NobbySol

If we're signing Trafford (how long have we heard it's happening), then Pope is gone. No way Trafford is moving as a number 2 or potentially no 1. No way Pope at this stage of his career is sitting on the bench. Wouldn't be surprised if both Pope and Dubs left (assuming Trafford signs), which leaves a bit of a hole. Pope is class but for me there's been a clear regression since his shoulder injury. He doesn't get down quick at all and he simply does not catch anymore, not engaging in any form of battle to cling. He's always been abysmal with his feet. He's a great talker, great shot stopper and generally OK at box management. He also plays that keeper sweeper role well, helpful with two old centre backs with very limited pace (not inc botman here). We need an upgrade and if Traffford is that person, we need him in this summer. His price won't reduce in the next 12 months (2 years left with option to extend) and he's in the England set up now - so price will inflate further if anything. Don't think it'll happen this summer and reckon Howe "accepts" Pope for another year. I'd be delighted with Lucas Chevalier personally, who has very similar attributes to Pope but is considerably better with ball at feet. Wouldn't have to change the way we play but have that ability to pass back and relieve pressure much better. Wouldn't see those hooked 30 yard clearances to the benches anymore!

Van Hecke is class. Everytime they've beaten us (often enough), he's been their best player. His through balls penetrate the high press lines and having watched alot of him, he's quite the creator (often ball to assister). Absolutely loves a crunching tackle and positioning excellent. We'd do well to prise away at decent value though & signing him, would prevent us signing Pedro, who seems class in patches but very arrogant.

This for me. Clearly carrying a niggle - isn't sprinting the same way with the exception on Sunday to absolutely wipe curly head twat Cockurella out. Since Gordon's suspension/injury, he hasn't been as effective & I think that's due to Gordon taking up a lot of space and having the ability to go either way with trickery & presses so high up. Barnes is not the same player. Much more direct towards goal with intention to cut in and hit and does not press the same way. Isak is not getting the ball anywhere near as much higher up the field and on Sunday, was dropping in deep and out wide alot of the first half hunting the ball. The team look a little jaded in general and it's no surprise given the size of the squad. We've realistically had only 3 injuries to squad players unitl the weekend, for a few weeks anyway & unable to rotate, unlike the likes of Villa and Chelsea. Drums home how immense we've been this season, without one of the best centre backs in the league (who's big game performances have been sublime) & provides real excitement for the summer with scope to spend and what looks like likely champions league football. Isak is staying & we're mounting a charge next season, post acquisition of 4/5 players that can start/push for it. Mon the pies.

Nunez is absolutely tragic. Also wouldn't be spending £50m on Elliott either.

Absolutely fuck off Liverpool.

Decent goal to be fair by Chelsea there. Nice to see Liverpool rest their centre midfield. Pricks.

Positives - A point at a ground we usually lose at. - Another point gained from a losing position. Remember seeing stats years ago about our inability to come from behind to salvage anything. We are resilient. - Save for the goal and the shocking header by Gomez at the end, they created nothing. Negatives - We were so blunt in the final third until Gordon game on. - Missing Joelinton, who doesn't let the opposition sleep. Brighton misplaced a few passes but their players let it bobble under their feet with limited pressure. Willock is not that player. - Willock is a luxury player in my opinion & very streaky in form. At the moment, he's not on it and he had opportunities to create something today. - Squad depth is poor from a creative perspective. Imagine that'll be addressed this summer. I'd have taken a point before KO and it could be a huge one, come the end of May. Thought Barnes was good & is moving away from either scoring but being largely absent, to being a driving force regardless of goal contributions. That game missed Joelinton and Lewis Hall, who I think is a clever ball mover in the attacking third - creates angles others don't. We move onto a big one next week.

This is absolutely awful. Howe needs to make changes now.

Say it too often but Willock is an awfully lazy footballer bar the occasional sprint with the ball on the break. No way near the second ball ever and doesn't press anywhere near enough. Massive miss Joelinton.

Anderson hasn't got the memo here. Spurs are useless tossers. Disgraceful.

