The Fish

I think the difference between then and now is the ethos of Howe's teams. Whomever we play in the cup game, the way we play will stay largely the same. I'd rest ASM and Bruno, maybe Trippier and one of the centre backs. Maybe give Dubravka a game? With Longstaff, Murphy, Fraser, Krafth, Anderson and the like playing we should still have enough to beat Tranmere. Especially if we play with the same intensity we saw in the games against Forest and Brighton.

Surly not.

Well, that was a challenging wank.

If I was a Man Utd fan, I'd take the 3-0 loss.

Made a bet with a mate that we'd finish above his Man Utd side this season. After spending 10 minutes telling me everything that's wrong with his club and how he genuinely thinks they're at risk of going down if not this season then soon, he still took the bet. "Ronaldo and Casemiro" were his reasons for thinking the side he just slated, would finish above us. So if anyone wants a free £25 in May, I suggest finding a Man Utd fan sharpish.

The only bold thing around here is your interpretation of the English language.

It's derivative and only really works if you've got a nun and a semi-on

That wasn't a joke, I know all the jokes and that wasn't one of them.

What, in the ever living fuck, are you on about?

Yeah, if Palace, or Brighton try that, I think they'll get taken apart.

This season has started so bizarrely. No way, after 3 games, you would have predicted the top half to be; 1 Arsenal 2 Manchester City 3 Leeds United 4 Tottenham 5 Brighton 6 Newcastle Utd 7 Fulham 8 Brentford 9 Crystal Palace 10 Nott'ham Forest Specifically the teams in bold and for the bottom 6 to look like this; 15 Liverpool 16 Everton 17 Wolves 18 Leicester City 19 Manchester Utd 20 West Ham Again, specifically the teams in bold. When you look at the fixtures of the Unexpected from the top half Leeds surely wouldn't have been expecting 7pts from Wolves (h), Southampton (a) and Chelsea (h) Fulham to get 5 from Liverpool (h), Wolves (a) and Brentford (h) Forest to get 4 from Newcastle (a), West Ham (h), and Everton (a) Liverpool can go 6th with a >2 goal victory tonight, I guess, but dropping points to Fulham and Palace will really damage their title chances. More so, I'd argue, than Man City failing to win at St James'.

That's just incredible. To think for the past 8yrs or so, our midfield was, at best, hard-working.

I think we're agreeing here. 2 options, play quick or play long, both increase likelihood of a turnover. You might not use long ball often, but it's an option. That's all I'm saying.

I don't follow. If any team is pressed as you were yesterday, they have two options to get around the press, they either; play the ball quicker around the pressure, or they play it long over the pressure. Either option increases the likelihood of turning over possession.

I think that Man City can handle most teams pressing because it's not always married with the kind of bravery on the ball that we showed. So often you face a team who're pressing from the front, ahead of an entrenched back line. So they press, force you to play the ball long or more quickly which leads to a turnover, but once they have the ball they lump it or knock it around at the back, they don't commit men forward, or try to play around you. Guimaraes, Joelinton exemplified that bravery on the ball, taking touches under pressure etc. I don't think you played poorly and, yes, when Haaland is more accustomed to his teammates, the PL and Guardiola's style, you'll be even more dangerous. However, I think the way we set out, played to our strengths AND exploited the chinks in your almost impenetrable armour.

Aye, it's a penalty. Stones clatters Schar, isn't even looking for the ball. He does look at the ref in the immediate aftermath though, because he's feeling very very guilty.

In their previous two PL games, Man City conceded 0.37xG, we had 2.21 xG. In our last 6 games against them we averaged 25% possession, created 0.72xG, had 2/7 shots on target and scored 0.83. We conceded 2.53xG, gave up 8/19 shots on target and conceded 4 goals. Yesterday we had 31% possession, created 2.21xG, 6/12 shots on target and scored 3. We conceded 3.67xG, gave up 10/21 shots on target and conceded 3 goals. Away from the stats I think with a better RW (Almiron had a great game) and with a proper left back instead of out of position Burn, I think we win that game. We pressed intelligently, rarely letting them build from the back unaccosted, the midfield wasn't panicked on the ball and we were a constant threat on the break.

I want to watch it again. Anyone got a link tot he full match?

£100m? Yeah, and the rest. Forget about the footballing side of things, selling Bruno would be disastrous optics.

I was continuing yours, you misanthrope

And the seas will boil and Satan himself will walk the Earth.

I don't think Haaland is the type to shrink from a physical challenge. Way better for Joelinton, Bruno and Willock/Longstaff to snap into Gundogan, De Bruyne, and Rodri and disrupt their flow.

Fucking Hell Wykiki. There's 11 players on the pitch and you think it'll boil down to ASM? I think, man-for-man, they're better than we are. To get anything from the game we'll need to be disciplined, organised and in their faces from the off. Spoil the game, reduce it to 5 minutes at the start and end of each half. Deny time and space to the creative players. Their wingbacks will push forward so we need to capitalise on any counter attack opportunities by aiming for the corner and supporting from midfield. Try and win set pieces. Leave. Allan. Alone!