TheBrownBottle

We’ve averaged one point per game over the last fourteen games. It is potential relegation form.

Yeah, I’m scratching my head about it as well. Howe has a reputation for being meticulous; you’d think that there would be a change to account for Dubravka in nets.

Nee idea. We got Bruno, Botman and Isak in as a mid table or relegation threatened club.

I’m not convinced that BDB is shit, mind. Pope’s absence is a massive factor in how the back line is performing; Botman’s clear non-recovery from injury is another. That does leave the question about what we’re doing about it, though.

I honestly believe that if our current placing was the result of consistent performances throughout the season, there would be fewer grumbles. The problem is that we’ve been in relegation form for the last third of the season - and the green shoots of recovery weren’t there today.

Yeah, he has to take his share of accountability on the fact that we are disastrously shit at the back at the moment. He deserved all the plaudits for how tight we were last season, it wouldn’t be grown up to pretend that he’s not partially to blame this season.

The loss of Pope has been instrumental- and not just because he’s a better GK than Dubravka. The back line are too deep due to the way Dubravka plays, and the mistakes are coming thick and fast.

I can’t even picture what present day Mourinho could do with this side. A chequebook manager isn’t where we are at the moment. I still think it would be crackers to contemplate sacking Howe this season, but it is an undeniable concern that things are just not improving. Howe has to be far more ruthless this summer than he was last - the squad needs a good bit of recycling. We’ll not take in anything like what we would have last year, but a serious overhaul is needed.

Yep, there is a lot to be said for a ‘reversion to the mean’ for some of them. That was never likely to continue - it’s a really big window ahead, Howe needs to be backed in the summer, but if it goes wrong I don’t think he’ll get another window.

News to me. Don’t think we’re playing well. No probs, I’ll keep off the match chat - not trying to neg anyone out.

Eh? What hate? We just look limp of late. The energy levels aren’t there

And that was dogshit by Schar

We just look half-arsed these days. We haven’t played for nine days so I’m going to assume it’s fatigue

Coming that. Utter shite

I fucking hate that ‘CAM ON [insert club name]’ song that only cockneys sing

Longstaff is taking a right old hammering on here tonight I don’t actually think he’s been our worst player, either

Great ball that by Bruno

Should be burying that one

Ya beauty

It’s the physio / medical team which worries me

It is far, far too often to be ‘luck’

Doesn’t look like that much effort so far. And you don’t pay nearly half a billion for a side that puts a bit of effort in. I never, ever bought the ‘team that tries’. Besides, the line was ‘club that tries’.

Likewise. We’ve been sloppy rather than shite. Chelsea have little about them

Cucurella doesn’t half leave his legs in

Yep, which is what caused so many in our support to believe he was a top keeper - but the fact was we were shit, and that superhuman performance he’d have every few games papered over how mediocre he was otherwise