Flight

Saying we were nowhere near Real in the final is also not helpful. We're struggling now but let's not play down last term. Real had 1 shot on target and 2 shots off target. We had 9 shots on target and 14 off target. Their keeper had the game of his life. The team is shot now in midfield due to age and injuries. For all the hype about Bellingham we need a Mascherano or a Keane more than a creative attacking midfielder. As soon as I saw Hendo playing alongside Thiago in the line ups yesterday I was worried. He's playing as the fulcrum of the side and is a key reason for our defensive frailties. We'll be back to our best, in Jurgen we trust. But it won't be in the next few weeks or before we recruit big time for midfield.

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This season we've changed patterns of play and positioning. Trent is often playing halfway between the centre and the wing and it's like he and others are often unsure where they should be and what they should be covering. Sad to say but Hendo isn't up to being first choice at the moment. Maybe it's just temporary due to injuries and adjusting to new areas of play but it's possible he's in his twilight in this team. James is shot but he's been a monster for us. He deserves our respect. Compounding that we are constantly giving the ball away. Maybe this is a part of adjusting, maybe some players need their arses kicking. Bottom line - it's a period of transition. This isn't getting fixed in the next game or two regardless of who comes back into the team. It may force the management into the market in January instead of waiting until next summer, whatever we'll be better in the second half of the season. Support the manager, support the team and don't expect a quick fix.

I don't think you can compare Darwin to previous signings. His strengths require some significant changes from the way the team has played historically plus he's come in at a time when the midfield is not in a good place. We're at the start of a rebuild and putting in long term foundations with key younger players front to back. Once the midfielders we need come in I believe the team will go on to be stronger than ever.

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Robbo you f***ing idiot. Should be 3

First thing I thought. Both hands on the ball and had it kicked out of his hands. Isn't this a foul ?

Might be remembering it wrong but I think a significant point was that G&H agreed to keep Krusty on ?

Wish him well. He'll score loads but it's a weak league. The lack of competition will make him regret going there I suspect. We'll go on to be stronger without him.

For the last two years, half the time Mane was negating our attacks down the left flank. There were loads on here calling for him to go by this last Christmas. Again, the last three months of this season he was great. Apparently he was after £400k a week to stay. He's always worked hard and done his best so respect to him but I'm happy enough to see him move on if it's what Klopp wants.

Mane was mediocre for two years up until this February just gone. He's been great for the last three months of course.

Is it right Mane and Salah are both just under 5'9" ? It's never occurred to me that we were lacking height up front. Partly explains why we often haven't looked so potent against a packed defence as we did a few years ago when we had loads of space to run into. What a difference having a 6'2" target man (Nunez) will make for Trent and Robbos crosses into the box. Just been watching a couple of vids of Bellingham. He's exactly what we need now isn't he ? Box to box, hard working, skilful and was putting it on a sixpence for Haaland to head home.

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Some of the paper talk is that we may move to a 4-2-3-1, which Jurgen used at BVB. I could see Nabi doing better if that were the case. The last six months he's come on leaps and bounds. I haven't a clue where he's at. I'm sure Jurgen will get it right.

He also started the Roy Hodgson book club, so you know, swings and roundabouts...

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It was funny how they simultaneously tried to play the press while doing walking football.

Things you never thought you'd say..... ...we're missing Keita.

I'll be hugely surprised if we double the present wage ceiling to keep Mo. I love him and wish him all the best whatever he decides but we're bigger than any player. The most likely outcome is we sell this summer or agree a one year extension. Players like Benficas 22 year old Nunez are on 30k a week with whispers he's agreed to come to us for 60k a week (what Diaz is on). Most likely we bring in a couple of players like Nunez, extend Manes contract and wish Mo and Bobby all the best as they move on (I'll be more gutted about Bobbly leaving that Mo as well). And that or anything else is ok. We know we can trust Jurgen to get it right.

I watched after the first 15 with the commentary off. It was Carra doing my nut in. We have more stats and tactical analysis available than ever before and its still ''oooh that's just missed' or 'he's took a shot there'.

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We shouldn't think about holding on to what we've got. That cost us a title to Arsenal way back when. We should play our strongest team and crush them.

Micah Richards is my new favourite human being. I thought Keane was going to lamp him. For those who missed it after the City Utd game Roy Keane spent 3 minutes on a passionate rant, practically breaking down about the poor attitude of the Utd players then it cuts to Richards who just totally pisses himself laughing at Keane.

Glad the pen was given just to shut Carra the f*** up.