The College Dropout

No Brighton ? Promoted 3 + Swansea and West Brom. Maybe Stoke cos of Lambert. I struggle to see any of those sides winning 3 or 4 games in a row. Whoever Watford have on the bench as their striker would lead the line for us. The last relegation side was awful, especially pre-January. With Shelvey, Townsend and Rafa in charge from January/early Feb we would stay up imo in the end. This lot has Rafa from the start and will likely go right down to the wire. Southampton lack goals and I can see them being in trouble. They also have the capacity to do Bournemouth and win 3-4 in a row.

No Brighton ? Promoted 3 + Swansea and West Brom. Maybe Stoke cos of Lambert. I struggle to see any of those sides winning 3 or 4 games in a row. Whoever Watford have on the bench as their striker would lead the line for us. The last relegation side was awful, especially pre-January. With Shelvey, Townsend and Rafa in charge from January/early Feb we would stay up imo in the end. This lot has Rafa from the start and will likely go right down to the wire. Southampton lack goals and I can see them being in trouble. They also have the capacity to do Bournemouth and win 3-4 in a row.

Aye good point. Not only fire-power but quality. The last relegation side, it had major problems with the personnel. But if Rafa takes over in early February he keeps us up. It had some quality. This lot.... work hard but lack quality.

We don't make it difficult enough for them to capitulate Aye, sit very deep - not enough fret.

We've got 1 point all season from decent sides.

Agreed. You can't rely on away form to keep you up. And we can't keep a lead. We need to win another 4 games to be safe. That I absolutely cannot see. 3? Perhaps and some draws might be enough. In any case we'll need to start doing things we haven't done all season to stay up.

8. These are the games we need to win. 3 points against teams around us. Imo we are on track to get relegated.

Mbemba is shit.

What’s wrong with him? Keeping the wage packet is a must. Ok. That’s fair. But Hull... too far? Wtf?

It's only right that when Rafa leaves, we riot.

Chancel has been bobbins at CB

Newcastle United and WBA are both relegation candidates. The job is to score goals, go the World Cup and keep the team up. He probably views both clubs as beneath him Long-term. The least he should want to do is to perform well and get a move to a club that regularly finishes in the top 8/10 at the worst. Difference is - WBA is close to home. It’s a short term move for specific purposes. It’s a fair choice imo. We SHOULD blow WBA out the water. But is not 2004 anymore.

For awhile I liked this lad because he seemed to a be a similar level of athlete to Santon and he could actually use his left foot. He's an inferior footballer and just as bad at defending. It says something about us as a club that Dummett has been our best LB since Enrique.

Unfortunately, the job at Newcastle is the same as the job at WBA. Except WBA is much closer to home. I get it.

When he’s in a good mood he’s always been good craic imo.

It’s the best thing for the club but I don’t like it. Let the lad move and get on with his career. Even if it is to Brighton. If he’s not good enough for us let him go. But obviously, I get it.

English clubs are getting absued in the transfer market. It's to the point clubs in Europe put a x2 on a player when an English club gets involved. I've heard many like to act like a PL club is interested in their player when dealing with La Liga, Serie A etc clubs. The PL boogeymen with boundless cash. Yet, I wish we were in the mix.

Rafa couldn't land a job at the elite clubs. His time there has gone for the time being. But just below that? Sure. CL clubs or those in the running. Sure. Think he would do well at Arsenal.

Isco was in the team towards the end of last season and Real were probably the most fluid they've been for a long time in that stretch. Isco was pretty much great as soon as Zidane took over. On that front, it made sense. James is too good to sit on the bench. Prior to last season I much preferred James but Isco was superb in those final months and really hooked things together. Overall though, James is the more effective player in terms of goals and assists but Isco is Silva-like in dominating games. Agreed Isco always slows down the tempo. James much faster on the ball which is a strength and a weakness. Having a world class player like James on the bench does a lot to motivate those actually playing. Likewise Morata and Pepe (who was pretty much first choice when fit last season). Disagree with Zidane not being tactically great or able to affect games mid-game. For the last 2 seasons, pretty much every decision he made worked. Formations and line-ups for big games. He had a stacked bench but they often came on to provide big benches. He nearly always made the right decision. Biggest thing of all is Ronny has lost confidence. He usually has 10-15 more goals at this stage of the league season. Then you lose the 25 odd goals Morata and James scored in the league. IMO they need to sack Zizou, bring in Carlo and sign a Galactico. It's been some time since the last Galactico was signed (James? Kroos).

Barcelona for the last decade have averaged something like 87 league points. Even when they've not won it, they've still put up strong numbers. Valverde's done a great job. I still expect a strong CL side to knock them out the CL.

Who would've known letting Pepe, James & Morata leave would leave them weaker? But this is silly. Zidane out. Get Ancelotti back in for PSG. Get PEA. Keep Zidane and there's a big chance they'll miss the CL.

Never heard of him. Kinda feel he'll be pap just because....

Think Real should be in for PEA. 3 year deal while the team transitions.

Great fun this.

Back to La Liga - best league in the world. 2 midtable teams. Knocking it about nicely. 40 minutes in... about 6 or 7 clear goal scoring opportunities. Should be 2-2 at the least.