OTF

Fuck me, they've given us a free kick.

I know it was Joe, but surely Willock had to cut that across to him...

At least three clear free kicks that we should have got by my count.

We're getting no favours from the ref here, predictably of course.

Good defense Manquillo.

We kick off and Matt Ritchie gives away a free kick within 25 seconds

Hahah Longstaff just kicked off as everyone was taking the knee - good start.

Err, right yeah, better scrap the at home part and revise down to 25.

This is going to be terrible, predicting sub 30% possession at home and an absolute wank fest from the commentary about anything Ronaldo does in his "second debut".

Please let it be Jordan Pickford.

Thought your scenario could have been worse, then realised it was Fernandez not Fernandes.

Occasionally a ball will get to him, he'll have a couple of touches then turn it over and then will revert to token closing down runs.

It will be Joe up top.

It could have been worse, you could have watched it live like me...

When we scored the commentary called us Steve Bruce's Newcastle and further implied the goal was tactically credited to him. You're right, it's bizarre.

How he missed the ball there, any sort of touch on it and he would have been ok.

FFS here comes a penalty.

He wasn't.

Niice, almost blew that chance, well done ASM!

Well worked goal that, and classic strikers finish from Wilson.

Amazing that we're not behind with the way the game has gone.

Da da dee da da doo.

"The great thing about football is that somehow, despite a proven record of failure, I have a job." - Stephen Roger Bruce c. 2010

@essembeeofsunderland also, turning your back as someone is shooting is not simply an act of self-preservation it has historically been part of making yourself big with built in plausible deniability - ie. You turn your back so that it is perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball and extend your arms outwards casting the largest possible surface area to block or deflect the ball. If it strikes your arm then it couldn't possibly have been hand to ball as your back was turned. Of course with the introduction of new rules for natural position of hands this is no longer applicable, so it's muscle memory from learned behaviour that causes players to do this. It's really nowhere near as big an issue as you make out and has little to do with cowardice.