Stottie

On top of the fixture congestion, there is also the issue that we have been plagued with hard draws in the cups and have fielded strong teams against what is usually Premier League opposition. This hinders player development and knackers the first team. I like Eddie Howe, but don't like us conceding lots of goals. I would prefer us playing as we did in the first fourth place season, when we were defensively solid, than the way we played last season and this season. Some of it is decline in players, like Pope and Trippier. Some of it will be our playing style being found out and/or football moving on. The criticism of the summer window should probably focus more on insufficient defensive reinforcement than all the "I told you so" stuff about Wissa and Elanga. Man U conceded loads under Amorim, and he got sacked. Liverpool are doing the same under Slot, and he'll probably get sacked too barring a Champions League miracle. Defensive weakness is not a platform to build sustained success. Note that Slot too spunked half a billion on attackers and has a team that is defensively frail.

Biggest mitigating factor is two games a week every single week since November. Longest gap has been Tues (Carabao semi)-Sun. Kind of ironic that we now get three weeks off.

This surprised me, so I had a look and I think it's actually 45. 21 in the PL, third worst after Burnley and Tottenham, and 24 in the cups. We even leg Qarabag get three in two games. We've scored fifth most in the league, but it doesn't mean much when you are so leaky. If Eddie is finished, it should be for this inability to defend and control games. This is way more important than Elanga and WIssa not scoring goals. The mackems got a lucky goal at their place and saw the game out. We are completely incapable of doing that. A litany of hopeless set pieces and us conceding from another one does not inspire confidence either.

Its actually not that confusing. Villa as sixth or seventh winning Europa, Liverpool as sixth or seventh winning CL. Top 5 being other teams. Competition winners will get a place regardless of where they finish in the league. If Forest win Europa and get relegated, a team in the Champo will be in the CL. The possibility of Spurs doing that vanished earlier this week. It gets more complicated when qualification places get bumped down the league. I mentioned it earlier in the thread but it sounds like there is a cut off at eighth. Some UEFA rule says eighth can get Conference League but cannot get a Europa place.

Liverpool as reigning Premier League winners lost 4-1 at home to PSV three months ago. Shortly after, we won the same fixture 3-0. Everyone has forgotten about it. There are always more games to play and get ready for.

I don't support blaming Ramsdale for the hammering, but we definitely shouldn't sign him permanently. He's clearly not good enough. The goal from the corner was him. That close in and that low is keeper's ball to clear.

If it stops us signing him permanently, then yes!

Teams better than us won't score twice at the Nou Camp. The tie was over at 4-2, so the other goals were upsetting but didn't mean much. I'm already thinking about Liverpool getting beat.

Bollocks man. Spurs were out after 20 minutes.

7

My impression was that we stopped pressing, Barcelona became composed and that led quickly to the tie-ending goal down the middle. It was only the following two goals that made it embarrassing.

Its 6

Two set pieces ffs.

Tino on. Thank the Lord.

I'm on the international feed but with English commentary but they're still cheering on Barca and Yamal.

Unlucky. Yamal should be banned from last week. Plus should have had pen, yellow on Cancelo, and yellow for rugby tackle on Joelinton. Lucky in still having 11 but the only decision that's marginally gone for us. They can't stop us creating chances, so this is still game on. Must get Trippier off because he's costing us. Keep it 11 vs. 11, which may mean have to take big Joe off if they're provoking him, and we're still in this

Lucky. Should be red. Get Tino on second half.

Red card this.

Ha ha what a duckegg

They finally get a yellow but for two tactical fouls.

Great break. Unlucky.

HE'S FROM BLYTH

Two hands has to be a penalty

BRILLIANT SUMMER BUSINESS! EDDIE WINS AGAIN!

YESSSS!!!