Hopefully Howe has read them the riot act and we'll see at least a better intensity because it was very flat. Think we need Wilson or Osula to give us some sort of focal point.

Gordon did play a lot from the right for Everton so I think some of the logic was that Gordon could play there and Barnes became available at a pretty undervalued fee. Then bad luck for Barnes with injuries meant Gordon played almost exclusively from the left and had a real breakout.

Honestly, if Tino's crossing was a little more consistent (not that it's really any less so than Murphy/Almiron) I'd be tempted to push him forward with Trippier back in at RB. Just until we get a better option in, though a lot of that would depend on Trippier's fitness and where his head's at.

I wouldn't be against Almiron in that role. I do think we miss his intensity on the pitch in our press so I would like to see him back in more regularly. Gordon i think if you gave him the freedom to drift either side could probably do it.

Yeah I'd agree it does feel purposeful, I'm definitely imprinting my own coaching style onto the team with that suggestion. If we bring in the right profile of CB it'll help in place of a 6. Bruno + Tonali pivot with someone like Willock in more of a 10 role?

Ideally I think that's what we should be doing with the current players we have available in midfield. Both Bruno & Tonali are capable of dropping deeper whilst the other pushes forward, it's not ideal, I still advocate for a more specialist 6 being brought in but the best we can do right now.

There's not really a bearable option for winning the league this season, is there? I'm typically not fussed by City winning it but it's getting boring as much as anything else.

Definitely possible. They've had a few funny results against Tottenham, though admittedly away from home. Also entirely possible this is when they start grinding things out like they seem to at some point every year and position themselves to really attack the second half of the season.