ExiledGeordie

I guess midfielders not joining the attack enough and misfiring wingers is probably the greater issue. We just don’t create or score enough goals and Woltemade is isolated too often.

Ah right was just checking, sorry 😂

Exactly this

Are you still underwhelmed given what we’ve achieved recently?

Full character examination of our players tomorrow.

Yes the Wissa injury has completely knackered us in the sense that we’ve been forced to completely switch our style of play with Woltemade rather than it being another option. Wissa would’ve and will allow us to play in a way we’re more used to. His pace stretches teams. Going on strike like Isak has definitely contributed to his injury situation because he was clearly lacking physical condition. We’ve spent 110m on Elanga and Wissa and so far for different reasons we’ve had absolutely nowt from either transfer, that’s far from ideal.

Agreed it’s definitely starting popping up in news stories online in papers and on the radio.

Sure maybe so and if Wissa is fit and Woltemade is still firing then that’ll make the situation a lot easier. It wouldn’t surprise me that much if Osula went and maybe someone came in however but it’s probably not a priority on reflection. Our front line doesn’t look up to it currently though but maybe that’s more and indictment of the wingers rather than striking unit given one of the players hasn’t even turned out for us yet.

It’s probably a game too early for him I reckon as the international break will give him that extra time. The interesting thing will be the lineup v City…….

Get another striker in in Jan, I don’t see Osula as a serious option.

I can see him going 3 at the back too. As a one off maybe but if it’s purely to keep Burn in the team then that’s a concern moving forwards. Hes going to have to decide on his CB partnership duo other than considering rotation once Hall is fully up to speed. The concern for Saturday as ever is Woltemade being isolated and then what happens if/when he comes off, we have no striking options so is it Elanga as a false 9 again ffs what with Gordon and Osula likely out. We are also a soft touch away from home, there’s a mentality issue for me, we fold too easily.

Will be sold I imagine

Isak “spread a cancer”? Come on now 😂 it’s basic economics and footballers will always want to earn as much as they can. Now there’s a way you go about things and that’s where Isak the rat badly let himself down. There are many factors as to why players move on but it’s usually to do with winning trophies and being paid more money during a relatively short career. Our problem is that until we are genuinely challenging for the title and also paying closer to what the top tier teams are paying players (which PSR prevents currently) we will always be at risk of losing top players, that’s a fact. I don’t see Tonali pushing for a move at all but I can definitely see him leaving at some point. That’s just football and it’ll be part of our progress, evolution.

Desperately need a performance here going into the international break. Even if it’s a draw but we’ve played well, I’ll take that. We cannot afford another no show.

I think we need to add more goal scoring firepower in Jan.

What’s bad at the moment is nothing he does comes off. Poor passing, no link up, nothing is coming off.

Technically he looks all over the place irrespective of his blazing speed. I do actually think he’ll improve with Howe’s coaching though (I mean he can’t get any worse ffs). He’s clearly got zero confidence currently and is just trying to hard as he’ll be desperate to get some form going. He really could do with a goal for confidence but I just don’t see how he helps us break down a defence for example. He may benefit from Wissa coming back, we’ll see I guess. Completely meh so far though.

Very good point, which begs the question, just how good or not so good is Gordon?

I think he’ll improve with Hall back but his wing play is pretty predictable for me and he’ll never be a natural goal scorer. He goes from having an immense game for us then going missing for too long and his stats in the premier league currently are woeful.

Which probably sums up our issues currently though does it. Massive outlay on wingers but only one of them is really doing anything consistently and even him we’d say is an average player over-performing at times.

Yes I can’t work it out either. Do you think some players are believing their own hype? Far too many just aren’t putting in the required performances in terms of consistency. We don't score enough goals though and the lack of form of our wingers doesn’t help things. Woltemade has been great but if we can’t get the ball into him it renders him pretty ineffective. I think the fullbacks coming back and Wissa will certainly help things a lot but there’s a lot of issues going on with the team currently.

The away form is a major major concern though and that needs sorting if we’re going to do anything in the league. Last season switching Tonali to that holding role made a huge difference. I think the fullbacks coming back will make a real difference to our overall play but there’s big questions over the likes of Joelinton and the wingers and that’s resulting in a lot of disjointed and unproductive play. West Ham surely has to be the Brentford moment from last season. That was unprofessional yesterday and they need to sort things out quickly sharp in the league.

Just doesn’t do it consistently enough in the league. Great on his day but how often are these “days”. You can’t turn up for a European night then go missing in the league which is probably the case for too many of our squad really. Doesn’t score enough goals for a winger either.

I’m out on a walk in a lakeside, just seen the score 😳😳😳 fuck me. Can someone summarise ffs

Our midfield and attack should cause them all sorts of issues.