Sibierski

Great to still be in it, but those extra games in Feb will be a killer if we are progressing in domestic cups. Palace H Leeds H FA - Bournemouth H League Cup SF Wolves A PSV H Villa H PSG A Liverpool A League Cup SF Brentford H Spurs A FA - 4th Round UCL PO Man City A UCL PO Everton H Man Utd H UCL R16 Chelsea A UCL R16 Sunderland H That’s the potential run from start of Jan to end of March, with games every few days. Might not seem big, but failing to finish top 8 will have a knock on. It’s separate to this thread main point, but I just can’t see how in a million years we qualify for Europe via league after a run like that (if we progress in all cups). That run from Spurs A to Sunderland could be fucking brutal if we got some unfavourable draws.

But we have spent like £600m+ since then, and Leverkusen have blown up their squad where they have jokers like Flekken in their XI. Eventually we need to shift our mentality away from plucky underdogs, because for the sums we’re spending, we’re not that now in 95% + of the games.

Across this run, it’s a good set of results on paper. But across the games, there are glaring issues (repeated) that are looking like no sign of changing, and with games every 3 days up to like mid Feb (if we beat Fulham in League Cup), it’s something that’s not going to be sustainable and the results will revert back to defeats. Just don't know what to make of it anymore. Everyone is pinning their hopes on Wissa and I’ve been of the stance that people are kidding themselves if they think he’s going to be a magic formula. It’s not even just this season, last season similar issues were there which we are seeing here. Us being ruthless against like the bottom 6 which I’m sure was like 12 wins was what saved our domestic season. We can turn it on for a big game, but our consistency across the rest is worryingly lacking.

Warm up stretches down the touch line were good. Fantastic turn of speed to join in the 2-1 celebrations. Something to work with IMO.

Think we will go 3–4-3 for this. Thaiw / Schar / Burn CBs. Tonali / Bruno CMs. Then a question of will it be Hall / Tino full backs with Gordon / Murphy wingers, or Hall on bench, Tino LWB / Murphy RWB and Elanga starting RW.

10 points surely won’t be enough? 11 will be with GD, 10 is far too risky.

Good contribution. Something to build upon later in December when we next see him.

Please let us be clinical and it’s 2+ up by HT. We are the better team on paper, and we need to be showing that and not get dragged into a battle. If we let it be a physical game, we’ll get bullied IMO. Xhaka v Bruno and Wolte v Ballard key battles for me. Both for different reasons.

Tonali was very hot and cold tonight. He’s a rolls Royce when he’s in full flight, and I don’t ever question his desire to bust a gut to work back, but last few weeks he has been proper sloppy in his general play. Feels it’s ever since the contract news come to light. He’s held in high regard by our fans so the attention won’t be on him for some time, but he needs to buck up his ideas to warrant being a first name picked. Because he’s as much as culprit as anyone else for why we’re so shit with the ball.

Not really a surprise considering the minutes they’ve played for us and internationally since season started, and Ramsey / Willock / Miley haven’t played anywhere near the amount to take the load of them. Something has to give soon.

I do, otherwise subs would be made earlier when it’s happening and striker is isolated. It’s the same as last season when it was Isak, with Wolte.

Top 8 hopes over now, have to win final two games now. Best we can hope for now is finish 9-16 so we’re home second leg. Which means beating PSV at home. Positives: Miley. Better attacking play as a unit 2nd half. Near enough everyone fit now. Negatives: Same issues shape wise away from home. Slow to get going. Still not clinical. This week was always all about the Sunderland game for me. Even if we lost tonight, win at weekend and season has a completely different outlook as we move forward.

A point before game was good, but it’s yet again the context of how we got that point that’s grating. It’s two dropped now, not one gained.

Token subs to get some appearance fees for the Christmas shopping.

OH LOOK. We concede and straight away we get the ball and play forward. Fucking beyond sick of this end of games approach.

Embarrassing. Sit deep and undone by one dummy. History repeats itself.

Not feeling confident as all our defending is desperation stuff.

Game gone crazy.

That gave me Romero flashbacks.

Now is Elanga and Wissa time on counter.

Come on like a seasoned pro how he’s calmed everything down and played with quality.

MILEY IS THE REAL DEAL

Slip or not, it was only one player that was recovery, don’t win first header the overload on counter was there regardless. But my general point would be long throws are fucking awful unless you are literally bulleting them in.

Nearly conceded from our own shitty long throws. Seriously FUCK THIS SET PIECE CUNT OFF

Burn with that ball into middle that we lose.