Eddie and Mad Dog's still shite but slightly better, it was only Brentford FFS, Geordie Boys v Sandro Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Sandro Use To Room On The Second Floor, Meelan

[MMXXVIII 1072]

1 minute ago, Monkeys Fist said:

Nope 

 

First half wasn’t great but we looked the stronger side for most of the second to me. 
Reolace who? 

 

I'll let it fester.

[wykikitoon 16959]

One thing that's got me scratching my head. Isak. How do we get him firing again? 

[Rayvin 4964]

2 minutes ago, MMXXVIII said:

 

I'll let it fester.

 

You don't mean Howe, surely?

[Dr Gloom 20044]

Agree with Strawb. We can do these at home. 
 

Not the easiest performance to watch. I was surprised how early we seemed to tire compared to last season. Not used to playing every three days I guess. Maybe need add a new dope doctor to the back room staff. Pogba’s doctor might have an opening. 
 

I don’t think Milan bossed the game by any means. They just did more with the ball when they had it. Our defence looked a little panicked at times and we lacked creativity when we got near the box. 
 

Great point on balance and a clean sheet 

[ewerk 26738]

4 minutes ago, wykikitoon said:

One thing that's got me scratching my head. Isak. How do we get him firing again? 

He was coming a bit deeper looking the ball but, like all strikers, it’s incredibly difficult to score if you don’t have the service.

[Monkeys Fist 39084]

4 minutes ago, MMXXVIII said:

 

I'll let it Fester.

I know I’m bald, but that’s uncalled for 

2 minutes ago, Rayvin said:

 

You don't mean Howe, surely?

I think he does, I’m putting it down to overindulgence. 

[Chaser 1072]

1 minute ago, ewerk said:

He was coming a bit deeper looking the ball but, like all strikers, it’s incredibly difficult to score if you don’t have the service.

 

He wasn't his usual in possession either though. 

 

He's class, players dip in and out of form. It just happens that they've all dipped at the same time..

[Gemmill 35319]

Fast track to becoming a basket case if we bin Howe off the back of this or pretty much anything else that could realistically happen this season.

[Isegrim 8925]

Good result. People should get a grip. We were still playing a major European side not some unwashed 5-a-side from down the road.

 

 I did only really watch the second half and thought our players were struggling with the size of the pitch and positional awareness. Milan were tactically astute and more comfortable with the ball. Some of our players are struggling with confidence, fitness and form. Winning a point away is even better and if we can raise the intensity in games at home then we will see better performances and results.

[spongebob toonpants 3641]

6 minutes ago, Dr Gloom said:

was surprised how early we seemed to tire compared to last season.

2nd game in 3 days - mentally taxing playing in the Champions league and I think they said it was 30 degrees

[ewerk 26738]

BTW for anyone still watching TNT1, Minteh is starting for Feyenoord.

[Rayvin 4964]

I mean, Howe needs to grow into managing at this level too, I'm sure he'd be the first to say the same. But he works so hard, he's so committed that I'm personally prepared for it to take a bit of trial and error, some rough patches here and there, to be able to allow him to get to the point where he's got it all nailed down.

 

We don't need to be the team that smashes elite clubs around in the CL yet - in fact I almost don't want us to be because it's going to be way more satisfying later having had to grind through the levels and really earn it.

[wykikitoon 16959]

It's about not getting beat in the group games. Point away from home and do em at home. Mint. 

[Isegrim 8925]

People starting to question Howe after just a couple of underwhelming performances should get their heads checked or kicked tbh

[Holden McGroin 5027]

Great point but i echo the sentiments that we look a different team to last year. I think it’s the midfield lacking intensity and player positioning. We are getting cut up to easily (even villa could have had 3) and not creating anything. 
 

It could have easily been 4 or 5 nil tonight. Hopefully eddie has the answers. And hopefully Big and Little Joe are back soon.
 

 

 

[ewerk 26738]

1 minute ago, Rayvin said:

 

We don't need to be the team that smashes elite clubs around in the CL yet - in fact I almost don't want us to be because it's going to be way more satisfying later having had to grind through the levels and really earn it.

