Lush Vlad

I think he is a good sub when the game is in the balance or against a team that won't sit back. But I agree that he isn't great coming on when we are chasing the game. He is frustrating in a different way to Gordon. As he drifts in and out of games. But at least he seems to actually try and make things happen with a cross or a shot.

Quite a few were confidently saying they would play higher with Ramsdale in the team. Which I never understood, considering how deep he plays compared to Pope. I don't think he did anything wrong yesterday and not pinning the defeat on him or anything. However I do agree with a few others saying he should have come for the long throw before the OG. That seemed to be the general consensus in the pub at the time, too. Can't really legislate for Woltemade forgetting which way he was shooting, mind

As I keep saying -1 each would have been fair. But who cares if you win. It's a derby after all. You cunt

Krafth is injured. Did it on international duty, I believe.

Same. Although he was trying to do everything and it was to the detriment of the team at times. Still, at least he never hides from the ball and tries to make something happen. I thought Schar really stepped up and after a tricky start to the game and up against a physical striker. He then had the better of Brobbey numerous times until he was subbed off. Hall was good and Thiaw was ok. Struggling outside of that.

So do I. But I don't think Howe even considers playing Gordon there and the few times he has played there. It seems to me like he has been a bit huffy about it. On Woltemade, I do think other teams CB's are just getting touch tight to him now and play him super aggressively. Knowing he won't spin them and do them for pace and also that we won't have anyone anywhere near him for a lay off and quick passing patterns. So he has about 2-3 touches at best to try and fashion something and get it out his feet. All whilst under-pressure and harassed by a defender. He's not blameless. As he might some awful decisions when he had time and space yesterday. But it is poor that he has been here all this time. Yet we are no closer to making proper use of his very unique skillset. He regularly looks isolated and on the periphery. We should be getting him involved at every opportunity, but we go through long spells where he doesn't even have a touch. Going back to something like the Josh King/Callum Wilson second striker and striker link up that Howe used at Bournemouth, might be one way to actually change our fortunes in attack and with our build up.

And what do you think? Not what the club may or may not think or do. If you’re so sure Wilson is a stooge. Then you’d never give Howe money again?! Surely if you’re saying don’t give him money in January. As he has too much control. Then the same applies for every window, to some degree? Or are you more suggesting he’ll be gone in the summer. So another manager gets the transfer budget?

So do what then? Don’t let Howe have any more money to spend as he wastes it? See how it goes the rest of the season. Then he gets money in the summer. When the signings will still be his and Wilson will still have no control according to you. He’s a nobody after all.

I don’t think so. But then surely Wilson will have more input and control now? He was running the show on his own in the summer. I said similar after Brentford away last season. As I couldn’t see him turning it around. I’m not going to doubt him again regarding turning the performances around. No matter how much I’m struggling to see it. But in this world of PSR. Wissa, Elanga and Ramsey for £150m does seem negligent the more you look at it. Although that is with the benefit of hindsight and there are mitigating circumstances with Wissa, TBF.

I mean, they’re absolutely shite and sums up how crap/tight the league is when they’re 7th. We managed to be worse on the day somehow. We’re in a bit of a crisis and they’re on course for their best season in modern history. Yet 4 points separate us and they needed Woltemade to forget we’d changed ends at half time, to beat us. Game should have been -1 each really, it was that offensively bad. Not that they will care, mind. A win is a win. Especially in a derby.

True. Wasn’t meaning he would suddenly turn into Shearer. Just two strikers in the mixer, knockdowns, scraps, anything really. But we just went like for like and we were somehow even more ineffective once he went off.

I’m really hoping Howe reverts back to some sort of throwback to his Bournemouth days. Get Wissa as the striker with Woltemade behind him at times. He seems really wedded to the 4-3-3, however and even if we went back to the 5 at the back. We have never played it with two strikers, I don’t think? The front 6 look toothless most weeks and I don’t understand what the plan is with how they are all meant to mesh together. It feels like we need more than just the slight tweaks from last season (Tonali to the 6) to turn our fortunes around away from home.

