aimaad22

Yes. Mirror running a story about him already wanting to go back to his favoured transfer model. Buying young from Europe and selling on. Its shit like that which will eventually blow over and create the next Ashley disaster. I think the man really is beyond learning.

Seems we struggled through apparently Scored decent goals. But it clearer with each passing game this defense will need a complete revamp to cope at a higher level. Not catching too many of the games myself but it seems to be the general opinion. Are Lascelles and co playing rubbish in general or is it the tendency to make errors at crucial times?

Yes but as PL has said it might take a bit more time before Rafa has things set the way he wants. Considering the years of rubbish we've accumulated in the squad he's making do a lot for the time being. Which takes me back to my earlier point about it possibly being a good thing that the shortcomings are becoming painfully clear for all to see Might make his transfer business aka building the long term project a bit more easier.

Glaring lack of cutting edge in recent games * I meant it in terms of across the squad. Minus Shelvey and Ritchie perhaps, there's near zero creativity or flair.

Yeah it might not be the worst thing ever for our glaring lack of cutting edge to be highlighted so prominently right now. A window and a half to do something about it before next season.

Compare Colback to Bowyer/Smith if you must, useless headless chicken runners extraordinaire.

Yeah Im just saying that was the general consensus, that we'd pull away at the top this time of the year. Colback/Gouffran/Dummett/Anita etc. They'd kill to be just limited

This was supposed to be the time when the 'superior' strength of our squad would become evident increasing the points gap at the top of the table

I'd happily have Rafa here for the next 10 years, and personally I put yesterday's defeat down more to it being one of those days but what in the world makes people think him or any other great manager cant make a mistake ffs.

To what extent can Anita let you down when he offers so little in the first place? I had hopes for him when he came here. Tidy little passer of the ball with decent movement and good energy. Someone who could sit back and control the pace of the game perhaps. He just cant though. Lacks the ability to do that or indeed be a decent modern full back. Hughes had more about him but I get your point about him half decent cover for 2-3 positions. I think he'll struggle even at that again in the premier league. Perez is a strange one. Not sure whats happened to him because like you say he did look good at times in a very poor team.

Yesterday was frustrating as hell but PL and HF make fair points. Its been clear from day 1 Rafa is here for a long term project so you expect him to be working along those lines. Lets not forget how bad this lot were last year. We've got some very very ordinary players (evident even in this league) and were it not for the Spaniard in charge how many of us would have backed us for a top 2 finish at the end of last season?

Shelvey had always shown potential though, he had question marks over consistency and attitude. Cleverly is a once highly rated youngster from Man Utd, there were a dozen of them each season in those days.

Cleverly is terrible, not sure what he'll be adding to the squad. Colback already has the useless headless chicken runner slot filled.

Aye I was just thinking that, the technique on Robert's was insane, more difficult than both these goals.

The hell

Yeah but it was always expected teams were going to set up like this against us, not that you can always successfully counter opponent tactics of course. Rafa or not. I think we simply just didnt have enough creative footballers out there against Wednesday, and we've often suspected this might be the case minus Shelvey. Creative is pushing it for this lot as well, they're a bunch of sideway passing machines. Agree with those saying Atsu should replace Gouffran. Diame dropping in for Colback is tempting too, not sure that will happen though considering 4-4-2 doenst seem to be on the table and Perez has been absolutely shite.

Must be one hell of a fat arse that

What about the people bent on classifying well thought out rational post match discussion into either of those categories

Which is what Im afraid of.

The toblerone

Aye they've been terrible lately. But even so this is going to become a regular feature now isnt it? Clubs in relegation trouble shuffling managers after a couple of months in the hope someone just might keep them up. The financial implications of not being in the premier league and all. Call it the Sunderland model.

Thats true enough. But we need 4-5 of those, Ashley will have a seizure at the thought of spending 80-100M, Benetiz or not.

Gouffran, Colback, Anita, Dummett....all add virtually nothing. Cant see the harm in giving the others a shot instead of them. Im sure we'll see changes.

If there are significant additions to the squad then perhaps, otherwise, no. Current lot would be relegated again in a heartbeat.

Yeah. Which is why from the start of the season I've found it difficult not to see our performances and progress this season with a view to next year in the Premiership. We've got so many painfully ordinary players who's sum capabilities amount to making a 5 yard pass. I guess this is the part where you tell yourself we're still top of the table, and in Rafa we trust, but he sure as hell has got a lot of work to do.