Ronaldo

Well cheers for that, but unsure what you’re going on about. I’m behind Howe and keeping things in perspective. 2 games is only games, as genuinely pathetic as both performances were. Ultimately we can all be calm about it. We’re owned by winners now, not Mike Ashley. They’ll do what it takes to see us win.

We haven’t signed anyone to remotely adapt the way we play, and you know that.

I don’t think it’s just about results though. We have stood still in terms of the evolution of the side. And Spurs look better having signed the player we should brought here whatever the cost. Liverpool too - as iffy as they look defensively there’s no way they aren’t getting 75 points + this season with the signings they’ve made.

Feel bad for him. Really deserves better than the scraps he’s feeding on.

Almiron is unwatchable at the moment. Trippier’s legs are on the way out, unfortunately. The latter will need to be rested sensibly this season.

He’s an average player, no hatred here. He’ll be third choice soon.

No one is actually implying they want him gone are they?

I didn’t say he was tactically one dimensional as such, but as a team we are. We can’t counter attack for one. It’s genuinely embarrassing watching us try.

I’d love him to succeed here, I really would. I think he will, and I have to think that given I live amongst Man U and City fans who’ve relentlessly been telling me I’m wrong and he’s not the man to take us forward beyond the short term. On the other hand, we’re a one dimensional team who beat the opposition with running, pressure and forcing errors. The lack of intelligence and guile on the field stinks sometimes and I’ve seen little concentrated effort to remedy that in the transfer windows and the lineups. There’s too much insistence on playing a settled side too. Bobby and Rafa are streets ahead tactically of the other managers we had because they made proactive and preemptive changes during games and between games. We need to see a lot more of that mentality.

What’s the aim then, if we’re not capable of challenging for top 4 despite the investment?

We finished 4th last season. We’ve spent £130m to build on that. Is anyone remotely confident we are capable of finishing top 4 again? Genuine question.

This isn’t *that* much of an exaggeration, mind. Mike Ashley isn’t in charge any more.

9 out of 10? We’ve spent £70m on reserve full backs and Almiron / Joelinton are still starting every game.

True, unfortunately. Second best in everything.

Midfield repeatedly looking at each other with outstretched arms. They don’t have a clue what they’re supposed to be doing.

100%. So predictable and utterly reliant on mistakes from the opposition.

This really is pretty abject.

Utterly embarrassing goal to concede.

When he didn’t play?

He’s a backup player at best and we all knew that before today’s game. Only bizarre thing is that he still has the armband over players who actually contribute.

Great player. Just what we needed.

Southgate’s such a gimp, like.

I mean, there’s probably a lot more to discuss / dissect with losing to 10 men when 1-0 up than beating Villa 5-1 at home, dude.

We played against 10 men for a full half of football and conceded two while scoring none. That can only be the result of a monumental failure to set up the team properly. He fucked up, very badly, for the first time during his period here. We’re still behind him and we move on.

It’s a fair point, mind. Bringing Nunez and Jota on ffs; imagine having that as an option. Unbelievable. On the other hand, it was very clear we needed an accomplished wide attacker and / or creative midfielder and a starting LB in the summer and we haven’t landed those improvements. It’s difficult to know who to blame for that but it’s a question that needs to be asked when all the teams around us, including Villa, have identified where they needed to improve and been successful.