TheBrownBottle

I’m not arguing against rotation - I’m arguing that the Sheff Wed match saw too many changes and a few poor decisions I agree, I don’t think it will impact morale either

I’ll be delighted. But it wouldn’t prove that today’s starting XI was the reason for the victory - correlation / causation etc etc

It is unprovable that playing a stronger XI today results in failure in those two fixtures. Just as playing the starting XI we did today doesn’t mean success in those fixtures. It is still possible that we lose Tuesday and Sunday regardless.

‘This video is not available in your location’ One of the small mercies of leaving the UK

With you 100% on all of that - but he’s ok as a squad player for me. In complete agreement with your squad selections - which tells us we’re roughly eight in/out transfers away from being a really top squad

Agreed - though I’d add Dubravka as a decent backup keeper (assuming he stays).

Bit harsh - not sure he’s a tosser. He’s not a top quality footballer, no doubt there

He’s an outstanding footballer - I just meant he isn’t an old-fashioned instinctive centre forward

Christ, just checked when you wrote that - it expires in 2027! Fucking Ashley, Jesus wept

Feel for the lad tbh. He grafts and tries, obviously he isn’t good enough. But he’s one of our own - another for whom a move in the summer would be best for both parties. I think he’d do a good job for a good second tier side.

Weird take by a weird man - telling people you’ve never met how they should grieve someone you’ve never met while having no idea what either party’s relationship was like with each other is just fucking bizarre

He hasn’t been in his career to date. He’s a very talented player, but you wouldn’t be relying on him scoring loads of goals.

Yep, there’s no way he’d have been judged as being in a ‘second phase’ of play. He was offside. So was Wednesday’s opener.

Straw man argument for me. It’s hardly one or the other.

The lad didn’t play well tonight, but he’s far too young to be written off. I’m not saying he will make as a top level player, but saying he definitely won’t feels premature

We have - though at some point we’ll go all the way* * citation needed

Semis of the LC would be the first time in nearly half a century in that case Get to the SF and you never know. Hope springs eternal

He doesn’t even need to take it first time - he could have taken a couple of touches he has so much time with it. No excuse for that finish

Has to be a full strength XI and I assume it will be. Feels like a genuine chance of achieving something which we haven’t been able to in over half a century.

Liverpool were after him at the time - but Norwich were asking for more than they were happy to pay. Liverpool bid £10m but it was turned down https://www.rousingthekop.com/2021/12/16/jamal-lewis-set-for-thankless-task-after-nearly-signing-for-liverpool-in-2020/?amp

I thought he was ok tonight. It’s a shame that there’s a few of these players who were given ludicrous contract extensions by Ashley - if Ritchie had left around 2018/2019 he’d have secured a warm fuzzy place in the memory banks - not as a great player, but one who worked his balls off, clearly cared and got the club back to somewhere approaching where it belongs. Instead, every passing season takes the sheen off that. I doubt he’s too bothered by that, but it matters to me

He’s mind-meltingly bad atm. Every game seems to drain his confidence further - he’s a mediocre centre forward who simply doesn’t fit our game plan, and chucking the bloke on every game just isn’t helping.

I just checked - and while I’m sure most are already aware of this it somehow had slipped my mind - the lad is 25 this month. He should be in his prime, he’s not a kid anymore. Somehow I had it in my head that he was about 20/21. Needs shipping out

Yeah, I’d genuinely be interested in seeing how Willock gets along up top

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t remember anyone calling for KK or BR’s heads - I haven’t seen anyone calling for Howe’s - but there was a fair bit of anger. Wolves in particular- after coming back from 2-0 down we chucked that away. edit we did also play first XIs in those games