Saint_clark

How the hell did Longstaff beat Vestergard in the air there? Was there a push in the back?

Didn't look like that went out to me....

The irreplaceable McCarthy at work there. Nobody better out there.

Ok if that's the kind of forward pass Stephens is gonna play then he can just face our own goal for the entire game.

True, just wish he'd at least look forward when there's noone within 10 yards of him.

Every single time he gets the ball he just turns inside and passes back. Might be a safety instruction from Ralph but it's really frustrating.

Stephens needs to be braver, he's refusing to even look down the line at the moment.

Fucking yesssss

Stephens at left back. Commos right, I guess one disruption is better than 2. Keep the threat of KWP on the right.

Trying to temper my excitement.

Just seen the team, nope.

I'm always of the opinion that if someone is good enough to be on the bench if needed then they're good enough to fill in for the first choice in their position. I'd be much more confident if Ramsay were starting at right back.

Just guessing. Changing the entire formation would be even more mental than playing Stephens at right back.

Walker-peters at left back means we lose a lot of width that side (although I can see him slotting one into the net after making a run inside redmond), Stephens at rightback is a nightmare. He needs to just sit back and not go forward and that means we lose even more width.

You're right, Alex McCarthy is the absolute best goalkeeper we could hope to have in goal 🤦‍♂️

I don't know, I'm not a full time professional scout with intricate knowledge of lower and foreign leagues where we would undoubtedly find better keepers for reasonable amounts of money.

He had a good game last game out. He's made plenty of mistakes, and there is better available. If we are looking at a position to upgrade I think goalkeeper is the one thats most achievable in terms of current ability and what it would cost to buy someone new.

We really need a keeper upgrade, not sure who we could get though that's affordable and an upgrade. I'd actually like us to go for a more experienced keeper than trying to sign younger ones like we have been. Get someone who's at least 29 in to solidify us at the back more.

Well his conversion ratio is currently at 12% (best in Prem history!) But I'd say he's improved since he first started taking them, so he needs another 90 direct freekicks in his career to be able to overtake Beckham I wager.

Really weird and frustrating that Stephens has reverted to his previous form. He was so reliable for most of last season.

Worrying that Diallo looked so erratic today, giving away a lot of fouls. Hope that was just excitement and wanting to get in on the attacking action.

Don't see many piledrivers from distance anymore as they've made the balls way too light.

Could be saving a fair bit on wages given who we've released and loaned out.

Worryingly the club seem to have said they don't think the targets go far enough. I don't like these kind of quota ideas.

Was about to say Allan is playing better in CM so far but then realised that point would be a bit lost as Romeu and JWP just dominated the midfield playing against him, Doucoure and Sigurdsson. Other than the shot that hit the bar, those three had no impact on the game at all.