OTF

Rafa protecting Longstaff taking him off on a yellow, we'll miss his passing with Diame on.

They've struck the perfect balance of physicality and being soft fannies to draw fouls, with the referee obliging. We need to be a lot better in posession and.... everything else.

It's true, though we have got the ball into dangerous positions routinely it's just that our final balls have been terrible. They've been better by a distance and they're getting all the calls but most of all we're doing ourselves no favours.

Forgetable half that one. Will be interesting to see if Rafa changes things up.

Where's the abort option on this thread?

Looked nothing wrong with that challenge, not sure how that was a yellow.

There's a case for a farcical tackle like that being a red. Cracking ball in behind by Longstaff, Perez's run gave Manquillo nothing to aim at with the cutback.

What a prick Noble.

We're no strangers to being behind, still looking lively with the ball. Agree that the defending was poor but it was also a well taken corner and good header. Our crossing has been terrible.

You absolute dickhead. That Rice is an odd looking fellow.

Quit it. Listen to the podcast instead.

Still holding out hope for Muto, language barrier and Asian Cup have hurt his chances so far. When he's played he's not look bad. Tidy goal he scored against manu.

And don't call him Shirley.

Hopefully it's not just being at a new team trying to fit in, but Almiron looks like he gets joy from linking up nicely with his teammates, as opposed to Kenedy who appears much more selfish.

Tough run in for them too. I expected them to do better after finishing last season in hot form and splashing a bit of cash. Unfortunately for them you can't leak goals like they have and expect to pickup points. No fortitude.

Think he was likely exhausted. If he's upgraded I'd like it to be someone with the same intensity, but at least slightly less prone to giving free kicks away.

That first half was a true joy to watch. The second not as pretty but as effective. We were the better team in every single respect. That they resorted to dirty tactics despite being in their best form in recent times says it all. The goal from Schar was spectacular, Longstaff's was a joy bringer. Dubravka commanded his box extremely well, all three of our central defenders were individually excellent and as a unit had fantastic cohesion. Manquillo had a good game too, as did Hayden in that supporting role as defensive midfield. Almiron's runs were excellent, he'll want to be involved more but he more than played his part as it was. Likewise Rondon's strength and control was on show, effectively setting up Longstaff's goal. Dummett's hair is terrible, Ritchie was a bit flat in the second half after a good first 45 and Joselu, well, he was Joselu, but today I don't care.

I agree but expect to see them on the bench. Quite what the point of signing a player on loan that doesn't make the squad is, I'm not sure, but can understand Rafa not wanting to mess with the existing cohesion. ....that said, it's a short turn around so this is where it would be logical to call on squad depth... #RayvinHedge

Big Little Lies is so much better than Dirty John, but if you only half watched I can understand it not having the full effect. The Dirty John podcast series is much better than the netflix dramatisation, but now the ending has been spoiled.

Because Mike Ashley paying 1/6th of the value of the club that he is purportedly attempting to sell for a single player is so completely believable. Some lazy agents at work on this one, must have seen something about us breaking our transfer record on a south american forward and slipped the 'breaking news' to a 'journalist'.

Perez definitely buoyed by having Almiron out there.

Yeah, that's not great, Rafa will hopefully sort it out. Clearly though it didn't impact on hiis communication on the pitch.

It's on the record that Ashley is shit, Rafa is not afraid to call him out as well. It's dysfunctional but it can still work. They'd be mad not to do eveything they can to hang on to him including freeing up more funds for transfers, the problem is we already know they're mad.

He also wants a club that's near enough to where his family is established.

On the strength of this season he should be cheap. Potential is there but application wise he's gone backwards. Possibly the only way we could sign him permanently.