Eddie and Mad Dog's still shite but slightly better, it was only Brentford FFS, Geordie Boys v Sandro Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Sandro Use To Room On The Second Floor, Meelan

[wykikitoon 22918]

It's about not getting beat in the group games. Point away from home and do em at home. Mint. 

[Isegrim 10365]

People starting to question Howe after just a couple of underwhelming performances should get their heads checked or kicked tbh

[Holden McGroin 7637]

Great point but i echo the sentiments that we look a different team to last year. I think it’s the midfield lacking intensity and player positioning. We are getting cut up to easily (even villa could have had 3) and not creating anything. 
 

It could have easily been 4 or 5 nil tonight. Hopefully eddie has the answers. And hopefully Big and Little Joe are back soon.
 

 

 

[ewerk 33232]

1 minute ago, Rayvin said:

 

We don't need to be the team that smashes elite clubs around in the CL yet - in fact I almost don't want us to be because it's going to be way more satisfying later having had to grind through the levels and really earn it.

The teams we face in the group aren’t any better than we’d face in the PL. The problem is that all three would be top 6 level in our league. 
 

What was worrying tonight for me was the lack of energy, Dan Burn being exposed and a complete absence of attacking fluidity.

[Isegrim 10365]

1 minute ago, ewerk said:

The teams we face in the group aren’t any better than we’d face in the PL. The problem is that all three would be top 6 level in our league. 
 

What was worrying tonight for me was the lack of energy, Dan Burn being exposed and a complete absence of attacking fluidity.

A couple of players look off the pace at the moment. Burn is getting overrun a lot these days, either because he is getting targeted or lost a yard or both.

[Rayvin 5926]

2 minutes ago, ewerk said:

The teams we face in the group aren’t any better than we’d face in the PL. The problem is that all three would be top 6 level in our league. 
 

What was worrying tonight for me was the lack of energy, Dan Burn being exposed and a complete absence of attacking fluidity.

 

Fair but we'd take 0-0 away against a top 6 side too IMO. Also you need to factor in the sense of occasion somewhat. City were arguably the best team in Europe for several years before they won the CL because the the mental barrier they had to overcome to establish themselves.

 

But yes, lack of energy is fair and a bit surprising. I get Tripps being tired by the end cos he was playing just the other day. Isak though is a bit of a confusing one. The press has fallen away somewhere in the mould, idk if we're trying to take up a new style or what but there is something to look at there.

[Holden McGroin 7637]

2 minutes ago, Isegrim said:

A couple of players look off the pace at the moment. Burn is getting overrun a lot these days, either because he is getting targeted or lost a yard or both.

I thought burn was excellent defensively. The whole back 4 were really. They are just getting over run from midfield. 

Edited September 19, 2023 by Holden McGroin

[Ayatollah Hermione 14687]

I thought that was a fantastic point and the way we defended, albeit aided by Pope in the first half, was bordering on heroic. I don’t think you can underestimate how vital that kind of result, and more importantly, the clean sheet will be to a team that has had some poor results and hasn’t been able to keep two clean sheets in a row for months. That’ll be huge to everyone. I thought we grew into the game as a whole and that bodes well for the rest of the groups. We stood up to our first test, in the group of death no less, and came out with a result. You can argue the specifics of the attacking performance but I honestly think it’s secondary to the wider picture here. Fucking excellent result. The season starts now 

[Ayatollah Hermione 14687]

If we have Joe Willock to bring off the bench, we win that btw

[Monkeys Fist 45163]

 I’d imagine off the back of a point at the San Siro, Mad Dog has a table booked at the local pizzeria and some filthy hookers for later with Eddie. 
 

Granted, we didn’t make the most of the very few chances we had. 
 

We got very lucky in the first half with AC’s profligacy in attack. 
 

But… they ran out of ideas and steam. 
 

If that game had gone on for 10 more minutes, there was only one side looking likely to win it. 
 

It was neither a satisfying nor particularly enjoyable but, we didn’t embarrass ourselves and we certainly have positives we can build on for the return leg. 
 

Not many teams will go there in their opening CL game and get a point. 

[Isegrim 10365]

4 minutes ago, Holden McGroin said:

I thought burn was excellent defensively. The whole back 4 were really. They are just getting over run from midfield. 

I only watched half the game but thought that Burn was very good at clearing balls going into the box or long balls to their right wing but look quite exposed and slow when players were running at and easily past him.

[ewerk 33232]

10 minutes ago, Isegrim said:

A couple of players look off the pace at the moment. Burn is getting overrun a lot these days, either because he is getting targeted or lost a yard or both.

