qwertyell

Don't think there are three worse teams. Perhaps more importantly, I don't think there are three teams that play worse football either. Nothing's going to change under this manager. We've changed the coaches. We've changed the squad. We've even changed the board. There's only one thing left to try. It might make no difference, but what's the point in sleepwalking to relegation under a manager who is clearly a busted flush? Can't even remember the last time we actually played well - 4 wins in 28, but they were all grim, backs to the wall stuff. Come on, SR, at least have a go.

He did his ACL at the end of April. Conservative estimates for that kind of injury always suggest a minimum of 9 months (end of January), and even then it takes a long time to get back up to full fitness afterwards. Wouldn't surprise me if he manages only half a dozen starts this seasons. Temper your expectations - it was a really bad knock. Edit: I should also add that we have a very poor record with ACL recoveries. Rodriguez took two years and a second operation. McQueen never got back on the park and had to retire. Sam Bailey (B Team) has had to have a second operation. Can't actually think of anyone in our recent history who has recovered properly from a torn ACL. Romeu came back well, but we had nothing to do with that. Edit 2: Forster. He came back to roughly the same level.

Doesn't look like he's in the provisional German world cup squad which has leaked. If they were holding off on operating on his shoulder because he was eying up the WC, they should probably get it booked now - it's a pretty long recovery period, IIRC.

Fair play, the boys found some fight in the second half and deservedly got something out of that. Elyounoussi's game saving tacking (after all three centre backs inexplicably vacated their posts) seemed to invigorate him into a golden five minutes where he started going forward with purpose and created the equaliser. Rode our luck disciplinary-wise. DCC should've conceded a penalty with his grappling act - and it would have been a red - and Lyanco retaliated not once but twice (an elbow on Jesus and the late attempted headbutt). Can't fault his effort and dedication, but he's an accident waiting to happen. Thought Salisu had a solid game, more in keeping with his good form in the first half of last season. And Perraud was great getting up and down and putting in crosses. I do worry about his fitness, though. When he came off in midweek after about 75 minutes he looked like he'd been rescued from a POW camp. And again today he was absolutely fucked by 80 minutes. I know he missed pre season with his broken leg so his conditioning might be a bit behind, but wonder if he's struggling with the after effects of covid or something. Edozie promising off the bench. Walcott useless. Anyway, a very creditable point against the odds. And they managed to get off the pitch before the lightning came. Well played.

Nonexistent midfield. No-one tracking runners. Should've been a penalty and a red card too. Even the officials feel sorry for us. We look like a lower league club - but not one of the plucky ones who have a go.

Could be. Limited evidence to go on, but he does look fairly comfortable using either foot.

Prowse isn't going to RB when we're short at CM too. It'll probably be Djenepo as wing back in a 5, unless they throw Lewis Payne in at the deep end.

We weren't even a young team last night. Average age of the outfield players in the starting XI was 26 (rounding up).

Win's a win, no matter how shite. Very welcome clean sheet. Don't know who's playing RB against Arsenal if KWP is out and AMN club tied. Might have to go three at the back and hope Djenepo can fill in at wing back - or give Lewis Payne a baptism of fire.

Referee giving them absolutely everything. Obviously didn't watch the Man City Liverpool game on Sunday, where nothing was a foul - now every minor contact is. For Bournemouth anyway. Pretty even game. Both sides look miles short of quality. Let's see if we can hang on.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022-10-18/team-news-bournemouth-southampton-premier-league-2022-23 Sounds a bit ominous for Bella-Kotchap.

Think the manager said it could be 24 hours, could be 8 weeks - they just don't know. The trouble with shoulder dislocations - and Theo Walcott and Charlie Austin can testify - is often once it's happened the first time, a weakness remains and makes it prone to popping out repeatedly. Surgery then becomes the only remedy - and the recovery period is months. Really hope it's just a freak one off.

Well, he's had the supposed "first 10 games" of the season to prove himself that people seemed to think he was being afforded. 8 points, bottom three, and absolutely abysmal football - I suppose in a way he has proven himself. How much longer?

Maitland-Niles is not a winger. Arsenal fans will tell you he was rubbish when briefly tried there - they've been having the same conversations about him for years as we have: what is he? Where does he play? He's nothing. A Callum Chambers sort of footballer, who can fill in unremarkably in a few positions without being very good at any of them.

Jon Dahl Tommasen, because he's Danish? Vincent Kompany, because we're obsessed with Man City? Nigel Pearson, because we were too scared not to?

Rats/sinking ships? Glad the club are "furious". At least that suggests someone there is still semi engaged. Might wake the board up.

He turned 19 a couple of weeks ago. I know we've got a pretty ropy record with ACL recoveries, but two years is a bit pessimistic.

Fuck. Was really excited to follow his progress this season. Thought he had a shot at making the first team. Contract up in the summer as well. Gutted for him.

Blaming? No. Could he have done better on a couple? Absolutely. Would McCarthy have escaped criticism? Not a chance.

Why? He's the most expensive goalkeeper in our history and all evidence thus far suggests he's really nothing special. Hasn't saved a single thing that wasn't meat and drink for a keeper at any level, and has otherwise looked quite easy to score against. Arguably at fault for match losing goals against Villa, Wolves and Everton - and Leicester's goal in a game we actually won. I genuinely think we'd have had pretty much the same results this season with Forster or McCarthy in net. Possibly even better, as Forster's sheer girth might've intervened in a way that the relatively diminutive Bazunu can't. I don't see why people shouldn't state the obvious, regardless of his "potential" - he's been, to be extremely generous, average. And he has a terrible habit (seen on Man City's 1st and possibly 4th goals) of falling backwards and trying to save with his feet where a lateral dive is in order, limiting the ground he can over. Cancelo's goal in particular should never have gone in from that distance at that angle - it wasn't even in the corner, but Bazunu's weight was all wrong and he essentially flopped out the way. I'd love to have been impressed by him and shouting his name from the rooftops. But I just don't see it. The similarities with Gunny are striking - a keeper who on the face of it seems to be doing okay, not too many major clangers, but just doesn't seem to provide much of an obstacle to the opposition scoring. Even a wheelie bin can stop shots that are straight at it.

It's the inertia that is killing us. Doing nothing and hoping things will somehow work themselves out is how Homer Simpson approaches problems.

Very decent manager - we could do a lot worse.

How much longer are we going to keep drifting aimlessly, putting off the inevitable? The club need to take charge and act decisively. Completely rudderless at the moment.

Work permit issues meant it was a non starter. Looks like Leicester are going to be able to sign him in January, though, because he's now playing enough to meet the criteria. Bazunu is no better than what we already had. No presence.

Maybe we went in for the pair of them in the summer, but Thorup opted to stay on with Copenhagen at that time. Maybe.