The College Dropout

No minutes against Bradford either. The full throttle.

Having so many games, late transfers and a few injuries has made it difficult for us to gel. We look rock solid at the back. But going forward we stink.

Aye. And my post was after Bruno had played in altitude midweek, then 2 back to back 90s - the only Brazilian player to complete 90 to do that. I do think we need another genuine option at CM.

Why the abuse? im glad he got a rest. Howe is listening to the performance guys. But we suffered for it on the pitch.

Last season we were largely shit for the first 12 games. We tend to do well against top sides at home because they attack and leave space in behind. Hope that continues.

Etikite had scored 10 Ligue 1 goals before his 21st birthday. Earning him a move to PSG. At the same age Woltemade had scored 2 Bundesliga goals and was plying his trade in the 3rd tier of German football on loan. No shade on Nick. Players develop at different rates. But I can’t believe we would’ve gone for Nick W over Etikite or Sesko or the others. And that’s what happened. We went for those first so I’m going to assume they were ahead in the pecking order.

Their general build up play is way better than Murphy and Barnes

He shouldn’t be our most progressive midfielder but he did a manful job today. That turn was one of 2 pieces of class I saw today. I really wanted us to add 2 to the level of him and we didn’t do it. We actually lost one. Tough.

Aye. We’ve got wingers that can’t beat a man or pass and move. A CMs that struggle to pass the ball forward. But it’s Pope’s passing that is a big problem. Aye.

Needs a run of games with Gordon and Elanga flanking him

He does look like a striker that hasn’t played striker a long time. I think he’ll play a lot of minutes with Wissa behind him while he learns the striker position better

I don’t agree. Woltemade doesn’t have the PL pedigree of Delap nor the general pedigree of Etikite, Sesko or Joao Pedro. Nick W has scored 20 professional goals in his career prior to joining. Sesko has 90 - they are the same age. He might end up the best player of the lot. But we went for him last for a reason and it’s not just that he was Bayern bound.

Who would’ve signed in June? We lost out on Delap and Pedro in June no?

If he’s getting his 6th choice striker can’t say he got the striker he wanted.

Pretty much. Isak was doing a lot of heavy lifting in the baller stakes. I think so yes. We’ve had a top striker upfront for 90% of Howe’s time. All his time really bar the Aussie days.

What do people expect for this squad this season? to me - it lacks ability. Don’t think we are good enough ability wise to get top 5. So then what is the target?

One thing about Barnes is - he’ll get himself into a promising position. Willock is always running down blind alleys. Making the wrong run. He gets the ball and you just know the attack is going to break down. I was a big fan of the lad. I want to cut him some slack but I was over him after 30 minutes.

That one shimmy was the best thing I saw in that second half

Apparently he’s some type of wide forward now. Miley, Hall, Thiaw etc. alll should be given some leeway for being rusty.

Started slowly but ended strongly. A big shame about that final pass. If we play that back 5 a lot we need him to be better on the ball. He showed some nice glimpses in the second half mind.

Thought he was better off the ball than he’s been too. The overall tight shape helped.

I don’t think he should be in the squad tbf. but we don’t have better. We aren’t good enough technically to carry a CM that doesn’t make anything happen going forward. He’s not going to win it high like Joe does. He’s not going to carry it like the big 3. Doesn’t break lines with passes. For his development I’m glad he’s got some proper minutes today. For the squad I think we needed someone capable of giving 80-90% of what Bruno does and few 19 year olds have that ability. It’s no shade to Miley.

His first was a booking. It was a deliberate handball. Maybe he was getting tired. But I thought he was getting sloppy prior. The Pope incident imo is largely Thiaw’s fault. As a CB you make sure your man is covered until you know the danger is gone, he let up too early then had to rush to make the block. The yellow comes from some lax play then he panics and handballs it. Then the second yellow follows a poor header then he’s just done by the Bournemouth player. For an hour or so he looked really good. He does give Titus vibes

If we are going to play with 5 at the back more we really do need more ballers.

It is a useful point. But football is meant to be fun. It’s an awful watch. And that does mean something. Not worth losing for but yhhhh what a waste of life.