In a funny sort of way, that game reminded me of the 2006 cup final. I thought I'd be gutted, but my overall feeling is one of pride at how well we played. There is always something to losing with pride. Nobody gave us a chance. Not just a chance, they had written us off because we couldn’t match t...

Downes could well prove himself again, but it is never happening in a Moyes team. Great to see he was at the game last night. He suits a more pass-heavy approach. Like Sarri… It really does depend on what the plans are for those young players. Earthy and Potts really seem like two you’d think could ...

Apologies for the delay, I refused to come into this cesspool of a thread whilst I had three(ish) days in Queenstown. The mountains of New Zealand do not deserve the bickering of this one. Yes, it is complicated, and it's never , ever black and white until the Chairman sits the Manager down and tell...

Angel Gomes should have been targeted before and would be a great pick up. Juan Miranda is also a great little player, have wanted him for a couple years or so. Probably better than Leif Davis, but Davis is looking good and is clearly up to the physical defensive rigours of English football. I'm as ...

Brilliant until we ran out of steam, and probably 2-0 up if Bowen was not just coming right back off that little lay off. Had two big chances, shame both were on his right. Best 45 of the season. Ward-Prowse takes my man of the match. He's not a good a ball player as Paqueta, not as skilful or ingen...

The style of play coming from the Chairman ? Insert your own Billy Conolly clip that's been shown at every Corporate Management conference forever......... I don’t know who else you want it to come from? The owner is going to have a say in things like this, even if it’s a minimal one that instructs...

And Steidten never has been in such an important role before in his entire career. But he is a really good and smart talker. I was never a teacher before I was a teacher. David Moyes had come off the back of failing in multiple jobs. And I’d guess a lot of people here have been promoted above the p...

People keep telling me that a coach these days manages the players he is given and plays them to order. I find that hard to imagine, especially here with nobody in control. We are not Brighton with Tony Bloom, so who decides the playing philosophy? If it's Steidten, what credentials does he have to...

So, Wilko The squad: I reckon there’s more to it than simply put and black and white questions. But… I think it’s broken down by him, as TTS’s post alludes to. My opinion would be that over the years, he has not embraced a squad, just a core. To me, it’s outdated and not helpful for a team who play...

Interesting with Ward-Prowse. I don’t think he’s a bad signing if you assess his performances as an individual. I’d say he’s had a good season, especially because he does so much ugly work and hard running for people who won’t or can’t. He’s our best chance creator, scored a good amount of goals, pl...

However, a few things in response: I’ll only quote that to save space. Much the same, I only replied so quickly before as it’s you. And whilst I’ve been short with some lately, I do understand that this thread grinds down the desire to respond fully sometimes. I’m not comparing style with Pep, more...

Like many things in life, it should be possible to make an argument for change whilst also realising the serious challenges that will entail, and create realistic parameters for success. Unfortunately what you so often get with the more militant posters for change are along the lines of “I’d rather...

Weak, weak, weak. Attack offered nothing, Ings particularly atrocious and seemed to help Antonio to his worst performance of the season. Thankfully they stayed on together for 82 minutes… Defence is awful. Mavropanos does that with too much regularity, just hasn’t got a brain in there. Aguerd was be...

Definitely staying: Areola, Emerson, Mavropanos, Soucek, JWP, Alvarez, Kudus, Bowen. Ones we could keep, but can trade around: Paquetá (not by choice), Zouma, Aguerd, Coufal, Downes. Old heads we could keep to save money: Cresswell, Antonio, Ogbonna, Fabianski. Should be leaving: Ings, Cornet. (Keh...

Another flop end to the season as the manager stands and watches his side play abysmally. Hoping we change at the end of the season. Can’t defend, struggle to attack if one of the big four (and more specifically the three behind Antonio) is out, can’t use players outside a select small unit. We drag...

It’s not the style, for me, but a performance like ours cannot be good unless we were playing against something good.

You can defend well without the other team being great, but you can’t make one chance against a team not playing well (defence and attack) and have played well yourself.

Hell of a risk. Chelsea have spent insane amounts and the progress is minimal. 15 points off them would take them below Everton, and I suspect that they’d have won less games if they were under relegation pressure, before even the attitudes kicked off.

Working on Moyes being manager, although I don’t think we hire a new manager who makes drastic changes: Definitely staying: Areola, Emerson, Mavropanos, Soucek, JWP, Alvarez, Kudus, Bowen. Ones we could keep, but can trade around: Paquetá (not by choice), Zouma, Aguerd, Coufal, Downes. Old heads we ...

I thought we did very well at what we were forced to do. And for 99%, we didn’t have a choice. But it should not be ignored that they stopped us doing more. One chance created. There is absolutely no way Moyes wanted that, the plan was not to be so camped in our own defensive third. And it’s odd to ...

He can stay out in Spain.