This is thanks to Isak

[toonviking]

We had a project, that people belived in. Then he decided to piss on everyone. I think it shocked and rocked our players more than we like to think. Elanga thought thought he would team up with his country man, then he fecked off.

What goes around, comes around. Hes start to his Liverpool career is exactly what he desserve.

Nothing we can do about it now, but some leader at the club has to adress this problem and talk about it. Its obvious that they havent talked about it. The club just put a lid on it. Thats NOT the right way to deal with it, and it has made eveyone else have second thoughts about this project.

I have seen these mechanisms many times, and I'm 100% sure this is the problem. TALK ABOUT IT, and let people say what they think, and then make sure that poeple understand that the project isnt over just because one player decided to act like a Quisling.

[Jammy89]

Agreed - Isak ****ed our transfer window and the start of the season.

I also agree that someone needs to talk - none of our team leaders seem to be doing anything.

Bruno - is doing it on the pitch but we need a behind the scene Captain stepping up - a Trippier really.

[Marat18]

I just copy my reply from manu thread:

Thats correct.
I think the players wasnt impressed with how the club dealt with the whole issue.
Its also was some kind of reality check, may be they thought that they took the step back as a team and thats affecting their performance.

Cup win was great, no doubt about that, but all these world class internationals might be thinking - is that going to be my best achievement?

The club needs to figure out its next step forward. Marquee signing that takes us to the next level or rebuild with 1-2 big money sale. Or something more clever
So far, I have an impression that we were in a panic buy mode past summer and was taken for a ride on the prices we paid

[toonphil]

Still think we're tactically predictable even if Woltemade does play deep and slows our play compared to Isak.

[Zippity]

Our recruitment was thrown by the Isal saga...but...we should have had a strategy lined up for any of our big players leaving.

It's lack of planning and foresight that's got us into this situation as much as it is the Rat's fault.

Certainly, Wissa and Woltermade were panic buys, even if they had been on our radar.

This is as much down to being run poorly as it is Isak leaving.

[toonviking]

Totally. Our transfers has turned out to be shoite, tbh.

Thiaw - is an intergral part on one of the worst defences in the league. And involved in many goals. He looks decent, but still has a LONG way to go in this league.

Ramsdale - not better than Pope, in other words a pointless signing. Dubravka could have done the same job. Not a starter.

Woltemade - slows us down like you say. Has a few goals in him, but hes not a number 9 and not a good first defender. Not sure hes good enough to be a starter yet, really.

Ramsey - just like Willock. Nothing more. Definitely not a starter. J7 should start every game over him still.

Elanga - probably the worst winger I have seen under Howe. Not sure hes worth a place on the bench, tbh. I think we have youth players that would do a better job.

Wissa - Nearly 30, been injured ever sinced he signed. Played for several years at Brentford, a team that peaked in many ways last season. And so did he - after years from working under Franks system. In a team that was designed to play on hes strengths. Not convinced hes a worthy starter here yet.

When people return from injury, we need to play the players that understand how Eddie wants to play. These players clearly dont underatand it.

Thats said, I'm convinced this is more of a mental thing. And the problem is the Isak saga, and the way the club has tried to brush it under the carpet.

Poor leadership is the main problem.

Adress is, or brace your self for a lower half of the table fight. We are just above relegation quality at the moment.

[toptoon]

Isak did f*ck us and himself in the manner he left. My major blame, though, goes to PSR. If there was more sporting integrity in the PL we would not have signed Wolt (who I like) but a more similar striker to Judas.
Remember Eddie stressing the importance of early signings to allow a pre-season? He knew our opportunities to train in the first half of the season would be very limited. We dont have the personnel he needs because we cant offer the same salaries.
Ive already (painfully) resigned myself to this season. Its a transitional one and cups or nothing.

[Ragatino]

There are reasons why the team are currently in this situation.

There seems to be a disbelief in the group that in previous seasons wasn't there. In previous seasons it felt like the team were the scrappy lads from the estates with knackered, dirty, old trainers putting the boot in and scrapping for every ball.

This season it just appears that it's too nicey nice. There is no guile. No nastiness in the tackle. The tactics are flat and the lads look bored.

The Red filth had 6 at the back. Their so sh!t that their fans are crowing about the 'hard fought victory', they are actually pleased and proud at that win. It's a sorry indictment of our current plight.

