Lush Vlad

I had just came in here to post how I like what a nasty fucker he is and how I love to see it from our number 9. Never realised he had that side to his game from watching him at Bournemouth. But he puts himself about and hounds defenders. Always winding them up and exchanging verbals, plenty of gamesmanship (or cheating, depending on your viewpoint). It’s been a lonely old existence for him up there since joining. So I don’t mind seeing it. He is certainly getting some needless yellows, mind. I half thought yesterday may have even been his 5th. When is the cut-off for the one game ban?

I remember him chucking one or two in away at Arsenal. But I think we lost 4-0, so it hardly mattered.

Weren’t there quotes from Nagelsmann saying that he’s a ‘machine’? Maybe with a defined role and purpose. In a system that has some structure and a coach who actually believes in tactics. He is actually quite a good player? Not sure he will ever be worth £40m. But that is kind of irrelevant now. Just want him to build on a really good performance.

Even when he made howlers or would come flying out for crosses and make a mess of it. You still felt more confident with him there and seemed like the team were the same.

I didn’t think he was as bad as some made out. I actually thought he looked lively getting forward, on and off the ball. He has the energy and speed to press high and even though Shelvey was much improved. It still felt like he was doing a lot of Shelvey’s running and work. Watching the highlights back. He did get caught on the ball in some bad areas. Hardly been in the team this season and was struggling with an injury early on. I think he’ll be an important player in Howe’s set up. EDIT: Where in Howe’s set up remains to be seen. Perhaps in a midfield 3 or than likely further forward if we were to play the 4-2-3-2/4-4-1-1.

Not really. The usual candidates are currently in the top 3. Mitrovic is scoring goals like a prime R9 and with the money we have. We’d be able to get certain players to stay and recruit properly to see us back up, in my opinion.

I went with 8. I think there is too much to do and so much to overhaul in a short space of time. Obviously it won’t all hinge on one gameweek. But failing to win yesterday and pretty much every other result going against us. It feels like we’re going to be miles behind in January. I feel more positive about going down than the last two times. The first time, it was into the unknown and the club was a mess. The second time it all hinged on Rafa staying and that was up in the air. If we get relegated AGAIN. Then I feel like Howe and co would stick around for the rebuild. We’d hang onto a lot of the players worth keeping and we’d be able to buy players to get us back up, easy enough.

Proper ‘peasant from any medieval film’ vibes.

Alisson was at fault in some way for all 3 goals. Ever since he had that spell of constantly giving the ball away and costing them goals. He hasn’t seemed particularly solid. Was the best in the world for a good year or two, no? Looked dreadful today.

I like him. He grafts his bollocks off, he has good acceleration, whilst not seemingly that quick on the ball and under Rafa towards the end, he was useful. What frustrates me with him. Is his insistence to have an extra touch or always cut back. Very rare for him to cross, shoot, attempt a forward pass or take on his man. Just ends up being yet another nothing player in this team full of them. Probably a bit harsh. Seeing as the entire team is set up to just sit back, not look to retain possession and sporadically press from time to time. But he seems position-less at the moment. We actually looked better when Joelinton came on. Like from a 3 to a 4. But some improvement, nonetheless.

Well. This has been a right mess. I’d happily have Howe in. Not mad keen on him. But not as down as some, either. Was half convincing myself he might replace Bruce under Ashley. Would have been thrilled with that. Can’t afford to wait much longer, keep writing games off when we are desperate for points. Getting the new man in for the international break is a must.

One touch football, through balls, accurate low crosses, movement. It’ll never catch on. Give me Brewcie’s shackles off, front foot football any day. In all seriousness. The standard of player will be totally different. But nice to see there is some sort of plan and structure to the play. It’s been non-existent since Rafa left.

I’d be thrilled if we got Emery. Didn’t think we’d be going for such a name at this stage. Especially not a manager who is currently employed. Been a few false starts so far with the next manager, mind. So trying not to get too excited yet.

I keep reading/hearing what a great shot stopper he is. But wasn’t there a couple of metrics that showed that to be bollocks last season? I think it was save percentage and also something a bit extreme from some goalkeeping stats guru about position of the ball in the goal, relative to the keeper. He came up bottom three in that, as well. I hate that saying, anyway. Surely pretty much any keeper at the top level should be considered great at saving shots? It’s everything else and a lot of the things that go unnoticed that are more worrying.

Didn’t Benitez manage it with a worse squad? A decent manager might actually pick some players that can run and don’t treat the ball like a live grenade, for a start.

The new manager needs to get some decent results in his first 5-6 games. Or we’ll be miles behind and basically down in January, if not.

Agree with this. I followed him on Twitter for a bit. But he has some rare old likes and shares and seemed a bit OTT for me as being THE VOICE OF THE FANS. I actually prefer the TF podcast for a lot of the contributors, as opposed to Hurst. Although I think he is pretty good as a host, in fairness to him.

Those boats are worse than Beren’s, them.

No they don’t. They sit 9th in Ligue 1. Or is it Serie A?

I don't think he is my number 1 choice, for the reason you mention alone. Plus whilst I think he'd keep us up and be more than capable of building something going forward. The press will be on him from the get go and I think there are still plenty of fans who genuinely think the football and 'results' were not much better than what Bruce served up. Ignoring anything else other than points and the finish in the league, they half have a point. So I just think him returning wouldn't necessarily work, as well as it did the first time. All that said, if he got announced tomorrow. Then I'd have no worries about getting relegated. Whilst some of the other names linked have a sexier profile, I don't think I'd be so sure about staying up.

I’d be happy with that. I voted Ten Haag, but that always seemed a bit much at this stage. Favre was my preferred choice from the get go. Not based on much, mind.

He can be a bit of a rogue and seems half-arsed at times, leading to bad mistakes or losing his man. Can't think of exact examples, but I remember him coming in for stick in quite a few games because of this. But he's still my favourite defender at the club and I'd certainly prefer him to the likes of blood and guts Clark, who just isn't very good. Or the current version of Lascelles, who looks about as mobile as an overweight pensioner that has been sat in Spoons all day drinking Ruddles County.

Tend to agree. But my worry is that we haven't actually played anyone decent yet, bar Man U (at the time) and perhaps Spurs. But Spurs are hardly a Chelsea, City or Liverpool. Home and away to some of the other top teams will more than likely yield 0 points. So that's another 6 games gone. Whoever comes in needs to pick up points fairly sharp'ish, before we are cut adrift.

Based on pretty much fuck all. I would prefer Favre to Fonesca. But to be honest, It’s just nice to be getting linked with actual managers again (bar Benitez, of course). Not just PFM’s and shithouses from the footballing scrapheap.

Whatever the result. There is no way he survives next week, is there? Is there…….???!!!