Lush Vlad

I also think this. But then it did feel like he started 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1. Then realised the midfield options were so bad and ASM was so allergic to even attempting to cover. That we went with this 4-3-3, after stumbling upon Joelinton being good in that left centre role. Winning the ball and releasing it early to ASM, whilst also covering the left back for him. I was having a bit of a back and forth with someone on Twitter. Who seemed to be suggesting our midfield was poor, because they have to protect the back 4 so much. So they can't push on and be creative. I think there would be an element of truth in that if they were screening the centre backs and doing a lot of donkey work at the back. But they're currently fucking invisible and don't influence the game at either end of the pitch, or the middle, funnily enough. They are utter dogshit and so depressing to watch. Not sure we have the personnel for 4-2-3-1 right now. But I would really like to see it. As this 4-3-3 seems a good idea in games where we won't see a lot of the ball. But absolutely toothless the last two games, where the onus was on us to attack. Wood looked horrendously isolated for most of that game Saturday.

Pretty sure there was one after our first 3-4 games and the average positions of players was generally a good bit higher up the pitch and we seemed to have a bit more shape and structure. Which isn't really that surprising. It does work both ways, of course. Everyone who is going on about the results, possession, xG, goals scored and conceded etc compared to Bruce. They are also using a small sample size and not factoring in the strength of opposition that we have faced for more than half of those league games. Such small margins at this level. Hang on against Man U, Norwich and Watford and we are a bit more clinical in those games and we could have been 6 points better off. Brentford felt like points dropped and all. There is a theme here, mind. We can't protect a lead.

Of course you can see it. Plenty of fans (mongs) just say it’s no better than it was before. As results are still poor. Obviously it’s a results business and we need to start picking up wins one way or another. But at least there are some positive changes.

No way it’s us. One of the local journos would have been on this already, I would have thought. Most things we’ve been up to this window seem to get leaked.

This been posted anywhere? Not really a like for like comparison and it is only one game. But I’m sure our average positions are all a good 10-15 yards higher up the pitch under Howe compared to Bruce across most games. Not translated into results or big improvements yet. But I found it interesting all the same.

Why has he tried to chest that in?

Yep. I saw something on Twitter yesterday about Watford’s new left back and how deals clearly can be done quickly in Jan and for a fair price. Signed on the cheap and had a very good debut, I thought. Our scouting network leaves a lot to be desired and that’s the polite way of putting it.

Well I think that all but ends any hope we had of Leeds getting dragged into it and us catching them. Even with half their squad missing, they are light years ahead of us. Our game against them will be fun.

Ha. To be fair, I actually remember Wood losing the ball prior to the goal. Surprised more people didn’t pick up on it. Although a lot had to happen between that and the header. So not really too much on him. He certainly didn’t help, mind.

ManDoon: “Have I mentioned that I don’t rate Chris Wood?”

Had a score in my 365 account so whacked that on. £44 back in my account come May time will not soften the blow. But I may as well benefit financially!

We all said the same after Cambridge and we only got in Chris Wood with a day or two to spare. Last week seemed like we were still persisting with the same 2-3 targets, that for numerous reasons, are perhaps out of reach at the moment.

He did. There were a few times where he stood his man up, they tried to do him by cutting in and he read them like a book and just stepped across. As a defender, he really is top quality. Our best out and our defender on the books, along with Fernandez. Woeful with the ball, mind. Plenty of aimless clips up the line. There was a point yesterday when he had nobody within 10 yards of him. Could have brought it down, headed home, boomed a big volleyed clearance. He just headed it straight up in the air and back to Watford so they could start another attack. If we are going to persist with ASM high up the pitch on the left. Then Dummett needs to play, for sure.

The teams around us have plenty of games in hand, they’re playing each other this week, we can’t seem to beat the teams around us. We keep blowing chances to catch up and we are not winning our ‘must win’ games. Of course it isn’t over. But if you can’t win that game against Watford from that position. Then when are you going to start? The team looks absolutely finished. Still can’t defend, don’t create much at the other end and so we’re not scoring many, either. No bollocks in the squad, we have had no real lift from Howe and 1 win in 22 in all comps or whatever it is. Absolutely pathetic. I’m nowhere near as confident of getting top quality players in this window, as some. Seems like we are fixated on the same 2-3 players and we’re banging our head against a brick wall with all of them. Even if we somehow got 4 starters in. That might not even be enough, such is the perilous position we find ourselves in.

Looked extremely isolated and the service into him was pretty shit all round. His touch was very hit and miss, mind. A bit like Carroll, in that regard.

If Howe carries on as he is and doesn’t get a tune out of these players between now and the end of the season. Then Rafa might be offered the job to get us back up. Only way I see him coming back here.

He is probably our best player for pressing the ball. He’s mobile, without being quick. Gets up and down all game and doesn’t hide. Has a great ability to win cheap free kicks, too. All that said, as an attacking threat. He has been a huge letdown since signing. Whips the odd good cross in. But never really looks to get at his man and to the line, or work an opening for a shot. We have too many players like this. No craft or guile whatsoever in this squad.

I honestly think the players deserve some of the blame for dropping off. Obviously the buck stops with the coaching staff and they should be able to instruct the team how to play to counter what the the opposition are doing and to manage the situation. But the minute Watford started pushing out and committing men forward. The unforced errors started, we got nervy, the crowd got nervy and we just looked shaky from 1 to 11. The team just looks bereft of any confidence or self-belief. They are just so fragile and so used to playing not to lose (and usually losing, anyway). The shape went to shit, which was probably the most worrying thing. As that is something you think the coaching staff would have been drilling into them. But apparently not.

Agreed. He spent a good while building something and the fans were patient and it started to pay off. He represented everything Ashley wasn’t and was a massive coup for the club at the time. Say hypothetically he came back. I don’t think he gets that sort of time and patience again. We don’t have time, either. His successor spent his whole time here undoing all Rafa’s good work. Howe is now trying to get us to be more than a deep defending, ball surrendering, pragmatic/negative, counter attacking team. Then Rafa would come back in to try and change it all round again? At least most of the players were here at the same time, I guess If he was available and interested when Bruce went. I think I would have wanted him back. Now, I don’t think he’d come back, nor do I think I would want him to at this moment in time. Maybe in the future, who knows?! I feel like it is time to try and go in a new direction. Not that it is going very well at the minute!

I reckon one or both of those will start against Leeds. Probably both be starting against Everton and all.

Probably going to end up in the same league next season. So not sure I’m getting too excited about them drawing a game in League One.

I thought he was really good first half. Busy, looked to press, tracked back well and was on the ball more than usual. Disappeared in the second and he tired as per usuaal. He only has one speed, which is extremely slow, sadly. A midfield 3 consisting of him, Shelvey and Joelinton is one of the worst in the league and will be a big reason we go down. No control on the ball, shape or any athleticism. The alternatives we currently have are somehow worse.

He had his 3-4 game spell of looking like he had turned the corner and was going to kick on. Just like he has done a good number of times in the past. Been back to his usual self for weeks now. Just ambling about at a leisurely pace, pointing to others to do his job and just moaning about anything and everything.

I can’t believe how bad he is on the ball. He is somehow getting worse. I was actually surprised we kept passing it to him from midfield. As surely the players must realise he is a liability? What’s even worse, is how pathetic that ‘jump’ was for the goal. He looks a brute and a real unit when the header or tackle is in his favour. Then when he has a challenge and he has to think about what he is doing. He is found out more often than not. Awful player. Awful captain. Sick of watching him.

Thought we would have gone after Lerma. A lazy Bournemouth link. But would improve us massively. Just due to him being able to run and pass the ball.