OTF

Aye, don't listen to Gemmill, perhaps he needs a new hobby if he wasn't on the edge of his seat for this.

It's remarkable. Not what we were told we were buying but it really highlights how destructive Bruce's tenure was.

Well that sure had the heart pumping. It would have been a famous victory were it not for some lax defense. On the balance of play a draw is a frustrating result but in the context of our season it's still a key result and a nice place to build some momentum from. The crowd was fantastic and the stadium has not looked this good and this lively for some time. There's a sense of excitement with January days away, a few key signings in and we could string some results together. And yes we absolutely need to buy ourselves a covid inspired break now as with Wilson down and ASM potentially with some sort of strain we need the time. Evidence in our favour is our bench for today's game, third AND fourth choice keepers both on the bench and no defenders.

They didn't have an answer for Lukaku. Do you mean the fullback (Target) of the second defender (Konsa), I think Target could have been sent off but the second defender has bot done much wrong, Lukaku was probably out of gas and rather than give the defender any chance of a play on the ball he stuck his elbow out and gave the defender nowhere to go but into him. Well played Lukaku, tough luck to Konsa but no red. Possibly Target could have copped a red but because Konsa got near enough to foul him probably got away with it. The irony is that Target should have moved in front of Lukaku initially I think he may have thought he'd have enough pace to get to the ball but by the time he realised he didn't it was too late. Impressive show of athleticism by Lukaku.

I'm mixed as to how I feel we should approach this game. Ultimately the expectation is that we'll lose, but do we set up defensively compressed to try and stay in the game or try to attack and spread the game risking exposing our weak defense? On the surface the latter sounds like it has more of a potential to be entertaining, but not if Manure run up some goals and hurt our already suffering GD. Either way, or someway in between I should probably avoid watching, but sadly I won't.

You missed the third option, that being past it and on huge wages phoning it in

Imagine being thumped 6-0 by a Newcastle side featuring Alan Smith, James Perch, Mike Williamson, Wayne Routledge and Xisco. But then that Villa side did have Ciaran Clark....

Merry Christmas to you all. Santa has been here so I can finally go to bed.

The distinction was Kane was going for the ball where-as Robertson was a Shelvey'esque kicking out where he was clearly just kicking the player, really stupid stuff. Kane is a prick though, remember than Lejeune tackle? So even though I think a yellow was ok for it I would have been happier if he got a red.

After these games it's difficult to say that we shouldn't have adopted a Benitez style pragmatic approach, focusing on closing down the space to limit their ability to score. Try to hang in there to be in a position to get something from the game in the latter stages. It's turgid painful stuff to watch but with a team like ours you can see why a manager tasked with keeping the team up rather than the supporters entertained would opt for the less visually appealing.

Against Leicester we looked every bit a side that got thumped.

Weigh up how shit we currently are and the strategic manoeuvrings of the incumbent self-appointed big 6 (and the league) and it can't have been an enjoyable start to this part of the journey for her.

Agreed, even losing this 1-3 has a very different feel to 0-4.

That was the one time I think that ASM probably should have just shot rather than fed Wilson with two defenders and a third bearing down on him.

Aye, it took a tackle on ASM to get the ball back to Fraser.

Yes they have.

This is actually true, have to forget the result here and focus on the improvements in distribution and movement.

At this stage we could recall Boumsong and Cacapa for a net gain.

If we didn't have a defense that spontaneously combusts we'd be out of the relegation spots already. So realistically we need a whole new defense with the exception of Dubravka AND for them to start playing well together immediately. Tough ask.

Are you thick or willfully ignorant? I didn't say anything about Willock.

Can't they say that's not clear and obvious, no, wait, that was for them.

Thanks Lascelles!

It sounds like you're making up horse shit.

Sub Clause A; the fashionability of the team, above all aforementioned rules, dictates the decision to be given, with favour always given to those of higher perceived fashionability.

The best clapper we've had since Steven Taylor.