The College Dropout

You could see more tactical variation. Sometimes Liverpool play with a single pivot in midfield, sometimes double. Ours is nearly always single. Our Xg was double of West Ham’s. We should’ve scored and won. Had we scored at any point between nil nil or 1-0 we probably win it. BUT an Xg of 1.64 at home, to a poor West Ham, and being behind for 80 minutes does still indicate a lack of creativity and belief. Both things can be true. The PSG handball is only possible because PSG kept the pressure for 90 minutes. The relentless pressure gifted them a lucky break. We didn’t and never got our break.

Good question. I don't think managers have a real plan B. They just have variations on Plan A. Our variation on Plan A is just making subs.

No I wouldn't. A lack of depth is somewhat understandable. A lack of balance isn't. If we only made 3 signings last season, I would've said a CM, RW & LB. In that order. RCB next. And personally - I think we've got it wrong in totality. We've spent too much with too much on wages. We've not done the "slow build". We seemed set on signing JP for about £30m, then decided to spend double on fees and wages for Isak. Isak's been a success no doubt - but the lack of budget control was apparent then in hindsight. 12 months later, we could've tightened the belt but decided to make another Isak-like signing among others. The whole thing has been wrong. And to top it off - the squad is imbalanced. And I blame leadership for this. We are more aggressive in the transfer market than in the boardroom or courts. We speak of European football every season but can only spend the 7th/8th most in the league. How is overachievement the minimum objective?

Camavinga’s been Madrid’s enforcer and playmaker. He’s been Rodri-like + ball carrying.

Mbappes been so bad. Again.

Guler’s had a mare this half. Nothings coming off. het Endrick on down the middle.

Our problems are 2 fold. Liverpool can sell for crazy money and invest it all back in + FfP headspace. We can’t - some of that money goes to repay FFP deficit. And likewise clubs aren’t throwing the cash around like that anymore. IMO we need to reduce the wage bill and sell if a player wants to break it. Our wage bill is ever increasing. We’ve not sold anyone that would demand a significant wage rise. We’ve just eaten the costs. A number of our players are on top 4-6 type wages. That must be 1 or 2.

This is where our squad building has been poor. No RWs signed. No 10s in the entire squad. Light at RCB. I was never convinced by Szob but I liked his profile. Similar to Kulu, Palmer and Kudus. Probably ideally a 10. But can play RW well and an attacking 8 too. Left footer. Something different to the squad. Choosing to only sign a pure LW never made any sense.

The RCM position isn’t working for him. He’s looked better in a more central role. He’s not had many minutes there. viana was a poor fit for the league. Tonali seems a good fit for the league but he’s only had a run of games in a position that doesn’t seem to work for him.

I think this is true but they’ve always had a core of ‘big players’. Walker Dias Stones Gvardiol - cheapest of these was £50m signed 8 years ago. 3 of them are injury prone now. When Pep joined they had Fernandinho, Silva, KDB, Bilva, Sterling, Sane in midfield. In their pomp they had KDB, Bilva, Gundogan, Rodri, Fernandinho (ageing), Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus. Now they have Rodri (injured), ageing KDB, ageing Gundogan, ageing Kovacic, Nunes, Savinho, Grealish, Doku. What they’ve got now is a drop in quality and increase in age. They’ve messed about and bought a load of squad players. They needed Paqueta’s, Bruno’s and better. They’ve messed should’ve been in for some of those Madrid CMs.

They threw Milan out of the UEFA Cup for less. it’s going to be easy to take UEFA to court. They would 100% try to ban us.

This The first 2 take time. The stadium and training ground I think we are moving too slow. Academy it’s hard to say. The rest - hard agree. I definitely feel progress away from transfers and such has been slow. And it’s slow at best, incompetent at worst.

I’d play Joelinton left, Gordon right.

Don’t think this is true. There’s nothing stopping us outspending them on academy and infrastructure. That’s outside the remit of PSR. Same thing with women’s football. Our wages and team cost is 7/8 - swapping positions with Villa. That’s par for me. Which is why I never understood trying to sign Guehi.

Agreed - I like Akanji and Ake but they aren’t ‘top’ players. And they are both pushing 30.

This City side is at the end of its cycle. Their poor recruitment and sales over the last 3 years is haunting them. Haaland and Gvardiol aside - you would struggle to think of top signings they’ve made in the last 3 seasons. Nunez, Doku, Grealish not really it.

Last season Gordon’s output negated any other issues largely. But we weren’t as good down the left particularly defensively. Someone said Gordon is good at chasing lost causes and looking busy. But he’s not as good defensively as the Joe’s which is fine when the output is there. But it’s not there this season. Barnes is even worse defensively.

It was in our own half no? Obviously Bruno is at fault. Kelly and Joelinton too.

We need more from Tino. And Howe needs more from that right flank.

Well he was pants.

If willoxk was injured would’ve liked to have seen him on in his place but swapping roles with Bruno like they did previously.

Thiago was signed to give them more control and creativity in midfield. And when fit, he started regularly. And this is Thiago replacing PL and CL winners. If Tonali is as good as we are led to believe. The coach should find a system where he’s not behind all 3 of Longstaff Willock and Joelinton

It’s his team - he gets credit for all the good and all the bad. But I think it might partially explain why we’ve found it difficult to evolve the team with more talented players that can’t function to the same level. In ability alone Howe shouldn’t think we start with Longstaff Joelinton and Willock. But they fit the system and have the best relationships.

I would assume he’s earning more money than Dan though.

Agreed. I think a lot of what made that first side great was organic to the group. Joe and Joe. Joe and Isak. Bruno and Longstaff. Bruno Longstaff Almiron into Trippier. Few of the newer players have great partnerships or combos.