Caddy

There's a possibility of running a proper 3-5-2 with Bailey/Buendia operating as wide midfielders but there's no way that doesn't end with us getting taken to the cleaners on the wings. The honest truth is there's no way to fit all of Ings/Bailey/Watkins/Buendia in the side with the caliber of midfielders we have. It is a bit of a problem and if they all stay healthy and fit, keeping everyone happy just won't be possible. It seems Buendia's wacky adventures abroad have made the odd man out an easy one to pick right now. It won't be that easy going forward.

All over the place defensively but it's not helping that the ref just let them kick their way to a clean one on one

We're gonna be bang average this season without a proper quality midfield addition 100%, Luiz, McGinn, Nakamba are all midtable-level talent which is fine if that's your ambition.

Targett is getting absolutely skinned right now, oh my **** god

Unfortunately the only form of "financial mismanagement" that could doom City is its sale. Nothing less will stop this madness, because we know the FA will do FA to curb this.

Calling him a snake, or just shitting on him in general is definitely overboard. I don't think he's gone about this unprofessionally at all. But saying shite like we should applaud him on his return? FOH with that nonsense.

All of the Jack nonsense aside... if we as a club parlayed that money into Buendia, Bailey and another 30-40m attacking mid/winger I really can't say I'd be too fussed about it. That's high quality business and should put the fears of us pulling a Spurs (spending the cash out on dross) to bed

Those oil sheiks just gotta work a few extra hundred indentured servants to death to make up the shortfall, no biggie

Gutted for Saka. That shouldn't have fallen on him. No way.

That was a nice tackle by Sanson

It can't be overstated how much his hold up play and channel running opens up the game for the wingers playing beside him. The massive improvement seen in our wingers (not to take anything away from them) has so much to do with the way Watkins creates space for them. He may be hot and cold as a finisher (and that will improve with time IMO) but the dynamism he brings to our attack is massive.

If the upper arm is what rules him off, wouldn't Soufal's arm be playing him on?

VAR's gonna rule it off FFS

When I saw the team sheet I had a bad gut feeling, I know we've got a huge game ahead on Sunday but any successful Cup run blends a few of the starting 11 in, there was way too much dross out there and it cost us.

It's becoming increasingly obvious that Bolasie and El Ghazi will be absolutely vital to any hopes of automatic promotion. If they keep playing like this and keep fitness levels up... my god.

was plain and obvious for all of us to see that this season was DOA with our defensive/GK ranks and the utter lack of reinforcements. Smithball is working going forward but tactics can't cover up liabilities in the back 5. We all gave Brucie grief for playing Hutton out of position, but given his other option... Neil Taylor, good god, this is who we got for Jordan Ayew? are you **** with me?

lmfao straight red for our only CB, can't make this shit up

actually managed to get a good stream of this on my phone at work today wish I hadn't bothered, utter waste of my time. I keep waking up the day after matchdays hoping to see the good news and it never happens, it's starting to become disheartening

yeah FFP isn't calculated until March, which technically gives us another half year before we *have* to sell before FFP is calculated and punishment doled out. I certainly wont be surprised to him sold but it's not done and dusted like it was before the investment. Also, like Nigel said his career has been marred by inconsistency and off-the-field issues. This past 6 months was hands down the longest stretch of consistent form from him; if Southgate told him his England football is contingent on PL playing time, he really should at least step up to a mid-table club like Everton or Leicester to ply his trade before trying to break into a CL squad. Those squads are reasonable steps up, but Spurs seems far too ambitious for him atm.

Totally expected and deserved. This is what happens when you rely on ancient dinosaur tactics to squeeze results. We were always going to play a club that actually plays football in these playoffs and I knew we'd be played off the park when it happened.

I was under the impression that Cissokho was meant to be halfway decent in defense. I mean, he's gash going forward, at least he's solid going back right? **** me

Richardson and Lescott starting again?! Bacuna/Hutton combining on the right flank is sure to end well. Gabby's back? **** me You know what? As much as a loathe Sherwood when the whistle goes I can't help it.

https://mobile.twitter.com/dionne_burke/status/647499843603156992/video/1

Please get Bacuna off NOW

Had a gut feeling we wouldn't be in for another CF, it would basically be an admission that Gestede and/or Ayew were wastes of money and I don't think RL would be too pleased with that. IMO, if we put Sinclair in front of Grealish/Gil/Traore then the goals will come. There's no way they can't.