Fitzhugh Fella

That was 100% Cortese, without a doubt. Reed did what he was told under Cortese. He is more powerful now.

I am with you here (that must worry you) and have heard similar whispers. I have said he must be kept on but I can't get myself to actually vote that way. I think I will wait a few days but I know that quite a few people I would regard as moderate have had enough, which is indicative.

Still digging for scraps I see. Shame matches are 90 minutes I guess. And I bet Hitler wished WW2 had ended in 1943.

All this waffle about the players being tired at Everton yesterday (This morning's Guardian gave that as an excuse) is a red herring. Romeu was the only outfield player to play all 3 matches the whole 90 mins and he had just had a fortnight off as he missed the Bournemouth game. The only two other players who played more than 2 matches were Rodriguez who played the equivalent of 2 matches and 20 mins (and let's face it his season has hardly been arduous) and Ward-Prowse who played for 2 matches and 15 mins. Fatigue should not have come into especially as two of the matches were at home and we had 10 days off prior to the Spurs game.

All this waffle about the players being tired at Everton yesterday (This morning's Guardian gave that as an excuse) is a red herring. Romeu was the only outfield player to play all 3 matches the whole 90 mins and he had just had a fortnight off as he missed the Bournemouth game. The only two other players who played more than 2 matches were Rodriguez who played the equivalent of 2 matches and 20 mins (and let's face it his season has hardly been arduous) and Ward-Prowse who played for 2 matches and 15 mins. Fatigue should not have come into especially as two of the matches were at home and we had 10 days off prior to the Spurs game.

Fair OP post. Complacency is our biggest enemy right now plus the fact we are in the LC semis!

If Monsieur Puel choked on a mussel tonight (I seriously hope he doesn't) then I would give Mr Monk and Mr Beattie a call. They would lift the club and the fans I reckon. (Can I just repeat for the benefit of Lord Duckhunter, Trousers and Pamplemouse and other happy clappers lurking tonight, I no way am wishing any harm to Claude or his wife and I hope they enjoy their meal tonight).

If Monsieur Puel choked on a mussel tonight (I seriously hope he doesn't) then I would give Mr Monk and Mr Beattie a call. They would lift the club and the fans I reckon. (Can I just repeat for the benefit of Lord Duckhunter, Trousers and Pamplemouse and other happy clappers lurking tonight, I no way am wishing any harm to Claude or his wife and I hope they enjoy their meal tonight).

I love the black humour on this forum

The depressing thing is, this was so predictable and we are all repeating ourselves over and over. The fans can see what's wrong but Puel and the Board have got their fingers in their ears. The lack of goals was always going to be a problem last September and since then we have lost our one striker who can find the net and yet Puel and the Board have not began to address the problem, or at least that is how it is beginning to look. Personally I don't think Puel should be sacked, there is no one obvious to replace him and the upheaval would be destabilising but players should have already been targeted to bring in. My worry is they have not intended to spend in January and there may well be a panic buy now. The Board are more to blame imo. Cheap skating hoping the Chinese will buy seems the name of the game.

Guardian (that's a newspaper by the way) has him being fit Jan 14th but it's a state secret.

Punished for his being subbed strop?

Redmond and Ward-Prowse not Premiership standard so predicting a struggle

Feel for Long, scores and yet still dropped

Gave Puel an under strength squad which forced him to over rotate?

Yes I agree but not sure that (financial) support will be forthcoming. Looking at that list of likely Puel replacements is depressing reading. Better stick with what we got but the squad needs freshening up urgently.

Considering it is a month since we lost our only proper goal scorer I am disappointed that the window has opened and we don’t seem to be close to signing a replacement, even on a temporary basis. With our season now hanging on the Liverpool semi-final, an extra option upfront would have been a huge benefit in what is likely to be an arduous double leg. With every passing day I hate to say this but I become more apprehensive that the Board have priorities that may differ from the majority of the fan base. I would not have said this 3 months ago but sleep walking out of Europe and the Chinese investors appearance has raised doubts in my mind.

Ostrich

Hearing similar whispers. Players not being happy is nothing new and not terminal but nevertheless something to ponder

Don't get me wrong I am no admirer of Koeman either, certainly as a person but the players respected him even if they didn't like him. Not entirely sure that is the case with Puel.

I admire your loyalty and agree he has to be given more time, but citing reaching a LC semi as some sort of badge of honour is, considering the 3 teams we eliminated, a tad fanciful. If by a miracle we manage to win through to the Final then come back to me.

To be fair watching the Spurs midfield running riot I thought exactly the same as the OP

I agree but it was out of character for him.

Which is why it made sense to appoint him plus he would have contacts and knowledge within the British game which Puel would not. I think his appointment to have been a sound one and to criticise him is a bit like blaming John Prescott for Tony Blair's mistakes. There is no point calling for Puel's head, we must stick with him for at least the rest of this season and give him money in January - he deserves that at least but he needs to buck his ideas up and try at least to up his interviewing technique - it is so painful listening to him, it's like finger nails on a blackboard.

I'd ask him if he knew of life outside our "fabled academy".