Cf

He's just resting players isn't he with the Everton game being given a higher priority. Fair enough.

Didn't we do something similar where we were the first in the champions league to lose our opening 3 and still qualify?

Southgates main achievements in my view are to do with the culture and representing us well as a country, and in an international role this is certainly a positive. In footballing terms I think he's only been ok. And ok is certainly an improvement on what we've been used to. We went deep in the euros and world cup but a bit like pardew finished 5th, Bruce 13th, it doesn't quite tell the full story. We had incredibly good draws - look over the fixtures and it feels to me like we did what we'd be expected to do. Basically he hasn't exceeded expectations or overachieved in footballing terms. I agree we should have contingencies in case something happens with Howe but Southgates name should be nowhere near that.

Don't know why loads of people are slating him in here or suggesting he's not doing well at West Brom. He's got them in 13th. I thought that was good and something to be pleased with?

Leeds and Liverpool are the big rivalries as far as I'm aware with Man Utd. With City less so.

That just cements their relegation doesn't it? My main worry for Leeds was he built them to play in such a way and when he transferred the reins they would struggle. To do that during a relegation fight seems mental.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking him. But "unlimited funds" isn't necessarily a good thing. He needs to not see it like that. The video game analogy is that games were better back in the day when hardware limitations were much more pronounced. It forced creativity, art style, etc. Now in the era of AAA games with ridiculous budgets it's all a bit shit. (Except Elden Ring. That's gonna be awesome.)

He's a coach, not a manager. Don't get why he gets such a hard time from people because he was a shit manager when asked to do it for a few games. The fact he's a "name" at all is only because of how bad Bruce was at the time.

Bruno for Shelvey seems an obvious like for like change at some point. Don't think Shelvey has been quite as poor as some have made out. Made a few useful passes forward. Not been amazing or anything, but not the liability he can be at times.

Haha did anyone see that BT set the score to 2-0 briefly by mistake?

Clear issues with personnel here.

Krafth looked like he was hunting for another booking there having not dealt with the pass he was given.

And despite this we've put in a good showing for ourselves so far. Kraft aside.

Obviously goes without saying but if Trippier was on the pitch that doesn't happen and we aren't a goal down.

Fucking hell Kraft.

Could easily be ahead here. They're all over the place.

Can't see how that goal stood. It's right off the side of his arm.

Get the fuck in! Great free kick.

On the bench.

If Everton do go down (they won't, but we can dream) how much blame will be placed on Rafa do we reckon? I'm torn between not wanting to put too much blame on the manager who comes in half way through the season, and thinking it's harsh on Rafa who we know would turn it around and generally finishes seasons very strongly. Maybe it would be neither of their faults. It's the boards for not sticking with a manager and getting some consistency in.

That's one of the stupidest corners I've ever seen conceded.

Shelvey doing his best to never be picked again tonight.

Quality corner.

Do people not remember the second half of his last season when we were playing some attractive stuff?

In the same way it took Bruce a while to undo Rafa's well drilled side it is going to take Howe a while to undo Bruce's mess. That said I'm underwhelmed by his start. League results have been below par and obviously the shambolic cup exit. If the choice a couple of months ago was Rafa Vs Howe I think most would be in agreement with getting Rafa in. I think though Howe has enough about him that he should be given some time but current performance is making it tricky to hold this view. Having a relegation under his belt doesn't help either. I guess the owners have to ask themselves if they think they have the right man to build the club. If so stick with him. Otherwise a certain ruthlessness might be needed.