Nine

Not many teams have the benefit of a winger like this one, a player that can come in anytime and be lethal in front of goal is a blessing.

International break, mid week training sessions, Hall and Livra back in what do you know? We put out the kind of coherent, energetic performance we all got used to seeing before this season.

Unfortunate

Clean corner finish, about time

This could be 3-3 already

Such an uptick in performance, one will go in soon. Performance is all that matters, the two full backs in make such a difference.

Managers going to be hounded now

Would be very shrewd imo

Wissa being fit is going to make a big difference also, it will change the attacking output in this 4-3-3 The only question is does he pair him with Wolte now or later, but obviously means changing formation. At some point it’s happening. It’s been a struggle balancing the squad against this schedule but it won’t be long before the form turns, slow starts have kind of been a thing for us since Howe.

There were people honestly suggesting dumping this guy for Mourinho not even long ago I can’t even stress how insane that is

It’s the sad truth, credit in the bank never actually goes very far in football. To many are on such an emotional knife edge all the time Saved from relegation, 2 CL campaigns and a trophy but only ever 5/6 games away from your head being called for. Who’d be a manager?

None of our wingers are performing (besides Barnes maybe), but this guy looks especially devoid of confidence

Round and round.

Yep exactly, we don’t have the other options with the current selection. Just makes for shit like performances like today, it also just feels so dead when it goes wrong.

And it’s obviously by design at this point, he’s trying to manage fitness levels in games like these. Unfortunately today we went 1 up and then didn’t push the game to tip it our way, and we got killed off by a desperate team. Byproduct of being passive. But as we know minutes and fitness need to managed with this schedule, I feel we did get it a bit wrong today though and became to passive. We allowed them that game, when it got on top of us we were done. Need some better, more confident ball retention to adapt to a slower kill the game type of game if that’s what Howe wants at 1-0 vs less threatening sides. More technical feet in there. Hes trying to avert the injury disaster of 23/24 when we had CL, the full bore press broke our players down by Christmas.

You need to look ahead, not just who we have played so far. Buts look at this 7 day schedule - Spurs mid week cup game, then a PL away game, then Bilbao in the CL at home on Wednesday. Cakewalk? Woltemade for instance has had to play and start in every single match so far with no real option for resting him. If you think this isn’t a big factor for us then there is no point continuing replying to you. It’s as tough as it gets. Again though, the performances are lacking. We are not scoring enough plain and simple, the front 3 have not clicked yet. Elanga isn’t there yet. But on top of that everyone is suffering with the run of games. Wissa would have made a huge difference.

We’ve also been shit at home in the league at times this season, the levels are lacking all round. But we are playing against top CL teams (and getting results) mid week my friend, not farmers from Belarus. The squad need expanding, but it’s still a way away from a squad that can push on all (CL included) fronts. We looked tired from 30 today, but yes the performance is still shit regardless. It was always going to be difficult the manage the run of games up to Christmas this season, Wissa and Ramsey injuries really didnt help. But don’t let that stop the fragile ones from raging in here today.

The schedule above all has us suffering, along with the Wissa injury. Wolte was gassed at half time.

Here we go

Never takes long

Should be saved But this performance is the problem

Serious

What a touch that is

His height played its part there

Wouldn’t believe this guy never used to score with his head would you