The Fish

Yeah, definitely crossed wires here. Bruno is best further forward and a proper number 6 would free him up. But given our injuries, given how we're struggling recently, it makes sense to provide more protection to a lesser 'keeper like Dubravka. I'm not sure what semantic hill you're trying to die on, but I'm staying my hand.

Yeah, set up with either; Trippier Schar Botman Livramento Bruno Phillips Miley Almiron Wilson Gordon Trippier Schar Botman Burn Phillips Bruno Joelinton Almiron Isak Gordon Or some variation

And he can, but signing someone like Phillips would free him up if we wanted to. Bruno could play as half of the double pivot, or we could play Phillips as a single pivot with Bruno further forward as an 8.

Coaches' Voice | Kalvin Phillips: Premier League Player Watch (coachesvoice.com)

May be some miscommunication? Phillips would definitely free up Bruno.

He has the physicality to break forward, but he's way more defensively aware and capable than Longstaff. He can break the press well either with a quick pass or through that strength on the ball. I think he was used by Leeds to support the attacks (and depending on the opponent he could get that license here too), but he's chiefly there to break up play and be that pivot at the base of a midfield three/diamond. He's definitely got the right profile for what we need. If we don't get him on loan, then we should 100% have other options lined up.

Man Utd are terrible, but they have players with sufficient quality to dig them out of whatever hole Ten Haag digs for them.

As an aside, and I might be way off, but my AbsoluteFilth-RADAR is pinging whenever she does a line direct to camera.

In so much as they're 3pts off the top spot with half the season gone, I think they have to be consider contenders, but I don't think they'll end up top two. Top 4 is surely a lock for them now, right?

Honestly think Tonali was bought to play further up the pitch, I'm sure he can play ok as half of a double pivot, but his most valuable area of the pitch is surely 30-40yd away from their goal. Him and Bruno up there, and a DM behind them. sticking with the 4-1-2-3/4-1-4-1. I suppose ideally the aim would be to have a versatile squad. Bruno, Joelinton, Longstaff, Miley, Tonali, Willock are all able to play in midfield, but each offer a different threat. Powerful running from Joelinton and Willock, passing from Miley and Tonali, tenacity and discipline from Longstaff and Tonali, and of course Bruno is the most complete of them all. Willock and Joelinton could play as 8s who burst forward and wide, Miley and Tonali could play more intricate passing moves, and you could mix and match a runner, a passer and so on. What we don't have is a disciplined, defensive midfielder. Someone who can retrieve or receive the ball around our box and progress the ball to the attackers. Bruno isn't a DM, he wants to attack, he wants to get up the pitch.

Only 12 minutes in and there's already loads of shit I had no idea about.

Dunno about Villa. They've an apparently suicidal high line, but Martinez is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world so it's not so much of a weakness. Watkins is prolific and the way Emery has them drilled they're really dangerous, regardless of the opponent. They've the ability to hit you on the break, or play through a solid defence. They're definitely up there on merit. Spurs may well fall away though.

I can't think of a worse way to spend my evening, to be honest.

Latter option works when Trippier returns to form and fitness. Signing a DM would protect Trippier (and Tino), so if we could get Phillips or whomever they'd have more time to recover and be under less pressure during games.

What's it on? I'm 'at work' and the little lad has a mate round, so downstairs is like a mini Mad Max hellscape.

It's not so much two holding midfielders, but two players who can defend and break the initial press with either passing technique, or physicality. Bruno is that player, but to do the ol' double pivot properly, you'd need another like him.

That's the problem though, the minute we lost people to injuries and/or opponents sussed us out the need for a true DM became apparent. With a proper DM we can play 2 attacking fullbacks, two CMs (from a variety of options), and either a 10 and 2 forwards, 2 widemen and 1 forward, or whatever. Play a 6 and you could have two centre mids ahead of him who push into the wide areas like Joelinton and Willock, with the fullbacks driving more centrally, a number 10 in the hole and two strikers up top. You could play two passers like Bruno and Tonali, and wide players like Gordon and Almiron, with Isak in the middle? You could play a more counter attack style with combative midfielders ahead of the 6, and pace from Barnes, Willock and Isak on the break. With a number 10 you're not solving for what is, in my mind at least, our biggest issue; the demands of a high pressing game on a small squad..

Ah, betwixt. Well, even though I'm a fan of being a twat with words, this twee bollocks can fuck right off into the deepest hole there is; Mrs Wykiki's after a visit from Wilson.* *sorry Wykiki I'm in a mood.

What the twee fuck is twixmas?

I wonder if that's partly because when he was regularly playing under Benitez, the system forced opponents to gamble on lower percentage shots, so he looked like he made lots of saves and his stats were inflated a bit. In reality they were mostly straight down his throat from 25yds+. Now, under Howe because of injuries and fatigue, our more open style means the chances we're giving up are easier?

It'll really bake your noodle to find out that he wrote A Few Good Men too.