King Kante

Only way this happens is if the Tapas Pulis keeps his job.

You mean apart from that Ziyech one, where he allowed the ball to go right across goal because he didn't move his feet properly then had the ball slam into his face. That image where the ball makes impact with his face is one of the funniest pictures I have seen in football for years. Only Phil Jones tops that.

This is a good point and people should remember it. For me, this season isn't one where we are going to win the league, the Dippers unfortunately are still much better than us but being able to keep clean sheets even when not playing well is a promising sign. This season the games that have really annoyed me in the league were Soton and WBA as both those games involved ass clownery that was a trade mark of last season. I firmly believe if we had Mendy for those games we would've won both which would have us second behind the Dippers. We have also had two bad referring calls that have hit us, as we should've had a pen against Penchester Utd and in the Wolves game we should never have had that corner given against us (although tbf, against WBA Harvetz did handle it before the 3rd.) Either way, people need to keep in mind we are still 1-2 years away from being a top rank side and patches like this are going to happen. Of course, if we keep playing like this for 2 months or something then we may need to worry, but at the moment I am not too worried. Being able to defend properly is a big improvement on last season and the one before.

Well that wasn't good but we should be mindful that last season we would've lost that, at least now we can defend which gives us a chance to pull something like this off. Further, I will take a win playing badly than play well and get a draw/loss. That said, midfield is a real issue at the moment as we aren't keeping hold of the ball enough. Hopefully, Ziyech can come back in and help with that. Not going to beat up on any players today as I do not think that is needed right now. However, Emerson did ok when he came on and Silva was man of the match. Not a glorious victory but today was all about the points so I am happy to take that. Everyone needs to remember we're still a work in progress and this season will have teething problems at times, hopefully today is a turning point and we can start playing better once we get our wingers back.

The problem with this game is midfield, they aren't doing their job. It is way too easy to get the ball from back to front for Wet Spam. The problem is I am not sure how to fix it, CHO on for Werner?

I do not think SFL's job is on the line yet. I think for that to happen we would need to lose another 3 games on the trot or something. The last two games principally looked like we were suffering from fatigue, which is also true of a number of the other top teams bar Utd and the Dippers (and even then the Dippers drew with Fulham and had to be bailed out by a penalty.) That said, there are a few tactical/selection choices he has made which haven't made that much sense. First is starting Harvetz in both the Wolves and Everton games, in my opinion Kova should've started with Harvetz coming on as he is clearly out of form/suffering from illness. Second are the formations, I am a massive fan of 433 for this squad but not when we do not have any wingers. In my opinion, he should have gone 343 or 352 in both those games to push James and Chilwell further up the pitch and given the opportunity for Werner to play as a SS. Lastly, in the Wolves game it was clear we were out on our feet soon after scoring the goal. That for me means you have to put Jorgi on as he is the best at keeping the ball, how he didn't see this I am not sure but for me it was very obvious. Anyhow, I am not too worried atm as the league is very unpredictable and the squad is still very young/new to the league.

I think it is pretty clear now he either has mental health problems or substance (alcohol) abuse problems, if not both.

I think this is a worse draw than Bayern for us. The problem with AM is that they're the best drilled side in Europe. They aren't the type of team to beat you 5-0 but they can do a 1-0 job in both legs fairly easily and completely stifle you. Bayern on the other hand will fly and you and provide you with counter opportunities. My biggest worry with AM is that we are still a little open to the counter as we haven't got anyone to sit in there and break up their play when they counter. Simeone will be rubbing his hands if we have to play Jorgi or Kante there.

Lonzano and Sarr are the ones I would take. Maybe lean towards Sarr as he knows the league and there is a lot of upside with him. Dembele I would skip, very expensive (wages would be crazy even if he does for €40m), injury prone and has a questionable approach to training and diet.

I think he was being sarcastic.

I think this is a bit harsh. Yesterday, we looked gassed and weren't creative owing to the lack of wingers. Further, we only lost due to madness by Mendy, Pickford pulling off a really good save from James and Mount hitting the post. I am not saying we were great, and I think the formation was really bizarre, but when you combine this with the other teams play this weekend, it wasn't as if we were really any different. That said, we need a response at Wolves and be consistent after that one as well. I have personally seen a lot of progress this year and whilst results haven't always been there, there have been some mitigating circumstances i.e. no Mendy/Silva for the Soton/WBA games and somehow not getting the penalty v Pen Utd.

Just about to say the same thing. Watching the games it appears this weekend was the one where all the additional football caught up with the big teams. Dippers only got a point as Parker put that clown Kamara on. Madness of a substitution.

He should've gone 352 today, we didn't have the players to play 433.

Can we just agree from now on to give Everton the 3pts for the Goodison game? I prefer to have a bye week than watch this sort of performance year after year.

Yeah, I am amazed SFL has gone 433. If he wants to keep that then he needs to get Dave on and put James at RWF.

Yeah, I was thinking that. Kai at the tip and Timo in the SS role makes the most sense. Chilly and James are going to have to run their arses off but they're capable of doing it. I mentioned in the Summer that I was quite happy to keep Willian around on reasonable wages or get another AM for this reason but wad essentially told it wasn't a problem. 😂 the way this has been phased makes it sound like he has died or something.

