As its unlikely that SW et al will spend money to try to rescue this season, then for me we will be relegated. There was a time when I thought we might just climb out of bottom 3 and survive. All those missed chances in other matches have, inevitably, meant that the uphill struggle is getting worse. The match against West Ham could end up as another heavy loss.
It’s unfair to judge the team on the last few performances we are missing key personnel. All our centre back nearly now, Normann and Rashica make a massive difference I feel.
God, that was poor. Did anyone play well? Placheta maybe. Sorensen was OK and as usual didn't let us down. Pukki worked hard. Cantwell is a completely busted flush. Gilmour may have talent but frankly he is utter crap with us. Williams didn't have a good game and I don't understand why Giannoulis didn't come on at 0-1. Gibson looked poor, I felt. We looked second class.
How disappointing to not even turn up in what in reality was a must-win game. The only silver lining was that it made Lawro look like even more of a prick.
I don't get how we can battle so heroically in a losing cause on Saturday - and be so disjointed, inept and toothless with ostensibly the same team two days later?
Sorensen and Placheta played well, Aarons had one of his least effective games, Williams was good in spells but got caught out a few times again. Midfield almost disappeared apart from Gilmour but I struggle to see what he is offering at the moment, he drops deep and picks up the ball but then either gives it back to the defender or goes the ball away and he offers very little defensively. Pukki couldn’t catch a break. Cantwell was chasing shadows again but got better in the second half.
There wasn't a single moment in the entire match I was remotely entertained or hopeful of us creating a chance let alone score. Surprised we didn't give away a few penalties too.
I'm sorry, on that effort (lack of) we're almost done. Cantwell should have 0 future at the club after that. I'd be happy letting Gilmour return, Aarons & Mclean can also go. Idah to go out on loan Spend 'big' money on a current top prospect striker & a cm midfielder in Jan, if we go down we can sell for the same price, if we stay up, great job.
One thing which I think anyone watching will have noted - Idah needs to go out on loan for the second half of the season. If anyone will take him.
We have to hope that Watford don't win tomorrow or they pull six points ahead of us. If Burnley win or it's a draw, the gap is only four. Although after tonight, it's hard to believe it will matter.
I think you're right though still probably not enough. Placheta has been a positive for me. He seemed to be discarded under Farke but he's shown some good skill in the last couple of games. I fear we're down now. I just don't see where the improvement is coming from to make up the points. I get my hopes up each PL season but it's a bit like Roy... please log in to view this image
For those wondering, Gilmour has now played enough games that Chelsea don't have a recall option in January. He's with us for the season. Absolute horrorshow from Gilmour for the second goal. Plays a pass so bad that I can't tell if it was for Pukki or Aarons, doesn't recognise that he's effectively covering RB after Aarons has chased his ball forward, and stands 10 yards the wrong side of Chukwuemeka. Gilmour then makes a weak, ineffective challenge and caps it off by failing to track back. You can see the moment he gives up and switches from sprinting to jogging. Williams should have covered Watkins' run, and maybe Gibson would have been better gambling on preventing one pass rather than half-covering two, but hard to blame them too much given the position they were put in. Managed to catch about an hour of the game. Feel for Smith because the XI he put out was the only team he could, pretty much, and his ability to change the game was hindered by the bench. 3 youth players, 3 full backs, Dowell and Idah. Surprised Placheta went off, but Smith did what he could. Placheta's had two decent games now, he looks greatly improved compared to when we last saw him. Where he was tentative he's making decisions and trying things, and the ball doesn't ping off him like it did. When he signed we were told he'd work hard, it looks like some of that has paid off. Sorensen has had two incredibly challenging games and not looked out of place in either of them, personally I'd be looking to give him a run in the team. For me, our best eleven looks something like: Krul Aarons Hanley Gibson Williams Normann Sorensen McLean/PLM Placheta/Sargent Pukki Rashica But that's not a team, really. Maybe Rashica and Pukki can build a relationship, but thus far this season it's really only been Aarons who has looked to be on Pukki's wavelength, and McLean trying a ball over the top a few times a game. We need a Dowell or Cantwell on song to feed Pukki, and that doesn't look like happening any time soon. I haven't got updated figures after tonight's game, but the player with the highest xG after Pukki this season? Gibson. I think that summarises our issues succinctly.
Evening all. Hope you're all keeping well in these weird times. Just popped in to say we're ****e, and, well, that's it really. As you were ...
Can't NCFC send him back, though? The agreement must be a two way street, right(?) I'm sorry the young man hasn't performed well, but he's taking up a loan slot.
This isn't meant to be anti Dean Smith, he's been handed a poison chalice, but are we improved on the Farke team? Ok we have injuries and Covid to deal with but would it not have made more sense to have stuck with a manager who has twice proved that he can cut a swathe through The Championship. Because that is our next task.
