Pretty well the same availability as Sunday with Solanke's inclusion a possibility. The club are being very secretive about Mikey Moore's condition. According to Ange, it's nothing serious. More claptrap from the manager: 'I don't think we're getting the credit we deserve, the players are giving everything'. What credit? For losing at home to Ipswich and not showing up for Fulham? Seriously.
I'll give you Ipswich because we really stunk that day, but I didn't see a lack of effort Sunday. We were playing less than 72 hours after a tough game, had no striker and couldn't do much squad rotation. Fulham had 8 days to prepare and I don't think they were missing 5 starters, so it was always going to be a struggle. I do hope we see more rotation today. Porro, especially, has been dragging and there are two capable players ready to step in. If Solanke is back, I expect Werner and either Son or Johnson to drop to the bench. Kulu has been great in the midfield, but we need him in the front line right now. And let's try not to give up 3 penalties.
You are an excuse machine. I will say it again because it doesn't seem to register with any of you, the manager said he was happy with the summer transfer window. That he got the players he wanted. That he was backed by the club. When he was asked if he wanted another CB, he said no because that would block the path of Ashley Phillips and Vuskovic to the first team, then he turned around and loaned out Phillips. He wanted Timo Werner. All his words. All facts. So you or the manager can't turn around and use injuries as an excuse when you go out and bottle it against a team that got spanked 4-1 at home in its previous game. And we were lucky to get the point, they absolutely battered us, at our ground no less. You also cannot use the fact that we play midweek as an excuse. Liverpool play midweek, Arsenal play midweek. Manchester City play midweek. Chelsea play midweek. Aston Villa play midweek. What is the difference? They sign quality and build proper squads, and it's not because they have more money than us (we are the most profitable club in world football), it's because they have ambition and competent football people running their clubs, not a manager who is happy to sign Timo Werner and a bunch of kids he never plays.
At least Porro is getting a break. Spence is clearly not impressing enough in training to be trusted with a start.
Yeah, one of the journos asked him about Spence at the pre-match conference and he poo-pooed the idea that Spence was making great strides. Actually sounded a bit like Conte whenever he was asked about Spence.
And Ben Davies goes into the book with a cynical foul he had to take or they would have been in on goal. Again we nearly get done by our stupid high line.
Solanke with a terrible miss, he gets clear after a mistake from their defense, but balloons his shot into the stand.
Forster bails out Dragusin after he switches off and lets Evinilson get a shot on goal from close range.
'I don't care about set pieces, mate!' We concede again from a corner, as a completely unmarked Howson heads into the goal with Forster planted firmly on the line. Dreadful defending.
The commentator just said we have won none of the last 14 away games in which we've conceded a goal (5 draws and 9 defeats).
The more replays they show of the goal, the worse it looks - Udogie never even looked at the player coming in behind him.
Bissouma with a play that sums up our dismal performance - he turns to cross and just boots the ball aimlessly into touch.
And now Sarr sails a cross over everyone and into touch. Cue the sarcastic jeers from the Cherries support.