Consortium of one

if only Colback were fit he would have willed a win.

If you spend 40M on a striker you expect him to walk in and start banging them in.

There was a reason Rafa didn't want thim.

Been great for us. Very soon we will have to see if Woodman is the man to take us forward though.

Midfield is our major weakness, IMO. I think our front 3 of Joe, Miggy and ASM would be more likely to succeed with a more consistent midfield pairing behind them. Longstaff is never fully fit for extended periods. Shelvey is only good for random wonder passes/shots, Hayden lacks tenacity and Matty is too young, tiny and inexperienced. I'd sell Hayden and Shelvey and bring in an industrious forward thinking but defensively sound box to box guy and more athletic guy who can pull the strings. The Longstaffs are more suitable to deputy duties, IMO. The key being that this new midfield two would start a majority of the games together and bring more consistency to the middle of the pitch. A strong consistent midfield would make the whole team look better.

I threw up in my mouth when I read that Shelvey was in line for a new deal. I threw up on my desk when I read "peak years".

I think we'll end up about 14th or 15th. If the season were 46 games, we'd drop While I'm not convinced a drop would help in the sale of the club, I am concerned that the longer the club goes with investment in infrastructure the less appealing the club will be and of course the less likely Ashley will get his price if there is a "price".

"Is, uh,...Is your club a goer, eh? Know whatahmean, know whatahmean, nudge nudge, know whatahmean, say no more?"

Is Bruce capable of remolding a squad in his image? We all believed Rafa could, if allowed. Arguably Bruce isn't a tenth of a manager that Rafa is but results don't lie. You are what your record says you are...

if we score first, we win.

I can't see us getting relegated this year unless something catastrophic happens. We'll muddle through and beat the drop. I seem to remember assurances that money would be available for January. Obviously the reduced crowds are having a financial effect because the money is not going to be there. I'm not even sure if Cabbage Head knows how we play and would be able to bring players in let alone indoctrinate them into "playing off their front foot."

Pards to ADO den Haag?

I wonder how we'll spend the 40M ManU plunks down for Longstaff?

huh, sounds like Brewcie

Blob Simpson Campbell Mbiwa Lazaar Murphy Cockblock S de Yong Marveaux Riviere Fecunda Ferreyra I know Chuckie never played but he's perfect for this team.

fixed that for you.

I'd expect to see Carroll get fully fit, start his first game then do an ankle or hammy 10 minutes in.

You know, having the ball just 23% of the time against one of the best teams in the world and working a draw is great and all but we'll also play that way against fellow relegation candidates. A coworker complimented me on the performance this morning and couldn't understand why I wasn't excited. Yeah, the frantic counters are fun but it's the dross in between that kills me. Kind of hard to keep getting excited by a good block and then a clearance and subsequent recycle by the opposition.

and within the first five minutes Carroll does a hammy and an ankle and misses the rest of the season.

Don't recall Cabella ever getting into scoring positions much, or even putting in crosses. He just seemed to do a few tricks on the sidelines then go down after getting clattered. Thauvin actually had great end product, just didn't want to be here. Almiron is actually far harder working than either, he just can't finish. hahaha that's exactlt how I remember Cabella. He'd run around like a chicken with its head cut off, lose the ball and then fall down.

Front foot football, baby!

Its a shuffling kind of gait. Then, when he doesn't get into position in time, he points and yells.

"Its your tactics"

Confidence is shot. His first touch in the box betrays that. I'd sit him for a couple of games. Tell him to get his head straight and put him back in. There's a player there but it's in 6 foot hole and dirt is getting thrown on it.