Niall1905

Carragher is such an insufferable wet wipe isn't he? I couldn't care less if Salah, VVD and Trent stay or go, sure it would be pretty funny to see their squad fall apart in one clean sweep but I've not exactly got a countdown to June on my phone waiting for it to happen. But hearing him have a go at Salah for speaking out on his contract situation is laughable, especially considering his best mate was flashing Chelsea his crown jewels in hope that we would buy him and offer him a taste of silverware. Without context, sure, Salah starting a week that Liverpool play Madrid and City by saying he's more out the door than in isn't ideal and yes maybe he should have held off for a week. But if you are Salah, and you have been a pivotal factor in Liverpools most successful period for over 30 years (and still won not a fat lot) and they have let your contract get down within a year then you've every right to speak when you want to. Again, without context, you could argue that maybe Salah is the issue, maybe he's being difficult in negotiation and thats why they are where they are. Sure, that is logical, but a whole lot harder to believe when you see that the 2 other most influential players in this golden, but underachieving, generation of bin dippers are also in the same scenario. Rather than bashing Salah, Carragher should be shouting from the rooftops that FSG shouldn't have let him get to the point that he can disprupt a game week by doing a post game interview.

I don’t know if it’s an instruction, but whenever we beat a press and run through at their back 4 centrally, noni drifts so far central that it destroys the chance. There was a scenario of this in the second half where Palmer recieved it. Rather than staying wide to spread the defence, noni ran inside to try and create a pass for himself. Rather than staying wide and giving space for Cole or the other forwards by making the defender think about him. Really annoying as it’s just small things he’s doing that are stopping both his chances but the other forwards too

He’s just put a few stories up on instagram, one with a statement of thanks to those who are supporting him and saying he’s got another challenge ahead. Doesnt read as someone who thinks they’re back next weekend

I had sort of hoped him going into a team that was meant to be a few years ahead of us was going to get him to fluke his way to a few goals this year and some subsequent summer interest. Turns out he’s still just sh*te.

Really sad state of affairs. Even if this is just the club being over precautious, it isn’t sustainable to persist with this long term. Josh needs to be integrated short term to provide some Gusto cover till the end of the year. If Reece can find some frequency of game time then great but if not it would be best for everyone to find a different solution.

Spent all my years trying to decide whether the prince that was promised was Daenerys or Jon Snow, only to now find out that it is actually some internet sensation called Dave Ross. I often find myself bored on a work day and fancy stopping by the Nicolas Jackson thread to see if Jim's head has fulled exploded yet but haven't for a while. Look at what I've missed! Somehow, Jim's incessant ranting about Wacko has been outdone, in his own backyard no less! It truly is a battle for the ages. Get Frank Warren on the phone, we've got a new headline for the Usyk v Fury card. All I know is Jim doesn't have to prove whether or not he's a die hard Chelsea fan, because he's a full time Wacko hater and that is really all that matters. So, as the saying goes, you know nothing Dave Ross.

Sanchez borrowing Gary Barlow's Son's gloves when he forgot his for training;

Disappointing that we weren’t able to put United to the sword. Glad he realised that Gusto was the end of a lot of our attacks and swapped him out. Madueke needs a stint on the bench to wake him up a bit, no use having the depth we have if we only rotate on fitness. On the surface, it looks similar to last year in not taking the big games, but I can see a positive in that the team have looked set up to win in all games bar City. Execution of the plan and moments have gone against us but there hasn’t been a ‘ah sh*t, we’ve got this wrong’ type moment where we look set for a battering. A win next weekend sorts us right out.

Something very routine about how he faces up fullbacks. Whether he cuts in or goes to the byline, it just feels like he is rehearsing an action rather than actually trying to get something from it. Needs to kick back into form a bit now after a positive start to the year has dropped off.

Decision making in front of goal is wavering a bit, but we create so many chances. Palmer, Caicedo, James, Jackson and Neto all great. Noni suddenly needs to start looking over his shoulder as there was a clear difference in intensity and quality between the two wingers today. Dont know what Sanchez needs to do to get dropped, awful with the ball at his feet and did nothing when isaac walked past him and should have scored. Top 4 going into this last game today, can’t complain, on we go!

Thought he was outstanding today. He takes a touch for his goal today, last season. He’s making decisions with much more conviction.