City wanting Hålaand is being reported in The Times. Tbh, I always felt this was his most likely destination: Manchester City are poised to enter the race for Erling Haaland, the prolific Borussia Dortmund striker. Fresh from signing a new two-year contract, Pep Guardiola wants to reinvigorate his squad next season and Haaland is one of the players that City are considering signing. Haaland, 20, has attracted the interest of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and Manchester United. City are ready to make a move for the forward if he decides to leave Dortmund next season. The Norway international is contracted until the summer of 2024. He has a £68.7 million release clause in his deal, but that only becomes active at the end of the 2021-22 season. Dortmund are likely to want more than that this summer if he pushes for a move. Haaland has been in excellent form this season, scoring 23 goals in 19 appearances for club and country. He is an agile, lethal finisher, and has a connection to City: his father, Alf-Inge, played 38 times for them from 2000 to 2003. The forward position is an area where City are looking to strengthen at the end of the season. Sergio Agüero, City’s all-time top scorer, is out of contract next summer. The 32-year-old Argentinian, who is set to start today’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford on the bench, has played only five times for City this season owing to knee and hamstring injuries. A young Haaland wears City colours City have been linked with a move for Lionel Messi but it remains unclear whether the six-times Ballon d’Or winner is willing to leave Barcelona on a free transfer this summer. One factor that could complicate a potential move for Haaland is that he is represented by Mino Raiola, the controversial super-agent. Raiola branded Guardiola, the City manager, “an absolute zero, a coward, a dog” in 2018 when talking about the Catalan’s management of his client Zlatan Ibrahimovic during his time at Barcelona. Guardiola sold Ibrahimovic to AC Milan in 2011 after becoming tired of his penchant for fast cars and his celebrity lifestyle. Guardiola responded to Raiola’s attack on him in 2018 by revealing that the agent had offered him the chance to sign Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United. United tried to pursue Haaland when he left RB Salzburg in December 2019, but ended up backing out of the race to sign him because Raiola was insistent that a release clause must be inserted into the player’s contract. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer retains an interest in Haaland, but the fact that he is represented by Raiola means a move to Old Trafford is highly unlikely. United are not exactly on good terms with Raiola and the club are likely to prioritise another bid for Jadon Sancho, the Dortmund winger, next summer instead. This week Tuttosport published an interview with Raiola in which he stated that Pogba’s time at United was “over”. Raiola also chastised Solskjaer for comparing Haaland to Romelu Lukaku, a former client of his, who left Old Trafford for Inter Milan in the summer of 2019. “Haaland is like Ibrahimovic when he was 20,” Raiola said. “Solskjaer is a good guy but he was wrong when he said that Erling is like Lukaku. “It would be better if Solskjaer thought about finding a way to make Pogba play like a champion, instead of talking about Haaland

This is always a tough game for us, hopefully having no fans in the ground will help. Mendy James Zouma Silva Chilwell Kova Kante Mount Puli Giroud Werner Subs: Kepa, Rudi, Dave, Billy, Kai, CHO, Tammy

If Granny finds a buyer for Kepa (not a loan deal) then I will take back everything negative I have ever said about her. Problem is the fecker is on £170-£190k for another five years. Unless he is prepared to lose out on around £120-£150k a week, I do not see it.

No way would I send him to Burnley, they do not play in the right style. PL wise Brighton would be best for him and I also think Leeds would be a good shout, although I am not sure what their squad depths are like. If he cannot get a PL loan then send him to Spain as his technical qualities should fit in over there. At a push I would consider Ajax or something as they have Ropey League games but I am not really a fan of sending a boy of his ability to the Dutch League and I suspect Ajax have a number of their own youngsters that need minutes.

Yeah, I suspect Rice, if brought, would primarily be used as a CB. If however, he does see himself as a full time DMF then it may be we won't need him as we do have Billy, Gallagher and Amapdu all in that position who are showing potential (whether they will be good enough is still up for debate.)

The problem we have with Billy at the moment is the sheer number of players we have, the fact he got a bad injury and the Euros. For that reason, I slightly lean to the loan for six months camp. I say this as Billy needs quite a lot of minutes and I am not sure where he is going to get them as Kante is ahead of him and Jorgi is likely to be picked ahead of him when we start getting into the tail end of the season for his experience. For those reasons, I would be tempted to loam him, allow him to get some real decent minutes in, then try to sell Jorgi and integrate him next season. Just for clarification, I say this as a big Billy fan it is just that I do not want him to stagnate here by only getting ten minutes here and there.

It is actually Atletico that is the most likely as Gladbach are most likely to draw Juve and Leipzig, Madrid.

I am betting we get Atletico. To try and prevent it, I am currently trying to put £10 on it.

Wouldn't Inter be interested in Alonso if they get through tonight? That said, Emerson looks and sounds he wants out so I do imagine he will be the first out the door, especially as his wages are more reasonable. As for AC I'd personally prefer to keep him to Rudiger but recognise that probably not a view shared by many.