ThatGinolaVolley

At least Miggy will make them feel at home.

Can he cross with his left foot? If not, poor choice for LB imo. Trippier is a world class RB. He’s played LB for England a few times, and looked shit - constantly getting in great positions on the overlap, but then has to check back on his right foot and the moment is gone.

Livramento was out all last season with an ACL injury. Another reason he might be cheap - but would be a gamble.

I also didn’t expect us to be looking for a RB. But I guess 2 important things have changed since Ashby was signed: Southampton got relegated, and we qualified for the CL. So Livramento might be cheaper, and more games means we’re more likely to need a quality backup to Trippier, for rotation/injury. So I can see the logic.

If ASM leaves (and I think he will if a bid of £30m+ comes in), it will feel a bit like the Shelvey transfer in Jan. He’ll leave on good terms in a deal which suits all parties. ASM is never going to be first choice in the intense press & counter system that’s got us into the champions league, and we’re blessed with plenty of others who can play that position. The extra FPP headroom can then be used to add depth where we really need it (midfield/fullbacks/right wing). Meanwhile, ASM gets to terrorise defenses on the continent somewhere where the fitness requirements won’t be quite as intense, and he’ll probably have a longer career with fewer injuries as a result.

I expect Howe to make quite a few changes for this one. Not only to give some a well earned rest and others a last hurrah - but also to remind the owners where the squad is lacking a bit of quality.

Brilliant from Pope at the end there, he'd had the square root of fuck all to do all game then does his job when it mattered. A pity couldn't get the win, more than deserved it, but a season in the Champions League will get me over that 🙂 Now I'm off to Google how the seeding works for the group stage...

I don't think there was anything too disheartening there. We were all over them until what was sadly a quality strike from Odergaard, then it was end-to-end from that point on, could easily have been us that got the next goal, instead it was them. Not sure it was handball for the penalty, but if it takes that long for VAR to think about it there's no way it's a clear and obvious error, so should have stood. We missed Longstaff, we just look more solid with him in the team (or rather, Bruno looks less solid without him in the team). I think Howe had to start with Wilson and Isak this game, along with Murphy they are the most in-form players that can play in the front three, and Longstaff was out so Joelinton had to move back into midfield, making it a choice of Isak or Gordon on the left - but the other subs just don't have the impact that bringing on Wilson/Isak can have, so what we gain in the first half we lose in the second. Didn't work this time, will be interesting to see what he does against Leeds if Longstaff is still out. If he's back it's an easier call to to move Joelinton into the front three making it Joelinton - Isak/Wilson - Murphy/Almiron.

Fuck Liverpool. Let them win all their remaining games if they want - if they overhaul ManU in 4th it'll be mildly amusing. But it's taken plenty of balls to get to where we are now, at this point in the season - and I haven't seen anything to suggest that we haven't got plenty of balls left in the tank (?) to get over the line. Hopefully with at least a game in hand so we can play 11 Paul Dummets against Chelsea. For this game in particular - I'll feel a lot more confident if I see Longstaff's name on the teamsheet. But we were good value for a draw at their place, and that was when they were flying and we were about to lose to Wednesday in the cup.