Some interesting tactical tweaks so far, Tripps inverting a lot and when he does Burn comes across to make a 3. Bruno playing further forward with Miley much deeper. Good start where we're actually controlling the game for the first time in a while.
@philheppenstall I've said for quite a while that Kraft and Dummet haven't had enough minutes given our schedule and injury crisis.
Burn needs to be viewed similarly to Miggy:
Love him and his attitude but his purple patch is over and he won't reach those levels again. Both need replacing to move forward. I'm glad he got his PSG goal and he can be really proud of what he's achieved.
The difference with Burn compared to Miggy is that there's an expensive replacement on the bench! Thats on Howe
@philheppenstall it's got nothing to do with where we were, it's about where we are and I just really want Howe to be here long term but I'm just worried about him not being able to adjust to managing a team with regular midweek fixtures.
Having said that tonight was the best we've been in a long time and Howe got everything right tonight tactically for the first time in a while.
It's days like today where we have to keep perspective on how far we've come. I kinda miss when there were no expectations, we'll never have another season like last year.
We've totally lost that Athletico Madrid style side of our game. Luton want it more than us. We're showing no desire. No intensity. We're too nice, no fouls to break up play. We have the odd good spell of possession but I imagine we're nice to play against.
Very surprised Howe let Gordon play on, and I don't think Ritchie is the right choice. Would rather see Tino go LW and Dummett come on with Burn going LB.
We are always so bad when we try and see a game out. We can't do it.
@mlawton@30yrdscreamer Me, too. For a while there in the 1990s they were everyone's second-favourite team, but the Saudi sellout has changed that for ever. I despise them now, second only to Man City.
@mike@30yrdscreamer I feel EXACTLY the same way. And so, knowing there is darkness ahead when the state-owned teams pave a gilded path to the top of the table, I will enjoy this moment of schadenfreude.
@philheppenstall Schar was crazy even trying that. Midfield then gets broken through too easily, and then Burn loses his man. Catalogue of errors for that second goal. Didn't think Burn looked right, Longstaff kept slowing everything down.
AC were able to effect the game positively with their bench and we weren't. Without the injuries/Tonali we probably get through the group comfortably.