bannedfromHandV

Yep, case in point Diego Forlan

Guessing he could be out for a while anyway now as he seemed to do his shoulder / collarbone toward the end of the match

It was just bound to happen wasn’t it? I should have put money on, was literally thinking earlier in the day yesterday about him scoring in the 86th min to either equalise or worse, the latter proving true of course.

I’m sure we’ll be getting an apology from PGMOL in the coming days, at least one of the four key decisions (3 x penalties and 1 x disallowed goal) should have gone our way. The Watkins one for me was the most blatant but the handball not given comes close and I’m amazed that our disallowed goal was deemed a clear and obvious mistake.

I think he slotted in fine, it’s barely a criticism to say he doesn’t have the passing range of a player who’s fast becoming known as one of the best passing centre backs in the country.

Well, sequences come to an end. Typical that it was against probably the easiest on-paper opposition we’ve faced during the run, perhaps on a par with Luton. We dominated the game up until the 70th minute or so when we seemed to get nervous and slack, Sheff United grew into the game and my pre-match nightmare of Archer scoring the winning goal in the 86th minute almost came all too true. Thankfully Zaniolo had other ideas and somewhat spared our blushes. We didn’t shoot enough, overplayed it at times and lacked the kind of incisive passing we now have with Torres and Tielemans in the side. All that being said we should have had at least one penalty, the Watkins one early on baffles me, he was clearly shoved in the back with the ball coming toward him, that we then get a goal disallowed for a little bit of arm holding on their keeper is a joke. Frustrating, I think like others I went into tonight feeling nervous, wondering if we’d choke in the big moment. I don’t think we choked as such but it’s a sobering reminder that we’re not a top team, despite currently competing at the top. But that Zaniolo goal makes it just about bearable at least and softens the blow heading into Christmas, fingers crossed we bounce back at Old Trafford and if so, tonight’s result will be quickly forgotten.

Some of the comments in here

The only person who looks even more unhappy when he’s scored a goal

Has there even been a ‘monopoly break up’ that’s actually benefited the general public? Its always dressed up as being a good thing but then hits us all in the pocket. I’m no fan of UEFA but I’m struggling to see any good coming out of this.

West Ham were dreadful

Pretty deflating news to not be replacing the north stand, wonder how much the bankruptcy of Birmingham council has played a part in this (probably answered in the previous 20 pages but can’t be arsed to trawl through).

So we have what, four different badges now and this one’s a total joke. Emery out.

So much more enjoyable to watch football without VAR

Yep, and also why it almost certainly will not be overturned or even appealed against I suspect.

I actually think the ref was initially going to book the palace player for a dive before Foden gave the game away by limping

What chance - with the run we’re on currently in the league, after beating two of the best teams in the country, on a 15 game winning run at home - we lose to bottom of the bloody table? Wilder’s had our number a bit in past meetings, though none of those involved Emery. Fingers crossed we don’t just turn up and think we’ve won before a ball’s kicked because it won’t be that easy.

Where to start in dissecting that one. Lots of possession but not enough cut and thrust for most of the game, should have scored first half but they had decent chances on the break too, couldn’t grumble too much with them leading at half time. Fairly lacklustre second half then Ben Mee finally gets his comeuppance, thankfully this time without ending one of our players’ career (effectively). Then all hell broke loose. Two good headers and at that point it’s just a case of keep your heads and stay out of the emotion of the game but we did the opposite. I blame Martinez for Bouba’s red card, just no need to go and get involved with that little shit Maupay on the ground, leave him there floundering like the petulant little child he is. We’re really going to miss Bouba against United in particular I fancy. Good subs again from Emery, helped to spur us along, 2nd place in the table if only for a couple of hours, wtf is going on?!?

Lots of chances for Cash and Moreno, should have done better with some of them, Cash just not effective enough in an advanced role. Wank goal to give away, fingers crossed we can get out of here with a point at least, bloody hate Brentford away.

Yeah I’ve been thinking about it the same and settled on 25 being the marker this season, scarily enough it could be even less, if the three bottom sides replicate their current PPG for the rest of the season they won’t even reach 20. It’s really looking like a free pass for anyone else down there who might have a poor season.

My opinion has absolutely nothing to do with the colour of his skin and I resent the association frankly

His body language and demeanour is worrying me a bit, just doesn’t seem fully invested at the moment which is both worrying and encouraging at the same time. I mean, if we can get him back firing on all cylinders on top of what the rest of the team is already achieving that’s a scary thought for the opposition.

Fingers crossed that goal settles him down now, because he really needs settling down

Shame for him how it’s panned out, I recall us all largely being in agreement that he was a very shrewd signing for free when he first came in and was playing really well, I remember a volleyed assist in a home game and that cracker from the edge of the box in the 3-0 win away to Leeds. But then we started signing better players, got a manager in who knows what he’s doing and more importantly plays a style that just doesn’t suit Chambers.

Captain Holt, what a character, very sad indeed.

That ship has sailed