Corky

I presume Facebook and the other critics have been out praising them for backing the lads last night?

Yep. In these grim times, possibly the most soul destroying is seeing the rare opportunities for a swift, positive break only to witness Ayew amble on to the ball, slow everything down and drifting back into middle of the pitch interminable passing.

Does superbly at applauding/ thumbing up appreciation for a cross he attempts to get nowhere near.

Given we seem to exist entirely in drab, low scoring games, let's have another. 1-1.

Took over (in tragic circumstances) a vibrant, potentially exciting squad that needed fine tuning which has been decimated whilst we have overspent to get to this point. But yeah, be careful what you wish for and all that.

Nothing sums up our decline more than giving a shirt number known for speed, chaos and impact to a bloke who is the complete opposite.

A terrible game that at least had the consolation of getting a victory until the worst seeing out of a game against ten men you will probably ever see. Do we keep the ball, slow it down, play it sensibly? God no, let's sit deep, give the ball away and invite pressure on. Would have been an undeserved win but you see it out. I was looking into it and since the start of last season we have had 26 home league games. We have scored 22 goals. 3 in a game once. Maresca's football wasn't always appealing but you went along thinking you'll see goals or at least spells of pressure and attacking play. The last 15 months, under three managers, has been appalling "entertainment".

Jordan Ayew to Everton just sounds right to complement their strikers. Get it done, Moyesy.

Age and injuries caught up with him and he'd generally lost his effectiveness, although 10 goals in that team isn't disgraceful. Him leaving meant the crowd had lost the spark. There is nothing left behind him, no player really that the fans have any enthusiasm for.

The bench in Saturday showed how dire this squad is. Play some of the youngsters. The crowd (those actually interested in the football, in any case) would get behind them. The regulars are doing nothing so another defeat with youngsters is just another defeat following the normal lot.

Yeah, the place is apathetic and disinterested in the main. Go to an club that has self respect and a desire to act like a big club and it would be off the scale. Even Norwich, widely viewed as a quiet fanbase, have put heat on the board, manager and playing staff in a way we really haven't.

Are you talking about O'Neil or Perieira?

O'Neill is exactly what that squad needed. Fully focused and willing to defend and back them unlike the previous bloke who would do the opposite. O'Neill is loved, Rodgers is tolerated.

Got the Southampton connection we admire.

You are probably right but I have no idea where this idea that mid table in the second tier is our natural home has come from. We have spent 8 more seasons in the second tier than first, we have been in mid table/ struggling in the second division for around 10 years since the early 50s when the older members of the fan base started following the club. Genuinely bizarre how this mentality has arrived.

Yes, THEY sing. The fans who "always back the lads" clearly do not as the toxicity and negativity would be drowned out.

We are very likely to have consecutive Football League seasons for the first time since 2013. Crowds are dropping already. I cannot see a rush for new season ticket holders to take the place of those who will give it up through choice or possibly forced to.

Played the ball cleanly, no foul.

Really unlucky for West Ham. Hit the post and 30 seconds later, concede.

Plenty of people aren't going anyway. Bigger for me is that very few seem to want to take their place. The interest is dropping all the time.

Having around 30 games at the same time helps rather than the nonsensical third round schedule.

Punished for showing ambition, apparently.

Soumare. Other crap players at least have a couple of highlights. He has nothing at all.

If only the financial rules hadn't stopped us progressing....

Genuinely have no idea what team we'll put out. The bench today was grim and some of those will be back in.