How much trouble are we in?/interesting Square Ball podcast

[1964white]

Just angry and frustrated, as the likes of myself, CJay, 64, White Riot could see this was happening and we needed to improve, but the club sat back and did nothing. Why is it fans could see what would happen but the club couldn't? We got arrogant thinking this team was good enough and we could sit back and live off that. We are hoping for 3 worse teams, but I can't see where the goals are coming from. The delusions of the board and management have put us in the position and all I can say is we better hope for 3 worse teams.

Dyche always seems to steer Burnley clear from relegation every season.

Newcastle are likely to buy themselves out of the bottom 3 in the January window.

Last season Brighton were in the mix, this season they have gained 15 points already.

Newcomers Brentford have doubled our tally of points in their opening eight games.

So that leaves Norwich four points below us with the Saints, Palace & Watford a point above us!

[1964white]

3 players? Bamford, Firpo, Ayling, Koch, Philip's (5).....that's more than 3, its almost half a team

Make it six with Raphinha, Swannie

[1964white]

Other than Raph, where are the goals coming from?

God knows!

[YorkshireSquare]

3 players? Bamford, Firpo, Ayling, Koch, Philip's (5).....that's more than 3, its almost half a team

Key for us are Bamford, Phillips and Raph. We fall apart without Phillips, don't create much without Raph and dont score many without Bamford.

Llorente better than Koch, Firpo been a bit meh so far, Ayling not been on form but Shack done well.

[1964white]

Key for us are Bamford, Phillips and Raph. We fall apart without Phillips, don't create much without Raph and dont score many without Bamford.

Llorente better than Koch, Firpo been a bit meh so far, Ayling not been on form but Shack done well.

So reliant on those three & Llorente

We are vulnerable without them, not one quality player to replace one of those four.

[SG90]

Key for us are Bamford, Phillips and Raph. We fall apart without Phillips, don't create much without Raph and dont score many without Bamford.

Llorente better than Koch, Firpo been a bit meh so far, Ayling not been on form but Shack done well.

Bamford's been poor too this season. Raph is our only goal threat.

£25m for James to run really fast.

[SG90]

Dyche always seems to steer Burnley clear from relegation every season.

Newcastle are likely to buy themselves out of the bottom 3 in the January window.

Last season Brighton were in the mix, this season they have gained 15 points already.

Newcomers Brentford have doubled our tally of points in their opening eight games.

So that leaves Norwich four points below us with the Saints, Palace & Watford a point above us!

Yep we are in deep sh-t!

[YorkshireSquare]

Bamford's been poor too this season

Still offers more in hold-up and link-up play that Roberts or Rodrigo

[1964white]

Bamford's been poor too this season. Raph is our only goal threat.

£25m for James to run really fast.

I'd trust Paddy upfront than our £27m misfit, you only have look at the work rate of Bamford, there was none of that today, the Saints deputy CB had a nice easy ride with Rodrigo's no show.

[rondownunder]

A Premier League team should not fall apart with 3 players missing.

The bench today showed our total lack of depth.

I agree. There is little to no point having the 49ers and Stephen Lowy on our board unless we spend decent money in the dreaded and difficult January transfer window. Against Saints, we looked a mid-table championship side and every player ex Dan James looked slow and disinterested. It looked as if we had already been relegated, such was the lack of fight.

In the past I have defended Rodrigo, but today he epitomised our effort and we need a clearout if we are going to stay up. The other reason we need to show intent in January is to stop KP and Raph leaving for the top sides. If we are sitting in the bottom 3 or close, would we be outraged if KP walked? I would expect him to.

Ultimately we are paying for an awful summer where we simply did not replenish our squad, especially in the areas where we needed it. It feels like Radz is taking a bet that there will be 3 sides worse than us to keep us up and while that strategy maybe acceptable at Burnley or Brighton, it's not at Leeds.

[1964white]

Still offers more in hold-up and link-up play that Roberts or Rodrigo

Without any shadow of doubt

[whiteswan]

Make it six with Raphinha, Swannie

Then it's more than half a team!

[SG90]

Let's not pretend that KP hasn't been poor this season too. Tiredness or England big bollocks syndrome? Who knows. I maintain being in the England squad was the worst thing that could happen to him, with all the egos and tapping up.

[SG90]

We have 3 quality players, Raph, Llorente and KP (on form). The rest are either average Championship players who played out of their skin or decent players who are inconsistent.

[1964white]

Then it's more than half a team!

Yes & it seems Bamford, Ayling, Koch maybe out for a while. Unsure when Kalvin will be fit to play again. Firpo has had injury problems since we signed him, three times now!

Raphinha the only likely starter vs Wolves next Saturday.

[whiteswan]

Let's not pretend that KP hasn't been poor this season too. Tiredness or England big bollocks syndrome? Who knows. I maintain being in the England squad was the worst thing that could happen to him, with all the egos and tapping up.

I hate our players being called up for international duty (ask 64). I prefer our players to be kept under the radar, not to mention injuries whilst on duty...and I'm sure, the constant tapping up.

[1964white]

Let's not pretend that KP hasn't been poor this season too. Tiredness or England big bollocks syndrome? Who knows. I maintain being in the England squad was the worst thing that could happen to him, with all the egos and tapping up.

Have to disagree there SG

I would say Phillips, Meslier & Raphinha have been our most consistent players this season, you only have to check our player ratings thread to establish our best three,

Phillips

1st x 2
2nd x1
3rd x 2

https://motforum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.ph ... 91#p905891

[1964white]

I hate our players being called up for international duty (ask 64). I prefer our players to be kept under the radar, not to mention injuries whilst on duty...and I'm sure, the constant tapping up.

We are paying the price of their quality & success, Swannie

[SG90]

Tiredness
International call ups
Big improved contracts
Failure to improve

All reasons why we're struggling imo

[1964white]

Tiredness
International call ups
Big improved contracts
Failure to improve

All reasons why we're struggling imo

And injuries to key players