clintdempsey

His last 15 mins were painful to watch tonight. (And he had a couple of iffy moments before that as well). I know that he’s far from the biggest problem in the squad but I think it’d be smart to look for a new long term number one. He’s not been himself after the last injury tbf.

This is shaping up rather nicely. That performance should be the benchmark. If so, we’re in for a fun second half of the season. Onwards and upwards! Just a shame we couldn’t wrap it up today, should’ve won that to be honest. By far the better team and the increase in pressing, fitness, team shape and balance is like night and day. It’s almost like he knows what he’s doing.

I think that he’s trying to get the team playing against the ‘big boys’ to make it a bit easier when we get to the more favorable fixtures. Would’ve been even harder for us if we’d just sat back and kick it long for the last few games. We really do need to get some form of attacking structure in place for the games in January/February and these last few games have been free hits in that regard. Hopefully it’ll work.

I’m still certain he’ll keep us up. It’s blatant that he’s been trying to get the team more fit as well as trying to get us more comfortable on the ball and trying to play on the front foot. A couple of new defenders and a midfielder or two early in the window and we’ll be fine when the opposition is a bit easier as well. Roll on January!

We’ve been alright today to be fair. In 9/10 games the play would’ve been stopped for their first. 2nd is a cock-up from Ritchie, Joe and Shelvey and the 3rd is unstoppable (even though Dean helped it with a wicked screen). I think we’ve done well considering and created more than I thought. We’re on the right track, get a few new players in early January and we’ll be fine.

For all this talk of GD a team hasn’t been relegated because of that since 07/08 when Reading went down right? There is a case for using these coming games as a free hit for Howe and his staff to try and get us playing again regardless of results. That could make the difference after this hellish run of games when the opponents will be much easier on paper.

I can actually see us getting something from Man Utd, Everton and Southampton tbh. Wouldn’t be surprised to get 4-6 pts. Thinking about it I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost all three either though. ?

Howe’s taken on a monumental task. We’re probably in even more of a shitty state than we were when Rafa came in to be honest. And for all the good he did back then (I loved Rafa’s time at Newcastle) he took a while to get going as well. A few games into his tenure we shipped 3 goals at both Southampton and Norwich before getting his first win against Swansea at the fifth attempt. The “shut up shop” games were few and far between back then (even though we had some good results the last few games that season). It wasn’t really until we got back up again after he got the chance to build a team in the Championship (yeah I know but that first summer window wasn’t too bad considering) and drill them to his liking that we started to see the super calculated defensive performances. So a pre-season, a Championship season and another pre-season. Howe’s had 5 games after our worst start ever to a Premier League season. The squad is shit in most positions (that will hopefully change somewhat in January), we’ve been even more chronically mismanaged since Rafa left and the moral has been at an all time low I assume. It will take time but I’m certain that Howe will get us safe this season by doing things his way. These coming games will be a tad painful though most certainly but we’ll get there. I love that he is positive and that he seems to ‘get it’ and in time that will tell in both performances and results.

Oh, I completely agree. I don’t ever want to see Krafth again (for NUFC or Sweden) for example ?. Lewis was OK today I thought but Manq was as bad as Ritchie’s been. Alarmingly I thought Schär was piss poor as well which coupled with Lascelles usual self wasn’t very good.

I will add though that we do lack urgency and aggressiveness (which I felt we had against Brentford at home but haven’t been seen since). But that is also down to the characters in the team. We need a few more annoying, bullying buggers to get a foothold in the games. Shelvey and Willock are too laid back as a midfield pairing. Lewis and Manquillo are too timid as well I feel for the fullback positions. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Krafth and Ritchie back (as useless as they are) for that reason. To add a bit of bite. Hayden will probably be in for Almiron as well and get Willock higher up the pitch.

I agree with Howe somewhat as well. I thought we did OK on the whole for 60-65 mins. The pen (which never should have been) came at a bad time and for me their second came against the run of play when we were trying to play a bit higher up the pitch. Leicester are a better team than us, with better players (even with 7-8 of them out) and were rather clinical when given the opportunity.

I still think that he’ll get it right. Today is the first game everything went wrong. We had too many poor performances today. The usual suspects (Shelvey, Willock and Lascelles) as well as some of the perceived better players (Schar, Manquillo, Miggy). The pen was a sucker punch in all its glory, the 2-0 came against the run of play and after that it all fell apart. I’m concerned about the league position of course, but I’m not concerned about Howe.

Schar has been abysmal today. Makes Lascelles look like an Olympic sprinter. Total collapse after an OK-ish first 60 mins.

Manquillo at fault for two goals today. Too sloppy again after messing up the offside trap earlier.

I still don’t think we’ve been that bad tbh. We’re just lacking urgency I feel. Far too laid back which I suppose has to do with the players’ characteristics. Would be nice to have an aggressive midfielder who could grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

For once I don’t think we’ve done too badly here. First 10 mins were good, controlling them and not giving anything away. Would’ve liked a bit more urgency to our play, we’ve been quite high pressing but not with any tenacity. Everything to play for in the second half, can still get a win here IMO. Get Willock off and recharge during the break and then get out there and do them in the second half. As for the the PK, my word. Pathetic.

Much better in the 2nd half and a well deserved 3pts. We could’ve had a goal or two more during that 20 mins spell in the second half. Nice to get the monkey off our backs and here’s to getting the ball rolling.

What are we doing? No urgency or tempo at all this far. Against Brentford we were straight out the blocks pressing and harrying but the last three games hasn’t been anything like it.

Must say that we’ve started rather hesitant today again. No red card yet though. ? Can only get better from now hopefully.

I still think we can escape the drop to be honest. There’s enough in this squad and management team to see us through it. Considering the circumstances a point is OK of course but I do think that we started a bit slow today to be honest (before Clark’s brain fart). Was expecting to be at them from the off, pressing and hassling. IMO we were a bit too cautious, even after the red card to be honest. Norwich didn’t threaten much and I felt like we were way too deep kicking it long too often to no one. Actually thought there was a shade of Darlow to Dubravka’s game today which did worry me a bit. Didn’t cover himself in glory for the moment leading up to their goal and kicked a few balls straight out of play. Redeemed himself after Schär’s howler though. A bitter pill to swallow this though. We would’ve won 11 v 11 I feel, and probably could have won had we been a bit more adventurous 10 v 11. Two points lost at a stage where we really can’t lose them. I have faith that Eddie’s a fast learner though and we will beat Burnley this weekend and have a shock result or three before January.

Get Almiron on for Willock and up the intensity a bit and we’ll be fine. These are shit. Go for a 3-4-1-1.

Felix Magath at Fulham?

As I said yesterday in the match thread I’d have hope that we would have been a bit more aggressive and adventurous yesterday. Obviously I have faith in Eddie and the staff to sort us out and it is early days. There were a lot of encouraging aspects of our game vs. Brentford and a few yesterday as well hopefully we’ll beat Norwich on Tuesday and get this train moving.