Hopefully Rice can start replicating his club performances with the national team – he has good moments, but it hasn't quite happened yet in terms of a complete performance. I'm not sure Henderson and Rice is a great pairing as it puts a fair amount of pressure on the third member of Southgate's pre...

Playing complete Devil's Advocate here, Ace, as I agree with you, but that was one season - his other two top flight Spanish seasons he got 2 and 3. Given his current age, he must only have been 19-20 years old for one of those seasons, so I think it's best to give him the benefit of the doubt ther...

If the goal of a formation is maximizing the abilities of the players you have to best eke out one more goal than your opponents on a given day, on the evidence of this season I like the idea of using Yarmolenko up front as an auxillary striker with Haller given their complementary skills. And then ...

You don't pick up 12 assists in a season in a top league without having something about you. It's probably instructive to keep an eye on Ceballos at Arsenal too given the similarities. He's probably even more talented but has also endured a mixed start – good in patches initially, less so lately. Pa...

Wouldn't be sorry to see any of our fullbacks depart – on either side. But this will allow Pellegrini to use the cash to buy another slight, technically capable attacking midfielder in the summer. If Lanzini, Fornals, Diangana, Anderson and Wilshere get injured we'll be looking thin there.

Leaving aside the meat of this thread for a moment, anyone with an interest should appreciate such academically sound Puffology as that above in advancing understanding within the field.

Rather than bringing him back in Jan, I'd not only be avoiding it but also be checking if Slav needs right back cover for the second half of the campaign. Johnson getting minutes at a team fighting at the top end of the table is preferable to trundling out in U-23 games here. I'm sure Slav would app...

fjthegrey wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:17 am

All I can tell you about him, is that he almost certainly won't make it with us.

Hey, you're nicking Puff's best lines.

Funny thing is, in those tiny little cameos he had in pre-season he looked no worse and in some cases better than some of our other centre halves.

I've got a whole lot of time for Oggy, but just *imagine* what he'd be playing like in his first game after 18 months out.

Don't condone people throwing "missiles"..come on they more like beers...but reap what you sow n' all that. Behave like a ****, you're going to get treated like one. Think I'm starting to understand what Tottenham supporters are on about when they talk about one-sided rivalries. Jordan Ayew has des...

This season is more open than even the Leicester season. Which is why it's going to kill me when we finish 9th anyway.

Was about to post something almost identical Georgee.

Surprised I’m this teed off tbh. I thought I was cooler that. Still the same pimply 13 year old scrote who used to struggle with a reverse.

The annoyance will subside by midweek, but that goal will have some staying power long after you've forgotten the game. Best goal of the Pellegrini era. I'd argue the best goal Cole's against Wigan. Sublime.

Two up front has become unfashionable for a reason. But Haller is someone who looks made for it given he mostly prefers being a playmaker to a shot-taker when he's in the box. The obvious position to sacrifice in that circumstance is the number 10 role that Lanzini and Fornals are occupying. I'm not...

It’s unbearable how often we fail to seize the chance to take a step up

Got to be worth considering bringing Arthur on - as an attacking sub - on 60 if it stays like this.

Feels similar to most of our games this season. Cagey and ultimately only decided by a few moments of quality from one of our front 4.

Rice has been excellent, and Fredericks has had his moments in defence.

Johnny Byrne's Boots wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 05, 2019 4:53 pm

Kevin Kilbane thinks Mane dived.

The single worst pundit in British football. Even the dumb ones are usually entertaining, even if only by accident. Just a dreary man.

Been coming for both sides. Everyone will focus on Tottenham but Brighton’s underlying play so far this season suggested there might be a result like this in them.

Tom "3 in 65 for Watford" Cleverley has contrived to score against us for 3 different clubs. That's got to be worth a place.