Teddeer

It all started with Ralph being touted for manager of the month. We know that comes with a curse.

Can't even get particularly bothered about that because it was all a bit predictable. We are well used to this team building up our hopes that they are capable of something and then they proceed to disappoint us with a run of abysmal form. It's just the way of things. Good job we have plenty of points in the bag.

I won't even bother trying to explain to you why Smallbone for Broja was not a good idea.

I'm afraid this is what happens when you swap a powerful player like Broja for Smallbone.

We have become embarrassing.

Think we need to turn up before the break rather than waste the next 15 minutes.

Spot on.

Djenepo is better than Rashford.

Agree. I think Roy will bypass the midfield battle knowing we'd win it comfortably. Instead of engaging there he'll play a low block with long balls slung down the middle and into the channels - everything we struggle against. They have some pace so it could be a tough afternoon in front of a nervous crowd off the back of two defeats.

The issue is not playing KWP left back it is playing an out of sorts Tino at right back. Perraud has been very good so should not have been dropped recently to accommodate Tino. The majority seem to agree with this.

I think our system relies on opponents being happy to slug it out in midfield. Once that happens we are very adept at intercepting/nicking the ball higher up the pitch and then quickly transitioning into dangerous positions resulting in chances/goals. Newcastle, and Villa to a certain extent, seemed aware of this so not much of their play went through midfield. Instead they were content to hit long balls over the top into space which our defenders don't like. At the same time they kept a low block so we were forced to resort to the ineffectual passing sideways and backwards, recycling, rinse and repeat. Very frustrating and maybe Ralph needs a better plan B against these sort of opponents. Having said all that the two goals we conceded were largely due to us being very poor at defending crosses into our box - something else that needs to be addressed.

Can't work Newcastle out. They are not exactly a good footballing side but somehow have managed to win a load of games. Maybe their owners have reminded their players of the penalty for failure.

I'm not suggesting he lost us the game merely pointing out that he is underperforming right now and Perraud deserves to be in the side based on his recent games. Many on this thread seem to agree.

Ralph with his stubborn head on refusing to see that we are much better with Perraud at left back, KWP right back and Tino on the bench. Tino has gone backwards and no longer makes those marauding runs and is not very good defensively. He is young and clearly has a lot to learn. He'll improve but is not worth his place.

As an indication of how bad Everton are they made clogger Hojbjerg look like Pirlo at his best 🙂

That's cheating and shouldn't be allowed, Arteta, out of his technical area, catches the ball and sets up a quick throw in from which Arsenal score. None of the commentators even mention it.

Chris Wood may be a lot of things but one word I don't think you can include in his list of attributes is pace.

Maybe.

Was Ralph not watching? - we didn't play pretty football and that was the problem. Pretty football along with a high energy press has moved us up the table but today we reverted to looking like a side who aren't drilled to play good football. That's what shocked and concerned me most. It wasn't a tight game and narrow defeat in which we gave as good as we got, it was completely one sided.

So are they so why the 4-0 thumping? Their back four didn't look great on paper yet we couldn't cause them problems. Bad as we were defensively we needed to be pushing them back and creating a bit of panic in their ranks but weren't good enough today. Hopefully it's a one off after so many good performances but we'll find out on Thursday I guess.

Something seriously wrong with us today if we allow them to create a bucket load of chances yet, at the same time, we give their defence little to worry about. That is a major concern.

Salisu is a big miss for us. Hope he's back soon.

One shot on target is way below what I expected for this game. They've bossed us all over the park.

Bloody Ralph - why did he have to play the Red Sea formation, it never works.

Look on the bright side - remember when they battered Liverpool 7-2 🙂