Fernandez

[tinostongue]

Really puzzled by his absence,not even on the bench on Sat. We need to start proper fullbacks, not wingers! Man quill oat right back, Lewis can’t be any worse than playing Ritchie there can he? Fernandez and Schar in the middle. Oh and Dubravka back to instil some confidence in the defence. We have to change things at the back or I fear the worst.

[MidsMagpie]

Seems like Jones is still having an influence on picking Fernandez, how Clark started ahead of him saturday ill never know and then not to even have him on the bench was crazy. Lewis needs to come back in for Ritchie as well and same for Manquillo and get rid of Murphy.

[bix01]

I can only assume he didn’t want to make wholesale changes in one go, so maybe a couple more next week then again the week after.

[Zippity]

I just wonder if he's got long Covid?

[toonviking]

With 3 different coaches not picking Fernandez - not even for the bench, there must be a problem we dont know about.

As for Ritchie he needs to be out of the starting XI. Cant see what hes doing for the team. I fear that Howe rates him though, but the truth is he cant really attack (anymore) or defend.

[Jammy89]

As Viking said, with 3 different coaches not picking him, something else is happening.

Long covid would make sense.

Personally, I don't think that Jones would be having that much influence on who Howe picks, he's going to want his own evaluation.