Yeah we play very pushed up and get away with it as opposition usually only has one up. Two up could cause us problems.

Dolans problem imo is that he doesnt have a proper forward to play off to make space for him. If we sign a good Championship striker who can occupy the centrebacks, draw them away, make them think about dropping off rather than pushing up, I expect Dolan and Hedges to really profit from it. Their movement is pretty good, theyve got a lot of energy, just need a bit more up top to work with.

Well this will be the biggest match Ive ever attended in person. Seen some crackers beating Spurs and Arsenal away. But in terms of the stakes its the most important. Hope we get a performance that the occasion warrants.

Surely Buckley goes in. Eastham Carter Phillips Wharton JRC Batty Travis Garrett Wharton Buckley Leonard Apart from GK, LB and CF they are all pretty established which is incredible really. Wish we could turn up a top academy striker from somewhere.

Buckley's a quality player... looking forward to him, Travis and Wharton all playing in the same midfield three next year. Could be best midfield in the Championship imo. All academy too. Just hope we sign some proper goalscorers to work with.

GK, defence, midfield all keep their places after an excellent performance against Burnley. Hedges, Dolan, Szmodics as well. BBDs last game at Ewood, sad to drop him. But hes the one to make way for Leonard. We aren't scoring so need to change something.

Yeah probably say Jesus is their best. Odegaard and Saka also very good. But probably Man City wouldnt swap a single player of their starting XI for an Arsenal player. Maybe Saka but hes on a similar level to what they already have in spades (Grealish, Foden, Mahrez, Bernardo). Rather have Haaland than Jesus, De Brunye than Odegaard, Rodri than Partey etc. Im used to the gap between the CL clubs and everyone else. But City now opening a big gap between them and everyone. Obviously can argue that Arsenal have been top of the table all season. But theyve not been in Europe etc, and now being pulled back. I hope the Premier Leagues attempt to be more competitive is not just to let more suspect authoritarian regiemes buy clubs and pour in wealth fund money. We need some spending caps and mandatory partial fan ownership imo.

Was really hoping Arsenal would make a game of it but it was an absolute schooling . Its a one team league. Sad when the second teams best player is a reject from the best team.

Agree with most of this except Broughton being sacked. Even if it was ultimately him in reality at fault for the documentation failures, I'm willing to chalk it up to experience. Has to find the strikers over the summer though.

Think any of Szmodics, Dolan, Hedges, Thomas, BBD are good enough as the wider forwards or in the 10 role, as long as you have a proper goal scorer through the middle at number 9 who can lead the line and worry the defence when a cross or a through ball come in. But playing three or four of them without a focal point is hopeless really. If we had a Graham or Gestede we would be a real force to be reckoned with. We don't need to find a worldy in the summer, just someone who gives you a chance against Championship centre backs when the ball goes in. I feel like we will find one or two like that. No much data to base that opinion on. But with BBD, Ayala and probably Dack going freeing up big wages, and a strikers being the clear priority for the team, and the manager and recruitment structure being in place, we should find the right signing. If we don't I'll get the pitchfork out, but think it will happen.

Ah looked bigger on the TV. Great atmosphere it sounded like anyway.

What was the attendance in the end?

Well we have been playing like that pretty consistently. We just can't actually score any goals and that is not going to change. So if we do somehow slip into the playoffs its a brave man who would expect us to win them, even if we play like vintage Barca in midfield. I suppose my theory is that when we were playing poorly but winning in the first of the season we ended up scoring a lot of goals on the break which suited our forward players. But now we are so good at controlling games and pushing six/seven/eight players all the way up to the opposition box we just don't really have any strikers who suit the kind of opportunities we are creating.

Thought it was about as good a performance as you can have while ending up losing the match. We completely dominated for most of the match, everyone played well outside the box, but as per all season struggle to actually look like a goal threat. I'm looking forward to next season, think we have the best squad we have had in a long time, a very good manager, we play very attacking football, more good young players coming through. Just need to find the goal scorers. So while devastated by the result, and Burnley lifting the Championship at Ewood, feeling quite optimistic in the longer run.

A lot of how great we are is the press. I worry if Dack comes on we lose the initiative. Id give Leonard a shot for BBD around 70 mins.

Really great performance everywhere except in the box.... Warton really is superb. The Tugay comparisons are warrented.

I'll stick my neck out and think he may transform into a key player next season. I know he's 27 so hardly young, but I think he has it in him to step up a couple of levels from where he is at. Just a gut feel.

This is exactly a game we on paper will lose thoroughly. Only real scrappers in the team are Travis, Hyam and maybe Carter, no edge up front to go direct to which is key when football goes out the window. But will be a different atmosphere with a massive crowd, lots of volume and we've got a history of unexpected results this season. So all we can do is live in hope.

Think hes a player like Conway who needs someone to aim at. Take that away and its a real struggle for him.

I disagree, hes got the team playing well in the back and middle third. Should stick with it and find the right finishing ingredient up front. Think if we go off in a different direction could cause more harm than good imo.

Shame as well as that horrendous finish aside he was very good.

Another game to file under one we would have easily won with a decent striker. Feel pretty sanguine about it because as long as we can find one or two good strikers we will have a great shot next season. Obviously would love to make the playoffs to show progress but I would rate our chances of winning them as zero without a good striker.

Like the team except who is going to get in the box?

Main thing Im holding onto is we have a run of poor performances and then finally manage a win from somewhere, usually in a more difficult game than a run of winnable fixtures. So hoping today's that day.

I think JDT prefers Pears ability with his feet, and thinks hes good enough with his hands, so we're going to sell Kaminski. Just gut feel, but if he preferred Kaminski to be the long term number 1 he would be back in already as Pears has made enough minor mistakes to be dropped. Dont think Kaminski will fancy being backup and there will be a decent amount of suitors. For what it's worth I think Kaminski is the better keeper but can see why his ability with his feet is a significant issue given the risks we want to take with the ball at the back.