UpweySaint

There is an unfortunate reason we keep getting our talent cherry picked. If we can survive this season the goal long term has to be imitating the trend of European teams who recruit well and sell big while keeping together good sides. I know we aren't on the same level but the likes of Dortmund, Monaco, Atletico, RB Leipzig etc should be our model. Still maintain we have more quality players than a number of teams above us.

Our best, as in for their impact with us, Bertrand, Pelle and Mane (though Davis and Tadic only just edged out). The most talented three, Mane, Toby and VVD. Whatever has gone right or wrong over the last few years I have to say our recruitment has been better than most. Some of the players who have come through the club have been top quality. Could have easily mentioned Clyne, Lovren, Wanayama before we even get to the academy lot.

Enter joke about Bertrand having carried the side and/or various left wingers ...

To be fair the lad hasn't looked too happy for a while. Form, manager or just not settled ... it could be one or all three really. Have to say though our fans have really got behind him and keep singing for him. I think we all recognise he is a talented player, just a case of getting the best out of him while we have him. Hopefully Hughes may be able to give insight. Even though his record as a manger is a tad patchy there is no doubting he was a top quality striker. On a side note I think some are being a tad harsh on Carillo. I'm not going to say he's started great but he has played a part in some of our better movements/goals from corners lately. Don't get me wrong I think we won't see too much from him this season but, should we scrape survival, we may be able to get more out of his next term. He has come into a team playing utter dross. I can't remember him missing a myriad of chances so again maybe with others playing better around him ... We all largely agree we needed the option of a target man like Lambert or Pelle, he may be able to come good and fit the brief. Then again buggered if I know, I thought Olly Lancashire was going to be top quality!

I'd make a case for a few but generally take the point. Think Stephens has done okay all things considered and has at least shown some bottle - even if he would benefit from being part of a more assured backline. Sims has shown enough in cameos to make me think he could give something too.

I really doubt it but can't help but feel it would be pretty hollow, though you never know if we get out of this mess the relief and euphoria may kick in! Be nice to have something, anything to get excited about this season. I've managed to find a few positives but it's hard work finding anything exciting about us this season. Olomola's almost magic cameo if i'm grasping! (how tragic is that eh!) Oh well, if nothing changes over the next few weeks it may be time to start drawing up a list of positives to relegation.

I've been trying to avoid the constant negativity and find the positives but this has been utter w*nk! No urgency, no movement ... I know our confidence is shot but every time we play the safe pass and give Newcastle a chance to organise. The rare glimpses we have upped the tempo and committed men we have looked something approaching dangerous. We may as well go for it second half. Sims must come on, looked fearless last time out, we need more of that. May as well get Gabbi up and around Carillo to. 2-0 or 5-0 is irrelevant, we need goals, points and a bit of hope. Overwhelming sinking feeling today, if we stay up it will be more down to three other teams being more woeful.

Had a dream Cedric finally scored for us only for a 70th minute stoke equaliser and the game ended up another frustrating draw!

It's not illegal but there is a reason so few teams do it, i don't think away to burnley is the time for us to be trying a system we've not used all season.

Not getting in to a debate about the manager's quality but surely the line up was one of his more forward thinking? Arguably we only had the one holding midfielder and played the likes of redmond and tadic. Short of going two up top (beyond brave away from home when we are struggling) not sure how much more attacking we could have gone? He made good subs that had an impact too.

Neither side really deserved a win, Ashley Barnes seems to think otherwise post match, but good to see a nice Sims cameo, a striker on the score sheet and us digging out something from nothing. Also Carrilo's pulling backpost and nodding across reminded me of Lambert. The man is slow but we really benefit from a target man. I don't think much has changed in terms of our position today. We are still in the mire, most want the manager and les out, we continue to underwhelm though we have scraped together some points lately and our cup run shows promise. Personally I think we might just sneak over the line to safety. If we don't, oh well. Cheaper tickets, more games, academy products getting game time and clem may turn up at staplewood.

