Not a bad performance but still incredibly frustrating - we lack any real cutting edge yet we have Jake Evans and Jeremy Monga training with the first team ... Evans scored a hat-trick for the U21s in a 6-3 win at Newcastle yesterday - Monga wasn't in that squad, nor the matchday squad today ... Arsenal started 2 of their own teenagers against us and one was undoubtedly MOTM, despite their sub bagging the goals ... Take a hint RvN coz a forward line with Journeyman Jordan and Bobby ain't keeping us up
Agreed. That performance showed that at last we have a team working together and each individual now seems to understand what their role is. We certainly didn't deserve to lose that one by 2 goals, but it shows how vital it is to take the chances when they fall to you. It was the sort of performance that would have won us points in several previous matches. The return of Wilf has made a massive difference. Shame he didn't get that free header on target. And the pairing of Okoli and Faes has to remain. No more Wasterspace, please. I think you're being a bit harsh on Ayew, Fosse. He put a huge amount of effort in, won a lot of challenges and caused Arsenal problems. It's Decordova-Reid that just doesn't do it for me. Never in the game. Disappointed to see so many fans leave the match early. The team's performance deserved better than that.
We were never going to have a lot of possession against Arsenal, yet we looked the most dangerous in the first half. JJ and then Coulibaly had Sterling in their pocket. The midfield and wide men worked their socks off. Yet again, individual errors cost us. Faes losing his man and then Kristiansen watching his man from a distance away.
Sterling has to be the most overrated player to grace the premier league. It’s ok converting crosses at the back post when David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne are putting them on a plate for you. He rarely goes past players and his passing is woeful, I wouldn’t have him in our team and that’s saying something.
Ayew has always been about effort ... and that's commendable... but he's never been about goals and he's not really a natural wide player ... which is why he's spent most of his Premiership career on the bench coming on for the main striker later in games ... Nwanieri tore our full backs a new one - yes he's a fine talent - but his pace and trickery made him the threat ... Fatawu did that last season and is a real loss this - but we have Monga and it's surely time to let him loose...
De Cordova Reid, Ayew and Vardy are the front three again. Have we got the oldest forward line in the premier league ever? In a must win, home game, with hopefully an encouraging crowd behind the team you’d want some energy and flair on the pitch so the players and crowd can lift each other. What’s the opposite of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?’ Sincerely hope we get something tonight but after recent performances I’m not expecting much.
Got what we deserved ... RvN must be unaware that Ayew and Cordova-Reid never got to start for Palace or Fulham for a reason ...
Okoli and Faes are slapstick in their defending, Vestegaard is as mobile as an oak tree. Coady is the only composed one but he’s awfully slow too. I’d play 3 centre backs with Coady as sweeper, that’s how he played for Wolves, with him organising the rest of the defence. Make us solid at the back first then try and figure out the attacking options. Ruud doesn’t seem to have any idea what to do anywhere on the pitch.
I'd move Wilf into a back 3 (he's played centre half before) with Okoli (who just needs a mentor) and Coady (for organisational and as the mentor) Soumare as enforcer in front of them ... Buenanotte HAS to play ... One of the problems is that the forward line is sterile - which just piles added pressure on the defence - give the kids a chance ...
