Brentford were ****e and we were good. Disappointed we still couldn't keep a clean sheet, but I guess we were a tad unlucky with the pen, not big deal. I was very impressed with Bruno. I felt he was a bit off at the start of the season but since he's come back from injury he's looked much like his old self. What a player. We were worried for a bit that we might not be be able to to score much considering how at teams it appeared like we couldn't break down teams that well. But it looks like things are starting to gel together, and only one defeat on the board so far. Ratings - Pope - 6 - Decent, but had some shaky moments when coming out to clear. Trippier - 8.5 - Could have had a hattrick of assists today. Exception balls into the box. Didn't put a foot wrong. Botman - 8 - I'm really starting to get impressed with this kid. He looks so calm and composed and his ability to intercept and tackle are sensational, and also dominant in the air. Schar - 7 - A couple of sloppy moments, but mostly solid. Burn - 7 - Mostly solid defending, just got caught out a couple of times pushing high. Willock - 7 Bruno - 10 - Beast. Basically sealed the game for us, great defensively and offensively. Longstaff - 6 - He's lucky he didn't give away a goal by being caught out and it was ruled offside. Not a terrible performance but not that impressive either. He's a decent enough squad player, but nowt special. Almiron - 8 - Gift of a goal, but performed very well on both ends of the pitch. Wilson - 5.5 - Good assist, but i thought he wasn't great today. Didn't look as sharp as usual or as clinical. Murphy - 8 - Fair play to him, he's been good the last couple of weeks. Joelinton - 7 - Good impact when he came on. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD START HIM OVER LONGSTAFF!! Other subs - decent. ---------------
Fair play mate, there is times when I think the 2 of us watch something totally different. Today I'm in agreement with you, and have pretty much said word for word the same things you have both during the match and afterwards. I may have bumped Wilson to a 6 as felt Brentford marked him well but that would be it. It was a piss easy day at the office. My only moaning points would be, we've scored 9 goals with ****ing jacob murphy in the team. Dan Burn is not a lb, I thought Botman swept up his mistakes really well a few times to save his arse and finally. Why the **** did ASM have more bandages on than tutankhamun?
One thing I'll admit I was probably wrong about is thinking that Bruno might be wasted at the deep lying CM role and wouldn't score as much. I think that would be the case considering he looked a bit off at the start of the season and didn't really get involved too much offensively, but he's been on fire. I hope he's not injured. ASM-------Wilson/Isak---------Miggy --Joelinton-------------Maddison------- ----------------Bruno----------------------
OK, I have to hold my hand up, credit where credit is due. Murphy does need some praise today. There, I said it. No, in all seriousness, not only did he finish coolly (OK, yeah with a mostly open goal), but it was actually him pressurising their keeper that presented rhe chance for Wilson to nip in and steal the ball to set him up. Wilson did well - and for once was unselfish - but effectively Murphy started and finished that chance. So I give him credit. Now if he can do that kind of thing on a more regular basis, then I might even back him.
Thought Burn was poor today. Would have given him a 5 at most. He looked uncertain and a lot of his passing was poor. Don’t know why we don’t bring Targett back there - he is a natural left back. Midfield worked well today so would keep Joelinton on the bench. Think Longstaff, Willock and Bruno work well together so stick with it.
Think we were lucky to get their goal chalked off early on, but we showed superb tenacity and pressing to get them to make mistakes - which handed us goals. I think Burn was unlucky to concede that penalty, he didn't appear to try and handle the ball. Bruno was back to his best. We've missed those match-winning touches that only he can do. Good assist from Wilson - good to see him make that pass. Miggy is playing beyond the level that he's previously shown us - thanks Jack. Playing at this level without three of our most valuable players is genuine progress. All in all a sensational day. Second game in a row with 4+ goals scored. Even the mackems fell into line. A nice anniversary party.
A defeat to Arsenal tomorrow and this will be a very bad start for them. Klopp needs to start worrying.
I have a mate who supports Liverpool and he is genuinely worried. Klopp has squeezed every last ounce out of several of their central midfielders and they just have nothing left to give. Time will tell. They lose tomorrow which I don't think they will, I reckon a draw, but they'd be 13 points down on City already
They had something special at one point which allowed the likes of TAA to somehow work in a 4 man defence. TAA and Liverpool are being exposed now. Their system doesn't allow them to be as dominant on the ball as they used to be, so now they are having to defend more and getting rekt. TAA cannot work in a 4 man defence, he needs to be played as a wingback in a 5 man defence or 3-4-3, kind of where Perisic/James have played. TAA needs to be in a team where there's 3 CB's not needing as much cover from their wingbacks.
Longstaff was reasonable, Murphy very good....seems Fraser has gone of the boil recently, and fair play to Murphy for stepping up and taking the chances. Yes Brentford were dogshit, but our intensity made them that way, we were right at them from the kick off, constant pressure and punishing everything - we're great to watch. And Bruno is a total **** fantasy, he really is.
