Mic09

Nakamba did well against Arsenal, but Dougie needs to start this in order to move the ball around quicker, they will press us big time.

I think people fail to realise that 'the top' is often filled with people who shouldn't be there anymore. I'm sure any of us can think of a manager in a place of their work that's been there for 15/20 years, gone through the ranks, saw it all, did some interesting things back in 2007 but shouldn't be there anymore because they are so far detached from what is important right now. The 'I know best' syndrome. Just because you were at the top and just because you achieved it through hard work (but often some luck and a team around you) it doesn't mean you are the most qualified person to be running the show now.

I should point out, I have left out the obvious choices in my list - Kane, Rashford, Calvert Lewin has dropped down the list now, maybe Foden could play as a false 9. But you have a point - I'd say Bamford is somewhere around 5th-8th in line.

Chris Sutton on BBC has argued that he would give Bamford a go for England. While Bamford is having a good season, there is a list of strikers who are simply better. Tammy, Ings, Greenwood or our own Ollie Watkins being on that list.

I think that it will be beneficial for football to finally aim it's criticism at referees and not a video replay. Mason or Dean are finally brought centre stage as poor professionals. Before we complain about a video replay which can only act as a support for a good referee, we should aim our greviances at the level of officiating which is well below par. Lines during offsides isn't a VAR problem - it's a problem of stupid officialls making those rules and judgements.

I have a feeling Man City will humiliate Plop. Good.

Spurs are gonna mess this up aren't they

It's one of those things where you can't win a discussion. If we say "he should have put Trezeguet on for Traore at 60mins" when we are 0-0 with the opposition attacking, we just don't know if that's the right call. Maybe we lose the game. Maybe we win it. Maybe we concede 7 goals after Smith makes a sub we want him to make. Maybe Grealish makes a run he wouldn't have done with Traore on the pitch and pulls a muscle and is out for a month. Smith sees the players on the training ground and has several tactics ready at any time. So yes, we can have a discussion and have opinions, but they are happening in a parallel hypothesis universe so are mainly pointless.

When we signed Traore he was on the bench for the first 3/4 games, only making sub appearences at first. If I recall properly, the new boys last season (Luiz et al) also started the first few games on the bench. Maybe that's how Smith goes about things.

They are not, just one good manager I'd say.

How good is Targett, unreal

He is class, should play in the Euros.

Nakamba has definately solidified that centre.

I like the champions league. It's the best teams in Europe playing against each other. Sure it's the rich boys club, but so is the Premier League. Every week I watch Burnley vs Southampton or Crystal Palace vs Newcastle. It's a nice change to see Bayern play Juventus every now and again.

He played well other than that and scored a good goal - but I thought those two mistakes were criminal. I'm glad to see him scoring again!

It was 2 Watkins poor controls that led to 2 goals. For that reason, I don't understand how you can vote him MOTM.

He is on the bench, so you can see him on YouTube highlights

I was gonna say that the bench looks ok, but then I thought we could have Messi on the bench and it wouldn't make a difference

In the defence of the David Luiz decision (and Bednarek) - the same thing happened with Pogba and our Luiz this season and that was given. A player running into the defender and winning a pen. In my eyes, that is not a penalty, but at least it is consistent with previous decisions.

I actually like Westwood, he is an accomplished mid-lower table PL player and has been for years. Never claimed to be any better by media nor fans. But I really don't understand the Declan Rice hype. I have never seen him do anything "world class" or deserving of a high fee transfer. I much prefer Ward-Prowse, he is more vertisile and has a killer free kick. Is it because Rice plays for West Ham? Sure we are bias, but can anyone please try to objectively explain Declan Rice hype?

So I take it you first do the anal probe and then you do the mouth swab?

If we repeat the same results in the 2nd half of the season and get an extra 3 points somewhere it's unrealistic that we won't finish in CL spots. Amazing.

The art of shithousery at its finest