AyeDubbleYoo

Well we can never be sure, and obviously we didn't get many of the players we ideally wanted. I just don't think we can use just the last few months as evidence of what things will always be like. There have been so many things which have impacted us and (I believe) caused Eddie to revert to doing whatever he thinks will grind us a few results. I don't think we've really had the luxury of focusing on philosophy too much.

I think we need to separate the tactics and style we were planning to go for this season from the one we ended up with. The season has really been more about crisis management than any kind of planned progress to the future.

He's what every team needs, a neat and tidy midfielder with good movement. Really not sure what our starting midfield will look like next season, lots of thinking to be done.

No not really, I didn't expect a turnaround until the summer. Some better results hopefully, which is kind of what has happened.

Were you one of the 'never tries anything new' people at all?

Gordon is meant to be one of the most intelligent players coming through the England setup. Particularly he was always praised for his great movement, ability to keep defenders guessing and spin inside or outside. Part of the reason he was able to play CF so well in that younger age group tournament. Doesn't matter too much now he's leaving obviously.

Bruno's shooting annoys me so much

I agree but I still think Botman and Thiaw is a good partnership. Defending is more about the whole team and the whole defensive unit, as well as not being able to retain the ball reliably.

I would get rid of Wissa before Woltemade I think, he just looks useless. Unless we can dominate the ball more next season and create more chances for a poacher. At the moment I’d rather bring Barnes on up front.

Quite surprised people saying CB is weak. I think Thiaw and Botman is a really good partnership and certainly good enough for a decent PL campaign if the rest of the team is functioning. They’re both decent on the ball as well, just not sure they always have someone ahead of them to reliably pass it to.

Yeah, I thought Woltemade grew into the game to some extent. And obviously should’ve had one great assist. But Ramsey looks much neater and more composed, mentally you can tell he’s a more even and reliable type of player. Would be very harsh to judge Woltemade without a fair run mind.

I think plenty didn’t want him, I didn’t particularly want him myself. I’m just saying that there’s sound logic behind what he was expected to produce. If you saw it going this badly, then fair play. Agree it was unimaginative, I feel like we were generally in a position where we didn’t have the full team in place to make more creative signings.

I think the Elanga signing is pretty simple really. He was meant to be a clear upgrade on Murphy who was a more varied threat and had a good PL season behind him. As well as being young enough to do it for longer. Of course it completely failed, I believe mainly due to him mentally not being up to the move. But there was really no way we could have foreseen that it would be such a bad signing. Said in one of the transfer threads, you could almost put the whole story of the season down to Elanga and Wissa. They should have delivered enough goals and assists to keep us comfortably in the European hunt.

It didn’t look like Plan A to me. Has he ever played Woltemade behind a striker before? Or a double pivot midfield. We had lots of promising attacks, the players just wasted them.

4231 wasn’t it?

Thought Howe was pretty unlucky today TBH. Went for a different formation, mixed it up well, we had loads of attacks we wasted due to individual lack of quality. Subs were great, led to a goal, we let one in at the end to throw away the win.

I would sell Tino for £60m ish given his injuries and limitations with the ball. Also depends if it meant we could keep someone else I guess.

Tell that to Nunes who was involved in at least 2 critical penalty box incidents yesterday.

It’s very cheeky that you can advertise Guiness on football shirts just because you have a 0% option.

Surely that’s an error on an early copy or something? If not they didn’t just to annoy people

I’m sure him and Ally McCoist are lovers. Which is fine BTW.

Woodgate is probably our best ever CB in terms of ability, but not available anywhere near enough. Schar is overall the best IMO.

Was Nickson's influence related that much to Ashworth? Wasn't he here and running before the takeover?

I mean, I don't think Barcola is that good so it's not 'that' ridiculous that Gordon could go there as a backup option for less important games, I suppose.

Come on