Or he’s not getting protection for the left side of midfield. Gordon will give 100% effort but I’m not sure he’s got the footballing intelligence for the top level.

[Anorthernsoul 1222]

30 minutes ago, wykikitoon said:

One thing that's got me scratching my head. Isak. How do we get him firing again? 

 

He has to play on the front foot, trying to get in behind. He's no good dropping deep for the ball all game, it not only leaves us short up front it's very easy to defend against for their centre halves. He's dangerous putting their defenders on the back foot.

[ewerk 33232]

4 minutes ago, Monkeys Fist said:

 I’d imagine off the back of a point at the San Siro, Mad Dog has a table booked at the local pizzeria and some filthy hookers for later with Eddie. 
 

Granted, we didn’t make the most of the very few chances we had. 
 

We got very lucky in the first half with AC’s profligacy in attack. 
 

But… they ran out of ideas and steam. 
 

If that game had gone on for 10 more minutes, there was only one side looking likely to win it. 
 

It was neither a satisfying nor particularly enjoyable but, we didn’t embarrass ourselves and we certainly have positives we can build on for the return leg. 
 

Not many teams will go there in their opening CL game and get a point. 

Milan have actually lost four of their last five CL openers at the San Siro.

 

That may not be true but it’s a statistic and you can’t argue with statistics.

[aimaad22 4691]

This sort of experience will tremendously help in the evolution of this team and the club. Was never going to be easy, all things considered a fantastic point. The fludiity will come back, fact we're grinding out results is a sign of a great team.

[ewerk 33232]

2 minutes ago, Anorthernsoul said:

 

He has to play on the front foot, trying to get in behind. He's no good dropping deep for the ball all game, it not only leaves us short up front it's very easy to defend against for their centre halves. He's dangerous putting their defenders on the back foot.

Aye but he’s not getting those balls played into him which is clearly frustrating him.

[Polarboy 2317]

Our fluidity in front of goal will come back sooner or later. What's important is that we look to have a bit of that defensive solidity and commitment back. Build from a strong defensive base and the champagne football will come. 0-0 is a massive result for our first away game in the CL in 20 years. 

[Gemmill 50011]

Beat Sheff United at the weekend and we've had a massive week.

[MMXXVIII 1296]

I think we looked like bairns staring ate2 Cliff Richard with his cock out. Our form leading up to this reminded me of our form leading up to the League Cup Final. We didn't deliver then either.

 

I'm not a knee jerker but I do think Howe can't take it past the threshold he wants to. He's too nice and it's a shame cos I like him.

[Holden McGroin 7637]

3 minutes ago, MMXXVIII said:

I think we looked like bairns staring ate2 Cliff Richard with his cock out. Our form leading up to this reminded me of our form leading up to the League Cup Final. We didn't deliver then either.

 

I'm not a knee jerker but I do think Howe can't take it past the threshold he wants to. He's too nice and it's a shame cos I like him.

Nah. If you had of told me when we were staring down the barrel at championship football with a shit squad,  that in less than 2 years we’d be getting a point at the san Siro in the Champions League I would called you a clown. 

Edited September 19, 2023 by Holden McGroin

[Anorthernsoul 1222]

16 minutes ago, ewerk said:

Aye but he’s not getting those balls played into him which is clearly frustrating him.

 

He definitely looks frustrated but it looks like we are setting up for him to drop deeper instead of getting the balls into the channels, i think Willock really helps with that style of play aswell as his constant forward running allowed Isak to concentrate on the back line. We need to get someone playing that Willock role, we've got options.

Edited September 19, 2023 by Anorthernsoul

[Monkeys Fist 45163]

18 minutes ago, ewerk said:

Milan have actually lost four of their last five CL openers at the San Siro.

 

That may not be true but it’s a statistic and you can’t argue with statistics.

[Isegrim 10365]

4 minutes ago, MMXXVIII said:

I think we looked like bairns staring ate2 Cliff Richard with his cock out. Our form leading up to this reminded me of our form leading up to the League Cup Final. We didn't deliver then either.

 

I'm not a knee jerker but I do think Howe can't take it past the threshold he wants to. He's too nice and it's a shame cos I like him.

Not a kneejerker but just fickle as fuck…

[MMXXVIII 1296]

Just now, Isegrim said:

Not a kneejerker but just fickle as fuck…

 

Wind it in you fucking idiot.

[Anorthernsoul 1222]

Man City getting beat at home to Belgrade.

 

We should be owa the knot with a clean sheet at the San Siro.