After losing 1-0 at Manchester City last weekend in our first defeat of the season we have a tough home game on Sunday against Liverpool – it’s the late KO game at 4:30pm.
Let’s hope we can get the win, which is what we need.
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2,130 comments so far
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 9:39 AM
Comment #2041TDs
I bet Willock is itching to get back to fitness to showcase his skills for next summer’s England euro squad.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 9:42 AM
Comment #2042Cy
I was saying yesterday that the last two games have almost restored our underdog status.
Not a total bad thing in my opinion.
We do well as the underdog but one day soon we will have to do well as favourites.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 9:47 AM
Comment #2043Vask – there are definitely positions up for grabs in the England squad. We obviously have some very exciting young talent but also players like Maguire, Henderson, and Phillips whose places must be in doubt. Maguire has never let England down and Stones is injured I think so perhaps he’ll sneak in. Henderson is reliable and a great leader but surely moving to KSA kills his England career? The likes of Rice, Phillips, and Longstaff can take his role.
The only thing about Willock is that there’s a fair bit of competition in his position. Grealish, Foden, Gallagher, Eze, and Maddison can all play a similar role and they’re ahead of him in the England pecking order.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 9:56 AM
Comment #2044TDs
Semantics I know but I would say Grealish and Foden play further forward to Willock. Madison is a playmaker or number 10. Eze I don’t know too much about but I thought he was more of a forward also. Which leaves Gallagher who isn’t exactly pulling up trees.
So Willock, though there maybe some crossovers in the position he plays on the pitch, offers a different skillset.
If you want a play that can pick an opposing players pocket then carry the ball 60 yards to the opponent’s box, Joe Willock is your man.
I concede that Southgate may think differently and that’s why he is WRONG!
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:02 AM
Comment #2045Vask – hah! 🙂 I think Southgate did alright in the last 3 tournaments anyway.
I do agree that Gallagher seems to be the closest comparison to Willock in terms of style of play. I also suspect that Rice will get more involved in the final third but that requires a more defensively minded midfielder alongside him and with Henderson in KSA and Phillips not playing for Man City, England may not have a choice other than keep Rice back a bit.
Lots of potential options for us in the England Euro squad though, even the young full backs could potentially burst through and squeeze into the squad.
Pope, Trips, Burn, Livramento, Hall, Longstaff, Willock, Barnes, Gordon, and Wilson all have varying levels of chances I’d say. Only English players (excluding Anderson due to Scotland callup) who I don’t think have a chance are Targett and Murphy.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:04 AM
Comment #2046@Vask
I can see Anderson getting game time for Scotland on the left wing or even at no 10 sometimes we probably do need a guy like him on the left hand side
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:04 AM
Comment #2047I like Joe’s two-feetedness as well. It makes him really effective on the left. In fact his injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for him as he was looking like a, dare I say it, world class midfielder in the making at the back end of last season.
Adamn_92
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:05 AM
Comment #2048Anyone who’s been on here for a while will know i’ve always defended Miggy and what he brings to the team. However, I think we should start experimenting the starting 11 with Miggy replaced. Can Gordon play right wing and try a combo of Gordon right and Barnes left? Or Livramento higher up on the right hand side?
Miggy is still a huge asset but I think his purple goal scoring spell has made defenders more aware of him, so his runs are tracked better now and they know to show him onto his right foot more. The Bruno and Miggy 1-2 has been sussed too, so think we may benefit from mixing it up. Miggy is a fantastic option off the bench against a tired full back too.
scott
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:06 AM
Comment #2049WorB
You are in serious trouble with your FPL against Rom this week!
I have it on good authority he has used his wildcard to get £36m of talent on the bench! 😉
Adamn_92
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:10 AM
Comment #2050Also, I thought Bruno actually played pretty well so was a bit confused about criticism his way. His role is different now to what it was when he first signed, so he isn’t having as many ‘flashy’ moments. Not having as big of an impact as last season, or as many stand out moments in games, but is still doing an effective job in midfield for us. Will take a bit of time for him and Tonali to understand each others game perfectly and become super effective as a pairing.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:14 AM
Comment #2051Lee
Well I hope he comes in and does brilliantly. I’d love him to be one of those dream debut type players.
