Sibierski

Please for love of god, don’t let it be Woltemade coming off.

He’s done physically.

That’s an attack where Willock should now be coming off.

No different to all our other games this from the last 15 I’ve seen. Our play to create chances is non-existent unless it’s a cross from wide.

Elanga has played 0 mins when a striker has been on the pitch. Probably continue when Woltemade comes off at 60.

I’m going out, not even going to bother watching this

This is based on signing him when he was a free early doors as soon as Wilson left us.

But he hit form for us by playing loads, he’s clear back up to Etitike right now, so it’s a new change in his career. No longer a guaranteed starter which he has to adjust too and he may well not.

Would we have many more points had we just signed DCL on a free?

Be fun to see what his stance is come summer if Etitike is clear number one. Another season of being 2nd guy, or kick off for a move elsewhere? Has a prem title at the end of season, there’s no reason to want to stick around being a back up.

They signed him as a teenager and just played him right off the bat from word go. Felt like injuries would derail his potential a few years ago when he was overplayed, but looks to be over them hopefully.

Absolute steal at €5m for them too

I will keep feeling he's playing injured though and not fully fit. Not seen him go into a proper tackle once in these two games like we've seen before.

For the height we have, we've got to be one of the worse in the business for set pieces. Amazing that the Burn one in cup final worked, as it's one of the super rare examples of a delivery going in and it actually landing on a 6ft 2+ players head meanfully. Seem to have an insistance on playing short to manipulate a better angle to cross, but when the crosses are still crap, what's the point? Can Murphy take a corner well since he can cross well?

When you have 9 outfield players of quality/proven ability, you can have 2 that are a bit inconsistent in first year as they develop up. We're still at a level also IMO where we can take the gamble on players as we're not expected to be in UCL every season and challenging for all the honours. If we can't sign those players whilst we're top of the level below cartel sides, then we're never going to sign those players and we're shopping in that no-mans land of a market that we experienced this summer.

Swear I was watching a completely different game Tonali and Bruno G had their own moments of smellyness, but then contributed to good moments in the game. Joelinton was off it for the whole lot, may not have sunk to some lows as the other two, but then never got to some highs, was like a 5/10 all the way through from word go.

Bruno gets the brunt at times because he does get dispossed with the ball in our half a few times, but that's something you have to tolerate with him when he is then sliding balls outwide to Murphy for the goal (and sliding a lovely one through to Elanga first half when on egde of box). He's literally the only player we have in our squad who can play those passes around the box and I'd want to see him more there.

No need to be a race to be fit for Brighton, more games to come after. Lets not break him further by trying to get him back as soon as possible, damage is already done in the short term.

This is where we need to get away from thinking it has to be a £60m+ signing. The scouts surely can surely find wingers of a profile that's different and cost less across Europe. We can't keep dropping £40m+ on players. This summer was a desperation move and that's what we did, but we 100% can't be doing that next summer.

Will say with Murphy, I believe he's more than capable of being a low cost back up RB in short term and we give him a new deal based on that. Tino main guy at RB and Murphy back up RB.

Every top side we want to close in on as a winger that's just pure talent, where if they're not scoring/assisting, they will creating all sorts from their general play and just overall quality. Mbuemo I believe would've been that for us, as even at a shite Man Utd, he's looked great. With Barnes and Murphy both approaching next summer in "New deals or sold" terriority, it's the chance for us to do one or both. We HAVE to get a different winger profile, can't be going even further in hard runners as in theory Gordon / Elanga are the peak of them for us with age on their side.

I could see that being the thinking from Howe. Leeds away I think was an insight into how he will approach quite a few away games this season, especially since he has 4 CBs who all have a valid right to be starting. And with him clearly not sold on Miley starting games unless really forced, Joelinton shagged, it just makes being solid defensively and conceding the midfield battle (which we lost last time even with main guys) more likely. Tino, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall Bruno G, Tonali, Willock Murphy, Woltemade That's what I could see happening where it's effectively a 5-4-1 (WIllock LM and Murphy RM) with both expected to support Wolt who will be tasked with holding up ball and linking attack. Could be proper ugly if it doesn't work though.

Agree what someone said in match thread about Elanga too, our players need to realise how rapid he is and play the ball earlier. When it's Murphy, they're conditioned more to play to his feet or not so often into open space as whilst he is quick, it's not rapid quick and Murphy skill is to shift and cross. Times yesterday we could have slipped Elanga through and let him put the after burners on, so hopefully the more he starts, we realise that's an option to use.

Seems to me Gordon is playing as a frustrated player, seemingly the most affected by Isak going. I'm hoping when he's finally back on LW, has a good striker up front, he'll rediscover his play and won't be so on edge. Needs to let the games come to him natrually and he can be a difference maker. When he's trying to be the main guy, he's forcing it too much in how he plays and it makes him worse off. Him and Hall on left side together are massive players for one another and us in general, and we've not had that together since 23rd February ffs

Can't remember, but did we get him to play on after a head blow against Liverpool before subbing him off? He's had two early in season now. Can't be good.