Big_Nige

Few references to some of them being “Directors” in their own field. Trying not to be judgemental here but that’s not exactly a broad cross section

Genuinely thought Palace would have a good season, especially as they finished last season on fire. Losing Olise was big, but I’ve always rated Daichi Kamada and thought he’d slot in without a great deal of fuss. But something is just off there at the moment Wonder when Roy gets the call again?

Turgid is harsh, no issue with wishing failure on a bloke that walked away from our club, but last season the football wasn’t turgid. Most of the time the games weren’t exciting but it takes two teams to make a game of football. Trying to break down the likes of Stoke or Preston who wouldn’t venture outside their 18 yard box doesn’t make for a great spectacle no matter how you play.

Highlight of the season when it happened last time

As a manager he really frustrates me, I hate the lopsided asymmetrical fullback. Or more to the point I don’t think we’ve got the players to excel in that formation. When I say that it doesn’t mean I’d longing for an inverted fullback, or Tika-Taka or monopolising the football. You have to play with a level of pragmatism in the Premier league, but that surely starts with playing your best players in their best positions. We have got the squad to play a rather basic 4-2-3-1. Fast direct wingers, and a young number 10 who is technically excellent and can lead the press. We can be solid, while carrying a threat on the break. And in games we do have more of the ball we’d carry a threat on both flanks. I’ve been quite adamant he’s not the man to take us forward, but at the moment in time I wouldn’t want to change him. He’s got the players grafting and there’s definitely a togetherness, and that is more often than not enough to keep the points total ticking over But all that aside I absolutely bloody loved the last 30 minutes yesterday, hopefully he’s stumbled on a formula, it’s no surprise our best sustained attacking performance of the season coincided with 2 wingers on the pitch

The first is a system Issue in my eyes, it’s no coincidence sides are targeting us down our right because of how we set up, but the second is just rank bad defending

That’s all well and good. But what’s the comparison on premier league experience. That’s the database our Steve uses. None of this progressive carries nonsense

Fixed for you

True, but inverted fullback isn’t an easy role, you've got to get back into defensive shape quickly or you get done on the transition. Like in the infamous Millwall and Plymouth away games. I agree that Riccy probably doesn’t have the durability to be an attacking, raiding fullback anymore, but I’d argue that while Cooper is supposedly setting us up so that the fullback on the opposite side to the traditional winger provides the width. I’m yet to really see it consistently in practice. I’d hardly say they are encouraged to overlap. There’s still definitely an eye on getting back into shape rather than over committing It’s all conspiracy theories obviously, but there must be something in the fact that the 3 lynchpins in terms of playing out from the back last season all find themselves out the team for more attritional type players

We played 53 games last season. Riccy played in 45 of them. 39 were starts. He picked up a slight strain away at Bournemouth in the cup and missed a few games after, but before that he was one of the players that Enzo just didn’t rotate. Was too important to how we played There’s an argument to be had about whether he should or shouldn't be starting in front of JJ at right back this season, I think he should, but I can also see why JJ has got the nod. But for him not to have had a minute in the league, something just smells off to me

It’s football, it’s always been this way. But this is the quickest I’ve seen it happen. Me personally, I don’t think he’s the right man and I’d be surprised if he’s here come Christmas. There’s too many red flags in team set up, game management and tactical flexibility for me to see anything other than a real struggle every game. It’s just not sustainable having to rely on excellent chance conversion, and excellent keeping game after game. But if he is still here, then we’re battling and scrapping and getting enough points to hopefully keep our head above water. Getting myself worked up about it won’t manifest Top and the gang taking action

Such a sobering stat

As hyperbolic as that sounds, there’s something about his finishing that really reminds me of him

This is the one. I went there when we played Bournemouth a good few years back. The one where we went 4 down and big Wes got sent off

The fact I’m advocating Ayew to start is actually a bit depressing, and I agree with what you’re saying. But for all his faults he’s a pest to play against, the ball sticks to him and while yes he doesn’t always release it as quick as he should, he’ll draw free kicks. I’m clutching at straws, the only way we get anything out of this game is by using a bit of the dark arts. Keep it tight for an hour, defend and scrap, then bring on Vardy when Arsenal are committing more and more bodies forward. if Vardys starts and his race is run by then I wouldn’t want Edouard or Ayew near any half chance late in the game