Adamn
You have a point re Almiron. I have seen Gordon operating on the right for Everton and perhaps a cameo out there for us last season. Can’t say how effective he is out there though.
I agree we may as well try and mix up our plays bit. Jacob Murphy is a really good presser, he appears to my eye to force the most mistakes from opposition defenders. It all depends who has the best left foot for cutting in. There is no evidence that I am aware of currently that suggests Eddie would favour just your bog-standard exverted wide forwards.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Comment #2052Adam – I agree with both posts. My views on Almiron have not changed at all really, I always knew he was very hard working but he’s also limited in terms of his end product. He was flying with confidence at the beginning of last season and he kept repeating the same goals but eventually defenders limited his options.
He’s got loads of energy and he’s a threat on goal but he’s not great at crossing the ball so he’s somewhat nullified if he’s kept wide. I’ve said before that Murphy is the opposite but the likes of Gordon and Barnes are both of them combined. They can cross and score.
Also agree that Bruno didn’t have as bad a game as some are saying. Just because he’s not flying like he did in the first few months doesn’t mean he should be dropped. Trips was also flying during that period and has dropped off a bit too. Was a different team and a different situation.
Adamn_92
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:16 AM
Comment #2053Similar to Miggy, I love Burn as a player but it may be worthwhile slowly easing Hall into that left back position. Burn is fantastic but i’ve noticed a few times that he seems to get caught out towards the end of matches. Whether it’s fatigue or what i’m not sure, but it’s like his concentration goes a bit 85 minutes+ into games. Where he isn’t as tight to a player or slow to react to their movement.
Don’t want to be too harsh as it’s very early into the season and don’t think anyone has particularly played badly so far, just little things i’ve noticed so far.
Very impressed with how Gordon has started though, he’s going to have a big impact this season.
scott
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:19 AM
Comment #2054If we weren’t so well stacked as a squad then the expected adidas confirmation coinciding with the end of the transfer window would have been a lovely opportunity for a marquee signing!
Come on Amanda,you know it makes sense! 😉
Adamn_92
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:19 AM
Comment #2055Vask
Gordon seems like the obvious one to try on the right, as he seems pretty comfortable running with the ball cutting in or going outside. Would keep the full back guessing more about whether he’ll try to hit the byline and cross it in, or cut inside and drive at the heart of the defence. He’s been fantastic so far hasn’t he?
TDS/Vask
Miggy definitely has some fine attributes he brings to the team and we know he’s more capable now of scoring too. But think it’s definitely worth seeing what someone else can bring to the team on that right hand side. Worst case scenario is we find out that Miggy is actually the best player for that spot and he takes his position back.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:22 AM
Comment #2056Adam – I would also like to see Barnes and Gordon playing out wide but I wonder if Eddie sees Gordon as a right winger. The situation with Miggy is the reason I preferred signing a right winger than a left winger but I will wait to see how Howe handles the right side before saying that I think the recruitment team got that one wrong.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:23 AM
Comment #2057I’ve seen a couple of flashes of impulsive streak in Gordon which could bite us and him this season. There was a moment where, I think against MCity, that he ran his studs down the back of a players calf. Luckily nothing more than a foul came of it.
Just something to watch out for this season.
I do love his desire and drive to make an impact early doors this season and I hope he kicks on even more by the end of the campaign.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:28 AM
Comment #2058What about Hawly for that right forward spot? Two footed, skillfull, fleet-footed and has scored a goal or two in his youth career. Could be another option.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:30 AM
Comment #2059I think Estupinan likes to drift in to that holding mf position like Zinchenko or TAA. So there is a chance to exploit that at the weekend. If there is going to be a little more space there perhaps keep Miggy there for this game and explore alternative options for the Home game Vs Brentford against whom we have a better record.
cleveleysbob
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Comment #2060The Uni has some squash courts in the town centre where I used to play.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Comment #2061Vask – you want to shoehorn a young and unproven left back, who played midfield when he was younger, into the right wing/forward role ahead of Miggy, Murphy, Gordon, and Livramento?
