Gallowgate Toon

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.

I can't believe he's still on the pitch. Absolutely staggering, tbh.

Early season fire from the team has totally gone too. Murphy is one of the only ones to show some desire today.

Absolutely pathetic. Summer investment was awful but this is shit from Rafa. Absolute bollocks.

Pretty bad that there's been no changes.

I thought the idea behind the summer backup plan was to get as much competition between players as possible? That's gone out the window the last 6 games - his decisions are negating competitive edge.

Bringing absolutely nothing to the side for 2 months almost. Mitro is an arse but he will bring occasional sparks at the very least.

Late goal conceded again Absolutely has to be time for some changes to the side now.

Murphy looking sharp. Amazing what confidence can do.

Murphy showed some promise. I'd play him.

Merino will be crucial, if he plays. He does so much good defensive work and is the best athlete we have in midfield - that should allow Shelvey a tad more freedom in a game where we're probably going to have to break down a counter side.

This gets done for 350m, IMO.

We do desperately need him, mind. Adds so much to us at both ends of the pitch.

A performance no different to many of Atsu's, tbh. Done some good, some bad.

Well, that's that. That was poor defending all over, tbh.

Played well enough, save for a poor last 5 minutes. Seemed to lose shape and everything went a bit ragged. Don't expect us to get anything from the second half.

Wicked.

Unlucky. Murphy looking a yard quicker.

He just needs to keep things as simple as possible to begin with. His biggest problem is confidence and he must find a way to build that. I watched him in the games against us last year, he has talent.

IIRC his overall performances against us were good, and we were the top of that pile in the Champ. He's definitely not this bad; he just looks totally overwhelmed.

Once again, so slow to release the ball. A quick pass outside of the boot was all that was needed, IIRC, and he tries to do far too much 30 yards from his own goal. We desperately need to upgrade on him.

Loftus-Cheek, as a 10, would be absolutely perfect for our current system. Gutted we didn't get him.