S-Clarke

I would totally agree that Hoj isn't a DM type, he's more of a mobile CM who can drive forward. I think his best games are when he's allowed to move forward with the ball and drive towards the box. Potentially he could be the replacement for Davis, but what with the captaincy situation I don't think Davis is 'droppable' at the moment. For me, he'd play in front of Romeu and another. Flanked by Redmond/Boufal or Tadic and Gabbiadini up front. I'd happily lose one of the ''attacking'' 3 to accommodate him.

Something is brewing I think, but I just hope the 'new' owners (if it happens) aren't the sort who will just fly names about and advertise interest in anything that moves. I kinda like how we do things at the moment (bar the selling..!)

All Hoj needs is some game time, he really should be one of our first choice CM's. Not sure why he's never held down a place, the in and out nature of the season has not helped him at all. I think he's class.

25 years old...and just been relegated from Serie B? Umm.

Absolutely no chance of them 'giving him away'. He'll either be in their team next year or be sold for mega bucks.

Our recruitment has been excellent. You've just cherrypicked a few there, but even Tadic and Pelle - have they really been poor copies/poor players? They've both been excellent for us and I'm still struggling to understand why people still cannot see how important Pelle was to us at times over the last two years. Toby for Lovren, VVD for Toby, Bertrand for Shaw, Cedric for Clyne. Romeu for Wanyama, Mane. I think Boufal and Hojburg have huge potential as well, there is no way people should be writing either of those off already. Utter mentals. But generally, our recruitment has been spot on. We've had a few stinkers, but every club has them. Given what we had to replace back in 2015, we did a f**ing heroic scouting job.

But imagine a team who can pair them both together in the same team. Oh.

What's your thoughts on Walter? Reckon you'll stick this summer or appoint another new manager?

Wanyama was excellent yesterday, he was bursting forward with the ball and actually made a couple of forward passes to Kane! Can't say I remember him doing that too much. Anyone can see that he is exactly what Arsenals midfield need/needed, yet Wenger is just stubborn. It must be so f**ing frustrating being an arsenal fan.

wtf are you on about.

tbf, he hasn't been in charge all season. Although I'm not one to jump on this hipster train, let's keep the argument fair...

Gabba up top, 3 behind of Redmond (or tadic/or boufal), Davis, JWP. Then Hoj or Clasie in alongside Romeu.

0.1/10

It was very much like that when I saw the team, balls on the line kind of selection. We didn't have a midfield and it was always going to be a case of a Tadic/Boufal/Redmond having the game of their lives, the fact we carried all 3 for most of the game is why we struggled. There was no basis for a performance to be built from, the lack of midfield meant that the gap between the midfield and attack was even greater than normal. It was near on impossible to service Gabbiadaini, especially when Redmond/Tadic both had awful days. This was more of an extreme illustration, but it's been our problem all year. The gap between the rest and the attack is always too big, we control the ball in the centre back positions, through to central midfield..but then the gap is too big, so it slows down and there isn't the ability to quickly link. This is personally why I'd play Hoj or Clasie alongside Romeu and if Davis plays, it has to be in place of a Tadic/Boufal - because he can be that link, and that's what he has done for us in previous season. He is not a PL central midfielder, he's an attacking midfielder and thats where he needs to be deployed. Now, if we could evolve Davis's position with someone like Siguardson...

This is the one thing that properly annoys me, why is it so hard for the club to be honest and transparent about injuries? It's like it's the worlds closet guarded secret, I don't see who it benefits. Just frustrates the **** out of us.

The middle of the road teams have all been **** this year, which is why we're all bunched up together. I think we'd get top half with 45+ points, so beat Stoke get something from Boro away. I'd like to see us take on one of the big sides at home though. Actually, I just want to see us take on anyone at home. Just a goal, it's all I ask for.

Don't be dumb.

I know this is quite a small point, but yeah...it does kind of illustrate how the fan base is totally meh for him. It's not really his fault that he's not charismatic, but it doesn't help. I cannot remember the last time we didn't have a 'song' for a manager over the course of a season. Big summer for him and the club. Hopefully we can start the season next year, just feel like I want this one over and done with.

TBF the 'we're in the top half'' ''we're 9th'' is pretty thin at the moment, as alluded to in another thread...one bad week of results, just one, and we are 16th. That would look pretty pathetic tbh. Don't think he should go, not one of those knee-jerk fans. But we need to see something in these final games to push us to a top half finish and raise the feeling ahead of next season. I still cannot remember a manager who has had such a 'meh' response within the fan base, no one has fully taken to him.

tbf Koeman always had Tadic as his penalty taker when JWP wasn't on the pitch.

I don't think anyone is saying it hasn't, but it's fair to see people a little disappointed with what we're dishing up at home.

eh?

TBF, I don't think many people are basing their reactions on JUST this game.

Redmond should have been off before anyone, he had the game from hell today.

Every one of his penalties is ****e, even if he scores it's a weak effort. I remember the first penalty he was given, away at Burnley in RK's first season - dire. Why does he continue to take them? We were spoiled with the days of Rickie, but all you want is someone to hit it with some conviction. He just tries to dink it, or pass it. Utter trash player when he's not on his game.