Btay

Fractions away from a tap in

Nearly, we look a real threat on set pieces

This whole head band with medium length hair thing needs to go

Rondon looking lively. Probably thinks he should have done better with that header. Quality ball from Townsend

Big chance that

Defensively we should be okay… think Rondon and Gray could be handful for them up top

Good to see a cooking page on here! I’m right into smoking meats, got a little offset smoker and it’s unreal. When I get home from work I’ll try get some photos up - they are all too big to upload. Done a few briskets, pork shoulder ( pulled pork ) and chickens so far. Flavour is amazing!

I’d prefer these boys coming on in situations where the games wrapped up and they can play without pressure. Hopefully we can get ourselves a nice lead here today but it won’t be easy going.

Well if we want a successful season we need to be able to rely on depth. Definitely earlier in the season than I thought and more rotation players in. Let’s see what Iwobi does, he needs and we need him to take this chance.

Can’t be. We’d just re schedule the game like city did…

Gbamin dental issue worse than first thought as well?

Not confident with that team what so ever. Losing Richarlison is massive but also no coleman or pickford. James should be on the bench, even if it’s for 20 at the death chasing the game.

Mate I thought this game was on Monday morning ( Sunday your time ) and I even made this thread… ive only woken up from a drunk call from a mate a seen the games on in a few hours.

God dammit I liked this before I read your little James dig. I haven't got the heart to down vote you though. You bastard.

There will be games that we have a lion share of the possession. In those games the likes of Gomes/James are invaluable. 35% possession and on the counter, not so much.

I think we all expected a big name to come in along with Gray and Townsend but in all honesty, they are probably out performing any big money signing we could have made right now

Not to moneyball you all here but… Statistically over his career he is averaging (roughly) a goal involvement every 232 minutes. With us, albeit a small sample size he is at 89 mins per goal involvement. Newcastle under Rafa he was 181.5 minutes. Its not unrealistic to think he could easily chip in 10-15 goals or assists this season with those numbers.

I think with the cup game so soon after this we will Gbamin, Davies, Godfrey and Rondon in that one.

Should be a good game this. They have some decent players in their squad and whilst things haven’t quite clicked for them I expect them to be challenging us for European places. Assume DCL is out & Rondon isn’t ready for 90. 4-3-3 Pickford Coleman Mina Keane Digne Doucoure Allan Gomes Townsend Richarlison Gray

I am so baffled by this. Over the 4/5 years we haven’t had a striker to come on and look after the ball and get us playing up the pitch - we have that now. Simms can probably run the channels better but Richarlison can do that and DCL does it great.

Shame he didn’t score but he moved the ball nicely and got us going. Completed just over 91% of his passes. Hopefully he is getting back to his best.

Fat Sam had no risk in joining us. We gave him £50 million pounds and he got us Tosun and Walcott. If we got relegated with him he would have held his hands up and said there was nothing he could do. We played Man city and had less possession than Fernandinho…. Rafa took this job and his reputation is on the line massively with what he knew would be a hostile fan base. We’ve given him £1.7 million and he is making it work seemingly better than all the managers we backed before him. This whole defensive Rafa stereotype needs to go as well. We’re organised and effective.

I’m the same mate, after a win I’ll watch the extended highlights while I’m at the gym ( always need a distraction for cardio ) over and over

Yeah honestly I’d love to live a day inside his head and see how he sees the world. The man is something else that’s for sure

Mina won more aerial challenges over the weekend than any other defender in the premier league.