Sunbury Fox

The thing is that aside from the PL win it’s still very recent that we were a real force threatening the big clubs. It’s only 3.5 years since we won the FA Cup and missed out on top 4 on the last day of the season for the second consecutive season. It’s only 2.5 years since we were in a European semi final. Does harking back to those days even really qualify as living in the past? Our decline has been so rapid that I think a lot of fans are struggling to process the new reality. What’s becoming ever clearer, though, is that the club is in a terrible mess: we have a squad largely full of players with no resale value; we are burdened with a wage bill that is way too high compared to income; there is a lack of a clear strategy and plan from the owners and board, as shown by the inconsistency of recent managerial appointments; and the fanbase appears to have become resentful and passive at the same time, leading to a stale atmosphere in the ground. It feels like only root and branch change from the ownership down can turn things around now. It’s very sad that things have come to this, but that’s where we are.

Accidentally caught our game on MOTD this morning. In the analysis they said that Ayew basically gestured to Justin for him to clear the ball long. If so, it makes it even more puzzling why Justin attempted the short pass to him. Either way, I don’t see how Ayew can be considered at fault for the goal. It’s 100% Justin’s fault.

I suspect Ruud subbed on Okoli to give us more pace defending against the transition as we threw more men forward in the last 10 minutes. Agree that the subs were too late.

Yep. If you concede 2 a game in this league, you are not getting many points, let alone wins. Conceding 2 or more in 15 of 20 games is catastrophically bad. Today, Villa were really poor and created virtually nothing until we threw everyone forward in the last 10 minutes. And yet still they scored 2 goals. Even if you look at the 5 games where we've conceded fewer than 2 goals, we were fortunate not to concede at least 2 in most of them. Tottenham should have been out of sight at HT, West Ham had 30 shots and Mads played a blinder v Bournemouth and they hit the woodwork numerous times. The defenders are poor but we also concede too many chances and goals from just outside the box, including yet another one today; that suggests an issue with the defensive central midfield, too. We look doomed tbh.

That has to be Justin's last game for us.

Every manager we have makes decisions that are unfathomable to fans. Sick of Ayew starting.

Ayew over Facundo? WTAF?!!

He pretty much did that against Wolves.

Can't understand links to a CM when we have much more urgent priorities elsewhere eg RB and CB. Plus Casadei was hopeless in the Championship, let alone the PL.

Brentford have got a decent points tally so far, but they've basically used up 6 of their 7 easiest fixtures (ie 6 of bottom 7 at home). Their remaining fixture list essentially consists of the big 6/top half teams at home and those battling relegation away, neither of which will be easy in the second half of the season. That said, they don't need that many more points to be safe.

He is way better in my opinion.

Looks like Stoke might have finally made a good managerial appointment.

Simply have to somehow find a way to stop conceding 2 or more goals yet again. If we don't, getting anything from here will be very hard.

Only if his challenge is deemed to be a genuine attempt to win the ball and I don’t think Ortega’s would be seen as that.

Spot on. Don’t get the criticism for VK. Yeah, there are better FBs in the league of course, but replacing him is well down our list of January priorities for me.

Wow, that is seriously impressive. I wonder which Man City player will be highlighted on MOTD, though?

He was good in the first half at Liverpool, I thought.

It was great having 2 technically good players in the double pivot today, with Soumaré and Winks both capable of receiving the ball under pressure, turning and playing the ball through the lines. Excited to see how their partnership develops over coming games.

I also think he's playing within himself, even now when he's playing really well. When he bursts forward with the ball, players just bounce off him and he's very hard to stop given his excellent close control. Want to see him do this even more. He ran BEK a very close second for man of the match today. I'm becoming a big fan, I won't lie.

And a red for the keeper as he made no attempt to win the ball fairly.

Why the hell did he not start that front 6 at home to Wolves? It gave us 5 technical players behind Vardy, lots more fluidity in forward areas and 2 CMs who are good on the ball and able to progress the ball through the thirds. When we get relegated, it will be that game against Wolves, which will be seen as the sliding doors moment of the season, I fear.

Outrageous that Neville didn't give him the credit he deserved on the commentary. Too busy waxing lyrical over a simple 5 yard pass from KDB, who was basically anonymous.

Good effort but until we start keeping clean sheets we are not winning many games in this league. Mads' absence is killing us. He knocks that ball away from danger for their first goal, I'm sure.

Would have played Okoli instead of Coady to give us more pace and physicality up against Halaand, but other than that, I'm happy with the line up. Just frustrated that we went with a more conservative XI against Wolves last week.

Yep, this is a huge problem and means we can't park the bus effectively against better teams as we pose very little threat on the counter.