LFEE

Depends where you start from. If for 3 seasons you’ve been outperforming with the players we have then I just feel this has been more of a levelling off to the players abilities. It’s just took the likes of maybe yourself to catch up.

Football is quite simple though. Name a home game in the league we’ve took an early 2 goal lead? Longest we’ve had was Burnley for a full second half. The other games Forest with us not scoring until last 5mins and Palace in the 78th minute. Chelsea would be the best game to stand up your argument so let’s look at that game in isolation. Nic misses a great chance to make it 3-0 on HT with team full of confidence. Second half Chelsea get a FK that wasn’t first minutes and score it and game completely changes. Thats football. Sometimes it’s no bigger than that. You could argue this season we’ve played to try and conserve physical energy at times due to all the extra games leading us to expand more mental energy perhaps. Nothing that can’t be learned from but doesn’t help you lose a load of key players at key times. Give him 26/27. If it’s not clicking come Xmas he’ll work with the club and walk himself.

Every game? We nearly reached a cup final again only to be KO’d by the winners in the SF’s. Went further in the FA Cup that we usually do as a club despite unfavourable draws only to KO’d out by the likely winners. Reached last 16 of UCL despite having statistically the top 4th hardest draw. All this that accumulates into more games, more physical and mental fatigue as well as injuries whilst providing less time to prepare and train for the next game. Not saying EH hasn’t made mistakes but ALL managers do throughout a season so it’s almost irrelevant as there is no perfect manager. It really usually comes down to squad size and quality end of the day/season. Considering we’ve not had a CF all season after selling the two we had I’m impressed we’ve done as well as we have. Yes we’ve lost too many games but majority have been tight affairs due to some small margins and bad player decisions in the final third. The only teams/games this season that I’ve felt we’ve not been in are the usual fixtures at the usual venues. Our problem has been very simple all season. We struggle to get the 2nd goal in games. Usually what CF can do for you. Achieve that and then the team relaxes and plays good football and the outlook is completely different on the season. Fix that and we will be back on track 26/27.

Not paying much attention to recent developments. What’s the overall story regarding to buy out clauses etc? £100m EPL £75m EU?

Easy to integrate in a great team when the game is won in 20mins over the years and can hand out 30+mins comfortably per game.

I’m not sure that I agree with you 100% on your police work there Andy…

River Plate v Boca Juniors… stadium absolutely rocking

Exactly. Take away our head to heads and we’d be above them

Out of the club’s control and not how you’d start a long term player/club/country relationship.

It’s hard to argue against all the negative comments in this thread. Was always baffled why we bid against ourselves instead of holding firm at £25m. However that aside I do feel for the club he suffered such a bad knee injury before getting to play for us. At best a calculated panic buy. At worst one of the worst signings the club has made unless we are able to shift him on this summer. Like Nic (and Gordon) let’s hope he has another great World Cup.

Similar. Was one of the the few advocates of the signing IF the fee was right which I think it was… (Closer to £45m than £60m). However since the PSR scramble 2yrs ago when on the verge of signing for Liverpool I’ve always felt an ever growing detachment between the player and the club. Of all the purples to be sold he would be the first on my list.

Then focus on the slightly over hit pass from Barnes to Nic which would’ve made it 1-2 and a tactical masterclass with both subs coming on and combining to win the game Also don’t get so concerned about being 14th in a season when we are still only 6 points from 6th! Just been one of those seasons in the league. It happens. It’s football. If it happens in the league again next season he’ll no doubt walk himself. Let’s shift those who want to be away. Bring in players who want to be here and try again 26/27.

Depends if the other players like playing with him I’d imagine.

Get behind your manager. He’s the best we’ve had. The End.

Anyone not in the WhatsApp wanting to join us for the meal on Saturday at 8pm (Raval’s Indian) let me know. Currently at 11 attending.

Whites have one player in his 50’s and another in his 60’s! WTF you talking about?

We have our 24

So we are at 23 with @KDT so maybe one more to make it 24 would be nice… don’t be shy. We don’t bite Squads selection this weekend so still a day or two to join.

@pinkeye @KDT Just awaiting confirmation so we can get teams and format sorted thanks 🙏🏻

Has the new manager made much of a difference?

The weather looks a treat for it. Just heading home from Aberdeen and saw the news report

25… let the record show https://www.instagram.com/maria.guardiola/?hl=en

Is she!? … Thought she was married to the bloke beside her

The football or Pep’s daughter? (I wasn’t the only one surely 🫣)