The Premier League - 2021-2022

Just think, we could have signed Krul but he couldn't be bothered to undergo a full medical.

 

If you read Norwich fans on reddit talk about this, it sounds like he's totally the wrong kind of player for the battle they're in, and physically he was neither ready for that kind of role in central midfield, nor prepared to not be a basically luxury player.

Perhaps another coach would repurpose him to provide some creativity further forward, but given that Cantwell has been frozen out himself over the past few weeks, it doesn't seem like Farke is about to U-turn on his approach. It's understandable, to be fair - I don't think we'd want Gilmour playing as one of our two central mids in our situation either, although I wouldn't necessarily say no to, say, him being what JP or Cleverley were supposed to be yesterday.

Then again, I haven't watched him play multiple games for my team, so I'm fairly inclined to go with what the Norwich fans say for now.

 

That’s because they’d already beaten Newcastle, which turned out to be their only win all season. I think it was around this point they went nearly 13 hours without scoring (not even Palace were as bad as that in 2017) and then it became apparent if it hadn’t been already how truly bad they were.

 

I recommend we all hibernate during November.

Dark at 4pm. Cold. Wet. Cathcart vs some of the best players in the world. Not worth getting out of bed.

 

He's still the same fella who was constantly flapping about at St James' Park for years. Good at penalties and err...not much else.

I hear Farke isn't too happy about today's goalkeeping error so expect to see reports coming out from Carrow Road tomorrow: "Krul to be fined"

2, 3, 4...

 

Pretty dreadful goal for Villa to concede there - they're looking pretty crap this season, really, aren't they, and their coach is quite poor...

 

Just a reminder folks that we haven't surpassed Derby's record low points yet. Based on yesterday, is anyone 100% sure that we will?!

 

And meanwhile Spam have gone from direct relegation rivals to Europe and a team packed with players you'd dream of fielding all across the park, all in the space of the roughly 14 months since that fateful match in which our brave battling boys meekly rolled over and accepted our doom at their hands.

 

We’ve still got Norwich at home to play, so yes, we’ll nudge past that total after this match.

 

Fashions were quite stylish and tasteful back then before the abominations of the 80s, if that video (from 1979) is any indication.

 

My comment was tongue in cheek.

 

Seeing as we don’t play Norwich until 22nd January, hopefully my comment was too.

 

In January they signed Soucek to turn the season around. We signed Pussetto.

What's worse is we have made the same mistake again this season. I think Gino was in charge of building the Death Star and opted to leave a little hole in it that could have easily been sealed. **** hits the fan. Rebuilt it again but left the same bloody hole.

 

Norwich should have just asked me about that before signing him.

Jul 2 2021:

"Meh, [Norwich will] yet again have by far the most powder puff team in the league, even more so than our current lot somehow. I don't envisage them having [Gilmour] meaning they'll be much more difficult to get 3 points from."

https://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/transfer-talk-suggestions.54511/page-136#post-3020323

 

And yet, somehow, they didn't.

 

That'll be that for Villa for sure, now, you'd think, then.

 

I would have given the red for Hause more than for Konsa tbh, but the actual red comes down totally to how purposeful you think Ezra's movement behind and into Bowen was as to then how much it was a challenge that wasn't going for the ball and DOGSO'd.

 

I’m a little shocked to see Villa are on the same points as us and just plus 1 better off on GD.

 

Presumably the last bit no longer applies...

 

Personally seeing Villa in trouble pleases me.

They only stayed up due to a technology error.

Bo**ox to them.

 

Realistically, you do have to ask serious questions of any coach who allows their team to be as unprepared to face our shower of shyte under the competition winner, no less, as they were on the opening day of the season - a truly reputation-staining defeat that he should carry with him for the rest of his days.

 

I think they'll sack Smith soon. And no doubt spent a load in January to buy their way out of trouble.

 

That’s pretty much the perfect pop song in my view.

 

That Nakamba roll is a meme waiting to happen.

 

“Direct relegation rivals” only in name really - the team that beat us 3-1 was only three players different than the one that beat Southampton 3-0 on the final day of last season to secure a Europa League spot, with Lingard replacing Noble, and in defence Coufal and ironically Dawson replacing Johnson and Diop respectively - also same 4-2-3-1 formation, with Soucek and Rice swapping sides. So while that can’t totally excuse our performance that night, maybe they were just too good for us without Deulofeu - don’t forget they’d beaten Chelsea, thumped Norwich away (a team we’d laboured to a lucky home win against) and were unlucky not to at least draw against Burnley in a game they had by far the majority of chances in. The league table at the time didn’t reflect the abundant quality in the squad, who just needed a good manager, a few astute signings and its players pulling together and performing fully to get the results it was capable of, with the lack of such results beforehand contributing to its lowly league position.

 

I'm not. Their defence is barely on a par with our current and completely inadequate back 4. They have more bulk and height (Mings, Konsa, Hause) but they also possess the Premier's secret weapon, possibly the worst player currently stinking out the top division, step forward (and fall over) Matt Targett...

They've wasted their recent transfer pot on Leon Bailey - "bags of potential" which means a world class goal every 25-30 games I'd guess, plus overpaid on Norwich's Buendia, occasional flashes of brilliance like his assist today but can be nullified with some 'robust' tackling. Noticeable that he went sprinting down the tunnel after he was subbed for Mings, given the Konsa red card, rather than sit behind Dean "how unlucky were we again/poor ref/they should have had a red card/why always me" Smith who seems to have got Villa team spirit to an all-time low, I'm pleased to say. Further forward Watkins and McGinn from midfield still look good but without Jack 'knife' Grealish to pick up free kicks and pens, they seem to have reverted to season 19/20 form. 4 losses on the trot, keep it going; a genuine relegation rival.

And Leeds' defence mark today them out as a team struggling with 2nd season syndrome. Sadly not like Sheff U but good enough to keep us company in the lower reaches for some time to come. Palace I'm afraid will soon be clear. Two late equalisers apart, they would be clear before yesterday's mugging over Abu Dhabi City. Good signs are when experienced TV pundits (Shearer, Jenas, Murphy, Merson et al) suggest very early on that "XXXX played poorly today but Bielsa/Smith/Dyche/Bruce (ho ho) will sort that out. No, I don't see them being in trouble this year". I think I've heard that dubious opinion applied to those 4 but not us or Norwich obviously. If Brentford's replacement goalkeeper plays like he did yesterday listen out for that tired and lazy opinion to be offered on Brentford imminently. "Gary, little chance of relegation, Thomas Franke will get them firing again soon and they'll be in the top half with Ivan Toney's goals very soon".

I think there's a few that will still be within touching distance after our current run of tough games. And I imagine the Saudi/Staveley bank account won't necessarily save the Magpies in January. Keep the faith, let's hope there will be a proper relegation battle for us after those last 2 home fixtures. COYH!!