Any news on who got injured last night?

[Peter]

Come on, there must have been at least one!

[PSRB]

Come on, there must have been at least one!

I did see a couple of comments on X saying that Trossard was limping at the end of the match

[redgunamo]

I did see a couple of comments on X saying that Trossard was limping at the end of the match

Manager gave everyone the all clear at his post match PC. No new injuries.

[Peter]

Manager gave everyone the all clear at his post match PC. No new injuries.

I bet Ben White isn't in the squad for Newcastle.....

[redgunamo]

I bet Ben White isn't in the squad for Newcastle.....

Yes, that occurred to me too; there's always the dreaded, deadly "training"

[Peter]

Yes, that occurred to me too; there's always the dreaded, deadly "training"

Sometimes rest can be the most dangerous preparation....

I bet someone has said that at some point

[7sisters]

I bet Ben White isn't in the squad for Newcastle.....

I?m hoping Merino?s on the bench. Starting him for last nights game gives me hope.

[Peter]

I?m hoping Merino?s on the bench. Starting him for last nights game gives me hope.

I think we all know where Merino will be starting.......

[Chief Arrowhead]

I think we all know where Merino will be starting.......

I'm aware of the 'proper' narrative, but I didn't see much wrong with Arteta's approach to the match, which I assume was to play it tight for the first 60 and then sub in fresh legs and change to more ambitious play. It worked, except for allowing a Haaland counter. If so one could argue that Gabby strayed from the tactics and were made to pay dearly. In that light it made sense for Merino to play the Odergaard spot.

Interesting to see which way Arteta goes on Sunday, but he's a stubborn guy and I agree that Merino is likely to play the same role. Anything else and Arteta tacitly would be admitting he got it wrong v. Man City and I consider that highly unlikely.

[Peter]

I'm aware of the 'proper' narrative, but I didn't see much wrong with Arteta's approach to the match, which I assume was to play it tight for the first 60 and then sub in fresh legs and change to more ambitious play. It worked, except for allowing a Haaland counter. If so one could argue that Gabby strayed from the tactics and were made to pay dearly. In that light it made sense for Merino to play the Odergaard spot.

Interesting to see which way Arteta goes on Sunday, but he's a stubborn guy and I agree that Merino is likely to play the same role. Anything else and Arteta tacitly would be admitting he got it wrong v. Man City and I consider that highly unlikely.

Exactly. He is not the sort of guy that goes around changing something just because it isn't working.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I'm aware of the 'proper' narrative, but I didn't see much wrong with Arteta's approach to the match, which I assume was to play it tight for the first 60 and then sub in fresh legs and change to more ambitious play. It worked, except for allowing a Haaland counter. If so one could argue that Gabby strayed from the tactics and were made to pay dearly. In that light it made sense for Merino to play the Odergaard spot.

Interesting to see which way Arteta goes on Sunday, but he's a stubborn guy and I agree that Merino is likely to play the same role. Anything else and Arteta tacitly would be admitting he got it wrong v. Man City and I consider that highly unlikely.

I thought MnM was playing as a false 9.

W played 4 in front of Norgy, with Ethan in Odin's inside right position, and Easy playing inside left.

I liked it. Ethan was doing the Odin thing, and Easy was able to work with Gabby and MLS from the left for the first goal.

MnM got more involved than Vik has been by dropping into MF, and played two gorgeous passes - for Easy first half from the edge of the box, and Gabby sent clear from our own half in the second - that could have led to goals.

I've always liked 4-1-4-1 and that's what he tried when we signed Kai before he moved up top. It's just with Dec and Zubi, MA now has a top double pivot allowing him to concede even fewer goals. Just a pity that our defence was great anyway and we needed to score more.

2 no.10s might also get more out of Vik. Certainly more than a 3 man MF with no no.10s will.