Optimistic Nut

Whose interpretation is that because we were done over for Gordon v Chelsea for starters.

The next Generic Cockney sideways and backwards midfield general who'll win about 8 England caps before ending up at Leicester or Hull.

Spent 5 years criticising Brighton for this but fucking loving it with Hearts.

This is all fair enough, but we can't on the other hand wonder why we've signed so few CBs recently. Most clubs have 4 CBs to compete for a place, as long as Burn & Schar are two of them then we'll not sign anyone else. Only other way was if Botman was sold which is unlikely now.

Touched on it in the Transfer thread, as great as Schar & Burn have been/still are, we probably should have looked to move one of them on in the summer and brought in a younger defender while we still had the other, plus Botman & Thiaw. We're going to need to replace them both shortly which will cost a helluva lot of money to sign someone capable of pushing for a first-team spot immediately, and it's not ideal to bring two with potential behind just the two senior CBs.

Just need any sort of positive result tonight then bring back the Arsenal away 5-5-0 formation for the return game.

People didn't want us to sell Trippier to Bayern 2 years back so been no need to sign an RB. People continue to be happy with Burn & Schar as options, which on top of Botman & now Thiaw means no CBs. LB I agree with. Think we needed cover in the summer once Targett left.

He'd be 3rd choice LB behind Hall & Tino but it pushes Burn out of the LB picture. He'll likely get minimal game time like the last 2 and a half seasons but at least it's not leaving us short. Sign someone long term in the summer.

If we do this, you're going to have to change how you play every time the first-choice is injured or for cups. Get a keeper who can play and at least there's continuity.

It could mean also that his price comes down to the £10-15m mark though in which he'd be more attractive as a number 2. Go for a better number 1 who'll help improve the way we play. Sell Pope.

Always seemed a bit daft to me anyway but was just accepted because it'd be around for years. It'd be like telling City that Semenyo couldn't start for them in our next League match because we played against him away to Bournemouth already.

Mainoo booked and hauled off. Maybe Amorim was right.

Looks like he had an operation but other than that, just the odd niggle.

Ben White is being linked with Everton. Worth a look?

Craig Gordon with a world-class save to secure the win with the last moment of the game. Back to 6 points ahead of the Old Firm.

Hearts lead at Dundee but down to 10-men after the keeper was sent-off. Could be a big 45 for the title challenge.

Will die on the hill that Botman's injury just after Burn was starting to get regularly rinsed at LB saved his bacon as a first-choice player. He slotted back into LCB and rocked it. Got to the point where it looked like he needed put down before that.

Tidied.

Handy quality for what's clearly just our Cup keeper now. Sell Pope, go big on the number 1, see if he'll be happy as number 2.

He could easily end up with 20 goals in all competitions the way he's playing. Brilliant stuff.

Needs games but needs to sharpen up fast.

Would have wrapped it up before Sudden-death had he not BOTTLED taking a penalty.

Some leap that.

He would be perfect for them. They can fuck off.