Was nice to see him having a go at someone. Think it might have been KDH having a pop at him for a decision and Mudryk gave a bit back to him. Think he needs a bit of bite to bring more out of his game.

Funny thing is, theres an argument to be made that this could be their last chance with this group to make something stick, particularly with Liverpool coming back and, say it quietly, Chelsea looking like we may need to be taken seriously in the coming years. Im a big believer that teams get used to losing and the longer it goes that this group doesn't get over the line for Arteta, there is going to be mental blocks that impede them in the future.

Important to take a step back and remember the lads 22. Has been a wirlwind 12 months, theres been games where he has made similar 'mistakes' or 'wrong decisions' but they have been covered by the brilliance that he is normally able to bring. But going against the grain and trying something different is exactly what seperates him from the rest. He'll be fine, nothing to bounce back from, their entire gameplan was about conjesting the space he had which led to the space the wingers had. It wont be the first time it will happen but he still found dangerous positions despite this, thats the important part.

Having had a night to let the dust settle, I think its clear that whilst there is still much to be optomistic about moving forward we need to start making an impact in these types of games. Its been far too long now that we've been seen as a bit of a play toy for those competing for the title. Yesterday was certainly a step in the right direction from the perspective of our attitude towards the game. We were still careful, but we looked like we wanted to take the initiative, although I think Liverpool were happy for it to be that way. In the past few years we've competed by sitting in, countering and finding brief moments to impact the game but yesterday was a shift from that. In reality, 2 mistakes have cost us but more worryingly they weren't the only mistakes. Levi lost his composure for a solid 5-10 minutes there around the penalty incidents. He'll learn from that. Sanchez was awful all game and should have done better after Jones first touch for the second goal. He wont learn from that. Lavia is the real deal, as is Caicedo. Enzo is going to have to raise his level. Reece looked solid given the time he's been out, not blameless for the offside trap on the second but I think someone should be following Jones' run and Sanchez had plenty of chance to block the effort after the heavy touch. Think we'll do them at the bridge and I think we beat most teams playing like we did yesterday if we cut out the mistakes.

Apologies for the rant but ive spent my lunch reading and watching the mainstream outcry to Tuchels appointment and need to let off some steam. Particularly around the usual duo of Carragher and Neville. I enjoyed their match analysis when they first started in punditry, but since they've expanded into providing wider commentary on sporting and global issues, they've gone back to being unbearable pricks. Lets start with Neville, who thinks that hiring Tuchel is just the worst thing that could have ever happened to English football. He proclaims that English coaching is in a crisis but goes on to state the the FA have ignored some outstanding English candidates. He also poses the question as to why would we have established St Georges Park if we are going to just hire a German. Well Gary, heres why mate. The concept of establishing a centre of excellence for English coaches is a solid one. Its a good start point for improving standards. However, it cannot be the only place in which knowledge and experience is passed upon these staff. In fact, it actually serves as a perfect representation of the arrogance and ignorance of our current attitude towards coaching in England. Rather than encouraging take up of coaching badges through lowering fees, incentivising and potentially even subsiding coaches to go abroad and learn about different football leagues and cultures, playing styles, attitudes and approaches, we instead believe that creating a centre of coaches, surrounded by other average coaches is the way forward. Other than a few exceptions, most top managers have had to do the hard graft to get there. They have had to start out in the lower divisions of other leagues, travel away from home and look to gain chances where they can. They've had to take work breaks where they visit and learn from other top coaches, spend time as assistants and craft their trade. They aren't simply 'given a chance' at a top premier league club because they used to play for United. Gary and his pals seem to be experts in the world of football management and how to fix it, yet none have achieved anything close to sucess in management. Their answers are quick fixes: "Trust Carsley with the England Job", "Give an English Man a chance at the Top" as if by some divine intervertion, simply being given an important role suddenly qualifies one to do it. There is one thing he is right on though. Hiring Tuchel is a damning commentary on English coaching. But not because he should have been English but rather that it should inspire and motivate a change in approach towards bringing these coaches through. 12 years or so St Georges Park has been going and yet we have had to turn to Germany to help us try and squeeze a trophy out of yet another golden generation. But, most importantly, the FA are 100% correct in doing so. This needs to stand as a turning point so that in 10 years time, we have invested the correct time and money into supporting the development of English coaching across Europe, not in a hut in the south of England. Less annoyingly, Carragher takes the stance that international football should be nationality vs nationality and that it is unfair to be allowed to turn to a different nation so that the competitions are kept to "Our Best vs Yours". Its a narrative that I understand, but the reality of which becomes complex in how it would work, given the desire to want to promote football in less traditional/economically powerful nations. But this is also not something that we as a national football side should be concerned with. It is up to FIFA to decide on this and, the last time I checked, they couldn't care less what nationality the manager was. Therefore, it would be stupid of us to not exploit this given the void of talent currently available in our own pool. My overbearing feeling towards this is that the media constantly refer to the England job as the hardest job in football yet are constantly pushing and screaming for underqualified and inexperienced English managers to enter into. I would also love for there to be an English manager that will be good enough to take the hot seat and lead us to a trophy, but obtaining this position should be the end goal of years of hard work and graft for managers that have learned their trade and earnt the position, rather than being gifted it based on their passport and industry connections. I really hope Tuchel does well, if only because any percieved failure will only be used as fuel for the fire these media idiots have lit, to prove that they were right all along. When the reality is, English coaches need to pull their finger out their ass so that we aren't having this conversation in 10 years time.

