S-Clarke

What is the new data? Can't say I've seen anything apart from the fact that it spreads faster. Certainly nothing about it being more potent or anything like that. At the end of the day, viruses mutate - this is just a mutation. If we react like this to every mutation then we might as well accept lockdown for the rest of our lives.

Ah, that's what we've missed. The infamous 'HIT IT LONG' ' GET IT IN THE BOX' 'GET IT IN THE MIXER' 'PLAY IT' shouts from the stands. They have no understanding or idea about the game or tactics. Thankfully, none of those fans will ever be a manager.

The problem is that we had nothing up top at the end of the game, the movement wasn't there from either of the young lads. Redmond, less said the better. Theo played well but had tired massively towards the end. We kept recycling as we had no where else to go, the attack was dead by the end unfortunately. And I still say it's better to keep the ball than to try a rushed pass that ends up recycling it back to the opposition.

Everton winning.

Fulham are one of the promoted teams who have something about them, they have a threat in attack and I think they have improved at the back as well - I like the CB they have on loan from Lyon. Diallo is the obvious swap in CM. I'm interested to see him from the start as he's impressed me in his sub appearances with his mobility with and without the ball.

Not blaming him at all, but you kinda want to see some impact from subs - no matter who they come on against. I'm not just referring to this game either, he's come on a few times now and I don't know what he offers. He might be quick, but he doesn't seem to have the positional intelligence to use it.

We don't know what the injury is yet, let's be honest. Last season was a freak season fitness wise, I think we all realise that. The only way we can have a player of Ings quality is if he has a little disadvantage in fitness - I'll take that over no Ings.

No threat, no real intelligence in his play, no strength or ability to hold it up. He offered nothing. Want to start seeing something from him, but in all the games I've seen him so far he's shown absolutely nothing.

I don't have any real complaints with the performance today, we took the game to them for the most part - but we just lacked the real finish/quality at the top end, which was highlighted by the fact we had two untried kids up top in the end. Bit more quality/bit more depth in the squad and we'd have probably got something, as the general shape and play of the team tactically was spot on. But the squad size was always going to hit us, it's unsustainable for us to be where we are with our squad - just got to be realistic about it. Frustrating because we had City, we were playing them excellently, but we had no quality at the sharp end to finish it. Vestergaard was excellent, but so was KWP - both quality down the right side (in terms of pinging the balls, and then KWP for getting down there all game). Redmond had a nightmare, dreadful. Moussa not much better either. I'd start looking for another wide player tbh.

Looks similar to his knee injury against Villa, same knee, same movements being tried. Walked off, didn't limp. But he looks injury prone again.

He's not been in form for quite some time IMO. He was our weak spot against Arsenal.

I should have put a bet on that. Dammit.

🤣

Liverpool have looked nothing more than 'ok' since early this year, imo. They'd already built up their lead in the first half of 2019-2020, they could afford a drop in performances in the 2nd half of the season. They have been regressing for a while now performance wise, but they are still finding results. But they are no where near as 'invincible' they were in their pomp of 2018-2019 - even more so with the players they've lost through injury. ....Now watch them win 6-0 today 🤣

Sims isn't a PL player, we need to let him leave and develop a career elsewhere. Championship at best I'd imagine, he may make it as a decent lower PL player at some point, but I don't think he's there yet. If he was going to make it here he'd have made it here already.

They don't like being pressured, so hopefully we're on our game. Truth be told, we'll struggle to get the ball I imagine. When we do get it we need to be accurate and not wasteful with it (I'm looking at you Armstrong...) Let's see what happens. Anything is a complete bonus here.

I hope Burnley get relegated, they are just pointless and offer nothing. They are just out to kill whatever game they play in and hope for a set piece to bundle something in off Woods head. What a load of crap. I can't see Sheff U ever moving off the bottom, they are there to stay. It will be a long way back for them I think, after a shocking season like this it often takes clubs a few years to regroup and go again in the Championship.

No harm in having a Christmas wish or a belief whilst we are there or there abouts! I think the league will even it's self out a bit by the end of Jan though and there will be the normal gaps developing.

I think we are/were hoping Moussa was the 'new mane', but sadly he's not a threat in the goal sense yet. I'm glad to see he's getting a run in the side now, but he's still not nailed down a place here despite being in his 2nd season. Need to start seeing much more from him now really.

Brighton, once again, not winning after having most of the ball. They just have no cutting edge what so ever.

I was also confused as to why that penalty wasn't re-checked, but there we go. As I said in the other post, I'd have taken a point all night long. I didn't see us winning tonight because I didn't see Arsenal losing 5 or whatever on the bounce at home, they've still got good players and I couldn't see them let that happen - and they didn't. We didn't really go for their throats after 30 mins and we did sit back a bit, bit tippy tappy in the 2nd half - but they basically threw two banks of 4 in front of us, very compacted through the middle and our inverted winger idea wasn't really working. We did get in behind them a couple of times, but we needed to do it more - that's how you get around that kind of 4-4 block. Never mind, take the point and go. Shame the next one is against City, but we did them last year.

I saw this result coming a mile off to be honest. They weren't going to lose 5 or 6 on the bounce, they're too professional for that. We didn't really go for the throat, but they defended well and blocked the space well in the 2nd half particular. But I'll take the point and go, I didn't think we'd ever get more than that tonight.

Personally, I think it will be hugely unlikely a team the size of Arsenal to lose 6 on the bounce. They have some good international level players in that group, so that's why I'd personally be happy enough with a draw, because I don't think it's going to be as easy as some are suggesting. They are certainly in a massively false position. Hopefully the team prove that wrong and we just put them to bed, but we'll see.

London set to go into Tier 3 - no fans at the Emirates? Although I don't think there were any there yesterday, just a few cardboard cut-outs.

Absolutely! Talk about instant karma. On a serious note, what an absolutely diabolical footballer he is. How on earth is he earning a living at the top level? (I include international football in that) There are players in L2 of a better standard then him.