Our lack of squad depth is showing, but a decent clean sheet - My thoughts on the Palace game

It's not too much to worry about. We at least kept a decent clean sheet against a good attacking side and they didn't threaten way too much.

But without Bruno and ASM we lack creativity. We have a beast midfield when they're all fit but without Bruno, we looked poor.

I even missed SHELVEY today, because I think he'd be better at CM than Longstaff.

Our quality on the wings is awful without ASM.

One main positive - Defensively we looked pretty tight, so at least we can keep clean sheets. 3/6.

I think our goal should have stood but never mind.

EDIT - Just seen the replay- WE WERE ROBBED.

Ratings -

Pope - MOTM - 8 - Not too much to do but good steady hands and a fantastic reaction save to stop Palace from nicking it late. He saved us a point with that. Palace rarely threatened but his save was as good as a goal.

Trippier - 7.5 - Great composure under pressure at times and great deliveries into the box.

Schar - 7 - Good aerial dominance and defending

Botman - 7

Targett - 7

Willock - 6 - Unlucky not to have a goal, but missed another sitter. Good energy, just lacked the final touch.

Longstaff - 3 - Not PL quality. Bring back Shelvey.

Joelinton - 4 - Not a great game. Lost possession quite often.

Almiron - 5.5 - Worked hard, decent defending nothing much attacking wise.

Isak - 5 - Will take some time to gel into the team, really disappointed he didn't score while in on goal, but never mind.

Fraser - 5 - Worked hard but didn't really provide anything to the attack about from 1-2 decent crosses.

Refs + VAR = 0/10 - ****ing **** how the **** is that a ****ing foul when our player is being pushed into him? Disgraceful. Hope the refs fall down a flight of ****ing stairs.

 

You’ve got to deal with the things you can control. We didn’t buy players and are STILL stuck with these sub standard ****s. What do we expect, some kind of ****ing biblical miracle where these players can actually work in the PL?

****ing stupid and short sighted from the manager and owners.

 

We’re we’re ****ed over. No doubt about it. This can’t go on.

 

I think we spent so much cash on our first team the owners/manager forgot about squad depth.

I suppose you can only ask so much in such a short space of time though. We need to keep our expectations grounded though.

I think we've been unlucky + We've only lost once, still early and our fixtures after West Ham are mostly very winnable, and in that time we should have Bruno and ASM back and also Wilson will play a stretch of games hopefully.

 

There's no point buying a load of 'squad' players. Just keep slowly building buying your targets continually upping the levels of the squad overall. We have come a million miles since this time last season.

 

I'm not saying we should have done. Our squad depth in defence is pretty good, and now our squad depth in CF is decent, but our squad depth in midfield/wings is piss poor.

After ASM we have no real creative wingers, just decent grafters. In CM we have 2 great options, 1 decent option in willock, and after that ****. Longstaff and Shelvey are ****.

And god forbid we have pope injured. How the **** we decided it was a good idea to let Dubravka go to our ****ing rivals on loan. Shocking decision.

 

Lee Mason again on VAR, the prick who didn't think a shirt being pulled in the penalty box is a foul is at it again with an inexperienced ref on the pitch, what a ****ing twat Lee Mason is, robbed us again.

 

The writing was on the wall post wolves when we lost max on top of wilson and guimareas ! This 11 isn't capable and never will be .

Newcastle are nowhere near challenging for top 8 because they have no depth in an area. Not even gk

We can blame var, but ultimately the team isn't good enough and another relegation battle looms.

 

This is a bit of an over reaction lol. We've had a tough set of fixtures, and we were clearly robbed yesterday.

If we'd won I'd still be saying the same thing about squad depth, and you're right it may not be enough to challenge against the likes of west ham, but to say we're going to be in a relegation battle is a bit far.

Other bigger teams have had bad results, chill out.

We've only lost one game.

I think we could still finish 8th if we keep our best players fit, but if we want to challenge for 6-7th we need better squad depth.

 

Ahhh the old tough fixtures excuse! All fixtures difficult.

We have 3 injuries we'll have Injuries throughout the season and it exposes the lack of depth.. It's depth that gets you up the table.

This season is going to be another struggle..

 

FFS stop being such a ****ing doom monger you idiot.

We were ****ing ROBBED! Yesterday, and if we had have won you probably wouldn't have been saying this. We were stone wall robbed of a win by refs.

We HAVE had tough fixtures -

Brighton away - We got a draw against an in form side that beat United and West Ham, and has only lost once.

Liverpool, City - Don't need to say more

Palace - We kept a clean sheet against a side who almost always score, and were robbed.

Wolves - We were robbed of a stone wall penalty.

CALM THE **** DOWN!

I agree our squad depth is an issue, but you're ****ing over reacting.

 

Excuse me my foolish friend but you're the one using capital letters and clearly aren't calm.

I have given you my reasons and my assessment and let's just see how it unfolds shall we?

I'm expecting a long journey... I'm not an idiot just because you don't like what I said mate.

 

Well you are a bit of an idiot, but who on here isn't?

 

We don't often agree, but I'm with you 100% on this one.


That's not the reason you're an idiot!

 

Beat me to it

 

Chippy.

But that's just because he's all idiot not just a bit of an idiot.

 

I'm not an idiot at all that's why I know what I'm talking about when I said depth gets you up the table. He didn't like it so he started shouting and throwing insults.

People need to realise me having a view they don't like is fine.

 

I'm more of an arsehole

 

I think most of us know that it's fine for you to have a different opinion to the rest of us. A lot of the time it's actually quite reassuring.

 

Was what I said wrong? Was he clearly having a tantrum while telling me to calm down?

When I'm dealing with a guy that thinks driving is safe I'm happy with my position