Woltemade has proven he's a goal scorer. Regardless of his profile being more of a tactician than an athlete. Who's running in behind?

I can't tell you how many times I was shout at the TV 'WHERE'S THE MOVEMENT LADS, F**KING MOOOVE!'

In football the two things that win games are Pace and Movement.

Whilst there was pace in the team with Gordon, Ramsey and Murphy.

When the subs were made nothing chanced Wissa didn't change it.

[Jammy89]

We have the pace - but the football brain seems lacking at the minute.

Saw someone say we currently have athletes not football players and there not to wrong based on recent games.

[Ragatino]

We have the pace - but the football brain seems lacking at the minute.

Saw someone say we currently have athletes not football players and there not to wrong based on recent games.

Yeah the squad has considerable amount of athletic players.

However, last season Elanga - a player who is experiencing much derision for his lack of output banged in
11 goals and laid on 21 assists for Forest in 82 games.

Gordon's output has dropped off a cliff this season. The poncy hair band isn't helping him.
He's scored 29 goals, 26 assists in 128 games.

Despite being athletes the have scored goals and provided assists.

The Irony is that our most technical player and least pacey player Woltemade is the one who is struggling in the current set up when the team is away from home.

The one player with 'the football brain' looks more isolated and out of the play at our worst.

[Ragatino]

In my opinion it's a matter of heart, determination and aggression.

The team isn't as aggressive as it used to be. Losing from winning positions, dropping points after taking the lead is a mental problem.

From a team of sh!thouses to a group that surrenders is clearly not about running or passing.

There is a concern about the goalkeeper, Pope when he gets the ball to feet.

Ramsdale's not a great shot stopper.

Botman and Burn out leaves our defence considerably weakened.

Tonali not being dedicated to the No.6 role recently has exposed gaps for an opposition No.10 - Chelsea Fernandez found space.

The Derby was a clear case in point.

Kevin Nolan in his prime was never a player of the kind of quality of Bruno, Tonali or any of the newer signings. Yet that man is a dog of war and in the derby he mauled the Mackems.

The team need to find that fight again.

[Nufcian]

For me the biggest issue is transition from midfield to forwards, and having any kind of plan other than knocking it out to a winger, or passing it to a winger to carry.

Woltemade sits too deep, when the ball is available to put in most times he’s not there unless the ball has been recycled and he’s still up from a previous attack (in most cases anyway).

My take would be…

Tonali playing dedicated 6
Bruno and Miley/Ramsey attacking through the centre more
Wissa starting (see a comment that when he came in he hardly got involved… he was brought on a) too late b) Murphy was taken off … so Gordon did f**k all to get the ball to him and Barnes is not anywhere near the provider Murphy is.

I think we need to look at a different formation to play Woltemade, and need another striker to rotate with Wissa… becasue we desperately need that cutting edge that keeps teams nervous and Woltemade is way too slow to be it… I like him as a player, but he’s a 10 and will never be a 9

[Ragatino]

Players need to be closer to Nick, Bruno higher up closer to Nick, Gordon more narrow closer to Nick.

Both would be more feasible with confidence that there was a dedicated DMF to protect the rear guard should the opposition turn the ball over and play on the counter attack.

The like-for-like subs is rightly bringing criticism to Eddie. Whilst people are asking for a change to formation, I believe that formation change isn't necessary. What is necessary is when players are brought into 4-3-3 is that they have an impact, do something different to the player they're replacing.

Again there has to be some acceptance from the fans that the players have to take responsibility for their performances.

Against City, Liverpool and Arsenal earlier this season they all put in a performance. Didn't get the positive results. Against West Ham or Brentford they didn't perform. Playing at the levels of the first 3 in the last two would lead to a completely different result.

Whilst the manager is getting a lot of pelters, buck stops with the boss, Eddie is experienced enough to accept that as he says so in his press conferences, protecting the players and being positive outwardly, publicly the players need to take responsibility for their poor performances.

The attacking players aren't putting teams to the sword and that leaves the team in a vulnerable position.

The one exception to this comment this season is the Everton match.

Simply put this hasn't become a bad team, a bad manager regardless of what happened over the summer. The events did have an impact but now it's time for the lads to start to go up through the gears and that starts at Burnley tomorrow night (Tuesday)