Time will tell but we clearly benefit from a more physical threat to play off up top. Looks willing too and has had a few moments of quality. Some step from Ligue 1 to prem too in terms of intensity, physicality and quality so he may take time to start to show more of his own ability.

Or maybe the problem goes higher up, we played like this for the tail end of last season. MP may or may not be any good but it is hardly all his fault.

First half unlucky, second lacked any real urgency. Didn't really expect anything from this one but we should have been able to make more of a contest of it. We weren't as bad as some on here make out mind! Burnley, Stoke, Newcastle, Swansea, Wham ... these are the games we need points from. Hard to take too many positives from today other than some tidy play in the first half. Other results have made today's result tougher to take but the table is still so close.

Referenced on the Guardian on an article re: Lookman as imminent as a part of an overhaul they are doing. They have apparently came out and said their current u18 crop is the worst they have seen in years. Less harsh publicly perhaps but arguably we should be looking at refreshing our structures, shame we couldn't tempt Mitchell back.

have you tried a vpn? fairly easy to use on chrome and a number available.

http://firstrows.xyz/soccer/xft-west-brom-southampton-fyz3d6762?l=1838476434

Would love us to sign him, has the pace and direct play we lack, could also offer a presence up to when needed.

A good read as usual, would agree about MP's game management. You could see the Palace game turn and Watford's plan for the second half was clear as day yet we changed nothing. An argument could be made that we don't want to be reactive and instead impose our style of play onto others but, the reality is, we are in a scrap and can worry about style of play etc in the off season or if/when we have secured our place in the league for next year. The Redmond baiting is a good point. Not many of our players have covered themselves in glory this season yet he seems to get far too much stick based on things like Puel's Henry comparison and MP's decision to stick with him when not at his best (neither of which were his fault). He strikes me as a confidence player, he has stopped trying to beat men as often and looks to turn for safer options. This is a young player who made the England squad and took City apart. He's certainly not as bad as some make out.

A majority, sure. 'Almost every single' seems rather like hyperbole in my opinion. Quite clear you disagree but I don't think it is deluded not to see sacking the manager as the solution. We have been on the decline since this time last year for my money, I think problems run through the club, putting it all on the current manager just doesn't sit right with me. If honest he would never have been my choice, I often question his game management and don't feel particularly inspired by him but he has only managed in a new league for six months. He may turn it around, he may not. Do we know for a fact anybody else we could attract would do a better job? Certainly not. I agree with your sentiment we need to try something but I would suggest that could be done with players.

You do realise it is possible to comprehend we have been sh*t without also wanting to sack the manager? Understand a significant majority want to see the back of the manager but just because it is the popular opinion does not mean is the only valid one. If people were saying nah we are playing great and can't possibly be relegated by all accounts call it out but I don't see people doing that, think largely we all see similar issues just have different ideas on how to solve them.

I know even De Ridder looked decent in a youtube compilation but between that, his stats and the few times I have seen him play I would be pretty excited if we managed to get Quincy on board. Still think we also need presence up top and and a top quality cb would make it a good window but the idea of Hoedt with Yoshida or Stephens doesn't particularly fill me with dread.

On recent evidence Prowse could make those runs, Davis has in the past, I fancy Lemina also has it in him. Our wide players often play like inside forwards so may find themselves in good positions off a target man.

Theo is a proven premier league striker, knows the club and has a point to prove if he wants to go to the world cup. I think there are certainly more pros than cons on this one.

In theory yes but to be honest Hoedt alongside either Yosh or Stephens doesn't fill me with terror. It's our lack of goals that I think will sink us, we have enough good spells in games where we either don't create or finish chances that then allow other teams into games. If we can strengthen throughout brilliant, add a CB and a keeper to the list. I fear we realistically can only secure one or two quality additions this month and I would rather see them in more advanced positions.