I don’t understand why some fans call for drastic changes when things aren’t that bad. We’ve got loads of decent options and it’s up to Howe to pick them but I can’t see drastic changes being made.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:37 AM
Comment #2062Eldon Leisure too has squash courts. I used to watch when me mates brother played five-a-side. There is a climbing wall too which never have I climbed.*
*Information correct as of 1995.
SiOliver
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:39 AM
Comment #2063Catching up from last night (quite easy but avoiding the squash / golf borefest).
Part of the reason we lost is that, like last season, Liverpool exploited the flaws in the second best defence (last season) ruthlessly.
Agree Bruno wasn’t as bad as some made out but his slack pass led to one of their goals.
Hindsight being 20/20 we should probably have held out for the draw, not sure why we didn’t pack midfield and defence for those last 10 and then relied on our pace on the break. Also, with Isak and Callum being good in the air, and VVD being off I’m surprised we didn’t put in more crosses.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:44 AM
Comment #2064TDs
I didn’t mean tomorrow buddy. Just saying that we are buying versatile youngsters that have attributes that could be utilised in that/those positions. In the current system it would make more sense that Liv and Hall would be cover for the opposite wings forward position than the same wings forward position. Plenty people have suggested such for Livramento.
I didn’t realise we were talking specifically about Brighton which in one of my posts above I gave an idea what I was thinking about that position in that match.
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:44 AM
Comment #2065Vask – I’m pretty sure it was Eldon Leisure that I played squash at. Was nearly 20 years ago but that rings a bell actually. I don’t think it was a dedicated squash club and I think it was pretty central, which I assume that one is given the name.
I didn’t play much sport when I was in Newcastle though, I was much more interested in the nightlife! Favourite bar was The Apartment, we were there so often they gave us membership cards to skip the queue! 🙂
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:46 AM
Comment #2066Vask – gotcha. I think Livramento has actually played right wing or right-sided midfield though. While I can think of a few players who played full back and wing on the same side, I can’t think of any player who played full back on one side and wing on the other.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:48 AM
Comment #2067It would make sense TDS as far as I’m aware it was the only city centre leisure centre going in the 90’s. They held the Merlin swap shop Sticker Roadshow thing there in ’95.
dazzler
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #2068I think Miggy is a great player personally, and a grafter we need. That said, his early form this season has been poor, he was probably the worst player vs Villa IMO, and poor again nst Man City. I did think he played better this weekend but his end product is escaping him currently.
Personally, I’d be benching him to take him out of the firing line for a while. If Howe doesn’t fancy Gordon on the right then we have Murphy who’s been playing to a high standard for ages, and looked great (and got an assist) against Villa.
Gordon has been mint on the left so far, so my preference would be keep him there and play Murphy, that way we get to keep a true work horse on the right to offer more protection to Trippier.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 10:54 AM
Comment #2069The reason I say it makes more sense that way is that fullbacks over-lap inverted wingers to deliver the cross with their stronger foot.
Wingers cut in on their strongest foot. So it stands to reason that if you play inverted wingers, as we do, you’ll want them cutting in on there stronger foot. As we are talking about our young full backs there strongest feet are their left and right respectively so if you are to play them further forward on the same wing they cannot cut in on their strongest foot.
I may have overcomplicated my wording there but I’m sure WorB will be along shortly to translate for you. 🙂
ToonDarnSarf
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Comment #2070Vask – I remember when the late & great SBR got pelters for playing inverted wingers for the first time. Was it on this blog? Can’t remember if this was around then. Funny how it’s become common place now.
I can’t see a left full back also playing right wing sometimes though, I don’t think it makes much sense to me. As left full back, they’ll be getting forward and delivering crosses sometimes anyway so why complicate matters and have them delivering crosses from the other flank?
