Watched motd again this morning

Cédric’s passive defending I think caused the penalty where he’s not tracking runners or like tomiyasu would have been harassing the player in possession. Just being lazy and passive trying to hold the player off whilst somebody else comes in to make a tackle.

Just for me shows the issues you have if a player gets injured and we have to bring players like that back into the frame.

Tommy might have been our most important signing this summer. He’s made such a difference. There’s not much cover there god help us if he gets injured

Id play AMN at right back of Tomiyasu is injured.

If the miracle happens and we do finish 4th we’re going to need another big investment in the summer, there will be a turnover of players from contracts running out and players clearly out of favour but one of the main reasons we’re doing so well is the lack of injuries to first choice players - we’re putting out the same 11 every week, if we’re in Europe as well we would need better depth of quality

Possibly chambers could fill in too but Cédric looks an outright liability but is stuck on a contract till 2024 he won’t get elsewhere.

You are correct if we get a European spot we will need a few new players to beef out the squad as the quality of backup is really lacking.

Just reading about the Leeds fan who gave our subs some racist abuse, sounds like it was Rob Holding who called it out to the officials. Ian Wright was talking about how it is great that it was Holding (or any white player) who was the one who said that is unacceptable and he would love to be in a dressing room with team mates who would have his back like that

Yeah. All the best TG.

Yep AMN alm day long but I'm guessing ge won't be there next season.

The fact that you are double jabbed is probably helping you to fight it and stopping you getting severe symptoms.

I think Cédric receives some unfair or over the top criticism here. I’d rather see Maitland-Niles than him if Tomiyasu gets injured, but he would get my vote ahead of Chambers at right back any day of the week. He’s won 34 full international caps. That’s for Portugal, not the Faroe Islands, Luxembourg or San Marino.

As a reserve right back, I don’t think we should exaggerate his shortcomings. As a squad back up, I can understand why Arteta decided to make his loan deal a permanent signing. He was also a free transfer. To get a 30 year old Portuguese full international with 34 caps to his name as a reserve right back isn’t the worst deal in Premier League history.

I think if you and those you live with don't have any co-morbidities and are fully inoculated, and everyone is wearing a mask, etc., it probably isn't a huge risk.

The issue for me is how other people behave. Is there a mask mandate inside the ground and on public transport and is it enforced?

Ironically, the worst exposure I have had is when I went for my first vaccination at a pharmacy (part of a big national chain). Utterly clueless.
They made us line up like sardines in a tin, and half the people in the line with their masks on their chins.

I think he suffers from not getting regular game time. He was decent last season when he got that run in the side. Then he got played on the left, then dropped for no obvious reason in favour of Chambers.

He was dropped for making mistakes if we are honest. Unfortunately he sits off and doesn’t go to his man giving them time to pick runners. I can only describe it as passive defending.

In the 3 starts he's had this year he’s looked poor and againest Chelsea my goodness plain average. I’m not ripping the guy out because that would be pointless but saying it’s a lack of game time isn’t really being honest.

Take care TG, get fully recovered soon

I thought Cédric lost his man and allowed him to get to the bye-line.

I prefer to see AMN there if Tomiyasu is injured. Followed by Cédric before Chambers.

The four starts Cédric has had this season were two in the Premier League against Chelsea at home (a 0-2 defeat) and Manchester City away (a 5-0 defeat). Then in the League Cup, Wimbledon (a 3-0 win) and Leeds (a 2-0 win) at home. In the Chelsea and City games, the entire team was outplayed. We didn’t lose those matches because Cédric started. Just as we didn’t beat Wimbledon and Leeds because he started, but I’d say he certainly did everything that could reasonably be expected of him in those two wins in which we didn’t concede.

What you define as passive defending may often be the right decision. I really don’t think the Leeds goal yesterday should be put down to Cédric not jumping into a tackle. If it was anyone’s fault, it can only be White’s for jumping in with a stupid tackle. Something I don’t think White generally does, to be fair.

As a reserve right back, I think it’s hard to imagine us getting an awful lot better than Cédric. With Tomiyasu having established himself, we’re not going to get someone brilliant who’s happy playing a few cup games or filling in for him when or if Tomiyasu gets injured on the relatively rare occasions when Maitland-Niles is required in midfield at the same time.

