Scott_M

Just been reading about him as well, sounds like he was a key voice in keeping 7-Hag in the summer as well. Considering Amorim was available in the summer and the extension / compensation to 7-Hag cost the mancs >£20m and likely another c.£200m spent on mediocre players, I can see why Ratcliffe decided to sack him.

Zero Dark Thirty - 9/10.

On the 4th episode of Dune Prophecy, still not feeling it.

She was annoying in No Time To Die as well. A blatant attempt to make 007 a minority, likely pan sexual as well.

Given the weekend postponement, I think we’ll go significantly stronger than we likely would have done. I expect Allison to be back starting. Don’t think we have any other current options at full back. Trent and Robbo’s minutes have been managed well this season anyway. If we’re assuming Gomez and VVD will be the first choice centre backs until Konate is back, I’d start Quansah and play Gomez & VVD for 45 mins each. I’d play the midfield we expect to play v Fulham but fully look to make changes after an hour (Endo & Elliott). I’d start Nunez up front with the expectation he plays the full game. Not really fussed who the flanks him, I fully expect to see Jota & Chiesa at some point.

Just realised we’ve given them a 10 day rest before Arsenal and then another 8 days before Chelsea…

I saw something on their XG outside of set pieces yesterday, they are something like 13th in the league for XG from open play. They clearly are relying too much on them. I’ll be interested to see how they do against The Ev on Saturday. I expect Arsenal to win, I’m not sure they’ll be able to bully The Ev at set pieces like they do other clubs.

There recruitment in the last couple of years has been dreadful. Nunes isn’t good enough. Doku, for all his great skill, produces very little. Savinho has offered very little so far. Grealish is a £100m flop nobody seems to talk about. Phillips was a complete disaster. Gündoğan is past it. Gvardiol has been good, he’s seemingly out the side now. They’ve let Lavia, Palmer, Alvarez & Frimpong go because they weren’t playing enough. Cancelo left because he fell out with Pep. Mahrez was getting on but always produced. I genuinely agree with Carragher, it’s like us in 22/23, the same players have been ran into the ground and the areas haven’t been addressed. IMO, Rodri has been the best player in the world for the last couple of years, any club would miss him, the way a number of them have fallen off a cliff so suddenly, looking at it now, there demise might not quite have been so sudden, in hind site I think it was coming.

Forgot Lavia was at Man City. They could certainly do with him now. And Palmer. And Alvarez. And Pedro Porro.

Agreed. Even if we went there and played on the counter, we’d create loads. Hope Gravenberch doesn’t get booked v Fulham. Didbt realise, we play Southampton on the Weds night (where we’ll likely rotate) and they play the mancs on the Thursday night, where they’ll likely be full strength.

This game has been entertaining but neither are playing well, it’s completely littered with mistakes.

Brentford v Arsenal is at 5.30pm, there is a full Championship schedule. 8pm makes sense.

Play it New Year’s Day.

He’ll miss Girona and Fulham.

There is no reason not to go full strength now.

Completely unsurprising news. I’m not unhappy about it. Nice little break for Mac Allister.

Yes. Story doesn’t really make sense, it’s decent though.

Enjoying Black Doves.

Hopefully Grav can keep his nose clean tomorrow, gets himself an accidentally on purpose yellow v Fulham and the conveniently misses Southampton.

Hopefully no protective boot and, I assume gym work, means Tsmiskas is close now… I reckon Alisson, Jota & Chiesa all play at least an hour in Girona.

There have been some good prefomances in Jota's absence... Chelsea Leipzig Villa (although he should have scored more than one) Real Madrid ... however, you can hardly say he's grasped the opportunity with both hands and has really claimed a stake to be our first choice 9 when everybody is fit. Every time we think we've taken a step forward with him, we seemingly take a step backwards just as quickly. Now Chiesa is almost fit, all the other 5 players can play through the middle. I can only see him being used less & less. I don't think we'll do anything in January, I think it needs addressing in the summer. Continued talk on Cunha, I'd be surprised we pay Wolves want they'd ask for. Vlahović is out of contract in 2026, looking at how they treated Chiesa, I reckon they'll be open to seeing in the summer if they can't tie him down. We always like a player from Leipzig, Openda has a £80m release clause and I think Sesko has a £50m release clause.

And we play in Spain on Tuesday.

Reckon he’ll be in the squad v Girona and that easing him back into things means there will be less chance he breaks down when he’s back.