How long until the media run with the “German leading England into war” narative? Have always said Tuchel would be what England need, a bit of know how on how to get over the line.

Its just an easy rumour to write about really isnt it. Reality is that if he finds fitness this season, he goes nowhere near the door. If he doesn't find fitness, we probably look for another RB option to give Gusto some cover anyway. If Reece doesn't get himself fit, the only thing we are holding onto is the Romance of a Cobham star and the FOMO of him sorting it out somewhere else. But really, next summer has to be where we draw the line and if he does rediscover health away from us, I really only wish him the best.

Such a lack of common sense when trying to cram all of these players in together. Ironically, I think Carsley stumbled into the correct set up for the forwards by the end of it (albeit wrong personel) but the decision to have both Trent and Lewis inverting was a wild mistake. The starting lineup had a formation that had Trent, Lewis, Rice, Palmer, Foden and Bellingham constantly looking to find space in central areas. I dont mind the idea of one of Trent or Lewis inverting, but they have to take turns. They can't both at the same time. And neither should be inverting when you are playing a false 9, as it is naturally condensing the area of the pitch you are trying to fill, hence removing the need for you to fill it. Someones going to have to make a call on Foden and Palmer at some point. And from their impact for England, it has to be Palmer that plays. T Rex Trent - Stones - Levi - Anyone fit Rice - Bellingham Saka - Cole - Gordon Kane Any competing profiles on the bench and just pick the best in form team.

So city have won their courtcase on the restrictions on sponsorships through related companies, apparently we (and other clubs) gave evidence in support of City. I may be giving the owners too much credit, but I wonder if this is why were haven't got a front of shirt sponsor yet? Waiting for the ruling so we can exploit it too?

Video going round socials of Jacko slapping someone in the mosh pit at the end. Hearing reports that @nonotnowjim is on the phone to POGMOL as we speak asking for a 3 year ban.

Knew this place would be a beacon of positivity 😂😂😂 Forest will cause the big teams a lot of problems away from home. They’re great in scenarios like today, less so when the onus is on them to attack. I thought we responded well to going behind, something that hasn’t been a strong point for the last few years. We had some very very good chances and on another day would have got the win. Props to Sanchez for the saves at the end. Thought Mudryk did better than expected when coming on. Enzo really the only one I’m annoyed with.

Nkunku for Jackson is all that’s needed for now. Too many changes will mean it could take a while to get back up to speed. Nothing concerning about that half at all, this was always going to be tight. Felix at some point if we are still struggling. Don’t think Neto changes anything, this is the opposite of what he wants.

Funnily enough, I’ve just stumbled across the exact thing he needs, at least as his profile picture for now What do you reckon @nonotnowjim

Never agreed with a statement more in my life. How that bloke has waffled his way into mainstream football media is beyond comprehension. I have no idea of his level of education, but he tries to cover up his truely awful football opinions by using big words or trying to seem well spoken. Hes a vulture that only thrives on Chelsea being a circus, hence why he has been so popular recently. If we win, theres hardly every a mention of it, yet he churns out youtube videos and podcast appearances when things are going wrong. At least he is written into the history books of bad football takes when he said the idea that Haaland would win the golden boot in his first year with city was "disrespectful to the establishment". Im still yet to figure out what the establishment is but we all know what Haaland went on to do.