Mads Ricardo Faes Okoli Justin Winks Skipp Ndidi Fatawu Mavididi Ayew Let Ayew play through the middle, battle for scraps and win the odd free kick. After 60 minutes switch him out for Vards if the game hasn’t gone by that point, which I fully expect it will have. Sit in deep and let Fatawu and Mavididi carry the threat on the break. I have no issues about being pragmatic in fixtures like this, as long as there is a game plan to hurt them if we have the opportunity

Come off it. Read through every post of mine since, those green shoots dried up and died when I saw the team sheet for Fulham Even the most ardent Cooper out, and I’m one of them, would have had a glimmer of hope after the Spurs second half. It’s the only time through his tenure I’ve hoped I’ve been wrong

Why do you have to be in the relegation zone to act though? If the signs are there you need to heed them To caveat that, I’d normally never advocate for a bloke to be sacked after 5 games, and if you look at the results in isolation they are “OK” but there’s something fundamentally not right, nobody can have watched us so far this season and thought results are coming. It’s been pretty hideous

As much as Cooper has frustrated me so far, there were green shoots against Palace, before we shat the bed. But I think this is a real test of how brave he is as a manager. I’ve accepted while under his management we’ll be overly cautious away from home, but at home we need to take the handbrake off and make it a fortress. On and off the pitch. Pressing, positivity and front-foot football and the crowd will be up for it. As much as Wilf deserves to start after the Palace game, he really shouldn’t. They’ll be compact and we’ll need some guile to get through their defensive shape. It’s a game for Fatawu, Mavidid and Buonanotte as the 3 behind Vardy. Wilf and Ayew come on to shore up the game

Mads Ricardo Faes Vestergaard VK Winks Skipp Buonanotte Fatawu Mavididi Vardy Definitely harsh on Okoli and Wilf, but the Duran goal against Villa just gives me second thoughts starting Okoli against DCL. He’s a throwback centre forward, wily around the box and physical. Vesty would be more suited, plus his passing range would help us break Everton down. Wilf, man of the match against Palace, let him do that against Arsenal next week. Everton at home is not the game for that type of performance Get both flying wingers on, give their fullbacks something to think about. We should be targeting Stephy against Ashley Young from the very first minute. Mykolenko had to go off against Villa too and they don’t have another fit recognised left back. We have to be looking to attack the wings with pace and trickery. I also long to see Vardy sprit away from Michael Keane one more time Huge game of football this. Be brave Cooper please 🙏

Agreed, I don’t want to see Wilf as part of a double pivot ever again. His limitations were for all to see against Spurs and Fulham. He just can’t play in tight areas and is targeted in the opposition press. I’m no psychologist but I’d imagine Wilf crisis in confidence and apparent nosedive of form in the 18 months that led to our relegation stems from his inability to play that role anymore. Enzo rejuvenated him by playing him higher up last season, and as a roving destroyer, pressing from the front, making a nuisance of himself and winning the ball back high, it really suits his game. He was excellent against Palace. But the way they set up played into our hands somewhat. We’ll get that a lot away from home, nobody will respect us and nor should they There’s no way Dyche will set up in that way. They’ll be compact and we’ll need someone clever to unlock their defence from open play. Bounanotte is that player for me. Cooper should be brave and switch Wilf for Facundo and Fatawu for Ayew. Games away from home I’ve got no issue with Wilf playing in that higher role. But games at home, especially against the dregs Cooper needs to be ruthless. Get some flair on the pitch and then turn to the likes of Wilf, Ayew and co to see the game out if needed.

Been a big critic of Wout, but to be fair I thought he was superb against Palace. If thats the kinda level he can hit consistently then he’ll have had a great season

Bit of both isn’t it. Producing our own players on a conveyor belt and selling them for profit is the way to sustain success for a club of our standing. We’ll never have the commercial revenue of the greedy 6 so to only way to compete is to develop your own and create a culture where there are guaranteed pathways for the most talented kids Short-termism, whilst I understand it to a point this season, will ultimately get us nowhere

Different sounding band these days really. Grown up a bit, amazing musicians now. Never seen harmonies as good live

Went to see The Lemon Twigs in Oxford on Monday. Amazingly brilliant harmonic retro pop