iancognito

Let's be honest it's always been a bunfight. There's been exceptions where the likes of us Newcastle and Reading have piled over 100pts but it gets billed as the most competitive league for a reason - all the teams are much of a muchness and no-one stands out. Boro were in the play offs last season and are down with the deadmen this year.

No-one was saying this when all the promoted team stayed up last year. Worth noting that Burnley are fairly unique too, the likes of Norwich, West Brom, Hudds, Cardiff etc didn't bounce back. At this stage Leeds and Saints are by no means certain to be in the shake up either.

Passing stats 😂

At the start of the season yes. The Pearson title team I'm sure had a great away record in the run-in.

Nope. Never. 4 times this game alone. Swap him for Akgun.

Winks is everywhere

Scored too early looking really complacent since the goal

So casual in defence, clearing balls like we're doing warm ups

Got your wish @Ric Flair

Started the Bristol game. He's just rotating with Preston coming up, he'll probably do the same with Mavididi at some point.

"Chaperoning the club mascot" The last one quit because of Filbert's wandering paws

It doesn't. It's a terrible point. And to answer your question, I know this because Maresca's exact words 15 mins after the final whistle were "he got a contact early on and could not continue". Say a Blackburn player kicks Winks tomorrow and snaps his leg are you gonna say Winks leg was already weak from training at Seagrave?

It was a contact injury during the game.

Not having it. These top clubs 1.) had squads expanded 2.) had extra subs introduced 3.) hoover up the best academy talent 4.) rotate their squads every week 5.) make 8-11 changes in cup games 6.) FLY to trips more than 1hr away 7.) have dozens of sports scientists, physios and specialists to attend to their every physical need. They don't seem bothered when coining it in during pre-season and even in the winter "break" when they drag their squads to various continents to play exhibition friendlies and tournaments. Cry more.

My jury's staying out on him for a while yet. His highlights reel wasn't the greatest but he's had a few decent touches and moments here and there even if he's been a bit shit generally. May end up being a great back up if not a great starter.

Daka's only an option if he becomes a threat. After two or three games on the bench, Vardy was brought back against Saints because - quote Maresca - "we've watched the videos to see what suits us best". Basically, he stretches the pitch by staying up with the CBs. He keeps defensive lines pushed back because of the legend/reputation of Vardy. Look at McAteer's goals v Rotherham and Saints. Made because defences are following Jamie. That doesn't happen with Nacho because he keeps dropping deep for the ball and it doesn't happen with Daka because a) he doesn't move and b) he's not got Jamie's reputation. It's not really an excuse for Nacho, I've said for years he's not a number 9 and never will be. When he had his goalscoring run in 2021 he was playing the Maddison 10 role. Jamie was creating spaces for him with his runs and occupying defenders. He can't adapt that game because he's just not a natural finisher. Look at Man City away (the Kompany goal year) United away two seasons back, Saints away last season. He's not clinical. Rodgers benched him for months after that Man City game because he's just not trustworthy in the big moments. You can adapt your style, go from CDM to an 8, lumbering CB to set piece taker, but you can't train anyone to be a proper 9.

Every single forum has said that before playing us (little Cov aside). This is why Vardy is still occupying defenders, these teams and fans are judging us on the pots we've won not our most recent form Sammie Szmodics ran the show against us last season, Sam Gallagher decent up front but since losing Ben Brereton Diaz in the summer they're lacking a proper star player, probably why they're bottom half this season not top 6 again.

"The Belgian Ashley Westwood" He should have gone back to Ligue 1 like Papy or mid-table La Liga like Perez. Unless he scores one or two of those worldies, he's not turning around 70+ pages of bile being poured in his direction.

The one about "we paid fvck all for him and still got ripped off" got me. Lucky he didn't join a big club, the abuse would have been off the scale

Not arsed. Bigger fish to fry.

Bigger fish to fry. There's a single solitary priority this season.

I think he'll be a good player for us. Right sided version of KDH and can probably do the Winks role if he's injured or banned.