Outside of that purple patch, not really. But he offered more in actually looking like he knew what his role was and his constant running. Elanga isn’t even offering that at the minute.

On the wings in general. We have an underperforming, wildly inconsistent Gordon. Who seems to keep Barnes out of the team regardless. Barnes is too good not to play and our best finisher. But is poor on the right and his skillset is nullified there. So it seems like IMO, our best wide man regularly sits on the bench. Murphy is a poor footballer. But great in and around the box. Losing Isak has effected how dangerous he is though and he hasn’t been the same this season. Elanga has been mainly crap bar the odd half here and there. Looks totally unsuited to whatever it is we’re trying to do in attack. In his defence, I have no idea what we are trying to do in attack, either.

We were linked with and bid for loads of players that didn’t want to come here/went elsewhere for more money. Mbeumo being one of them. No relevance to Elanga whatsoever.

I’m similar. Think he has shown glimpses, has actually had unfair stick at times and been keen to support him. As it has also looked like a confidence issue. Some of the abuse against Burnley was baffling. But it’s looking more and more like he’s just not very good and in hindsight. That we’ve overpaid by a lot more than people first thought. Not going to get any easier for him, either. As I can’t see him getting a run of starts anytime soon and the crowd are going to be even worse with him now.

Minor issue considering the performance overall. But the subs were baffling, I thought. Never a game for Willock. No space for him to run into and he is ponderous and clumsy on the ball. Woltemade not staying on to play with Wissa. Which meant crossing was basically pointless. But was also the only way we even looked like creating anything. Wissa against their meathead back line and low block was pointless. Tonali off and Miley staying on. Right decision to start Miley. But he was anonymous yesterday and we miss Tonali’s legs even when he is off form.

I was thinking this last night when I couldn’t sleep. Due to that gutless shitfest yesterday. I feel like I’ve not been to bed. Considering for the most part we barely muster a shot on target away from home. And in a lot of games, struggle to actually get out of our half. I’m really not sure where the points are coming from?! Not played any of the traditional Sky 6 away yet have we? Only Villa out of the current top 6, I think. Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Chelsea. All nailed on losses in a good season. Never mind one where our away performances and results have us looking like a relegation side.

Even ignoring the fact it was a derby. We have seen similar performances away all season/year. Toothless in attack and a bit soft at the back in key moments. Neither team deserved to win. But it’s more than a bit of a worry that the minute they’ve scored. Basically every NUFC fan knew it was game over and we wouldn’t score or even create anything meaningful. Howe has turned it around before. So I won’t say I can’t see it changing or he won’t sort it. But the away performances and lack of any sort of gameplan or consistency. Is getting hard to see past. Just doesn’t seem like we are anywhere near to turning it around. Throw in the fact that I have no idea what our best team is. We have too many key players out of form and we have a load of summer signings not performing (or playing). Then he certainly has his work cut out. Can’t remember watching too many games under Howe where I’ve felt embarrassed and disgusted with the performance and the effort. But FWIW, that’s the third one this season (Brentford and West Ham).

Let’s be honest. Both teams deserved -1

Embarrassing doesn’t cover it.

Somehow worse than Brentford and West Ham. I thought we had turned a corner with the away performances a bit. Obviously not.

They always give it when it looks like the other team will get a dangerous attack, should the foul not get given. It feels like 90% of the time in those instances. The ref gives the foul. Usually after delaying the whistle, much to the annoyance of the fans. Bruno has made a career out of it. Hopefully today isn’t the day the ref decides to wave play on when he tries his customary flop.

I thought that. Basically all senior first teamers bar Alex Murphy and still a few decent players to come back in. Decent options for the whole pitch bar genuine full backs.

Although Murphy is one of our best shithousers. So he may still have a role to play off the bench.