Dr Gloom

i think we'll struggle in this one. 3-1 to them

it felt that way walking out of the ground but less so after watching the highlights and Howe’s interview back. We couldn’t see Howe bollocking the players from the away end but there was one moment during the first half when he was caught on camera talking at the players where he definitely looked angry. however I do think the idea was to stay in the game and keep Anderson and Barnes on the bench to freshen things up. The bench is so important the way the game is played now with five subs and I think going forwards some of our better players will be kept back for the 60 minute mark so we’re not left like we were against Everton with only willock to bring on and the rest all blowing.

was it? We had no idea why he was asked to review it

As awful as we were and as risky as it was i think it was part of the strategy. We were barely running at times in tne first half let alone pressing. the plan seemed to be to let them have the ball and fall back into shape. i think Howe told them to conserve energy so we could have a go in the final third of the game instead of running out of steam on 60-70 minutes with nothing on the bench to freshen it up, like usual. Unconvincing but it worked. Murphy, Longstaff, willock and Krafth were all awful. Neither longstaff nor Willock look fit to me. Murphy just had one of those days where everything be touched turned to shite Krafth reminding us how good trippier and Livramento are. I lost count of how many times he ambled forwards with acres of space ahead of him only to check back and pass it sideways. Game of two halves. Bruno dragged us over the line. Schar and Burn looked good too. Did that finish by Longstaff at the end look as bad on the telly as it did in the ground?

I went to shops the other day. They were charging £10 per strip of Velcro What a rip off

you’re an accountant but you don’t like to talk about it. Fair

What’s this - another so-called account to add to TT’s growing number of pen pushers?

As I walked into my local shop the other day, some bloke attacked me with milk, cheese, yogurt and cream I thought 'How Dairy?'

i think it speaks to the broader point that brexit (cameron's creation) has left us with a cabinet of talentless halfwits. politicians used to be good, whatever you thought of their principles, or lack of. cameron should have stayed under his rock, but his return does highlight just how appalling the current crop are.

admittedly it's a low bar when you compare him to the recent picks for deputy chairman

whatever you thin of him, cameron is still a polished performer. another reminder that before brexit front line politicians were once good communicators and not all halfwits like the current lot

I think the idea is you watch the match on normal telly on mute with your YouTuber providing the commentary- like that red button option you used to get on sky games where you could listen to a fan of your team instead of Gary Neville or whoever

it's pissing off all the right people 👍

Eh? How are Real Madrid so low?

There is a fine line between a numerator and a denominator. Only a fraction of people understand this.

chelsea might as they are surely going to get stung with a point deduction at some point - man city too?

a luxury tax would surely allow the saudis to start spending their money at last the current system isn't fit for purpose - arbitrary fines for everton and forest, making an example of the clubs at the wrong end of the table, while chelsea get to spend a billion plus with impunity. i can't see it continuing.

Poor Things. More quirky French art house film than Hollywood studio production. I loved it: Emma Stone impresses in the lead role and definitely deserved the Oscar with great support from Willem Defoe and Mark Ruffalo. I loved the trippy soundtrack and surreal colour palette and set design. I’m surprised it didn’t run Oppenheimer a little closer in awards season but it was probably a bit too quirky for the academy. 9/10

what does 8th get you - conference league? better than nowt i guess, and our most realistic chance of winning something. is it going to be enough to retain bruno though? i don't know

I’d be tempted to put Murphy at right back ahead of krafth. He’s looked alright there at times this season. Then we could go with Barnes and Gordon in the flanks. I’d bench longstaff and play willock and Anderson in midfield with Bruno - Howe won’t do this of course. Hopefully Lewis Hall is okay to continue at left back. Fuck all on the bench yet again. We’ll need early goals as we’ll be hanging on after 60-70 minutes when they freshen up and won’t want to rely on Dummett and Ritchie off the bench. I’d rather throw the kids on - at least they’ll be able to run

it’s funny how expectations change across a season. Before a ball was kicked I expected top 6 and hoped for top 4 but you’re absolutely right: from the cup draws to the season-long injury crisis and betting suspensions - there is a lot of mitigation. I expect top 9 now but hoping for top 6. The injuries are still shit but we have a decent run in.

Sad to see Dummett getting stick. Loyal servant etc but his best days are obviously behind him. Not his fault but he’s another player we’ve outgrown. I was struck by how our attacks lost any momentum when he got the ball as he needed a couple of touches to set himself before inevitably passing sideways or backwards

I’ve already seen us win once there this season