St1pe

Sadly a perfect summary.

I don't think it's as simple as blaming McClaren. We've been awful and negative for 3 seasons at least, we've replaced those nuggets with an actual coaching set-up and things began to incrementally improve but given the start and the losses the confidence has evaporated again. The first half today and the entirety of the West Ham game we've been been poor but before that there was some hope. I think a lot of the key players have really let the team down and no one wants to really take charge on the pitch, aside from Janmaat anyway.

I'm surprised the players didn't make more of a argument for the second one. It didn't look like the defender got anywhere near the ball and clearly took down Perez.

Much better in the second half but that isn't going to count for a thing at the end of the season when we're relegated by such slugish starts. There's a massive problem in the middle of the pitch, the pressure on the opposition is pretty much non-existent. Things are going to get really really ugly after Chelsea and City. We're officially battling relegation after the first few games. Disgusting really.

It's killing me this. I can't believe we're a few games into the season and it surviving looks like an impossibility.

It's only a few weeks into the season and I've already got that pre-match, must win or impending doom is imminent feeling. I really really hope we come up with a win today. Watford don't seem like a team that will roll over and do us a favour like we did for West Ham though.

That lineup looks very strong. It won't happen ofcouse but there's obvious width and plenty of protection with it likely becoming a 4-6-0 without the ball.

Before yesterday's game I would have said I was happy with the progress we've made and after sleeping on it and given the chance of deep disappointment and frustration a chance to pass I sill think we're moving in the right direction. Someone in this thread earlier mentioned the same thing but I think we've been so bad for so long the rot has set in deep and it's going to take a while to solve the problems. We've made positive changes in the coaching department and you've got to hope that in time that will pay off. What I really want to see is lessons being learned though. Anita and Colback in the middle is not good enough for the Premier League and we won't control a game with that partnership. I really rate Anita but he needs a dominant player next to him. I'd like to see Sissoko or Winjaldum in there so they've actually got a chance to carry the ball from a deep position. I'll be massively disappointed if both De Jong and Perez don't start the next game. Thauvin seemed far more effective on the right too.

I really hoped for more tonight but it looks like it's going to be another long struggle of a season. Watford is now a massive game. I'll be massively disappointed if both Perez and De Jong aren't in the first 11.

Dummet's another player who is underrated here. I'd be disappointed if that mug snapped him up for Palace.

I think he's underrated by most people. Same. He's very effective on the left of a front 3 in the role he plays for England.

Never been so happy to see him quash a rumour.

I'd prefer he stayed but as long as we replaced him I think I'd be ok with his departure. He's always worked for the team and his goals have been one of the few things that's kept us from the Championship. I'd still argue Austin would be a step down in quality.

How anyone can see the challenge in full speed and describe it as an "indefensible" red card is completely beyond me. I can't believe how many people have bought into this bad boy image created by the media. Costa practically maims a defender most weekends and everyone laps it up.

Just seen the highlights again and it's an absolute shambles of a red card. What's worse is the horrid BT coverage and now I've just had to listen to hypocritical, ex-arsenal Martin Keown saying Coutinho and Nobles was never a red card yet Mitrovic's was.

Good interview from McClaren. Disputed the red. Ref made a rod from his back dishing out yellows. Compared the Mitrovic and Sissoko challenge. He also insinuated Arsenal were rolling about the floor and we fell victims to it. He also praised the crowd heavily.

Arguably the worst performance by a ref that I've seen. Their penalty was as blatant as you could possibly get and that red card was an embarrassment, although not nearly as bad as people trying to justify it. We'd have lost that game 4-0 under Pardew. The improvement is definitely there, we look like an actual team. It's a bit worrying how slowly we're starting games and confidence will take a hit if we fail to win the next game. That game is now massive.

Is Savage attempting to be the Katie Hopkins of football this season? What utter drivel he's spouting.

I'm quite shocked Thauvin is still on. He looks run out.

Good few minutes for Haidara

It's hard enough to watch such poor decision and all the while listening to Savage saying how right they were.

I can't fathom how anyone is suggesting that's a red.

What has Robbie Savage got against us? He's going on like a total prick.

Never ever ever is that a red. The refs have been dying to do that. I hope someone in the local media brings that up.

Why is starting Tiote over Colback so mental? Defensively the latter is awful. I know it was only against Northampton but Tiote looked some way back to his old self. His distribution was much faster and he was an aggressive force in the middle of the pitch; something we've missed in my opinion.