Hobsons Choice

I've been dismissive about the job Cooper has been doing this season, but if they stay up it will have been an incredible job he's done.

Fulham must have scored some worldies, there. Haven't seen the game yet.

In fairness, if we went in blood and thunder, and as a result some of our players got injured, we could be playing Derek the team bus driver as a holding midfielder by next week. I jest, but the serious point is that we are needing to somehow get through the next few games without injury. I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if the players have been told to look after themselves. Perhaps that's why in the Derby game, which are unusually feisty affairs, we struggled a bit. Or maybe not. Just speculating.

Just switched on the Brighton game about 15 minutes ago. It's been the most one sided game I've seen in ages. Having not seen the first half, how the hell are Everton 3-0 up?

Loving the new badge on the concepts btw.

This was the same team that Slippy G was playing and flirting with relegation. The same team minus 3 players. That not only provides some perspective in terms of why we can't expect us to blow away teams week after week, and provides further perspective on what a brilliant run we actually put together, but also answers your question as to why we've not been able to keep the form going, since we have been unable to carry out even the most basic squad rotation and targeting of personel to opposition weaknesses (because we only have a first 11 we have to play week in and week out). This will obviously be addressed in the summer, as the boss has already said it will be. We tried hard, fell short, but it's been a ride, and we'll be back stronger next year.

Maybe he is responsible. But why are you fixated on the bad, when we've just been on a fantastic run? Let's just enjoy not being shit and 17th, and kick on next year, which was always the likely outcome. Just self flagillation at this point. Yeah we missed out marginally, but who expects (not wants) us to play brilliant and win every game? That just does not happen. We can improve and we will improve. Trust the process and enjoy the ride. If we finish 8th this season is far from failure given where we were.

That entirely changes the point I was making. Like radically. Thanks man.

You can't move over here for all those 'mass school stabbings'.

That's every team, we are just closer to the deficiencies of our team than others. If it wasn't the best team would always win 100% of their games. I'm not saying we don't need investment. We certainly need a bigger squad, but I think Emery has also proved that we aren't as far from being a good team as we all perhaps thought earlier in the season. I'm certainly not panicking after 2x 1-0 defeats deny us a shot at Europe which at the point Unai took over was verging on unthinkable.

You are seriously that worried given we've had two bad results after a run of 8 wins and two draws?

We've had too many because for half of the season we had a numpty in charge. Even Man City have had games like yesterday.

T&P

I'm not too worried. We'll always have games like yesterday during a season. Problem was, through our previous good work we'd put ourselves in a position where we could make something tangible of this season, which made it a 'must win'. We're all disappointed, naturally, but I'm choosing to look at the fact that we were only in the position to challenge for Europe in the first place due to a near miraculous run of wins. Had Emery been in charge since the beginning of the season, the stats say we'd have made Europe with change, and that's without a transfer window, and after the previous incumbent sold all our wide men. I'm disappointed but not disheartened. Future is bright.

Not at the moment, cos we don't have any wingers, but once we have quality out there, we can switch it wide in those circumstances. Overloading on defence will always open gaps elsewhere.

Wolves fans will be talking about the fact they denied us Europe for the next 10 years

Jaime is (according to that video and I can't be arsed to check) on 9 goals in 24, which if true is a reasonable if not bowel shattering return for an inside forward (he looks like he takes up super narrow positions).

We need to get this guy.

Positioning and movement reminds me of El Ghazi for some reason.

He's from Dudley, like me. That's a defining character trait. I remember being really surprised when I found out years ago that he was from Dudley. He seems like he should be from somewhere in Yorkshire called Pisswhittle or something.

Think you might be right about Guendouzi. It just fits so nicely given the things he's said about Unai in the past, and how he would be perfect for our system.

Don't get me wrong, I hope you are right.

TBH I think those names in particular might have other reasons not to come to us. We might be noisy right now, but we're not a consistent top 6 side....yet.

Oof. 2015's pick

Before we all go mental (and it's hard not to, right?), I reckon that our finishing position will have a major effect on our signings this summer. I'm fairly sure we will have an 'in Europe' and 'not quite there yet' list of potential transfers. The first list is very exciting. The second will still be good, but we'll struggle to attract some of the big names, I suspect.