Craig

It's comparing apples and pears somewhat. The qualities required of a goalkeeper these days are quite different from 30 years ago. A keeper these days is expected to be the deepest lying player who happens to be allowed to use his hands if he's in the penalty area. Back in the 90s they were expected to use their feet only for goal kicks, drop kicks and booting the thing as hard as they fucking could any if it ended up with one of our own players, bonus! Pope's style is far more aligned to that style of play. Conversely, the idea of John fucking Burridge trying to play with the ball at his feet is utterly terrifying

Aye, if we're going to sustain 4 different competitions, you have to rotate. It's a valid point about Miley - if he's not up to the standard then we need to be letting him go.

Media aren't helping by calling out our away form. It'll definitely be in the back of their minds that there's a massive disparity between home and away form.

The 2nd goal for me was absolutely class, and I can't put the blame on Pope for that - very few would have been able to react to it, you have to praise what was a brilliantly executed move. His screw up for the first handed them the momentum to go for the 2nd though.

AI making that Geuye red card worthwhile. Not sure about the size of that red card mind you https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRew9NTE6lW/?igsh=ajgyeXBmeDNzZDU4

Point I'm getting at is it's easy for the masses to lob criticism at the last line of defence - he's been backed by a minority up until this point. His ability with the ball at his feet is questionable at times and can put the fear of god up you, but it's not horrendous. His split-second decision making on the other hand is awful. He needs a reset for his own benefit as much as anything else. The crowd are on his back and every minute error is going to be forensically pulled apart if we continue to select him. Interested to see what PL's view on what it was like last night but my mate who was also there said the feeling towards Pope from his section of the crowd was quite toxic. That's going to help no-one in the long run. Time for Ramsdale for me.

We were playing Wing Backs last night rather than out-and-out Full Backs which is why I think Murphy was picked. If only we had someone really pacy who tends to play on the right who could have fulfilled that role instead. Re: Thiaw - we have a core backbone I think we need to stick with - him at CB & Tonali in central midfield are two players who, if available, we shouldn't fuck about with. As much as it pains me to say it, Gemmill is right about Barnes at the moment as well - he's working on the LW so we need to stick with that as well for now.

McFaul, Mahoney & Carr were before my time. I've already said elsewhere that I think Pope's decision-making is on par with Srnicek. Agree with you about Given, Harper & Krul. I'd probably stick Tommy Wright in there as well.

How utterly depressing that you're probably spot on. I think we'll be in for a striker IF Osula is allowed to go - whether it'll be an improvement is anyone's guess.

Last night's goal moved him to joint second in our all-time Champions League goalscorers alongside Asprilla, Gordon and ............ John Beresford

One positive is it's making the shopping list write itself: Goalkeeper Left Back Striker

The fucking irony that Wilson, who looked absolutely finished last season, seems to be banging them in happily for West Ham.

So realistically we're not seeing him for another 2 months.

Isn't there some AFCON ruling that if he's fit to play and doesn't go to the tournament, he can't play for his club?

I also doubt it's doing his confidence any favours as well given the crowd are getting restless.

I get the point you're making, but he's a busted flush for me. I haven't seen any evidence of him being effective in that role. How long do they realistically give it before they agree?

This for me like, Barnes is the best natural finisher we have so playing him through the middle seems the least worst option.

I don't think for one moment he's doing it willingly, but I think he's overlooking the fact there are alternative options who, in many people's opinions, would be better. How many times are we going to play Gordon there before Howe accepts it doesn't work?

I mean in the sense Arsenal dispensed with him. Same with Rashford at Man United.

Starting to creak again this morning for me.

BTW someone pointed out to me this morning that we've now been undone on two occasions by quick-fire twin strikes by a PL-reject striker whose name has been linked with us in the past.

Aye, certain people on here will tell you we've got a 'distraction' out of our way without our PL players picking up an injury. We ought to be grateful.

I didn't even see him doing it for 30 mins, let alone 45. Any situation where he could have got a shot away or made a run, he hesitated too much. You can't afford to do that when you're playing through the middle. He's either injured, terrified of getting hurt in a challenge, or just doesn't have what it takes to play in that position.

I think that's what ultimately pissed me off last night. We should have scored 3 goals in the first half and with a prolific striker through the middle, I think we would have. We have to manage Woltemade's gametime - I accept that, but not with that clown. I'd play Barnes or Elanga through the middle before him.

2 seasons ago maybe, but we're not getting anywhere near that on his last 6 months.