Tomo

Easy to say in hindsight, back I September people were declaring we sold the wrong fullback and that Lamptey was going to be our new KDB. Today is literally the first time since Brighton I thought he was genuinely terrible, other times I feel he's looked like a top class player having an off day, obviously that in itself can't keep happening but still... Again that's something that's all sweet to say in hindsight. Apart from the super cup Pulisic was absolutely anonymous for his first two months at a club (including against League two Grimsby) and he was largely questioned due to that and his not so great goal record at Dortmund. Lampard did the right thing then and pulled Pulisic out of the firing line for a while, hopefully he does the same here.

In fairness to Kepa, he's delivered in two HUGE shootout's.

Tbh Munich aside I didn't think Cech was great at them either. Ironically our best first choice keeper with penalties in the modern era has been Kepa

Problem is, in knockout tournaments you often have to win a PK shootout to win the trophy, 2 of our 3 major European title's came through having to win one. It's not the fact he's not saving them that worry me, but he's getting easily outsmarted and sat down (literally) every single time! I hate to do this as he's been fantastic in so many ways for us but it's a real weakness for him.

To add to the worry I checked his career record with penalties the other day and it was 22 out of 23 that went in (and that doesn't include the Spurs shootout). Luckily in the FA Cup and CL we get a 4th sub if games go to ET, we absolutely must save that slot for a keeper change if it comes to pens.

Good to see the lessons are being learned from James' and Mount's resurgence.

Deapite this not being the best day (understatement) we've still created enough to get atleast a draw out of this.

This is why I was preaching caution, he's great on song but streaky as hell.

I think Covid has knocked him for six personally.

Mendy is horrific with penalties. We seriously need to save the last sub in cup/CL ties.

Compare the way Carlo addressed facing Frank compared to how Jose did. Night and day!

Could be a good idea to go diamond here.

We (as a league) lowkey seem to be returning to the late 00's era of ultra cautious big games!

Yeah if I was analyzing this game as neutral I'd say we'll have far too much pace and movement for Everton. However being a fan there's always that paranoid side there

Just watching the sky sports videos of the greatest goals in this fixture and still to this day I'm at a loss at how we allowed Jermaine Beckford off all people to score a solo goal running from one end of the pitch to another performing FIFA street esque skill moves in the process. Just, like, how?

We have nearly a week off after Wolves so if need be we can probably go full strength for both.

Yeah but problem is, Conte signed him and keeps picking him. Despite the fact he repeatedly bottles it when it matters most he was still kept out there while Lautaro (a striker that actually is potentially world class if not already there) got hauled off.

-

Would we even be able to get him even if he's up for coming? PSG don't strike me as a club that would play ball even if the player wants out, only slight hope would be if they need the funds for a new player (or Messi's wages) or his contract runs out in 2023 at the latest and he doesn't intend to reknew.

From an Inter fan. Tell me you don't get Chelsea 17/18 vibes while reading that? So similar it's scary.

I don't really get this waste of potential narrative, many player's who turned out to be great were playing sparsely as a teenager, some cases not atall. Main case in point would be Pep's Barca, praised to high heaven for creating such a great team largely from academy players, but what isn't often mentioned is only Messi out of all of them was a regular as a teenager and only a further two (Iniesta and Xavi) even made their Barca debut before 20.

They have a system that makes sure that doesn't happen, for example if we get drawn first Sevilla's ball won't go in the pot that determines our opponent.

I think we'll stuff Barcelona and it would be the perfect poetic justice as we will do it with the two things they've always lorded over us (youth and 'purist' type football).

Would be karma for us to rock up there with youth and playing good football while they cling on to the last bit of Messi before he fucks off.

When we go there on form we tend to do the business, hopefully this is the case again.