The teams we face in the group aren’t any better than we’d face in the PL. The problem is that all three would be top 6 level in our league. 
 

What was worrying tonight for me was the lack of energy, Dan Burn being exposed and a complete absence of attacking fluidity.

[Isegrim 8925]

1 minute ago, ewerk said:

The teams we face in the group aren’t any better than we’d face in the PL. The problem is that all three would be top 6 level in our league. 
 

What was worrying tonight for me was the lack of energy, Dan Burn being exposed and a complete absence of attacking fluidity.

A couple of players look off the pace at the moment. Burn is getting overrun a lot these days, either because he is getting targeted or lost a yard or both.

[Rayvin 4964]

2 minutes ago, ewerk said:

The teams we face in the group aren’t any better than we’d face in the PL. The problem is that all three would be top 6 level in our league. 
 

What was worrying tonight for me was the lack of energy, Dan Burn being exposed and a complete absence of attacking fluidity.

 

Fair but we'd take 0-0 away against a top 6 side too IMO. Also you need to factor in the sense of occasion somewhat. City were arguably the best team in Europe for several years before they won the CL because the the mental barrier they had to overcome to establish themselves.

 

But yes, lack of energy is fair and a bit surprising. I get Tripps being tired by the end cos he was playing just the other day. Isak though is a bit of a confusing one. The press has fallen away somewhere in the mould, idk if we're trying to take up a new style or what but there is something to look at there.

[Holden McGroin 5027]

2 minutes ago, Isegrim said:

A couple of players look off the pace at the moment. Burn is getting overrun a lot these days, either because he is getting targeted or lost a yard or both.

I thought burn was excellent defensively. The whole back 4 were really. They are just getting over run from midfield. 

Edited September 19, 2023 by Holden McGroin

[Ayatollah Hermione 12866]

I thought that was a fantastic point and the way we defended, albeit aided by Pope in the first half, was bordering on heroic. I don’t think you can underestimate how vital that kind of result, and more importantly, the clean sheet will be to a team that has had some poor results and hasn’t been able to keep two clean sheets in a row for months. That’ll be huge to everyone. I thought we grew into the game as a whole and that bodes well for the rest of the groups. We stood up to our first test, in the group of death no less, and came out with a result. You can argue the specifics of the attacking performance but I honestly think it’s secondary to the wider picture here. Fucking excellent result. The season starts now 

[Ayatollah Hermione 12866]

If we have Joe Willock to bring off the bench, we win that btw

[Monkeys Fist 39084]

 I’d imagine off the back of a point at the San Siro, Mad Dog has a table booked at the local pizzeria and some filthy hookers for later with Eddie. 
 

Granted, we didn’t make the most of the very few chances we had. 
 

We got very lucky in the first half with AC’s profligacy in attack. 
 

But… they ran out of ideas and steam. 
 

If that game had gone on for 10 more minutes, there was only one side looking likely to win it. 
 

It was neither a satisfying nor particularly enjoyable but, we didn’t embarrass ourselves and we certainly have positives we can build on for the return leg. 
 

Not many teams will go there in their opening CL game and get a point. 

[Isegrim 8925]

4 minutes ago, Holden McGroin said:

I thought burn was excellent defensively. The whole back 4 were really. They are just getting over run from midfield. 

I only watched half the game but thought that Burn was very good at clearing balls going into the box or long balls to their right wing but look quite exposed and slow when players were running at and easily past him.

[ewerk 26738]

10 minutes ago, Isegrim said:

A couple of players look off the pace at the moment. Burn is getting overrun a lot these days, either because he is getting targeted or lost a yard or both.

Or he’s not getting protection for the left side of midfield. Gordon will give 100% effort but I’m not sure he’s got the footballing intelligence for the top level.

[Anorthernsoul 1221]

30 minutes ago, wykikitoon said:

One thing that's got me scratching my head. Isak. How do we get him firing again? 

 

He has to play on the front foot, trying to get in behind. He's no good dropping deep for the ball all game, it not only leaves us short up front it's very easy to defend against for their centre halves. He's dangerous putting their defenders on the back foot.