Lush Vlad

He beat his wife?! Missed that one. Too many controversies to keep up with.

It does feel like people have pre-conceived biases towards certain players. Some who are/were genuinely world class and club/country legends. Then refusing to alter their opinions, despite mountains of evidence. Either that or people only watch us and MOTD.

Only ever seen bits of him after we were linked the first time. When his agent was down the Quayside. Would expect more goals from him in that league. Considering they’re not fond of defending.

Ahh. Just posted this in the Barton thread. I really like Onuoha on Five Live. Comes across really well. Laid back, but speaks well. Balanced and sensible with his opinions. I think Football Daily tends to have some decent pundits and journos on whenever I listen. Bar Mr Happy, Chris Sutton. Oh and Luke Edwards

TBF, that Chelsea team was built around him to make him look good for *checks notes* 13 years

Whaaat? I know he’s a thoroughly unlikeable bloke and everyone goes for Scholes, who gets better every year he’s been retired and Gerrard. When doing the English midfielder debate. But Lampard was a superb player. Got plenty of assists along with his goals.

Can’t believe we are having to highlight the differences between City’s squad and ours

I lean more this way TBH. Whilst I recognise issues with the bits I understand of FFP. The main one being that the totals haven’t been increased since they were introduced. All whilst the cost of everything has sky rocketed and transfer values have gone crazy. I still wouldn’t want it to be be a free for all and I do think restrictions of some kind, whether that be American style salary cap, a transfer cap or some reformed version of FFP/PSR. I don’t really know. As I’m sure there would be loopholes and ways to abuse the system. The same as in the NFL. But I don’t think I’d want us to go full City or Chelsea as a shortcut to success. I’ve waited this long. What’s another 10 years

I think and hope we are going to try and move to a more possession based game and have more control. Something that I think Howe alluded to himself. We often get compared to the early days of the Klopp era at Liverpool and there are obvious similarities. They massively improved once the technical ability of their players did. They totally dominate games for large periods. But haven’t lost their identity and still play high energy stuff. So I’m kind of hoping we might do something similar. It might help mitigate some of the injuries and fatigue. Of course having a stronger and deeper squad and not so many unlucky freak injuries will help, as well. I know they are just rumours. But the type of player we keep getting linked with and a lot of over-priced Prem players is a minor concern in regards to all of the above.

It’s really annoying that he works for that shitrag and always goes for negative, sensationalist headlines. When the article is often anything but. Listened to a podcast with him on this morning. He was really measured, wasn’t overly negative and was just generally fair and balanced. Although in typical journo style. He regularly came out with ‘I told you so months ago’ type comments. Totally ignoring the 100s of times he’s called it wrong, I’m sure. Certainly think he’s a bit up his own arse and loves the attention and to stir the pot. Unfollowed him on Twitter a while ago because of it.

Was just him on an exercise bike wasn’t it? Unless I’ve missed something else. Not even back running yet is he?

Chuck the reserves to the wolves. That will more than likely result in a humiliating defeat. Bringing more pressure on the coaching team, fucking off a load of fans who have paid their money in the process for practically forfeiting a game. Then killing any chance at momentum and crushing the confidence of these young players at the same time. All So that we might or might not get a result in the next game or two. Instead of trying to win the next one in front of you. Seems a sensible call. I’m shocked that Howe didn’t go for that, TBH.

Oh yeah, it is always difficult during an international break or a week off for whatever reason. But I think the negativity surrounding the club with the results, FFP, injuries etc. It has sent people into a frenzy

I was meaning applying hindsight to say we should have rotated and it would have meant we have less of an injury crisis now. That’s impossible to quantify, though. We did have players available to rotate at least and I remember a few saying in games like Burnley (I think). We should have rested key players earlier. However, I 100% don’t agree with chucking in players nobody has ever heard of, into a game that would see us absolutely destroyed. In the hope that we might get a result in a game a few days later. I don’t get that logic at all. Have you seen Diallo, Ritchie, Ndiweni and Parkinson when they’ve come on? They’re less effective than our lads that are fucked and they’re fresh off the bench. Throw in the fact that they’re clearly nowhere near good enough and don’t know the system as well (I’m assuming that part). Then it is easy to see why they weren’t starting games.

IWho were we supposed to rotate these players with? If we want to use hindsight. Then earlier in the season when games were won or at least when we had options. Changing the starting XI around or making subs earlier would have been nice. Plenty mentioned that at the time, TBF. Might have meant we avoided some of these injuries and the burnout. Who knows. If anyone was genuinely advocating starting the kids and by their own admission. Effectively throwing the game. Then thank fuck they’re not in charge.

We really need to win a few games, don’t we?! For the sanity of this place more than anything

Yes. Lose today. So that we may or may not win the next one. We will deliberately lose the battle and then we might win the war. Fuck knows.

Again. Which games before Luton and Forest were we ever going to just rest 4-5 first teamers or more and replace them with players that will probably be League Two level at best in the coming years? Fulham - our only league win during this horrendous run. Everton - we got hammered 3-0 in the end with our ‘first team’ out Spurs - as above. But 4-1. Milan - obviously not. Chelsea - that would have went down well in a Quarter Final. Earlier than that? So 1-2 games should basically be forfeited so that we may or may not get positive results in some games after that. I’m sorry, but that sounds ridiculous even when using hindsight. Edit - just seen Bournemouth and Luton in there. So play the kids/sub them all on and chuck the game as we were obviously going to lose anyway I can’t believe what I’m reading here.

Which games should we have played our stiffs and effectively chucked the game? Considering our U23's are not even very good in the league they play in. We would get absolutely massacred whoever they played against, I would say. Are you suggesting we might have got a draw or a win against someone like Luton or Forest if we played the likes of Ndiweni, Alex Murphy, Diallo, Parkinson etc. They have looked slower and less mobile than the lads who were playing through injuries and/or 3 games a week. I often find myself calling for changes when watching us of late. Then realise we have a load of defensive options on the bench and it isn't our defenders who constantly look out on their feet. There actually has been a bit of rotation there and all. Some enforced through yet more injuries, of course. Then we have Matt Ritchie who I'm not sure touched the ball for the best part of a half against Chelsea. He is that far off the pace. Who is there after that that could have come in and actually done a job? Even if they were at 100%. The only one that still has me totally confused is Hall. He really is a pointless signing if he can't get the odd start or 30 minutes here and there. Especially during the worst injury crisis I can remember at the club and is supposedly on track to go down as the worst in PL history. It makes me think there might be some truth in the playing time rumour and obligation to buy.

Is that in relation to this game or the last 20 odd years?

No. Just, no. The owners aren’t stupid.

Someone that actually knows what they’re on about or properly cares about FFP/PSR will know more. But I thought loads of our losses can be written off. Due to it being spent on infrastructure, training ground, women’s team etc. Not sure how the accounting period works. But also the CL money and some of the new sponsorships and Adidas are not yet factored in.

Same league. Anderson looked and sounded like he was miles too good for that level. No idea with White. But he looked good in that minute long clip

I heard on 5 Live that the appeal and the new punishment all have to be sorted by the end of the season?