Another poor result, but more worryingly, a poor performance.
This is nothing like last season's side and the brutal reality is that with Newcastle getting new lease of life and Burnley being adept at getting out of relegation battles, we have to find 2 more teams to overhaul and right now I am not confident of that.
0 shots on goal is awful. A throwback to managers past and meagre times in the Championship.
We had our 2 most expensive signings on the pitch, both forwards and no shots on target, means that valid questions can be asked of both of them.
Rodrigo just hasn't cut it and we can say we see glimpses here and there but right now looks like a lot of money wasted. Although it's early days for James, at the money we paid for him, you would expect more end product.
I'm sorry, I just don't see what everyone raves about in Struijk. I also don't see Roberts winning matches for us, nor Forshaw being a game changer.
Bench is extremely young and right now, I don't see us breaking this malaise. Whether we've been found out, hurting through absences, or run out of steam, who knows, but I have faith in Bielsa, I just dont know if what he has to work with this year is enough.
We need Raphinha firing on all cylinders each week, Bamford making up for lost time, Ayling rampaging done the right and Philips putting in England performances.
The training these guys do must seem doubly tough when we're losing and Bielsa's teams have lost there way before to the point where he exits the club, really hope he has the key to this particular problem.
Thoughts from today
posted on 17/10/21
We've lost our spark or teams have found us out....to be fair we have many injured good players. Back to the drawing board literally for MB who needs to be less stubborn.
posted on 17/10/21
3 out of bottom 4 from table this time last season went down.
posted on 17/10/21
I'm not sure why Struijk gets a hard time from you Jonty. He was playing cb yesterday not DM by the way. He was no worse there than any of the other CBs playing on the day. Last season our best defence was towards the end of the season with Llorente and Struijk.
posted on 17/10/21
comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 29 minutes ago
I'm not sure why Struijk gets a hard time from you Jonty. He was playing cb yesterday not DM by the way. He was no worse there than any of the other CBs playing on the day. Last season our best defence was towards the end of the season with Llorente and Struijk.
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Because I thought he wasn't;t very good.
Where did I say he was playing CDM?
posted on 17/10/21
Well on another thread you said you didn't watch the game.
posted on 17/10/21
comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 2 minutes ago
Well on another thread you said you didn't watch the game.
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Where did I say he played midfield?
posted on 18/10/21
Fair enough, you didn't but some on here seem to think he was playing the DM role. My point was he was no worse than Cooper or Llorente so I don't know why he was singled out for criticism.
posted on 18/10/21
You get worse by the day...…………….Pascal was playing out of position and every time he plays in his actual position he plays well.
Does your weird hatred of Orta stretch so far that you wont accept any of his earlier youth signings? Sad
posted on 19/10/21
comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 1 day, 1 hour ago
Fair enough, you didn't but some on here seem to think he was playing the DM role. My point was he was no worse than Cooper or Llorente so I don't know why he was singled out for criticism.
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I think Cooper gets enough recognition of his shortcomings, the rash cards, I think Llorente is hyped and I'm still on the fence, but I find Struijk is almost revered, maybe because of his physique, but I see someone often out of position, slow to recover and not a player that matches up with the hype.
posted on 19/10/21
comment by gelderd82 (U6817)
posted 23 hours, 47 minutes ago
You get worse by the day...…………….Pascal was playing out of position and every time he plays in his actual position he plays well.
Does your weird hatred of Orta stretch so far that you wont accept any of his earlier youth signings? Sad
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So is CB not his position, or are are those like Outwood saying he was playing CB wrong?