Novocastrian

Utterly pathetic performance. No drive, energy or invention. We really are lower table fodder this season. Where’s the leadership on the pitch?

Why’s it left to Hall to run at Dorgu?

What the fucks Ramsey pointing at?

If just 2 or 3 of our players can put in an 8/10 performance we can beat these but we are flat as fuck again.

We need to replicate the match from last season. If I recall, we were on a great run of form. They were shiteing it and were beaten before we even turned up. We battered them for 45 minutes and then sat on the lead. On second thoughts…..

Possibly, but the defensive issues are generally individual errors (discounting the GK as Ramsdale is very poor IMO). Midfield issues appear more structural/tactical.

The midfield is the issue not the defence. For some reason the structure isn’t working this season. A couple of seasons ago we could fall into a low block and be water tight. Now there’s too many gaps between midfield and defence and players going walkabout. We’ve had our first choice FBs in recently and Thiaw has been our best player. The defence isn’t the main problem (GK excepted).

Pope would have saved some of the goals Ramsdale’s let in recenty. I truly believe we may have 3 or 4 more points. I still wanted Ramsdale to have a go as Pope’s reckless punching and dubious footwork was driving me mad. We need Pope back in, then a new GK next summer.

Amorim didn’t stop him from making a challenge for Roger’s first goal.

I wouldn’t say we even play with a CDM, maybe one of three is nominally told to play more defensively but you’d hardly notice at times.

Priority should be a specialist CDM. Bruno and Tonali can play further up. The midfield structure isn’t working and as a defensive unit we are porous.

He’s hopeless, we wanted him in but the experiment has failed.

It’s been everywhere online all week; can’t press, can’t run, too slow, can’t win headers.

Those doubting this lad can fuck off by the way. Pleased for the lad today.

Southgate vibes now, just stand and watch everything collapse for 15 mins.

I thought we were out last time when we drew Arsenal but this time we are out.

I’d take Chelsea over two legs.

Doesn’t seem to know where he needs to be, quite often his team mates were looking to pass out wide to him but he’d already scarpered up the pitch.

Midfield is more pressing for me. We need to freshen up.

Pressing is a team sport. He looks slow chasing across half the pitch to close down his man. A proper press shouldn’t involve that. He’s perfectly capable of pressing in a coordinated action. We seem to have forgotten how to do that though:

He’s fast enough, seemingly having that extra gear (Gordon, Elanga) isn’t the be all and end all. Many of the best wingers we’ve had over the years were nippy but didn’t have electric pace.

Not for more PL fodder.

The players look knackered though. We’ve got lots of games but a bigger squad, some players (Wolte, Tino etc.) haven’t been able to be rested. We’d all love them to be pressing the life out of the opposition, pinning them in their own half and forcing mistakes but the players don’t look up to it. A lot of the goals conceded in the last 5-10 mins are due to very tired players not following a man or switching off mentally. No idea what the answer is, a bigger squad again? What’s Bunce and the team been up to?

Struggles to even control the ball never mind pass. His one super power is meant to be his pace. We’ve seen it sparingly and he’s often second to loose balls. Miggy was far better, let that sink in.

More a comment on recent form where we’ve conceded multiple goals - Leverkusen, Marseille, Spurs. Brentford, West Ham etc.