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A player who's been out for the thick end of 2 years, who's never kicked a ball in the PL, cannot realistically be expected to make his comeback in the PL and he a success. If he has any sort of fitness, he needs to go somewhere else to get his form back, and we need someone else.

For me he improved a lot last season so I'd like to judge him after a run this season, in a side that gives him half a chance. With the squad we've got he'd look a lot better playing off Diaz imo, or wide ISH of a 3 up top. He's being hung out to dry at the moment.

That's harsh. The lad has been lobbed out wide with no CF ahead of him. As much as I think the PL is probably a step too far for him, he can't be judged on how he's performed in RM's dodgy set up this season.

Yes, just - Bednarek, BBD. Looks likely - Sugar. The others , not yet proven, and on yesterday's showing, THB may find this a tough season.

I can't agree with that. There has to be a threat to possession, otherwise it's literally a case of passing until we lose or give away the ball. Strachan called this style of football propaganda football. It really is. It's tedious to watch, it gives us no edge, and exposes is at this level. I'm with you on the lack of CF and players getting in the box. It's obvious to anyone bar RM that we need runners to stretch the oppo, to give us an outlet, and to give is some chance of actually scoring. I honestly can't recall the last time that we played such baffling tactics.

Yep. I'm torn between whether it's arrogance, stupidity, or that it's as simple as he's doing his best but that his best just ain't good enough.

I'd like to see 433 and some changes. Lumley Bree Edwards Wood Taylor Lesley Downes Fernandes Dibling Archer BBD

We had no other options for a back 4 other than keeping THB or Stephens on. As you agree that THB had a poor game, I'm not sure why you disagree that he was correct CB to be sacrificed, or what the alternative was.

Yep. I posted a while ago that I'd heard that he'd go even if he went up. The concerns were about his ability to set us up defensively. Obvs he hasn't gone, and he's clearly worked on our defence, but to the detriment of giving us any attacking threat. This wide forward nonsense just ain't working. We've got no chance of competing with these tactics.

Was Stephens better thanTHB today? The answer is yes. Whether he should have taken a FB off and pushed Stephens over is another issue. Sure, RM went around it in a peculiar way, but he kept the right 2 x cb's on the pitch today.

Who was the better CB today, Stephens or THB? A CB had to go off to make a back 4 to change our shape. Bednarek wasn't going off, and Stephens was playing better, so the choice was pretty obvious. Some fans obsession with knocking Stephens is far weirder than the managers respect for him.

Agree with that. I'm not sure what the Stephens bashers today were watching. Dibling isn't a starter yet for me, but he needs half a half to make a difference imo.

Eh? I've said nothing about his level, and I don't care what it is. I'm only interested in whether a player is good enough for our team. He wasn't good enough last season. He's been poor this season. He doesn't play with his head up, has never had an end product. Upgrade him. What level he goes to, not my concern.

Absolutely. 4 at the back. 3 in the middle. 3 up top. Play on the front foot, stretching teams, and creating genuine chances. We should be getting something at home to forest, and it's hard to see where our first result will come from playing this way.

Yep. Last week was on him too, despite the AM error. Subs were too late. The only comfort I'll take is that we're not getting smashed. Yet.

He was crap there. He's never been able to play with his head up and/or do anything useful with the ball. He's not good enough, but, the best wide option RM can use.

Eh? I want our best dead ball players over dead balls. Who did you want, Bednarek, Stephens?

Agreed, and I'm not sure that's a conspiracy theory, it's just an acknowledgement that medicine and food are both huge industries, and sales of shite versions of the latter lead to more need for the former. Sad but true. Lighthouse makes a good point though. Why, as a society, do we consume what we do? Why don't the masses spend half an hour prepping and knocking up a decent risotto rather than waiting 40 mins for glorified cheese on toast to be delivered? Why a bottle of pop or prosecco rather than a nice San Pellegrino or Bedoit? On your first point, I think they're worried about offending fat people and don't have time. Both points tell me that we need to educate society better, but the medics aren't incentivised to do their bit. State of the nation ain't great.

He's a bit like Ian Wright for me, a big personality. He's definitely improving though. As for Jenas, his brief comment that he's not happy/two sides to a story/engaging his lawyers, suggests that there's more to come. Like you o thought he was proper boring so I'm looking forward to the leaks to see what he's done.

I think he works as part of a group. On CBS alongside the lovely Kate Abdo, Carragher, and Henry he's brilliant. I could never see him as a front man though.

Yep. Nothing to do with that video ^^^^

He wasn't sacked for that - you don't get sacked for coming across as a bit of a dick.

I think that's it. We sign players who aren't PL ready yet, and won't get a work permit/visa, so send them to get kicked about a bit in Turkey while earning the points to get a work permit/visa. The bonus is that we've probably structured the deal to make it FFP friendly. This kid was wanted by Wolves for 18 mil so he won't be a sack of shite. Seems like decent business.

Good work mate. I know a few people who've had my lumbar surgery (3,4 and 5 commonly go - mine have narrowed a tad but fortunately haven't herniated) and have had a great recovery. Good luck with whatever procedure you need. Shitty snacks are where I fall down from time to time. I have to be really disciplined if a tube of pringles or bag of haribos is around. Instead, I occasionally treat myself with fruit that I love but don't have every day such as cherries or dates, stuff like that.

I didn't know that - thanks 👍🥚🍳