Stock rising?... Kai Havertz. You guys often talk about types of games for types of players. That was a Havertz game.

Gyokeres is too low touch. Jesus not quite big or strong enough to hold up, have presence that we can play off.

On the latter point, tonight was also an example of fixtures often being about timing too...

We've played them during their winning run at the start of the season and then during their stabilise and don't lose run now.

Meanwhile City got to cruise to a 3-0 win during their lose every game phase.

What's a nice change is 2 of the 3 are 'established Premier League' clubs. Think its important for clubs to feel like they can come up and compete... especially when those 2 clubs have flirted with it in years gone by but survived due to 3 crap teams. Perhaps Everton and Sp*rs could be next?

Was worried the Trossard miss would come back to bite us, really should have been 2-0... and got away with one with their penalty shout!

But three points it is. Can only hope we improve in the new year, like a couple of seasons ago... problem is when do we fit in our trip to Dubai?! 😬

Been surprised by the amount of talk this week about Merino now being our first choice striker.

It may have worked for a period, it’s not going to work for a whole season.

Use the actual striker you signed, who himself was looking really good before getting injured.

And that’s Fulham, who you would describe as being at the friendlier end of the scale, yet their level of effort and intensity is still clearly greater given the ‘occasion’.

When you then add in the NLD, and games against Chelsea and West Ham, you can see how the ‘intense’ fixtures build-up.