Dan

I just cannot believe it's late 2024 and we're still doing this. This whole "Iversen in, he can't be any worse" is such a farcically stupid situation I cannot believe it's resurfaced again. How can this happen? Iversen isn't great but he is still substantially better than Ward. If he starts against Wolves I'll be at least a little relieved. I think we're screwed regardless though - we've allowed an embarrassingly high number of shots and we've only let in 38 in 16 (which is still nearly 2.5 a game) because our goalkeeper has been as good as any in the division. I don't think it's an exaggeration when I say that with Ward as a regular for us we could reach 80, possibly even 90 conceded this season.

I'm unsure how much backing he even gets in January - we didn't enter this season in a good financial state, we did end up spending quite a lot anyway (plenty wasted as usual) and we'll invariably fail to shift what we need to to free up the squad spaces and the money. Given he fell out with the board at PSV my expectation is he loses is pretty quickly with Rudkin.

If Ward starts we will lose. They can score goals for all their issues. I could see 2-3 or something.

I half agree in that if he can stick around here and really make some changes then I will support him even in spite of bad results. It's what the main sell for me was on Maresca - he clearly saw right through them and he wanted to change things. Yesterday was a disgrace though. He's going to lose me quite quickly if he plays Ward. What's the point in all of it when you start every game 2 down.

Ward is a red flag. Lets hope he's realised and it was a one off.

Remember on here when he got that contract extension how it was apparently 4D chess to get more money out of Watford. Turns out we've just spunked a load more money on an inadequate player for a load more years. Again. Life under Top & Rudkin.

Time to go. Another who a serious club would've gotten rid of years ago.

Luck - we're already on more points than we probably deserve to be and this obviously is a benefit. We've had a hell of a lot go our way this season. Southampton - and their persistence with Russell Martin. Possibility that Van Nistelrooy is very good - he might be. Few red flags in that earlier but he's got benefit of the doubt for me at the minute. I'll judge him on how he reacts.

Van Nistelrooy should probably realise now we need quite an overhaul. I'd imagine he'll get fed up when Rudkin serves up his usual in January.

Fallen right into another one haven't we. Was never ever worth what we paid.

Culture of zero accountability breeds bad results. Colour me shocked.

Completely justified anyone leaving early from that. Isn't close to comparable to leave a game when you're chasing an equaliser to today when the club are basically taking the piss out of the fans.

The worst season a goalkeeper will ever have at this level and he's still on our books and now getting games again. This club needs to get serious. It's been a complete joke for years.

Been a big mentality problem at this club for years. Stems from the top. I don't want to make everything about Ward - he's not good enough and he can't help that, but the fact he's still getting a decent wage, and still getting the odd game for us tells me basically everything about the level of accountability at this club. It's just stagnant.

I don't pin the entire loss on him because we'd have lost it regardless of him, but Ward still getting games in December 2024 tells me pretty much everything about this club - no standards, no ruthlessness. Would've been sold by virtually any other club after what happened two seasons ago. That and Brentford two of the worst performances I've ever seen from us. Injuries or not that was a disgrace, completely lacking in literally any positive. A **** you to the fans to be honest.

Completely correct. If we went for this in January it would be celebrated on the whole but it would be a bit of a red flag for me.

It's quite unlikely Arsenal moves to 8pm but it's an absolute joke that we won't know for sure until a fortnight before the game. Sums the priorities up again though I suppose.

Absolute sods law isn't it - first time he looks like he's putting a bit of a run together.

20:15 is a disgrace. Think an exception can be made for that one.

I'll slaughter the club probably too much at times but they got this one absolutely right. It's gotten better and better to a point that they actually made a bit of a thing of it TV before it started.

Not something I expect to read on here very often

He's really starting to crack this now. I like.

Bilal El Khannouss to Ebeneezer Goode

He's honestly infuriating. Because he is capable. I cannot be sold on him until we've seen a sustained run of good form from him. He's got a lot of the tools. But for the love of god give us a sustained run.

Would be absolutely insane to sell him in January. A massive reason for a win - again.