Donatello

Pray tell...

I'll take that bet.

Watching Austin try to defend/close down (or lack thereof) is a little funny Not last night, mind, last night it was mildly infuriating.

This x 1000.

Yeah, I'm not remotely interested in how Guardiola wants us to play. It took arguably one of the best teams in the world 95 minutes to beat us at their ground, that's justification enough for any tactic.

Sickening, but a really impressive performance. In the grand scheme of things, the point probably won't make much difference this season (and that is what I will tell myself to prevent freaking out ). Rather, I'll focus on how we're continuing to improve which bodes well for the rest of the season.

Yeaaah, I doubt it

So one player wrong = clueless manager. Seems reasonable. Not that you can't be critical, but a single 'wrong' player is hardly egregious.

Which pacey players do you want in the team? Long and Redmond? Gabbiadini you'd have a point on.

The f*ck is up with you this season?

Yeah, I'm going to second this. Not that I'm suggesting he was specifically terrified But to point to one specific example of a counter-attack as if it were indicative of our general play is slightly misleading. Never have we been so opposed to the counter attack as we were under Puel (in recent years). Not that I agree with the rest of the paragraph (and that isn't a criticism of Puel before anyone gets huffy, just an observation of his preferred style of tactics)

Apparently not, if you listen to the post-match with Adam Blackmore. There is of course the potential that having been coached for a year is possession/low risk tactics, that there is a hangover (not a dig at Puel as such).

Yeah, I think you're giving the fans too easy a ride there. I'm not stating one way or the other about I felt, but fan discontent played a massive role in getting Puel axed. I think Les Reed would've stuck if not for all the booing and "attack attack attack" b*llocks".

Redmond for Tadic. Long for JWP.

Defenders can't always prevent goalkeepers from having to face an effort on target. Occasionally, y'know, goalkeepers need to save them.

Signed: MLG.

A) Handball, you blind f*ck. B) Try using your f*cking hands, Forster.

Neither have been fantastic defensively, but Boufal has completely abandoned his duties on two occasions (that I can remember). The dangerous cross into Knockaert which he 'sliced' back across the goal face, Boufal was just wandering around outside the box/not tracking the run.

You got all that from listening to the radio? Or is it a Merrington quote or something?

P.S Can someone give Tadic and Boufal a slap for overreacting so pathetically whenever they face a challenge

Great result. Far too conservative in possession. Too many percentage passes from Davis, JWP, and Cedric. Tadic or Boufal need to drift in closer to Gabbiadini when we have possession because he's too isolated/isn't holding the ball up. Ultimately, however, it's the classic away performance you'd expect to see playing away against the top 6, it's just not very entertaining/Brighton are not top 6. So yes, slightly more adventurous, please.

I hear the frustration, I wanted Redmond dropped too *But* it was only 8 games. You have to give players a reasonable stint at times, and Redmond did score a few last year. At worst, I think he was given 1 or 2 games more than he 'deserved'/warranted, but it's hardly the worst transgression. As for Honest/Yoshida, VVD is our best defender (at his core), he had to be reintroduced at some juncture (otherwise why keep him). Reintroducing a rusty VVD with Yoshida made more sense because of their familiarity (plus Yoshida = captain status) Dropping Yoshida today could just be a case of squad management, i doubt it'll be long term exclusion. Anyway, I personally think Pellegrino has shown a willingness to change personnel, whilst balancing the need for some persistence. Certainly not faultless (Forster), but hardly egregious decision making. IMO, obvs (and so I shouldn't have used the word "ridiculous". Bit melodramatic. Apologies)

Ridiculous comment.

Oopsy.

:D