To absolutely dominate the media's suggestive best team in the world, was not a something I would ever have expected to see a few years ago. A gladitorial performance by many but for me Joelinton was MOTM. So many excellent performances (Burn, Tonali, Trips and Tino to name a few) but Joe was everywhere. His composure in the middle relieved us of pressure regularly, sprung attacks & he was horrible in every tackle. Stopped Liverpool being anything like the side they have been for months. The perfect game for Pope. You could see every ball was a long ball from Liverpool and while there weren't many knock ons (thanks BDB), any that fed through were mopped up by Pope. Outside of 1 save from Jones, had nothing else to do mind. Eddie Howe, take a bow. Words can't describe the effect your development and dedication to our football club has had on a generation of supporters. Thank you. Absolutely smashed on the champagne and loving every moment. Wonderul that so many of the players that helped project us to where we are now, have won something as a squad before the inevitability of upgrading begins in the summer. They will never leave our hearts. Savour all & have cracking respective evenings. Mon the maggies.

When did we sign Diego Costa

Would have been nice for them to play 60 mins with 10 men. Blatant red card offence that.

You would hope given the fact he had a year out through no fault of the club, who continued to support him without question, that there has been some foresight here. Something along the lines of a 1 year extension, discretion to the club only. He's been immense and reminds me very much of Michael Essien. Controlled but aggresive, intelligent, strong & clearly knows how to strike a ball. Would say he's a better passer though. Fortunate to have him & hope he's here for a while.

Bitterly disappointing we're continually unable to invest too. That squad is in serious need of beefing up, particularly another forward, right winger and GK. The sub full backs aren't fit for this system either. Keeping Murphy on was criminal post 55 mins. Couldn't track back and didn't press with any vigour, if at all. Not saying Dubravka had a bad game. We simply need someone decent with their feet but can dominate the box & shot stop, not one or the other. Our subs didn't make any impact & that is not Eddie's fault. If that Tonali hit goes in first half, goal of the season competition closed. Fantastic player.

Awful performance again. Looked solid enough the first 35mins but awful post that. Willock looks horrendous. Slow, lazy & cost us that game by not putting away that tap in opportunity. How can he expect any run of games, coming on and making absolutely no positive impact. Howe continues to look lost tactically during games & afraid to make substitutions. Murphy was spent after 55 mins, while both schar and burn were continously outdone by the long ball. Appreciate more difficult to shift a centre back off but we were waiting to concede the second half & yet again, just watched it happen without influence.

Viagra. Consistent Wood.

Hard to argue with any of that. While watching, felt like a carbon copy of the forest game last season. Pressed the midfield 5 and broke through the lines with ease, exposing our centre backs within 2 passes. They could and should have had more. We looked jaded early on & have stuck with the same team for pretty much the whole run. We play in short 15 minute bursts at the moment but today we weren't as clinical or creative as we have been the last few weeks. This meant consistently trying to create rather than sit back and absorb. We looked knackered, shit and exposed for it. We move on...

That is the exact type of game you want Pope in the sticks. So exposed through balls down the channel and over the top. Felt we were in for a tough game today but that was horrendous & has once again exposed our frailties and small squad. They're missing tons of players but Gordon, Murphy, both full backs and Bruno miles off it - couldn't replace any. Still feel changes can be made in game in respect of formation and tactics. What a shit Saturday.

Shocking performance. Very much like the forest game last season at home. Awful by Dan Burn for that third goal but only in that scenario following two horseshit simple passes gone amiss from Trippier then Gordon. Eddie lost on ideas from the very beginning. Simply refuses to make changes when it's clearly going wrong in game. What the fuck is Osula going to do in 5 minutes? That's the worst I've seen us play since Palace away, when we created absolutely nothing and were battered. Only player that looked remotely interested today was Tonali. Fucking awful. Well done Bournemouth again, continuing to outsmart us.

Howe has to take a huge slice of responsibility here. Letting it happen without making any change. We've been abysmal.

Gordon has been awful.

Plenty off it today. Both full backs been run a bit ragged. Joelinton and tonali not close enough to bruno. Gordon looks totally disinterested. Howe struggling once again, setting up against Bournemouth. Isak hasn't had a sniff. Murphy totally ineffective at the moment.

Osula is thoroughly enjoyable to watch. ADHD feel about his play but energetic. Targett did well there, the cabbage patch looker.

Belter. With his weaker foot too!