UpweySaint

It's not illegal but there is a reason so few teams do it, i don't think away to burnley is the time for us to be trying a system we've not used all season.

Not getting in to a debate about the manager's quality but surely the line up was one of his more forward thinking? Arguably we only had the one holding midfielder and played the likes of redmond and tadic. Short of going two up top (beyond brave away from home when we are struggling) not sure how much more attacking we could have gone? He made good subs that had an impact too.

Neither side really deserved a win, Ashley Barnes seems to think otherwise post match, but good to see a nice Sims cameo, a striker on the score sheet and us digging out something from nothing. Also Carrilo's pulling backpost and nodding across reminded me of Lambert. The man is slow but we really benefit from a target man. I don't think much has changed in terms of our position today. We are still in the mire, most want the manager and les out, we continue to underwhelm though we have scraped together some points lately and our cup run shows promise. Personally I think we might just sneak over the line to safety. If we don't, oh well. Cheaper tickets, more games, academy products getting game time and clem may turn up at staplewood.

Time will tell but we clearly benefit from a more physical threat to play off up top. Looks willing too and has had a few moments of quality. Some step from Ligue 1 to prem too in terms of intensity, physicality and quality so he may take time to start to show more of his own ability.

Or maybe the problem goes higher up, we played like this for the tail end of last season. MP may or may not be any good but it is hardly all his fault.

First half unlucky, second lacked any real urgency. Didn't really expect anything from this one but we should have been able to make more of a contest of it. We weren't as bad as some on here make out mind! Burnley, Stoke, Newcastle, Swansea, Wham ... these are the games we need points from. Hard to take too many positives from today other than some tidy play in the first half. Other results have made today's result tougher to take but the table is still so close.

Referenced on the Guardian on an article re: Lookman as imminent as a part of an overhaul they are doing. They have apparently came out and said their current u18 crop is the worst they have seen in years. Less harsh publicly perhaps but arguably we should be looking at refreshing our structures, shame we couldn't tempt Mitchell back.

have you tried a vpn? fairly easy to use on chrome and a number available.

http://firstrows.xyz/soccer/xft-west-brom-southampton-fyz3d6762?l=1838476434

Would love us to sign him, has the pace and direct play we lack, could also offer a presence up to when needed.

A good read as usual, would agree about MP's game management. You could see the Palace game turn and Watford's plan for the second half was clear as day yet we changed nothing. An argument could be made that we don't want to be reactive and instead impose our style of play onto others but, the reality is, we are in a scrap and can worry about style of play etc in the off season or if/when we have secured our place in the league for next year. The Redmond baiting is a good point. Not many of our players have covered themselves in glory this season yet he seems to get far too much stick based on things like Puel's Henry comparison and MP's decision to stick with him when not at his best (neither of which were his fault). He strikes me as a confidence player, he has stopped trying to beat men as often and looks to turn for safer options. This is a young player who made the England squad and took City apart. He's certainly not as bad as some make out.

A majority, sure. 'Almost every single' seems rather like hyperbole in my opinion. Quite clear you disagree but I don't think it is deluded not to see sacking the manager as the solution. We have been on the decline since this time last year for my money, I think problems run through the club, putting it all on the current manager just doesn't sit right with me. If honest he would never have been my choice, I often question his game management and don't feel particularly inspired by him but he has only managed in a new league for six months. He may turn it around, he may not. Do we know for a fact anybody else we could attract would do a better job? Certainly not. I agree with your sentiment we need to try something but I would suggest that could be done with players.

You do realise it is possible to comprehend we have been sh*t without also wanting to sack the manager? Understand a significant majority want to see the back of the manager but just because it is the popular opinion does not mean is the only valid one. If people were saying nah we are playing great and can't possibly be relegated by all accounts call it out but I don't see people doing that, think largely we all see similar issues just have different ideas on how to solve them.

I know even De Ridder looked decent in a youtube compilation but between that, his stats and the few times I have seen him play I would be pretty excited if we managed to get Quincy on board. Still think we also need presence up top and and a top quality cb would make it a good window but the idea of Hoedt with Yoshida or Stephens doesn't particularly fill me with dread.

On recent evidence Prowse could make those runs, Davis has in the past, I fancy Lemina also has it in him. Our wide players often play like inside forwards so may find themselves in good positions off a target man.

Theo is a proven premier league striker, knows the club and has a point to prove if he wants to go to the world cup. I think there are certainly more pros than cons on this one.

In theory yes but to be honest Hoedt alongside either Yosh or Stephens doesn't fill me with terror. It's our lack of goals that I think will sink us, we have enough good spells in games where we either don't create or finish chances that then allow other teams into games. If we can strengthen throughout brilliant, add a CB and a keeper to the list. I fear we realistically can only secure one or two quality additions this month and I would rather see them in more advanced positions.

Well Bergkamp is available for the vacant position. HCDAJFU? Hell of a playing pedigree, schooled in the 'Ajax' way, decent coaching experience and knowledge of the league.

These puns could get tiresome but don't stop till you get enough ... In all seriousness, always fancied Craven Cottage, hopefully we get plenty of tickets or the neutral section may well be an option!

This, want to see it again but NBC haven't shown the tackle again just the goal half dozen times. Oh well, wonder if we can find anything in reply

I like Fabianski if Swansea go down. I would prefer Fraser found his best form again though.

For me it was the way he carried the all out from the back and had an air of authority with the ball in front of him. He is clearly a top class player and would look even better in a 'top' side ... just hope to christ it's for big bucks and anyone but the scouse mob. The guy is still a bit of a knob though, Maya has been our most consistent CB for some time (who'd have ever thought that?!?) and I feel that Stephens lost his place through no real fault of his own.

Unless it is set up as a 3-4-3 with a bit of fluidity? Not saying it would work particularly, for the record I honestly don't see us stopping Utd however we set up! All three of Gabbi, Long, and Tadic can manage wide or central though would not fancy seeing Tadic playing through the middle of the three unless as a 'false nine' or similar.

Say what you like but I miss the bald fella, sorry Kenzie ... I do take the point. Black in and things aren't right, but surely, without any supporting evidence, it is a bit of a jump to conclude our inability to score is his fault? More likely a combination of things. Recruitment, form, morale, tactics, team cohesion, external factors, turnover of managers and players ... I just don't buy that Black could be solely responsible for our woes in front of goal.

Bloody hard watch that! Few things, nobody came out with much credit on our end but it would be wrong to try and blame the loss on individuals. Though I do fancy VVD may have made those clearances a little more convincingly. Watford had a game plan and executed well. They deserve credit. They were dire under Mazzari but Silva has got them playing better football as most expected he would. Decent enough fans too. The big concern for me was that, rather like under Puel, I cannot fathom what our plan is. I think it is far too soon to be getting knives out for the manager and he does need time to really influence our style of play. I hope that with more time and a boost of confidence the good football may come back. Our squad isn't dross. I do rather miss the days of Poch when we knew how we would play (even if the idea was he had no plan B, I would kill for a plan A these days!).