Not sure how to read this. Are you saying that you’ve only had LFTs (and tested negative) or have you had covid confirmed.

I’ve been struggling with pretty well all the symptoms, including a debilitating cough, for three weeks now. Four LFTs have all shown negative. I did isolate and am almost recovered apart from a nagging clear the throat type cough.

Hope you feel better soon TG.

Edit - And LTG !

Get well soon Top Gun.

Can't see them being willing (or able) to pay his enormous wages.

No I said yesterdays LFTS were all negative and I did several and then today I’ve had it confirmed. If you think you have it you need to keep testing via LFT or a walk-in it doesn’t always show up straightaway.

The rules regarding postponement really need to be clearer. Chelsea had their request denied, and they currently have five players out with covid, and only have four outfield players on their bench today. Their squad is among the deepest in the league, but surely the rules should be about the number of players down with the virus, not how good your squad is.

All the best TG. A quick recovery soon.

Which is why I did four tests spaced out over a period of two weeks. All negative.

Apparently an arrest has been made already.

Crazy game spurs v Liverpool. Both teams could have scored more.

Kane should have had a straight red but england captain privilege follows him. There was also a clear penalty for jota not given, compounded by the ref giving them a free kick for something absolutely identical on the half way line. Klopp booked for his protests.

That red was as nailed on as you'll see, it really ticks all the boxes - lunges in with speed, straight leg, studs up, misses the ball. If Robertson doesn't jump it's a potential serious injury. Incredible he's stil on the pitch.

Yeah, should have been a straight red for Kane. Surprised Sperz are playing as they are, could have had another goal or two.

Interesting to see how spurs have had some joy against Liverpool. As soon as spurs win it in their own third they go long and over the top in to the acres of space as Liverpool keep a high line. Son is making the run as soon as spurs win it and the ball has to go straight away to stop Liverpool being able to reset and drop.

It’s outrageous especially when we have VAR. Kane should be off, spurs almost certainly lose and miss their captain and primary goal scorer for 3 games. They are a rival for us for league positions so these things matter

Robertson rightfully sent off after VAR check. Legitimate questions to be asked why they didn't even bother looking at the Kane challenge. Xhaka got away with one too yesterday. It's really the type of tackle you can't miss as a ref, with VAR in place there are no excuses.

Robertson straight red given by var, not as bad as Kane’s tackle, I think it is a red, it’s similar but not as bad as the one McArthur did on Saka.

The inconsistency gets worse and worse every season

Sorry to hear you’ve got Covid TG. I’ve been isolating for 6 days after testing positive last Monday. Both me and my girlfriend have it. Felt shite for 48 hours but nothing too bad, thankfully triple vaxxed. Unfortunately my nephew has tested positive today which means my planned Christmas Day at my sisters is now off. This week alone, I know of 9 people who’ve tested positive. Not known a wave like this one. It’s utterly rampant.

Quite glad to see Robertson get his comeuppance, there is something about him I don’t like. For some reason for me he comes across as angry and arrogant. I’m sure you’d totally love him if he’s your player.

Best of luck TG - I sincerely hope it goes as easily for you as possible.

I’ve attended several events and mass gatherings in London in the past 10 days, the way to have to at this time of year, as well as 2 matches. I’m testing daily but so far, it’s been all clear mercifully.

By the way, in my grandparents’ time, Bank of Friendship was our family pub maybe ‘40s to ‘50s. They were great friends with Bob Wall’s parents who were also regulars. My Nan was a barmaid on occasions. I’m sure she was as terrifying to the punters as she was to me. Gertcha….

Thanks Darren,

It’s a reasonable fever but I can tell it will pass and I’m feeling a little better already.

The main problem is Christmas is off as I’m the only person in our house with it and I feel genuinely angry at myself for being so stupid exposing myself so much doing stuff like meeting mates in the boozer and going to the saints and West Ham matches with Christmas imminent and so much of it out there. Just irritating

Decent results for us today I suppose, spurs, wolves and Chelsea dropping points.

How can that be a red for Robertson but not for Kane. Absurd

Harry Kane interviewed after and said ‘I thought it was just a strong tackle and I won the ball”

Good luck Darren.