Eddie FFS

[toonviking]

Aye, two things:

1. Start running and pressing again
2. Play full backs that will be a threat going forward.

If we do that, the results will come.

[Zippity]

We've got the balance totally wrong, ever since the first half of the Liverpool game, when we looked like our old selves.

We've taken the intensity out of our league games to try to spread out our workload over the different competitions we're in and lessoe the incidences of injuries which have previously plagued us.

And I get that but we've gone way too far the other way. And without it, the players look like they don't know what to do or where they should be on the pitch. The result is what we're seeing now. Yesyerday and West Ham were easily as bad as some of the worst performances under Bruce and McClaren and that is about as damning an indictment as there can be and not one I say lightly, either.

Eddie is still, for me, absolutely the right man to take us forward. He has 100% earned the right to fix the problems we have and anyone who thinks otherwise is being hugely unfair on him...and clearly hasn't been following us long enough.

Doesn;t mean he's above criticism, though. His loyalty to certain players could be his undoing and I genuinely can't fathom why he didn't take Dan Burn off after the yellow when every single person watching could see what was going to happen. Plus, Woltermade must be being told to drop deep and that patently wasn't working either.

[Jammy89]

One thing I was thinking, with all the extra games we lose time on the training pitch.

We know how much Eddie values all time there and going into get detail, is that some of it, he's not getting all detail or plans into people?

[Cannylad]

We've got the balance totally wrong, ever since the first half of the Liverpool game, when we looked like our old selves.

We've taken the intensity out of our league games to try to spread out our workload over the different competitions we're in and lessoe the incidences of injuries which have previously plagued us.

And I get that but we've gone way too far the other way. And without it, the players look like they don't know what to do or where they should be on the pitch. The result is what we're seeing now. Yesyerday and West Ham were easily as bad as some of the worst performances under Bruce and McClaren and that is about as damning an indictment as there can be and not one I say lightly, either.

Eddie is still, for me, absolutely the right man to take us forward. He has 100% earned the right to fix the problems we have and anyone who thinks otherwise is being hugely unfair on him...and clearly hasn't been following us long enough.

Doesn;t mean he's above criticism, though. His loyalty to certain players could be his undoing and I genuinely can't fathom why he didn't take Dan Burn off after the yellow when every single person watching could see what was going to happen. Plus, Woltermade must be being told to drop deep and that patently wasn't working either.

Totally right about Woltermade, here's a 6' 6'' giant and he hovers around the half way mark most of the game. I realise he's a different kind of striker to what's 'is name but for me every time a winger gets the ball he should know where his target is immediately. Voltermade is a smart player and should be given free reign, anything is better than what I see every 'kin week.

[toonviking]

One thing I was thinking, with all the extra games we lose time on the training pitch.

We know how much Eddie values all time there and going into get detail, is that some of it, he's not getting all detail or plans into people?

Agree with this theory.

As for Woltemade, it also seems like he likes to drop deep. Or maybe hes pushed deep by the opposition... at least both west ham and brentford closed him down well in the deeper positions. Still we tried to play through him.

Again, full backs on overlap and speed from the wingers is key I think.

[toptoon]

All good points. Burn as s LB threatens little in attack and is asked to hang back more. This has 2 negative effects:
1. It reduces our left wing threat (Gordon or Barnes, usually) who should be a main force of our attack.
2. It makes us predictable - were far more likely to attack down the right.
For these reasons we are SERIOUSLY missing Tino and Hall. Even the question of Wolt dropping back will be resolved when these 2 are back and firing IMO.

[Nufcian]

All good points. Burn as s LB threatens little in attack and is asked to hang back more. This has 2 negative effects:
1. It reduces our left wing threat (Gordon or Barnes, usually) who should be a main force of our attack.
2. It makes us predictable - were far more likely to attack down the right.
For these reasons we are SERIOUSLY missing Tino and Hall. Even the question of Wolt dropping back will be resolved when these 2 are back and firing IMO.

Completely agree that having both Tino and Hall back should make an obvious difference to the team, but… we can’t be a team that can play well when we have all our best players available and fit.

Similar to Zip’s point about having the extra training time available, we want… need to be playing in Europe to both attract players and generate income… the manager needs to be able to cope with it. To a lesser degree that also applies to playing in cup games.

It’s probably fair to say that 1 season wasn’t enough for Eddie to learn how to manage his squad and intensity of play, that CL season was the first time he’s needed to do it, but managers get so little time to adapt, and the playing style (whatever it is supposed to be) hasn’t been working all season… and if we are honest this poor form started tail end of last season so it’s not all on the extra games.

The biggest thing for me, and something that’s been obvious for a long time, is losing the ball cheaply… in Eddie’s recent interview he mentioned making technical mistakes and giving the ball away as if it is something recent, it’s not.

I’m still backing Eddie to turn it around, but I do think that if we don’t show real signs of CONSISTENT improvement before the end of the season, then there will be behind-closed-door discussions about his position.

[Zippity]

Agree, Ian-we've been incredibly sloppy in possession for quite a while now.

The number of times we've given the ball away incredibly cheaply recently is a big worry and a head scratcher too-we know they're better footballers than that.

[HughieG]

Gonna have to disagree here. I think all talks of Eddie's position being anything other than secure at the moment is close to nonsense, if I'm honest.

We all know what he's achieved at this club already. He's not going downhill from here, he's "growing with the task" as we say - he didn't suddenly become a terrible manager who cannot get a tune of out these players. That's my personal opinion, anyway. Tactically, sure, there are things I wish he would tweak, and I wish we were more flexible in our style of play, especially we're being closed down and can't play the high-pressing game that we want.

The turmoil at the club over the summer hasn't helped the squad - we simply have not, yet again, been equipped sufficiently to play both in the Champions League and the Premier League, competetitively. I don't think the responsibility lies solely with the manager, nor do I think the majority lies with him. A small part. maybe. I think we will see a rise in form soon and no one will be talking about Eddie's position.

Football fans have short memories these days - just remember how much it's paid off for us to have some patience with our manager. Top 5's, Champions League and a trophy. Give him a break.

[tinostongue]

We he wont even be backup for the next game...

Tripper vd Doku though.

So who would you play? Krafth? Roku not definite starter hopefully