Dr Gloom

Fear not. The King has got this

Murphy is a decent squad player. Happy to retain him as a squad rotation option but he shouldn’t be starting so many games. His decision making and inconsistencies prevent him being a top player. We need a better quality first choice RW.

Howe alluded to it in his pre-match press conference - the pressing and the intensity that drove us to the champions league were back in full effect. Begs the question why it was absent in our opening games. We look so much better when we play like this. Special mention to Gordon for this. He has obvious flaws at CF - there were times when balls came into the box and he was nowhere to be seen and he struggled to make it stuck when it went into him with his back to goal, but the way he led the press was outstanding - and crucially the rest of the team followed, allowing us to play much higher up the pitch. Dare I say it, he is better than Isak and Wilson at this area of the game at CF. The result was we rarely ended up camped in our own half. There were difficult moments in the game when city were going at us, but it was never a backs to the wall job. We were good value for the draw and could have won (we out xGd them). I put this entirely down to the return of the high intensity press. I hope it’s back for good

100%. This back four is a Botman away from our first choice, IMO. Makes such a big difference having three out of your back four who are technical players comfortable on the ball. Night and day compared to when we had Kelly and Krafth in there

i thought they were both pens

King Gloom. I like the sound of that.

done. you're welcome

5-0, Osula with all five

good to see the press and intensity back in full effect - hopefully a sign of things to come!

best performance of the season, that. could have won it. shout out to the thread starter

Reach for the negatives

it's naive to be likeable? feels like it could be a winning strategy instead of having you're entire personality coached out of you. of course the media were out to get him with the bacon sandwich nonsense but unlike a lot of politicians, ed has come across as a warm and funny bloke since stepping down as leader. and if you're lucky enough to blessed with a personality, why not show it? i think the public see through bland, overly-coached politicians and would have warmed to ed more if he'd just been himself.

Interesting to see Howe when asked about the drop off in intensity this season in today’s presser saying it isn’t intentional, it’s a style of play he’s committed to and determined to get back to.

agree but I wonder if he’d done better if he’d just been himself. He’s a likeable bloke. Voters like that in a leader. Shame it was coached out of him

Digbeth is kind of sketchy end of Brum mind. It’s an old industrial area full of old converted warehouse style boozers with music outdoors. We saw two fights kick off in one place we went to, including two young lasses going at it. It’s funny how people bang on about how dangerous London is but your rarely see anything kick off, let alone twice in the same evening

ah, that's different to the thing my mother-in-law had then. she had this really rare form (MF), her odds were never great. sounds like hopefully eales stands a better chance of getting through it.

it was messy. I was too sloshed by the fifth innings to stay and watch Gloucestershire’s trophy presentation. That’s a long day of cricket man. 11am-10pm. Fucking Baltic too - the warmth of the boozer was calling and it was an easier decision to make as the final was a forgone conclusion and I had no skin in the game. found this tiny, edgy warehouse style dnb rave in Digbeth for the late night savagery. Only a fiver to get in. You would have loved it. Older crowd, and a real throwback to the 90s. Slightly moody crowd and general lawlessness with people smoking indoors etc

Poor bloke. I just lost my mother in law to this. It’s brutal

that review though - boxing should be banned. classic guardian take

top line?

shame Ed was never brave enough to show he had a personality when he was leader. he's been class since he stepped down

you've got to know your number 6 from your double pivot and your low block these days - keep up