Holmesy

I think we should adapt our approach depending on who we’re playing against. We can’t change the centre backs right now, so play more sensibly against teams with those particular attributes to negate our defensive frailties. We could’ve be 2 down with 15 minutes, and at one point Dan Burn pushed up into their half. I think it was for their disallowed goal maybe. Inevitably, it led to us getting caught and him lumbering back with no chance of catching the attacker. Fucking menta! I think we’re at a point where we have been analysed to within an inch of our lives by every opposition team, and because we have no new players we have nothing new for them to adapt to. So the only option available is to do something different with the players we have. Right?

The suicidal high defensive line with 2 very slow CBs is infuriating as well. Playing it away against a team full of pace and one of the most creative players in world football pulling the strings was at best high risk and at worst negligent.

You can’t argue with any of this really. The project needs fresh impetus. However, a manager’s job is to get the best out of what he has, and the very best build effective teams that are stronger than the sum of their parts. They grind out results when things aren’t in their favour. Regardless of the players available to him, form, player’s physical attributes etc. he plays the same formation in the same way and has no plan B - something that has been levelled at him for over a year. That bit is nobody’s fault but his, and I think it will be his undoing unfortunately.

Today was one of the most disjointed performances I’ve seen from us. Where specifically did you see an improvement? It’s a genuine question because maybe you’re seeing something I’m not. Watching that, I can’t think of a single thing I saw that gave me much optimism about the run coming to an end soon.

It’s not the results so much as the performances and the total lack of new ideas.

I agree on not sacking a manager after a run of poor form, but what we’re seeing looks more fundamental. The players look unmotivated and apathetic. I also think our broken record tactics and defensive naivety are contributing to our poor form. I’m not saying I want Eddie to lose his job, but if he doesn’t come up with some new ideas quickly, I don’t think he can be surprised if he does.

One of the most worrying performances I’ve seen from us under EH. We’re going to lose games throughout the season but losing them like that - players not showing for each other, no intensity, no composure, no creativity, constantly giving the ball away, no communication, that pathetic high defensive line and nothing remotely new - is starting to look like there are bigger problems than just form

Fuck this game! Bunch of poorly coached fucking amateurs

Fuck knows what this lot are doing on the training field but they’re not bringing it onto the pitch on match day. They look like they’ve never fucking seen each other before. I don’t know which of the 10 glaring issues we need to priorise sorting out first.

Anyone else see that - we strung 3 passes together! Things are looking up

How are we not learning?

Who’d have through the slowest man in the PL pushing up beyond the halfway line against a pacey attack would be a bad idea?!

I completely agree. If he goes back to Burn at LB I will start calling for him to be sacked - it gave us a blatant vulnerability that our opponents were only too happy to exploit. Continuing with it when it clearly wasn't working had people starting to question Eddie's managerial credentials for the first time.

He's just an absolute credit to himself, his family and the club's that have shaped him. None of it feels forced or false. Just a genuinely good human being and a ruthless competitor. You can't not like the guy.

Yeah, that attacker being our completely redundant right winger. Hall and Trippier fill the wide areas, so in theory we're not losing any attacking prowess but it depends how under the cosh we are.

We're currently playing 3 CMs and we would we still be playing 3 CMs - it's the only area of the pitch where nothing would change.

I disagree - In Trippier/Livra and Hall we have exactly the type of fullbacks we need for a 5-3-2. It also negates the glaring wonky wheel at right wing. Kelly is perfect for the left side of a back 3, and the extra cover gives Schar license to get involved in attacking play. Gordon or Barnes playing at 10 just behind Isak is the only question mark but they're both technically capable of playing that role. I'd argue we're currently better suited to a back 5 than we are a back 4

We also don't have to play 4-3-3. We could play a 4-4-1-1, 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 (which would probably suit our crop of available players better). Sky Sports did a bit on Tuchel yesterday, highlighting the number of different formations uses, and his flexibility and willingness to try new things. We play 4-3-3. That's it! I think we've tried 5 at the back twice? If the current setup isn't working, why not tweak the formation before bringing the likes of Longstaff back into the first team at the expense of someone more talented?!

Fair enough, my bad. Apologies. If Eddie left, I think I would consider Iraola. They strike me as quite similar managers tbh - young, progressive, highly-rated and I don't think it would be the risk you're suggesting. Admittedly, I don't have a deep knowledge of European and world football so other than the obvious big names, I don't know any up-and-coming candidates. Alonso is the obvious one but he's being touted as the next City manager.

No. Where on earth have you got that from?! The whole conversation is about who we would want IF Eddie got the boot. Obviously I would prefer us to be managed by someone rather than no one, hence the suggestions. That's kind of how these threads work - helps if you read the earlier posts first.

Available is the tricky one here, particularly as we don't truly know who is making themselves 'available'. But of the names that have been available, Tuchel and Emery would be the two who I believe would do better with this squad. Andoni Iraola has also shown he can make a group of players stronger than the sum of their parts. Right now, he'd probably be the one i'd like us pursue if Eddie did go.

I just don't get this mentality at all. It's almost certainly a hangover from the Ashley years. We are now (for the most part) an ambitious, well run football club with money. If Eddie goes, we'll arguably replace him with a manager of superior pedigree. I don't think any of us want to see if happen, but if it does we'll move on and probably upwards quickly. No biggy

I think it's less that we can't and more that we won't. Seemingly the deal has to be absolutely perfect for us to consider it. What we don't know is if that's on the board side or the Manager side. And I guess that's one big 'if' about Eddie. If he is so particular about the players he's prepared to bring into the group that it severely limits our options.......

If Mitchell can't find someone like that, given his extensive network, questions need to start being asked. And even if we can save £5-10m by waiting until the summer, they have a duty to the players, fans and manager to forego that £5-10m to get the player in in January and make up for the total fucking debacle of the past tow transfer windows.

Even if we have to make a signing that doesn't fit our blueprint to give the existing players a bit of extra motivation, and freshen things up a bit, they should just get it done. It's like there's no recognition of the additional impact that new signings have outside of just improving the quality of the squad. Give a 1 year contract to a sexy, continental free signing if that's what it takes.