Not for the first time recently, we got into some dangerous positions with balls behind the full backs last night. Other teams would end up scoring or at worst forcing a save from the keeper. But our player making the run never had anyone to pass to so it ended up being a hopeful ball across a crowded penalty area which always found a defender. Why is it that we never seem able to create space for ourselves whereas our opponents find it so easy? Is it down to a lack of movement, a lack of natural ability to recognise a situation, or is it that other teams go through these scenarios on the training pitch until everyone knows where they should run to? We get opened up so easily by opposing players in acres of space, whereas our players are never more than a couple of yards from an opponent when they get the ball. And the constant being closed down as soon as they got the ball with very few options available looked like it was getting to some of the players last night. El Khanouss lost it for a while and some of the tackles were getting close to the edge. It is an all-round mess. I have to agree, Fosse, the manager has to leave Cordova-Reid and Ayew on the bench. Ayew works his socks off, but there is no cutting edge or end product, which is not always his fault. Maybe making sure we aren't beaten has to be the priority, which is easier said than done with this bunch of players, but the addition of Coady in a central defence of 3 has to be worth a try. Digging in and scoring on the break might be our best hope. But I think we'll need 2 out and out wide men who are prepared to run at and commit defenders in order to give ourselves some space but who are also prepared to track back. Basically we need 100% from every player on the pitch. The problem with that is that some players' 100% will never be enough because there isn't the ability behind it. But we are where we are, and doing the same thing every match with the same players is the ultimate madness, because the result will always be the same. Onwards and upwards! No sense in sitting and feeling sorry for ourselves.
Third goal yesterday - de Cordova-Reid gets outmuscled by Lewis Potter who then plays the ball wide - as he tries to support de Cordova-Reid needlessly hauls him back and the ref brings the play back for a free kick when the attack falters - from the free kick de Cordova-Reid is 'marking' but doesn't go with the run of Norgaard ... goal Tell me Ruud, what is he bringing to the team that you start him in front of Buenanotte or Mavididi? ... coz I'm ****ed if I know...
Listened to the When You're Smiling Podcast. Matt Piper doesn't hold back on the ineffectiveness of de Cordova Reid and Ayew. I think we would all prefer youth in the team but one thing I don't get is we are one player short of a full squad. Surely there is someone out there on a free that could be better than the current back four we have. Surely we can't be that close to breaching PSR we can't afford one set of wages. Ricky P can't save us on his own.
Went tonight - can confirm we are much worse live ... Ruud is either deluded or getting regular deliveries from Amsterdam ... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ckgddxgwklpo
Must have made your night, Fosse, when you saw Bobby Cordova-Reid and Chronic Wasterspace trotting out to start the game. When Ruud says we must continue to fight until the end, can someone tell me when we actually started? This club is going to take some turning round.
Dont you know that 'Foxes Never Quit'. They keep taking their pay check til their contract is renewed. Two or three years in the Championship will do us good. Hopefully, new owners, a manager that knows how to manage, and a supporter base that isnt so self entitled with players that respect the shirt that they wear. We have been through these cycles so many times in the last 70 years. Perhaps 'Supporters Never Quit' would be a better motto. Sorry you wasted your money Fosse - been there and didnt learn the lesson.
It was embarrassing to watch. No fight whatsoever, no leadership , no attempt to move the ball forward. When we defend, Vardy is 5 yards from our own box. This allows their defenders to move forward. Tell Vardy not to defend and just stay on the halfway line. At least it gives us an outlet. On that performance (and recent ones) not one of those players should be at our club next season. Shocking performance from so called professionals. I don't usually shout to get the manager out, but it seems he is going to play the same way with the same players regardless!! Get Dyche in now, go down to the Championship and start again. Get some youth in the side for the rest of the season, as I'm sure they will put up more of a fight than the current crop.
I’d love us to wipe the slate clean next season and field a team with 5/6 academy players. Reading the reports of the young players coming through we’ve got a decent crop, they’d have more pride and desire than most of the players that are rinsing the club of millions now. Problem is, they’re on inflated wages and will happily sit tight until their contract runs down. No one will touch them and we’ll be stuck with them, whoever is manager next year will still pick them and the youth players development will be stifled. Offering Vestegaard another 3 years and paying £20m for Skipp (plus his wages) are two pieces of business that defy logic.
Just about the biggest cheer of the night when BCR was subbed ... our best period was the final 4 mins after the second subs, when we actually had a go ...
Appears Jeremy Monga is off to Citeh - nowt the club can do about it - gutted ... and also a bit disgusted...
