Midfield

[Zippity]

Aye, Joe was caught on his heels and lost possession several times today.

Midfield was more attacking. With the best will in the world, Longstaff's first instinct isn't to pass it fowards.

[Nufcian]

Aye, Joe was caught on his heels and lost possession several times today.

Midfield was more attacking. With the best will in the world, Longstaff's first instinct isn't to pass it fowards.

Joelinton was top notch apart from at least 2 times he didn’t react to the ball coming in quickly enough, against most of the Prem there is so little time, against a team of Citeh’s quality even less so… but other than that he had a cracking game.

Longstaff gave the ball away way to cheaply just outside our own box, and while it was just outside our box it developed so quickly into a great chance for them… he wasn’t the only one, and in extra time we got a bit nervous and could have been a lot more comfortable if calmer heads had prevailed… but I guess the prospect of a point being earnt or lost had an impact.

The crowd was quiet for a lot of the game, towards the end it was much better… bloody Manc’s singing “where’s your famous atmosphere”… have they been to their own home games?

Hopefully we’ll see the midfield 3 as default 3, and they’ll improve as a unit as a result… we can bring Willock and even Longstaff in as time goes on and we need fresh legs, but these are clearly our 3 best players.

Gordon was at it more yesterday, poor against Fulham I thought, but hopefully if he signs a new contract soon we’ll see him being consistently the player he was last season. I’m not convinced by him as a striker mind, needs must, but seems that receiving the ball inside the pitch means his first touch is poor (it was yesterday at least) and I’m looking forward to Isak and Wilson being available… becasue I think they’ve been a big miss.

Also think Tripps starting helped us out, just having that calm head in the pitch and in the dressing room as a playing member of the squad helps (imo)