ponsaelius

Milan did their very best in the second half to completely kill the game. It was very effective, although helped by the referee, and I was concerned they might nick one themselves. Atalanta keep finding a way to win though, their mentality is totally different since the Europa win. While they don't have the attacking talent of the side of a few years ago, this team seems their best ever squad from back to front. Weirdly I'd worry they end up being too good for their own good - and ultimately get stretched by going far across three competitions.

In terms of getting a fee the only option is Saudi now. Really hope we are pushing for that with him. Don't think any other European club is doing anything other than taking his wages off us, if we're lucky.

I think the physical decline was noticeable even before everything dropped off a cliff due to the personal issues. Like no doubt he was hugely influential in our game and still playing well, but you could still see it coming on the horizon IMO. Agree that it's been a huge issue trying to replace what he brought to our game. But this is always going to be an issue with relying on older, experienced players.

Enjoyed Zaniolo scoring against his old club and giving it a proper celebration.

Bove went down out nowhere, was pretty terrifying Eriksen type incident. Players have gone off.

Howe has done a great job developing both of those fullbacks and improving them. They have become full internationals over the last 18 months since joining. Neither were signed as one and remain long term project players. I think you can quite easily go and get another coach that might for example makes us more solid at the back but doesn't develop talent at the same level, or somebody else who gets us pinging the ball around expansively but conceding goals for fun. I may be wrong but I personally think whoever we get in is likely to have their own flaws and the real issue is that the squad has a glass ceiling of about 6th.

Still think the biggest issue is the stagnation off the pitch and the inability to mix things up/refresh the squad. Given the constraints we really needed to be more ruthless and proactive in the transfer market to build a more balanced squad. Some of the blue chip players we've retained and banked on building our season around (Bruno, Gordon) have been atrocious tbh. I think Howe deserves a fair amount of criticism for the way we're playing but I also honestly don't think changing manager is going to make a huge amount of difference given where the club/squad level is at right now. Indeed I think there's just as much chance the inadequacies would be exposed even more under a different coach.

Result is not really that much of a big deal tbh, the performances are the worrying thing.

We absolutely did not deserve to win, TBF.

Just looked at the match stats

So both Bruno and Tonali are both #6s in this system. Not ideal.

TBF he's not looked fully fit to me.

Superb pass from Guehi.

Great touch from Tonali that.

When Howe first came in and particularly when Trippier first signed we were pretty dangerous from set pieces. It often allowed us to break open tight games, which we then went to on to run away with being able to play on the break. We look so ineffective from them at the moment. In fact I'm more worried our slow backline will get done on the break from them.

Bruno has been fucking shite this season

Three left wingers up top, with two centre forwards on the bench.

They've all been either shite or hit/miss. He's the only one I have faith in to keep doing the right thing when he gets it.

Genuinely don't think anybody has been consistently good for us this season except Lewis Hall.

Made of twigs. Sell in summer.

One of those games where PSR bites for me. Don't think we even go near Kelly if it wasn't for that. Murphy certainly wouldn't still be getting games. We lack freshness and new ideas, trying to rely on what worked two seasons ago (hence the reluctance to put Tonali in over the tried and tested midfield), and then when it doesn't click things go really shit quickly. I think Howe can take some of the blame, but the main problem for me is we have just hit a wall momentum wise as a club as a result of not being able to refresh and invest.

Honestly think if we have Burn in instead of Kelly we win the game. West Ham have played well but it's been a genesis of individual ability/confidence given to them by mistakes at the worst possible times. No idea what Howe was playing at second half. Sometimes having options on the bench is a curse rather than a benefit. I can't abide when we pull that cool trick of throwing our entire shape away to play 4-4-2 and spam crosses into the box from Jacob Murphy.

Completely lost the plot here. No idea what this formation is supposed to be.

Kelly has been disastrous tbh. Every header he's won has been misdirected to an opposition player.

He's basically an upgrade on Dummett. Probably wouldn't have even considered signing him if it wasn't for PSR.