Holmesy

You have to factor in how defensively frail we’ve been lately. That will affect confidence in a big way. They score one and the balance changes significantly, physically and mentally. Of course they’re going to have spells but when the spell is so dominant and lasts as long as it did, react! Quicker!

Because the wingers were visibly gassed, the CMs were visibly gassed and Wolte didn’t touch the ball for about 15 minutes. Something needed to change, then they equalised. Brought on fresh legs and the momentum shifted back in our favour. It’s not that I’m a world class coach, I just have eyes that work.

There were many reasons we lost that but you can’t deny Eddie not reacting to their dominance was poor management. It was an obvious momentum shift that needed countering. Why wait until they’ve equalised to do something about it?! The defensive slip was really unfortunate and we created enough chances to win it, but if we’re discussing all the reasons we didn’t come away with 3 points, the above is a legitimate inclusion.

Not a footballer

Great to see us playing with intensity and creating chances again but can’t help feeling Eddie contributed to this result with his refusal to make changes earlier. The ref has been a fucking disgrace, and we’ve lacked composure in the final third but we should never have been in that position. Tough one to take.

Got to wait until they score the third

Why does Eddie wait until they score the second to make changes? They needed making 5 minutes ago ffs! That was an unfortunate slip but fuck me, be more decisive.

Great run by Ramsey!

What have I just watched?!

Really enjoying the Thiaw/Schar partnership - two classy fuckers.

New right winger would be ideal, as would a new striker and a number 10.

The one bit I would says lays at his feet is his style of coaching/managing/playing/squad management not being suited to competing on two fronts, as has been proven twice now. Hopefully that's something he's addressing during this "transition" but it's going to take quite a big shift.

Honestly not sure where we should be in the league but definitely higher than we are. And yeah, I wasn't referring to the people behind the scenes (who I believe were instrumental in us attracting players btw). I was talking about our playing identity - high intensity, bullying teams, shit-housing, overlapping wing play etc. All of it really. We no longer have any identity, let alone our old one that was so effective.

I'm not sure I follow? Not being a dick, just don't get what that bit is referring to

Fair enough, each to their own. I just think we should be maximising our ability to pick up points in every way possible. If that's coaching the shit out the players so they can kick the ball into the box more effectively, do it. If it's coaching them on how to keep possession better in the last 15 minutes of a game, do it. If it's coaching them on how to attack the ball more aggressively at set pieces, do it. Winning is the name of the game. Seeing weakness and not addressing them because we play a certain way is a failure of management in my book, but everyone sees things differently.

All pretty reasonable. However, when everything that led to that success for us no longer seems to exist (the drop-off being quite alarming in some cases), there is either serious cause for concern or we have faith, patience and accept that we're trying to transition to something completely different (which is entirely possible). We don't know which it is. Hope says its the latter. If it is, and he does it successfully and has us kicking on again with a new identity, he will absolutely cement himself as one of the best managers around. However, inevitably there will always be fear that it's the former.

Because it's all contributing to our current situation. We keep conceding last minute goals and we know this, so why aren't we working on keeping possession and managing games more effectively? We have one of the tallest squads in the league. Why are we only 9th for set piece goals, especially when we've hired a set piece coach?

Absolutely, but that doesn't explain why none of our players can keep possession, our set pieces are wank, our new signings can't control a ball and we keep conceding last minute goals. Big picture, yes, it has made us less potent and disrupted our playing style but you can't blame everything on Isak leaving. Our ability to put the ball in the back of the net has been impacted and i've no doubt if he was still here, we'd have picked up more points. But using the power of eyesight, it's pretty clear to see things that aren't right that have nothing to do with him leaving.

It would help if we could actually keep the ball but we turn it over more than any other side i've watched. If you're going to slow things down, surely one of the upsides should be ball retention?

Nope, don't want that either.

This is a solid point tbf. I've been on the fence about Eddie for a while - definitely leaning towards the stay side but there have been some niggles along the way that have grown into full blown concerns. But our consistent lack of transfer window preparation, backroom upheavals and lack of progress on certain fronts doesn't scream stability and competence. I genuinely believe there are upgrades out there but would our board have the nous to identify one and the skills & credentials to bring one in?

There have been plenty questioning him since the start of the season and beyond. Inevitable that you're going to get some kneejerkers after a defeat and performance like that, but there are legitimate questions that should be asked. Blind loyalty is arguably more questionable than reasonable concerns, particularly when the decline in our potency, performances, results and more worryingly, ability to attract top talent is so apparent.

No, i've seen what everyone else has seen - he'd be better as a deeper second striker/number 10 with a pacy striker in front of him. But that only addresses one of our many problems, and that's only if Eddie will do it.

I should have added 'while he's been here'. I've no idea what formation he played at Bournemouth but he doesn't seem very keen to move away from his new preferred style. He's has every chance to sign a number 10 since he's been here, and has chosen not to.

When was the last time you saw Eddie play with a number 10?