pot shots from distance, they will carve out one or two clear chances as every side seems to do against us.

They've essentially properly rested players for 2 games this season, lost both. Spurs and Forest 1-0 defeats their others which shows they can lose but how hard it's going to be. Coming up against a side that's won UCL with a lot of this group, so occasion will be nothing to them (especially since they won it last season with many kids ). We're going to need to use up our luck for rest of season to get the win, which I would take. League Cup and a limp 7th place finish I would take all day. Get this monkey off our back, blow up the squad and go fresh next season with the core hungry to win more.

He hit the byline yesterday and put in a great cross for Willock on his left foot (think it was Tino?). Throughout game he was taking players on, like the little dink over Minteh. Confidence levels were high and I 100% believe it's having a top player like Gordon in front of him. Top players bounce off one another, just don't need to think. Can't be understated that despite Murphy uses and output this season, it's no where near Gordon intelligence and overall ability.

Just looked, and Birmingham is only game he’s not started this season when available. Across all comps, he’s started every game going. Which he’s had too because Wilson been fucked and Osula not trusted, but that’s got to change now Wilson is back or Osula giving more trust after 7 months training.

And Liverpool game is like 5 days after. We’re not good at giving players a rest when they clearly need it, and this is a prime case. Got two back up strikers now, so rotation is needed. I said we should’ve rested Gordon against Liverpool, but nope that was frowned upon. Little point having squad players if we don’t use them, even if the ability is a drop at times. Freshness goes a long way at this point in season.

He 100% can not start against West Ham IMO. I know people will say we have to take each game as it comes etc, but it’s clear Isak needs a rest and probably has 75 mins in him at best right now, and we need him for the full 90 against Liverpool. Even to the point of maybe ET because of his pens. So for me, he needs a full rest.

Watching on TV, referee had his red card out before he even got over there which I found strange. Didn’t kick off, so thought he would buy some time to evaluate situation and try and keep it 11 v 11. But nope, once that was out, he couldn’t turn back.

Having quality on LW makes a huge difference. We saw when he moved to RB and Murphy RW, it was back to classic stuff of shit ball retention, which I think does play on his mind because he confidently can’t go forward so plays within himself and sits deep, safety pass inside. Murphy has produced as a direct winger and it’s helped Isak, but it also doesn’t help others.

The galling thing is Gordon been smashed by Kulevsevki / VVD this season and neither has been a card, because referee deemed it fine/not seen it and VAR deemed it not a clear and obvious error. Then yesterday, referee gets out red Yellow, VAR does nothing IMO. Frustrating as he shouldn’t have gave referee the choice, but can only hope on the panel there’s just enough split based on others this season to get it overturned.

Young full backs were needed. We had none, and they now mean we don’t need to spend big there for rest of decade. Our issue is more we don’t sell well. Started to do so in January so hopefully that’s the start of Mitchell ethos, but in summer 23 and winter 24, we did sell as much as we should’ve to refresh squad. Blinded by loyalty because we got to UCL, and it’s hurt us since. Because so many of the team should’ve been moved on, didn’t matter if they ‘deserved’ a chance. It’s like a newly promoted club, if the players are not good enough, they have to be moved on.