Dr Gloom

Burn is an able deputy at CB but it will be great to see Botman back. A nee right sided centre back would be welcome but the big issue isn’t the defence. We’re not shipping loads of goals. The biggest problem is the other end of the pitch.

I hope Man City get back on track against Liverpool today. A City win will put a bit of pressure on them before our match.

The few bright spots for me yesterday were the defence - Burn and Schar both put in goal-saving tackles/blocks - and Tonali at DM. He has to be given a run in that position.

I weirdly fancy us against these more than I fancied us at palace yesterday. We fucking owe them one too. 4-3 to us, Keegan rises himself having been slumped over the ad hoardings to fire home the winner

It was a poor game from us, but feels like a defeat after conceding in the last minute

Should the supporters back the manager who lifted us from relegation to top four in one season, and who hasn’t been backed properly for three consecutive windows? Yes, we should. The problem isn’t the manager. He has improved average players, lifted expectations and galvanised the squad. The problem is the recruitment, which has been stifled by the bullshit psr rules.

Joelinton’s best games this season - and for most of his time here tbh - has been wide left. Willock was poor against West Ham but we looked much better in the winning run prior to that with him and big Joe down our left. The truth is Gordon is our best option at RW. Not his fault that we haven’t recruited properly in that position. I’d rather he played LW too but not when our options at RW are Miggy and Murphy. Tonali’s best game for us came against Chelsea in the cup when he occupied Bruno’s number 6 role. He hasn’t started a game since. I don’t get it, particularly when Bruno’s best games for us came when he played the number 8 role after he first signed. Why not try him again there given we’re crying out for creativity further up the pitch when the opposition sit deep. I think the West Ham game poked holes in the narrative that we can’t win unless Sean starts. He started against West Ham and was just as bad as willock. He’s useful in certain games but Howe has to find a way to get our best technical players on the pitch. To that end I’d start Tripoier today too if he’s fit.

He’ll be fine. I would like to see a return of the willock/Joelinton axis down our left today with Gordon at right wing and Tonali for Longstaff at the base of our midfield with Bruno further forwards

Got my first ever guitar there probably to be replaced by a darts/golf/axe throwing bar

My mother in law spent the last weeks of her life in intolerable pain. She wanted to die. The state wouldn’t not facilitate what she wanted. If we assisted her we would have committed a crime. I agree with Strawb. This bill is a triumph and has restored my faith in this country. Steamer’s first big win. Brilliant piece by Dunt btw @Gemmill

why should suicide be illegal? Genuine question. Do you believe in free will, if a person is of sound mind? we apparently live in a free country. Sovereignty of the individual is sacrosanct. The decision over when to check out is the ultimate freedom. Why is it the state’s business? Keeping people alive who would rather be dead and prolonging preventable suffering is also a massive drain on the nhs. i am yet to see a cogent argument against assisted dying

This bill gives me hope we might still live in a progressive country after all

cheers man. Lots of people have been saying that. I’m fine. I just can’t stop thinking about the hell they’re living through. It’s occupying my thoughts constantly. Just putting myself in their shoes and can’t imagine how they get their life back.

sorry man, that's rough

Sometimes life throws things up which render everything else meaningless. All the bullshit we carry around. All the worries about trivial stuff - careers, stuff that’s going on in the world that we can’t control, relationships, whatever. My best mate lost his youngest daughter last week. I won’t get into the details but it’s been the most harrowing week of my life as I’ve been with him for most of it. It’s every bit as awful as you might imagine - utterly devastating to see someone you love dealing with unbearable pain. There’s nothing any of us can do or say other then be there for him and his family. A life-breaker

He’s an uninspiring leader. He needs to use these four years to improve people’s lives. Can he do that? Has he shown enough vision or ambition? Jury very much out

The Labour party’s own Gareth Southgate

The truth is Gordon hasn’t hit the heights of last season but he’s still looked one of our biggest threats when on the pitch in most games. He’s had the odd poor game but which player hasn’t? He is clearly an asset.

interesting take. i thought that's why we signed tonali - to free bruno to play further forwards and to have two midfielders who can pass forwards. it hasn't worked out that way and bruno remians the lone creative force centrally in our starting line up but his starting position is so deep he isn't often able to play those balls that unlock the low blocks.

the worst of them all. Really is time to upgrade that position.

I don’t think it’s as simple as not being able to function without a single player. Longstaff was pretty poor when he was on the pitch compared to recent games. It was the haphazard subs/formation changes that killed our momentum. In the last half hour no one knew what their roles were, which isn’t a surprise given at times you had Tino at left back, Hall in midfield and Isak/Gordon as attacking midfielders. It turned chaotic, reeked of panic and didn’t look like anything they had practiced on the training ground. So unlike Howe, who is usually measured and predictable with his in-game changes