coachpotato

Merry Christmas Reds, Merry Christmas!!!

Our shot conversion is fucking world class thankfully!

Fabinho has been brilliant again, as has Hendo, they both held us together for much of the first half, the full backs have had a couple of aberrations but Trent for the first and Robbo for the third with fabulous balls in to our forwards that led to goals, Keita has been quiet but has been effective at times winning the ball back, Minamino did well for the first goal. If we start to dominate, as we can, this could be a cricket score. There’s still 45 to though, so no stupid mistakes please to give them any hope.

Unbelievable finish again Bobby, great pass from Robbo.

Fuck me, should be level, but 2-0 up. Should piss the league at this rate!

This is very sloppy.

Ball must have covid, none of ours seem to want to keep hold of it.

They should be level.

Trents defensive work is a bit iffy here, they’re trying to get Zaha away all the time down that side and he’s not always tracking the run or getting goal side of him. Zaha is pretty much their only goal threat, apart from dead ball situations, so Trent needs to be aware.

This is the gobshite that “shushed” our fans, who took off down the touch line at Old Toilet when Porto scored, gouged an opponents eye in a fracas between those on the touch line and got a perfectly innocent physio sacked, and he wonders why his fucking card is marked? He knew there were well beaten and it could’ve been worse. Standard tactics to deflect attention away from his team.

They could use those 3D crosshairs to shoot Coote maybe? Probably be a waste of lead.

Not winning anything in the air with all their big grocks, keep it low.

Many thought we were taking a chance with the squad before the season started, basing any success on us not having too many injuries, particularly to the centre backs, and Matip and Gomez in particular. Well we’ve had all our chickens come home to roost and the way the front three are currently playing, it wouldn’t surprise me to see at least one of them end up with a significant injury, they look tired and that’s not a good way to stay injury free. We are still at the top though and given that things have become worse than expected, I would like to think that some serious thought has gone in to getting a replacement centre back at the very least. Preferably someone of note, given that we can’t carry on with both alternatives to Van Dijk being made of tinsel.

Not just a great football man, but a great man. Period. RIP Ged, and thanks.

Disappointing performance for what many thought was a gimme. At times it appeared the players thought that too. Pity nobody told Fulham. We’d have won this type of game last season, so it’s a worry that we haven’t won this, and a point might be deserved but we can only hope it turns out to be a “Villa moment” and not seen as two points lost. Obviously, the injuries, frequency of games and shuffling of the pack will tell, and I only hope it makes the hierarchy realise that we actually could do with a couple of players in the January transfer window, assuming they are available, or we could miss out on not just the title but actual CL qualification. Another factor yesterday that might have affected the performance, but shouldn’t have, is the fact that the Fulham pitch is smaller than most, so they were able to defend the space more easily as it was more compressed than in most games. We go again Wednesday, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the bus parked again by Mourinho and him rely on Son and Kane to nick a goal or two on the break. Hopefully we’ll do what we’ve done before and bounce back with a great performance.

This is gratifyingly shite. Seems to be a marked absence of dramatic toppling at the moment, no doubt that’ll change at some point when Penalty comes on for United. City are predictably tidy in midfield but their defence has made a couple of unforced errors which is encouraging seeing as how Otamendi isn’t there. Mahrez, Sterling and Jesus should be too much for Slabhead and his mates by the end of the match, but I’m actually hoping United win this to keep Ole at the wheel. Hope I can stay awake.

Think tonight has shown for certain that Keita, Origi and Minamino don’t have a future with us. If they can’t put a performance in against this quality of opposition, they’ll never do it when it matters. Fair to say some of the kids have put the same or more effort in and had the same or more influence which is telling.

So their player is offside but gets fouled and it’s a pen. Pickford scythes down Van Dijk who was considered to be offside and we get fuck all? Fuck VAR.

Neco Williams did much better by simply not diving in, kept his cool and stood them up when one on one, improved his attacking play as well, Curtis Jones revelled in the space Ajax left open as they attacked too, took his goal brilliantly, would have been easy for him to have given the cross up and expect the keeper to have got it, so his anticipation was superb, Kelleher was excellent, dealt with everything that was put at him and was very tidy with his feet too. Will have done him the world of good. As for the others, Fabinho, Matip and Robbo were all very good, Hendo and Gini too, but the front three that started look like they need a rest because they were pretty gash when it mattered really, although they weren’t given brilliant service, there were enough chances for them to have buried the game earlier. So a free hit next week, and a much needed rest for the players. Maybe Jurgen will calm down a bit after this!

Welbeck touched the ball first, but never had it under control, so because he touched it, Robbo kicked his foot rather than the ball. Inside the box it’s seemingly an obvious penalty, but outside the box it’s a play on? Still can’t understand how it is clear and obvious.

We need a second goal.

Good point from the commentator there, all four have now had a rest or been substituted in the last few games, Don’t like that Salah made that so public, neither did I when Mane spat his dummy out last season. Time and a place, in full view of the cameras is neither.

Get another and put this to bed.

Brilliant play Diogo.

VAR is a decent system, it’s the interpretation that’s giving it a bad name. The interpretation has been so bad, in both actual incident and spirit of the game, that we all would likely have been better off without it. Having an idiot looking it at numerous times and slowed down in Stockley Park as opposed to an idiot on the pitch making the decisions in real time is still having an idiot making the decision. The money would have been better spent getting in officials from Europe who are better at the job, or finding officials in this country who are.