Patches O Houlihan

I'm also interested in an Ipswich ticket if anyone has a spare they are willing to sell

RM confirmed in the Middlesborough press conference that Ross is back training with them on the grass.

What's even more impressive is that Leeds have only conceded 3 goals across all their league games in 2024

I once bumped into him in the chandlery - presumably when he was fitting her out as he had a huge shopping list of items every boat needs. Was great to be able to personally thank him for the considerable effort and energy he put into the club. He did a great job keeping us up during the Gao years when there was no top-up money and no liquidity. I hope his boat gave him some respite and a place to relax: I was very keen to avoid compromising his free time, so was short but heartfelt in our exchange. Ultimately he probably should have left in the summer for his piece of mind and the sporting success of the club. Water under the bridge now. I hope he goes well at Wolfsburg.

Bellingham hit their second really well; he shouldn't really have been allowed the chance, but once he hit it there's very few keepers stopping that

I do really enjoy their podcast - because the game is still fresh and they have clearly experienced the same emotions you have watching it. Plus Jo usually finds some interesting technical/tactical point to discuss. I've never been able to get radio commentary and TV coverage to overlap closely enough not to be a distracting load of bollocks. When I'm at the game I watch it! But when I do listen I enjoy the commentary.

Sulemana... picks up the ball on the left wing, drops shoulder, powers past the defender on the outside, more defenders crowd him by the time he reaches the box, and he ends up shooting with a tame effort that ricochets off a defender from an acute angle where he'd need to be a wizard to score. Repeat five to eight times every match he plays. The only variation is when he enters the box, cuts back inside to make a terrible soft pass to someone in space waiting centrally and it is cut out easily by defenders. Usually 2 to four times a game. It's not like there aren't great examples of wing play for him to learn from all around him. If he could play like Fraser or Brooks with that pace and physicality he'd be a monster - and yes I know then we wouldn't be able to keep hold of him. I feel like even the fear that he instilled in Championship opposition right backs at the start of the season is no longer a thing now because his play is so predictable. Hopefully he'll score a hat trick after the break and make me look like a knob. COYR

I thought he was having a really good game - even won some very physical challenges. I would have bought Aribo on for Stu, as he'd done his best work by that point

Smallbone created two assists today... not enough for you?!

What a massive goal that is - and AA back up and running. COYR

Watch the press conference and you'll know why Smallbone is starting

There are definitely games where Will is really delivering. But right now Downes, Aribo & Stu would be my preferred midfield based on performance alone (not sentiment, politics or managing players mindsets)

Downes is fit according to RM

I'd agree, but watch the press conference including the bit at the end about Smallbone's social media experience, and then tell me that an emotional manager who is a fan of his play won't be starting him today.

Based on the press conference I think we'll see a midfield of Flynn, Stu & Will - the three who were pretty consistent through our 25 game run. Bree almost certainly in for KWP, although we might get Stephens on the right if he wants Manning to get forward without KWP's presence. KWP unlikely but hopefully fit again shortly (Preston or Sunderland)

Lets get Dignitas as a shirt sponsor There's Fonte of course, but who else could we bring back from the dead?

Honestly! you want the moon on a stick you do!

Juve are confirmed to be down a midfielder... Pogba banned for 4 years for doping

In fairness if we can field that team we'd smash them

Safe standing on it's own won't be enough to create that - we'd all need giant foam hands

As I understand it he has a muscular leg injury unrelated to the achilles injury he had when we signed him. That achilles injury was his first serious injury problem of his career, and he looked great playing for Sunderland. If you'd been off the pitch for a year and went out and started playing hard again I'm sure there's a chance you might pull a muscle. It's unfortunate but these things do happen. He's way, way less injury prone than Ings, and look what Danny managed for us - and we've still haven't managed to replace him.

He's an Irish international who is only 22. Goalkeepers as we know hit their prime later than average. Last season he had not protection, and whilst there have been a few clangers this year there has been a big improvement - particularly collecting crosses and playing the ball out under pressure. He was clearly signed as a longer term investment by the club, and as we know goalkeepers tend to stay longer at one place than out field players (or at least that's my impression). He is clearly the best goalkeeper we have at the club right now. If we get promoted we will need to sign 8 or 9 players for ~£20m each on average, and avoid falling foul of financial fair play in case we screw up and get relegated. I think it is unlikely we will sell him if we go up. I think we have many larger priorities for funds than another goalkeeper, and if his trajectory of improvement continues he will be at a similar level to PL teams that finish 10th-16th which realistically will be our level. What will screw up this plan is if he loses his confidence because he gets loudly criticised by his own fans after every match (even one where we lost 3-0, he didn't play and wasn't on the subs bench). In 15 months whether he's amazing or just good, as a ball playing international keeper with 3 seasons of first team starts he will be worth plenty - even if just bought as a back up. As far as I can see he is what we have until the summer of 2025 at least. Moaning endlessly will not change that, and is just likely to devalue him in numerous different ways. Yes he screwed up for our first at the weekend, but he's also made some great stops that he wouldn't have made last season. I will always try to give our players the benefit of the doubt, otherwise being a fan ultimately just seems to be exchanging your time and attention for an excuse to be negative about someone who has broadly made a success of their life so far. TLDR: Every time we moan about Bazunu it doesn't reduce the likelihood of him playing, it just reduces his value and makes him more likely to play badly in future games.

Fuck off with your endless vendetta

BFH