Holmesy

Time to get rid!

Given how long it takes players to get up to speed and bed into EH’s way of playing, I doubt we’ll do much in Jan. Players are on their way back from injuries so they might just risk going with what we’ve got.

I’m not sure about this. It’s not just the results, the performances are awful. If there was a collective feeling we’ve missed out on wins due to bad luck I think people would take it. The abject performances will never be accepted I don’t think

It’s hard to disagree with this. In game changes are totally ineffective and it’s obvious that if we can’t execute our plan A, due to injuries or fateeeeg, we’re shite. Our plan A at full tilt is impressive but it’s also seriously flawed if we’re not able to run through brick walls. The ‘no hope’ bit is a bit much, but confidence is not exactly high and do think EH has exposed his weaknesses a lot over the past few weeks.

Fateeeeg man, fateeeeg!!

So, pretty much 4 days off. A slight exaggeration on my part, but still enough time to recover and put in a performance better than that. Some people are giving these players and the manager a very easy ride.

There is no excuse for that. People can continue to pedal the tiredness thing, but it does wash now. They’ve had almost a full week off and half of them look like they’re hungover. It’s fucking tragic to watch. One shot in 45 minutes against a championship side ffs!

Longstaff needs to be read the riot act at half time. He’s been pathetic!

Forget signing new players to fill in for injuries, we need to sign some to put a rocket up some of these complacent fuckers!

He played under Bielsa for 2 years and the whole team were weighed weekly. He was a mainstay of that side.

What a lovely lad!

I’d hate to see him leave because I’ve grown to love him but yeah, if we’re going to compete for top honours, where does he fit?! if he could just learn to connect with a football in front of goal, he could contribute 10-12 a season and then it’s a different story.

Almiron, Targett, Murphy, Lascelles, Krafth. All need upgrading significantly.

I don't think any of us believe Hall is ready yet, but it wouldn't be a like-for-like swap and it wouldn't be a tactical one either. It would be because certain players are clearly knackered and not performing to the high standards they've set, as a result. So give them a rest and accept that for one game we'll be weaker in that position from a skillset POV but better off in fitness. And then in subsequent games we'll have our best player/s back to near full strength. Injuries have robbed us of most rotation options, but even in the positions where we have cover, the manager won't rotate and it has blatantly cost us goals.

In hindsight though, starting Trippier against Everton was a bad decision (or at least leaving him on as long as he did). Would Krafth have faired any worse?

Midfield forward he doesn't, but he has three alternative fullbacks on the bench and has done for weeks. That's what myself and others are getting at. We've been calling for Trippier to be given a rest because he's vital to our play, he hasn't been and he's been individually responsible for probably 4 of the recent 7 goals we've conceded. No one is getting on his case, everyone is just shouting 'fatigue' but he continues to start every game and normally sees out 90 minutes, which means he'll be constantly fatigued. It doesn't make a lot of sense.

I disagree strongly. Have a look back to some of the posts over the week, some of which were objective but still got shouted down. The only areas we have options to rotate at the moment is fullback really. And given how essential Trippier is to our attacking play, and how much work he is asked to do, I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest resting him might've been sensible. We've certainly been less intense in our pressing but other than that I haven't seen any other tactical tweaks. Have you?

A lot of people on here seem very reluctant to question anything about EH, his tactics, his approach, and anyone that does gets pelters for it. I don't want to be part of a forum where you can only express certain things with one line of opinion. It sounds crap! He's an incredible manager with the mindset and character to get even better, but he cannot be completely beyond reproach. Legitimate criticisms: We absolutely do not have a plan B. If your plan A is totally ineffective when your players are fatigued (everyone's favourite word), have a Plan B that conserves what energy they do have. He's more than tactically astute enough to come up with one. Sit deeper, sit tighter, play on the counter. Just do something different from a tactical and game management point of view because it's clear this fatigue will be a recurring theme all season. And there is a risk of it becoming an excuse. We've been caught out a few times from our own attacking set pieces. One shit Trippier delivery led to an overloaded counter attack that resulted in a goal. It almost happened again yesterday, but for a Lascelles rugby tackle. Have more men back so this doesn't happen. This is absolutely something the manager can control. There is statistically a 2% chance of scoring from a corner in the PL. It doesn't make sense to take the risk of having minimal players back. Rotate players. You might not rate them but it gives the players you do rate a chance to recover, so they can effectively execute plan A. Now they've played another two games in a week and they'll be dead on their feet against Milan. I'm sure he has his reasons but we've been thumped two games running. Whatever those reasons were look a bit short sighted now. I understand people are protective of the manager, but some of these things are obvious. He has so much leeway in the bank it's untrue and no one in their right mind would want him gone, but that doesn't mean everything he is doing is right and everything we are seeing is wrong.

But fatigue!!!!

Hardly a meltdown pal. You ok?

If he was going to make any changes to the way he does things, he’s have rotated against Everton. Instead, same knackered 11 game in, game out. Maybe he’ll surprise us all and make some changes at half time. But I wouldn’t be putting any money on it. Subs on 75 mins as usual I’m guessing

I think we all know the answer, don’t we

Fucking wank!

I don’t think Krafth is any worse than Trippier defensively and he’s much much fresher. Just give Trips a rest FFS! Ritchie needs to never play another game for us again though.

There’s also never a plan B