Gallowgate Toon

Right. Let's fucking show some desire. Make changes now while we have the momentum.

Christ. Can't believe this is getting worse.

No fucking pissing about with subs this time, man. Make proactive changes.

God, we're so bad. Late goals every fucking time.

Happy we're back to a more solid shape, can't fucking believe Joselu is starting though.

Flaw in this plan of course is that not a single player in our squad is a good option playing just off Gayle. Diame I'm not usually one for advocating chucking players into random positions but I actually do think Merino would be good foil as a #10 for Gayle. Not that that's totally random, considering where he plays for the u21s. Strong & smart enough on the ball and always looking for early passes, his pressing could be very handy up top too. But his work in midfield is so good that it's hard to not keep him there when we're so easily exposed at the back. Shelvey in a highly-specific gameplan could work there but, you're right, not many options. I think 4-3-3 suits us the most, tbh. Not that it's suddenly going to turn us into a great side or anything, I just think it gives us the best balance.

Would love to see this, if Lascelles is fit: Elliott Yedlin Lascelles Lejeune Mbemba Hayden Shelvey Merino Murphy Gayle Ritchie

4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 and I'd start Gayle and look to counter - their CBs are physical but not the quickest. It's just important that someone suitable plays behind Gayle, otherwise he gets no service.

"Eeee, Florian, you're dead good."

Shouldn't be starting ahead of Mbemba at all. Don't get it, unless there's been a fallout.

I actually think we'll win

Good when he had the ball. Showed pace and neat skill on a few occasions. He was embarrassingly more up-for-it than anyone else in the starting XI.

Not settled in well enough to be the lead defender. Clark has been embarrassingly quiet; what happened to the guy that was always talking last season?

To be honest, we're a better-suited side for backs-to-the-walls games where we'll nick the odd result. I think we'll pick up some points between now and Xmas but it's going to be a bit grim. We've been on one great run and one awful run so far. We'll end up lower midtable.

As a footballer, he's better than this. Not that complex a point, tbh. It's not about the complexity. It's about the fact it's incorrect. He shouldn't be a starter for us, he's not a good striker, but his history has shown he's not this level of bad a player. Think that's a pretty fair assessment.

History says otherwise tbh Don't think it does. Other teams he's played for he seems to have been 'decent' and a somewhat useful player to the side. Like I said, not particularly good but better than now. He's an active hindrance atm. I mean Stoke were pretty happy to bin him off for 5m and its not like they are blessed with goalscoring talent. Stoke fans weren't.

As a footballer, he's better than this. Not that complex a point, tbh.

History says otherwise tbh Don't think it does. Other teams he's played for he seems to have been 'decent' and a somewhat useful player to the side. Like I said, not particularly good but better than now. He's an active hindrance atm.

I don't think we look that solid with Lascelles in the team either. We always look like we've got a mistake waiting to happen. I don't agree with Rafa's decision to stick with Joselu, but we are getting beat for the most part because we have very few quality players. Err I think our defensive record with Lascelles in the team is markedly better for a reason.

Bit weird, tbh. Can't wait till we lose more so you can criticize someone and 'be right'?

4-4-2 does need to go too. 4-3-3 would be the best bet for us I think but 4-2-3-1 is what he knows so well.

He's a better player than he's showing (not that he's particularly good) but he's not going to gain any confidence this way. Needs to be dropped.

Even the best managers go through shite patches. I think he's a good game day manager, tbh, but he has absolute stinkers from time-to-time. But the last few weeks have been poor from him. This squad needs a competitive edge and his management has totally hindered that - Mbemba and Mitrovic issues in particular. Players are getting away with shite performances week after week when there are equal alternatives for him to try. I still think we'll be fine and our true form is somewhere between the great run we had and this shite one, but he has to start taking action. Our record without Lascelles this season doesn't look too clever...

We lack a lot of gumption without Lascelles. Heads have dropped so much.

Absolutely. Continually playing players who aren't performing with our squad and situation is absolutely dire.