RichiBoi11

In theory yes, but it's highly unlikely. I think if we go down and Jack leaves the next time you'll potentially see him playing for us could be when he sees out a contract elsewhere and returns on a free, possibly in the twilight of his career.

It happened in the same game too...

He looks very out of depth physically at this level. He occasionally will do things in a game that make me think he has potential, but he looks like a child amongst men, showing he hasn't got the strength for our game currently, and when he starts a game he's blowing by half time, so he hasn't got the physical fitness either.

Purslow talked about the necessity to build a squad recently as well, and highlighted that you really need to be in the Premier League for 3 or 4 seasons to be able to pay the sorts of wages most players at that level would demand. He highlighted the best way to do that is to stay in the division, but that some teams have had to yo-yo between the two leagues for a couple of seasons whilst building a squad. Obviously I'd prefer our rebuilding and project to be via staying in the top flight, but relegation isn't the end of the world. We could reinvest from the inevitable sales, but keep a core of a squad together, rather than having to start from square one like the last relegation, or even the start of this season. Losing Jack would hurt though.

I feel this way about humanity as a whole

Most people think we've already lost it before kicking a ball. I just think we'd stand more of a chance switching from a back 3.

I agree, the 3 centre backs are not offering us anything right now. It worked at Burnley because they weren't prepared for it and it worked against Leicester and Watford, but overall it has been detrimental in other games. City pasted us, Bournemouth ran us ragged in midfield, Brighton would have done us over if not for Luiz and Grealish, Spurs exposed our lack of pace to get in behind and Southampton made us look like a Sunday League side. I'd be changing back to a back 4 before McGinn is back, do it in the cup final, there's nothing to lose anyway.

fans fighting their own is utterly pathetic either way. I mean there's probably plenty of people in an away end you wouldn't like in your day to day life, but you've all paid for the opportunity to travel and support your team, so why ruin it by fighting each other. Baffling.

This is also what baffles me the most. It's not agiven that just because someone was a good defender they'd be a good defensive coach, but surely with ex centre backs as manager and assistant, we would be able to coach the defensive side of the game more effectively. It's not just the centre backs of course, the team collectively needs to improve defensively, but even on the rare offasion we don't conceed more than 1 goal in a game, we still allow the opposition several big chances per match. What do they work on all week, because it doesn't look like they work on keeping the ball out of the net.

He also wouldn't have to shout at the other players so much if any of the other centre backs, or players for that matter, talked. Mings, Drinkwater, Grealish. They're the only players you can watch during a game and see constantly communicating. Maybe Mings wouldn't come across as a bully to some people if the players around him weren't mutes.

define physical. I have no idea what happened and the comments on it seem to be extremely vague.

Stop this now. It must be pasture bed time.

Puns taking over? I have a serious case of Deja Moo

This thread seems to have gone off topic, what Samatta with everyone?

Personally, I think Luiz is approaching the same bracket of player for us as Grealish, Mings, McGinn, in that he should really be starting most if not all the games for us. The fact Drinkwater gets in ahead of him sometimes is criminal.

I understand everyone moaning about the ethics of having a gambling sponsor over Acorns etc, but frankly with FFP limiting us we need as much investment as possible. If this sponsorship money is the difference between us getting another good player in the team or not, then I welcome them with open arms. I want to see the team be successful above all else, and if that means having a gambling company on the shirt, so be it.

I think it's the speaking in certainties that annoys people. Saying we could or are likely to be relegated is one thing, but saying we are definitely going down is just defeatist. Either that or people have a crystal ball. Plus it's much less toxic and stressful to be optimistic, the truth is we currently have as much chance of staying up as any of the other teams in the fight, anything could happen in the next 12 games.

I lost my s##t when that goal went it, the next few minutes were a blur. The only downer on the entire thing is that we still lost that game!

Sorry basically Mings is our only centre back ready for the league. Konsa could be but he's not ready yet.

I think there's a Premier League centre back in there. The problem is at this stage of his development he should really be a back up to first choice defenders and be blooded slower. We're too reliant on him now because the current crop of centre backs aren't good enough. The only centre back who is Premier League ready for me is Mings. Konsa and Engels are both centre backs who've shown the potential to be good enough at this level, but neither is currently good enough. Konsa will improve with experience, but I worry that having to rely on him now could contribute to us slipping back to the championship. Having only 1 Premier League quality centre back (Mings) would be a concern with a back 4, as he's constantly having to carry and cover his partner, but with a back 3 it's even more concerning, because Mings has people out of their depth on both sides of him. In time Konsa could reach the level required, despite his mistakes at the weekend, Engels also could, and I've seen nothing from Hause besides heading to show he has any potential at this level. Essentially we are playing two championship level centre backs either side of Mings, if we stay up a first team ready centre half has to be the priority, so the likes of Konsa can be given the right exposure to develop, without being hung out to dry by being our only option.

I know people seem split on this rumour, but for the right money I'd take him. Whilst he's not the most gifted footballer he is a talent, he can play in midfield or at centre back, he's got good premier league experience which could assist the squad, he's only 26 so fits the profile of a player who could improve and increase in value. He's also got 40 caps for England which isn't to be sniffed at, and he will probably have a point to prove with his next move because he will want to get back in that squad. That could all prove a very good combination for us. My only concern would be the wages he'd demand.

That graphic is slightly less worrying now we play with three centre backs, you'd expect more defending to be in and around the box, but we're utilising an extra centre back to clear the danger. What concerns though is that we;ve only been playing that formation since the turn of the year, if that graphic is for the entire season then it says we were still defending deep with a back 4, and as has been pointed out, indicates the midfield is a problem area. There's clearly a lack of high pressing or ability to consistently keep hold of the ball, which invites pressure.

El Ghazi is also a wide player so he was always going to suffer a dip with the new formation as he can't play his natural game. He's not one of our star players currently, but he's far from rubbish, he's been more productive for goals and assits this season than most of our players.