Sibierski

Get me on that plane to Kazakhstan

4 from opening 9 points is par of what you’d expect if going for top 4, so it’s important we win. Especially giving situation all summer, 4 points going international break where we can regroup would be massive. A win, any way is important.

Would expect some movement by end of today following the meeting. Either it’s confirmed he’s off, we up bids for key players and get it all thrashed out in 48 hours. Or, we say he’s staying and Isak agent uses the media guys to kick up more of a fuss.

Need 11 points really to get through. 3 home wins against 2/3/4 seed sides, with a couple of draws. Draw one of the home games, have to take 6/6 from the 4th seeds. We don’t get through, it’s not even worth thinking about.

Rather have Mitrovic. Get another mad bastard in for Bruno and the gang to go after people.

Elanga when he took them did seem to go for the more pacey delivery style.

The corner routine was largely same shit, floated to Burn where he rarely wins many some how (god bless cup final though). We took one corner in 2nd half which is what I want to see more off and I don’t know why we don’t do it. Can’t remember who took it, but it was proper whipped in with fast pace (like Arsenal do) and right onto the keeper where Alisson flapped at it, but then recovered really well to punch away 2nd ball. We should be whipping them in like that all the time with Burn / Joe / CB on that 6 yard box.

3-4-3 for this game IMO. Thiaw - Botman - Burn Tino - Bruno - Miley - Hall Barnes - Elanga - Ramsey Ramsey then dropping off and it’s a 3-5-2 out of possession.

The cashing in was also on basis that Isak was here long time, but he looks like the cashing in player which hopefully is next summer.

Surround him with quality. Last night bumped up his contract strength. Next summer is cross roads and I’ve always said it should be cashing in time to be considered. But the leadership he showed last night, priceless. That’s someone I want as captain for next 4 seasons so give him a new deal.

I can understand why Howe doesn’t like him up front. There was a couple of times last night he got the ball, done too much and lost it / chased someone down and gave a needless foul. He’s an attacker on egde, where last night was ideal but if you are starting a game and want control, he’s not the one you want.

If he was back for December, would be 4 UCL games left I think? (50% of league).

Thought because there’s 6 sides, that we have to face an English side to balance it out? Or an English side is guaranteed to meet another English side. Either way, if it happens we have to be at home.

Like Yasir surely wants to be rubbing shoulders with elite in UCL QFs/SFs, which we have to spend if he does.

Injuries, Yasir there. This is surely going to be a manic sign off week for transfers now? Howe surely tells him after the game, we need players, get them done. If it means needing to find some ‘sponsors’ by Christmas, do it.

Only issue with Pope last night is what we all know, kicking awful. Said in match thread, there was an instance in first half where he was holding onto the ball too long, referee told him and instead of placing ball down flat calmly, just dropped it and it was a bouncing ball that he was then under pressure to kick Just baffling stuff. He just has no calmness in those situations and our players know it by not using him as a passing outlet when under pressure as we also saw. They’d rather try a pass inside, or get half a yard on pressing attacker to clear it, instead of passing back, in fear his first touch if he feels he needs to control could bounce to the attacker.

Really hoping it’s just stiffness, like out for Leeds game and international duty and back after. Surgery and we’re back to 23-24 with having no him and Joelinton again Why can’t we have nice things for a period of time.

We’ve been better than them comfortably for last three home league games, yet we have 1 point to show for it and 8 goals conceded Probably finally beat them 2-0 next season and it wouldn’t be a shock to me.

Tonali I’m hoping it’s just stiffness and that will ease up over 24 hours. More a jarring rather than anything else hopefully. Joelinton looked like a groin injury and that’s usually a good 4 weeks to be on safe side. Joelinton style is always going to get injuries more.

Monumental from him. But I worry big time about the game time he’s going to be expected to play this season after a long summer tournament. Needs to be managed well minutes as we move into October onwards.

He made several terrible decisions when he came on, but he’s a striker so knows how to attack between the posts. He will start Leeds game and that’s a massive game for him. He’s too raw to keep leading the line, but can put in a performance that makes Howe think he can be trusted more to lead the line.

Feels we need to sign El Khanoussi and a striker, rather than two strikers.

He’s just not a smart player. Still really like him as I can’t fault his effort and his ball retention and play is generally really good. Just his shooting is never getting better and he does these dumb things that hurt us, and they’re the ones that linger longer in peoples minds.

Be on 6 points if he wasn’t throwing a wobble, with two very hard games out of the way. Instead it’s one point, Gordon now missing for three games and probably a couple of injuries from the intensity of playing with 10 men. All knock on that will be carried into Leeds game. No doubt today will drain us mentally that will be hard to recover straight away.

Bit scary with the ball in the air. Hard game though to come into.