I know Hall and Livramento can play in midfield but I’m really hoping they become our starting full backs before too long.
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:02 AM
Comment #2071Gordon can use either foot so can play either wing. Against Man C though we saw his nasty side. One rake down the Achilles for a yellow card. Second half he did it again and escaped punishment. Eddie hooked him immediately. I would hope Eddie addressed this privately.
For Miggy he needs a gap in the channel between centre and full back. He was unlucky to hit the post v Liverpool but teams have worked him out.
If Eddie could find a way to start Barnes and Gordon the centre forward might get better service.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:05 AM
Comment #2072Caprine offspring hairstylist hunter,
I agree that Murphy must be knocking on the door for a start. I love his pressing style and when he came in to that position last season while Miggy was out he didn’t put a foot wrong really.
Still I’m not sure Howe will make many changes this weekend. But if results don’t start coming in there will definitely be some big calls to make in the coming weeks.
lesh
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:10 AM
Comment #2073TDS
And the Eldon Square facility also offered kids play facilities and indoor bowling greens which were used by NDOPs (Near Dead Owld Pharts like what I am now) and younger folk could play bowls on synthetic grass. It was quite an oasis aside from the bustle of the shopping centre. Is the liesure centre still there?
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:16 AM
Comment #2074TdS
I’m not entirely convinced that Hall will remain as a fullback. It’s probably more likely that he would move to centre mid rather than rightwing though. But as far as my outlandish suggestions go I think this is pretty tame. Just ask AGM.
AGM
So you noticed that Gordon infringement too. It’s definitely something the coaching/mentoring team should be working on with him.
I still think we have plenty of options for those wide positions, lots of combos to try and I’m certain they will be looking at whose attributes compliment whose attributes.
It’s just still a bit hazy at the minute with the new arrivals and ongoing recruitment/derecruitment but as the season wears on there will be revelations about our best combinations of players.
Adamn_92
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:17 AM
Comment #2075AGM
I think Gordon is already a lot calmer than he was at Everton, but still some work to be done regarding his challenges. Was quite lucky against City.
He doesn’t react to fouls badly though which is a promising sign, he’s either down for a while if it’s a hard knock, or get’s up and gets on with it. Seem to remember him mouthing off and squaring up to players when he was fouled at Everton. So promising signs that he’s cut that out of his game.
WLtoon
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:21 AM
Comment #2076Good morning all, i`ll stand by my comments on Bruno but it`s been done to death so that`s it from me, i do hope the lad picks up his previous form, i love his attitude on and off the field, he just seems to be struggling atm, just an opinion and an observation.
Not long to wait to find out who our opposition is in the CL, does anyone know if the draw is being televised anywhere ?
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:21 AM
Comment #2077Vask, outlandish is my middle name! How about this, a 4-2-3-1 with Bruno and Tonali as the double pivot and Barnes, Gordon and Miggy behind Isak or Callum. Gordon and Miggy could interchange…best stop now, I’m drooling. 😆 Obviously we’d need a fully fit back four before experimenting.
Did I mention that I’m now an Honourable Member of the Fellowship of Football Know Nowts? 😮
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:25 AM
Comment #2078It only cost me a £10 admin fee. Cheers Wor B!
WLtoon
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:27 AM
Comment #2079Gordon had his knockers last season but the lad has knuckled down and is more or less one of the first names on the team sheet now, for me he is ahead of Barnes and Miggy for either wing.
I agree with a few posters and would try Gordon on the right, at least he wouldn`t be cutting back on himself therefore halting attacks like Miggy does
Gordon is two footed i think, and crosses from the right would be a novelty the likes of Isk or Wilson would thrive on.
Vask
Aug 30, 2023 at 11:27 AM
Comment #2080AGM
Aye best stop before you get waaaay out there and don’t come back. 😀
I think everyone on this blog has an honorary diploma from the footie know nowt country club.
Except Jose Munsterinho of course. 🙂