Whitey Grandad

As an attacker or even an attacking midfielder you don't run all over the pitch chasing everything that moves. You follow your opponent back towards your own goal trying to get your foot in or shepherd him out wide but as you get to the edge of your own box you expect him to run into one of your own defenders. It should be a layered defence. Yesterday they just waltzed into our penalty are without a challenge.

AA couldn’t be expected to track a run all the way back to his goalkeeper.

To be fair they’re all at fault. It was a team effort. But you don’t normally expect your forwards to track an opponent all the way back to your own penalty spot.

I disagree. He could have blocked that shot, or at least made Longstaff think twice.

So in summary it is negative, submissive and leaves you short in midfield.

But did nothing for their first goal. Made himself as thin as possible and turned side on to the kick. Even turned his head away.

Afraid not. He misses the next three first team fixtures which are home to West Ham, away to Bournemouth and then home to Liverpool.

Watch him for their first goal. Doesn’t attack the goalscorer and actually turns his back on him. How the heck is he going to block the shot when he’s looking at the back of his own net?

Nope. Afraid not.

Not great but try and see what Bednarek does.

Clappy

They rarely do. When Abramovich took over Chelsea there was surprise that he was paying for everything up front.

23:00 our time, GMT. 24:00 CET

Perhaps both

Ties will be settled on the night with extra time and penalties if necessary.

Spooky. Ties will be played midweek around the 1st March.

Up until that West Ham Cup game it used to be like that. We had stumbled upon a way of playing that was energetic and effective. Perhaps winning that game was a curse in disguise.

Shhhhhh...

He's had a chance. What has he made of it?

Jones needs more space to wave his arms about.

I expect him to keep his cool and maintain his dignity.

He shouldn’t be having a dig at anybody. A dignified response is what is required. That or better still a dignified silence.

My sister suffered from a bout of pericarditis several years ago and she hadn’t had any vaccines. Maybe if she had received a shot she wouldn’t have caught pericarditis.

I saw a cartoon once that said, ”I feel so much better now that I’ve given up hope”

But how much higher?