Theregulars

Not bad, but not good. I think some inexperience and immaturity showed through, especially Bruno and Joelinton who looked noticeably under-par. I suppose good to see some character shine through, but I think Howe would like that one back to have another go. Nothing quite clicked. I'm not sure about Isak-Wilson yet, doesn't seem to be quite clicking. With that said, usual spawny shit in favour of Allardyce with the equaliser. They go for you sometimes and others don't. Their gamesmanship was predictable; I don't think the referee had a poor game. I suppose as we needed a point and 2 wins, there's the point. Just would have rather had the comfort of being able to get that point against Brighton, if that makes sense.

But literally nobody is saying that.

Can’t comment on others but I don’t think it was a missed opportunity, I think it was a needless gamble. Anyway, cases made.

Or we can think both things at the same time, because our brains have the capacity to do so, without being told off by a bunch of strangers for it.

Yup, exact same for me. It’s the same intellectual value as “support the team not the regime” style arguments.

Just. So. Cool.

I did! Wore it in Amsterdam just the other week when visiting.

Ah yes, the traditional Valentine’s Day shark bite.

Nobody has forgotten the last 14 years, we’re just debating the depth of the squad and discussing what we’re seeing with our own eyes: a team not performing particularly well over the last 5-6 weeks. It’s completely feasible to be both ecstatic with the season from a broader perspective, but concerned with the immediate moment from a narrow perspective (unless you’re not capable of weighing up conflicting arguments and concluding that both have some merit in different ways). What is not boring on the forum is people discussing concern. What is boring is being told you’re ungrateful or somehow dismissive of the pain under Ashley for expressing criticism or a concern. Literally everybody on here is very happy that Ashley is gone and very happy that we’re no longer shit. For comparison’s sake, I love the band Death Cab For Cutie. If they make one album I don’t like and I express disappointment, am I to be dismissed as somehow less of a fan for somehow not appreciating their previous bodies of work from the preceding 14 years? There’s just no need to limit yourself to such binary thinking.

I mean firstly your point is wrong - he played a match of football yesterday, meaning he is match fit, surely? I guess I’m arguing the toss if you mean “fit to start”. The point we’re making is that we might need the squad depth to sustain the wonderful season you’re (and we’re) correctly enjoying, so some of us have an eyebrow raised at the decision to let him go and not replace him. It seems about as complicated as the 2x table to me.

Staggering how difficult this appears to be for some to comprehend. All we’re saying is that we lack depth and an option. It might not be fatal; it likely won’t be, but why take the risk?

But Shelvey is match fit, he played in PL match yesterday.

Because you’re being critical, which isn’t allowed in some people’s minds. Everything can only be “good” or “bad”, and any nuance in between means you must think it’s “bad”. Social media age and its accompanying assault on curiosity and discussion coming to the fore in my view.

I understand the sentiment but I think this is such a basic outlook. It’s completely legitimate and reasonable to debate what’s going on now that our reality has changed. It doesn’t make us miserable, deluded, entitled or whatever meaningless trope you want to throw at us. We’re just analysing the football team we support and admitting that we haven’t looked great since the turn of the year, punctuated by our worst performance of the season yesterday and the squad coming out of the transfer window shallower and arguably weaker (TBC, depending on Gordon).

I’d imagine it was because we lost 3 players to injury, one of whom plays in his position and looks to be out for a few matches. I’d also imagine it’s because he was the only other player in that position we had aside from Bruno who is known for being able to play a decent through-ball and reliable for a 5-10 assists a year.

This news certainly helps us in the quest for the top 4, and eases my concerns about our squad depth a little bit.

I’d not say massive risk given they only play 2CMs and have Højbjerg, Bissouma, Skipp and Sarr; but given how guff Bissouma has been for them it may have been an idea to loan a CM instead of another winger/forward.

Should have signed Shelvey.

But that isn’t his point, is it?

Including Gordon, I might add.

I’d not make that move if it were my money, Ajax were awful under him. Gets some leeway as the club currently isn’t run as well as it usually is but he did nothing other than contribute to a majorly sub-par season thus far. My friend is an Ajax fan and I just asked him about this. He said “well, they must want relegated”.

Also, I take umbridge at being called “reactive”. All I’ve said is that yesterday’s performance was poor against a poor team and that I don’t think selling Shelvey was sensible with no replacement. I don’t think there’s anything unreasonable about either argument.

Casemiro will be playing, so that’s half your argument dead in the water.

A lot of “bairns” his age get regular PL minutes, because they’re good enough. Howe’s as good as admitted in the summer that the ideal scenario was to loan him out, but lack of squad depth meant he stays. I repeat that I very much hope I’m wrong, but the times I’ve seen him in person and on the telly I’ve not thought that there’s anything there.

I think if he belonged here we’d know already, but I hope I’m wrong.