heid3ster

Mentally and phyiscally, I think. Fitness is an issue. We have a few players who don't seem to be able to play out the full 90 minutes. Fitness is fixable. The losing mentality... I don't know.

This is going to be unpopular, but it's become very apparent to me in the last few games that Amavi can't last beyond the 75th minute or so. He is a brilliant talent who will continue to get better, and I am not scapegoating him, but he needs to be subbed late in the game. He gets tired and he makes stupid, stupid decisions that cost us.

Another pathetic capitulation. The players have (mostly) changed, the manager has changed, the coaching staff has changed, the tactics and style of play have changed, but the one remaining constant is the abject collapse late in the game when we go a goal behind.

I'm with you. I'm not saying there aren't maybe extenuating circumstances with what he's been through over the years, but all through the transfer window I was thinking he was too big a risk and was hoping we wouldn't get him. We dodged a bullet.

We will win.

Wow.

OK, look: Crespo is a right back. He is also injured right now. So we have three right-backs (two specialists and one "utility"), and one is currently injured. Had Crespo not picked up the injury, it's possible that Tim would have looked to move on either of Hutton or Bacuna. We don't know.

CBs, we have (in what I imagine is Sherwood's preferred order) Richards, Lescott, Clark, Okore (injured, no return date that I know of?), Illori. Senderos is clearly not in the manager's plans. It's kind of like saying Adebayor is a Spurs striker - sure he is, but he isn't going to play.

So what we really have is five CB's, and one of them is injured. I really am not understanding why this is infuriating you so much. We spent the last four games of last season playing Vlaar and Okore in central defense even though both of them were carrying injuries, because Clark and Baker had even worse injuries and Senderos -- I don't know, the rumor going around is that the physios declared him fit and Phil decided he wasn't. Anyway, our performances suffered for these injuries. I'd rather not see it repeated. If that means we have an extra defender or two around fighting for a starting spot - THAT'S GOOD FOR US. What is the problem?

The photo accompanying a Guardian article has chosen the most evil-looking picture possible of Levy:

He looks like a Bond villain.

Congratulations, NV! And leviramsey too!

Relegation chances

Liverpool: 40.5%

I have never seen him play so I can't make any judgments on his ability. All I will say is that I'm delighted with this signing because it seems to have pissed off a lot of Liverpool fans, and that makes me happy. Welcome, Tiago.

Just baffled by the lack of subs.

Tim knows we're allowed to make three subs, right?

Good lord, that Sunderland kit.

Shooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot

On paper, we won't get an easier game all season (except at the Stadium of Light). I would sincerely love to see another 4-0 thrashing. Make it so, Tim.

He'll get the Sunderland job after they get relegated.

My mom and I drove from New Jersey to Los Angeles a few summers ago, travelled along a similar route (minus the pitstop in Montreal of course -- you're onlyl missing Ohio and Indiana, which are no loss). I feel I must speak up for our vast amounts of nothing in the middle of the country. The best road trip stuff is along these routes in the middle of nowhere. When the highway system was built in the post-war era and Americans started taking family vacations by car, all kinds of roadside oddities began springing up everywhere. Cafes in the shape of coffee pots. Water towers with big smiley faces painted on them. Motels in the shape of teepees. A lot of them are gone now, mown down in favor of Marriott Hotel chains and Starbucks, but some of them are still around.

For example, you could visit Carhenge:

Or Fort Cody Trading Post in Nebraska, which is a weird hybrid of kitch gift shop and sort-of-"museum."

I think a road trip is a great way to see the country. Then again, I have an affinity for weird kitsch - but there is also plenty of natural beauty in the Rockies, on the plains of Nebraska (Nebraska is beautiful in fact), the deserts of Arizona and Nevada, the coastline of California.

One thing I noticed was that the people we met got nicer and nicer the further west we moved from Jersey, until we hit Colorado or so. And then as we got closer to California the people got more reserved and stand-offish again.

You're going through Utah, do not miss Arches National Park.

I have heard that Bryce Canyon is similarly stunning.

Really appreciate the write-ups from everyone who was at the match. Pleased to hear that Veretout had a good game and especially about the interplay between Gil and Grealish.

Play him up front instead of Gabby.

Bakes just did a crunching tackle.

So is he injured now?

Has all the attributes to be a true cult hero. Hair included.

No beard, though.

I am not a fan of the blond hair. Sorry, Leo.

I'm going to offend a lot of people here but if you're happy with our transfer window (imagining it closed today) then I believe you are an easily distracted, deluded individual who has been beaten down so much over the years that you accept what is currently a pathetic window filled with hope and prospects rather than more guaranteed quality. At best this window has been one massive gamble.

 

We have more evenly distributed quality across the squad but consequentially now have no standout players.

 

We have replaced dozens of players either through choice or because we had to but have spent less than £1m despite this massive turnover. We've also managed to slash the wage bill again no doubt.

 

I'm fuming few others see this. Buying lots of players does not mean it's been a good window. Our defence is marginally improved, our midfield is unchanged, arguably a little worse at moment but with potential to be a little better and our strike force looks useless.

 

At best we have stood still, unfortunately most other teams have attempted to improve - we've just tried to put out the fires caused by such significant departures.

 

I don't even want much - one proven striker and I'll accept it's been an ok, even interesting window, with potential. If we spent another £20m then I'd call it the best window ever! But replace three star players and a handful of other players with a bunch of slightly more expensive gambles than usual then it's not a good window. 

 

How are fans happy that we've spent £0.5m of our 'own' money when we finished 17th, lost our best players and slashed the wage bill again?!

 

Football Manager has a lot to answer for!

This is a lot more than five words or phrases.