I think Fornals would have started ahead of Cress and we would have had a back 4. Fornals and Benrahma would have played over the last few weeks and therefore we wouldn't have had pretty much everyone playing 4 games in 12 days. It's possible, but it should be remembered Hodgson himself confirmed w...

Fornals and Benrahma being here or not had no bearing on what happened last night. I can scarcely imagine Moyes throwing Benrahma on last night at all even if he were here as he'd lost trust in him (imo rightly if you remember the Liverpool and Bristol City games) by the time he departed. Even if we...

The second goal was deflating but the mood around the tie will improve as the week goes on. By kick-off most people will be back to a state of measured belief.

Wasn’t sure quite where to put this, but since multi-yellow bans have become a live issue for us in this tie with Alvarez (Europe and in the league), Paqueta and Emerson it’s probably relevant here. Was interested to read the below this morning. Was the second Gordon card the other day against us di...

Chances of getting European football again through the Europa itself are probably a bit less than 5% now (and that percentage is only that high due to Liverpool looking like they’re out). But they’re still reasonable in the league - 4 wins would do it, and 3 wins and a draw *might* do it. And helpfu...

terryturbo wrote: ↑Fri Apr 12, 2024 12:32 am Was never a fair match up without Bowen and Alvarez.

I don’t think Bowen’s absence was much of a factor in the end. He wouldn’t have had anything to work with, same as the other forwards. Will be more of an issue for the next leg if he’s still out given we’ll have to build a lead.

Denzil wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 11:04 pm perhaps the Emerson one wrong but depends how he saw it in the flesh I guess, as he did plant his foot on his ankle albeit completely unintentionally.

Been a bad week for Emerson and accidental contact with opposition heels.

The one benefit from shipping that second goal is it probably helps renew the focus on the European push this season. The road back to Europe for us is basically win the next two, hold Chelsea, beat Luton. At 0-0 or even 0-1 I think we struggle to focus for Fulham, and rightly so. While not writing ...

So far so good.

With Bowen likely out and Paqueta def out, it’s imperative Emerson emerge without a yellow otherwise we’re going to struggle to put out a team next time.

Paqueta only needs to get through another 25 mins and then we can replace him.

il_martello_di_genovesi wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 4:10 pm Ings, Phillips, Cornet are all going to have to play a part.

Phillips hasn’t travelled I don’t think - injured.

I like Cornet but I can’t picture him being used even as a time-wasting 5 minute sub by Moyes given how reluctant he’s been to get him on the field thus far.

We will know within 5 minutes of the start whether we are in trouble or whether we are ok . I would disagree with this, we tend to look horrific in the opening exchanges against just about anyone. Typically you can’t get a handle on how things will go for us until the second half. It’s inevitable w...

Westbourne Bill wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 6:46 am Bowen is confirmed as out sadly.

Really? By who?

Bruised spine? Pah.

There’s one squad member who has played his entire career here without one, Bowen should seek his advice.

If Areola, Alvarez and Bowen are all missing, then the only real call is Aguerd or Cresswell. I think I'd opt for Nathan - the height and pace should be helpful at both ends. It’s unfortunate that we’re in this situation because I think there are three players in the squad who ideally you’d keep ou...

Gus Hamer has been up and down this season but the potential is clearly there and he seems more like a Moyes style central midfielder than Downes.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see us show an interest and possibly even recycle any Downes money from Southampton on him.

With the likes of Arsenal and Spurs looking for strikers this Summer, I’d be staggered if we can compete financially for Toney Unusually, there’s a glut of quality centre forwards - generally the position where you’re shopping from the smallest pool other than left back - likely to be on the move t...

Even Freiburg managed a 1 goal defeat recently against them and we've seen how bad they are. The flipside of this argument is that we managed to lose to Freiberg ourselves over there. And Leverkusen are levels above them. The way we were hanging on in the last 10 mins in that game and fortunate to ...

This for me feels bigger than AZ Alkmaar, even if it is 1/4s and not semi-finals. As good as our record in Europe has been the last 18 months, in truth we probably haven’t played anyone with a stronger team than us on paper since Sevilla. This is comfortably the toughest European opponent we’ll hav...

Philosophically I’ve no objections to Moyes unleashing his Moyesiest self and turning the caution dial up to 11. But I do have doubts we have the ability and stamina to execute it currently. There’s scant evidence of us being able to grind out a nil-nil. And that’s before you get to the absence of A...