Mjvilla

True, and when we lose a player of jack's creativity and quality, it is essential we maintain some cutting edge. It's quite clear to me that trez and el ghazi aren't good enough or creative anough so traore has to start. It shows the progressions from last season that el ghazi and trez are bench players... But it also shows how far we have to go.

Clearly not been good enough. Strange conundrum in that Barkley has probably been one of our better players but the midfield needs changing. Looks to me like Barkley has been asked to play a bit deeper. If he has, then I'd suggest Luiz for nakamba would be the change to make. Luiz has been quiet in a game where we need him more than most. I do think @TRO request for a more durable midfield is required here. Targett has looked good to me. Little support across that backline though. Or from just in front.

I suppose with jack out, we will soon find out if a new wide player is going to be an essential this summer. Big few weeks for a few players. Can they step up?

I mean, um, I think.... WHAT???? Where has el ghazi earned us 10 points and where has Barkley cost us 14 points. Yes, Barkley has been disappointing particularly in recent weeks, but this... THIS is the most ridiculous post I think I've ever seen. The games he 'cost us', I don't even know where to start. We conceded 4 at home to Southampton. Is that all on him? If you think it is ALL on him, I'd suggest taking up watching another sport. Leeds, west ham at home, see Southampton (-1 goal). Burnley away, we were fantastic that day but made 3 pretty basic defensive errors, is that on Barkley? Does he get anything for us being fantastic? Brighton - I mean, just what? He was particularly poor, no doubt. But not one attacking player came out with any credit, not even jack. Barkley single-handedly cost us 2 points here too? Like I said, he's in a poor run of form. I would drop him, no doubt. But to say he's cost us 14 points this season is insane but to then take away any credit he has from winners scored and good performances because 'he wasn't involved in the first 2 goals' or whatever, is kind of defeating the object of your own post if you use the same logic to the defensive errors. No?

His 'contact' has just decided to say 'jack Grealish is injured, I don't know how bad or what it is but he's injured'. It might be true, but I think 99.5% of Twitter users are doing things for attention. Have a look at one or two of his other tweets, it's very attention based.

Attention.

Still pinches himself every day that he's lucky enough to be, literally, rubbing noses with important management types like Gareth Southgate regularly... Even through social distancing.

None of them will be here the next couple of days. The one posting in another thread last night stopped posting when they went 1 down and then lost. There will be a swarm of them if they get a positive result next weekend. There's a lad in a group chat I'm in, keeps posting the 'leeds champions 20/21' picture if anyone says anything about Leeds. Didn't comment on the game last night, just put that picture up. If someone says it's embarrassing or small time, he puts it again. Then, doesn't matter if Leeds have lost/won or drawn he will be the first laughing at us if we've lost, literally the second the final whistle goes. I've stopped putting stuff in that particular group chat. He cheered man utd on against us. Which I couldn't believe they are meant to be 'rivals', no? I guess it's typical of the Leeds obsession with us which is cute and flattering but unnecessary.

Is this a question???

Can't help but smile at the irony of this part. They took a £20m loss on Haller in 18 months and it's used as a reason to show they recruited well and have assembled a good squad.

Do you know what, I very nearly posted again with this. But my posts get ignored or I'm blocked so didn't bother! It was Southampton earlier this season/end of last season too!

Wow. Just because they match the style of play you like, have the sort of player you like and use the 3 piano players or whatever, they are the best team outside of man city?? They got completely turned over by Liverpool recently, Liverpool played through them time and time again. They went to Fulham and were very poor and got the same result as when we went to Brighton and were very poor. But they are the second best, most rounded team and we have a whole host of pitfalls. We are the same PPG as them through the course of the season so far. I just don't get it. They have a very tough run of fixtures coming up, I want to revisit this quote toward season end.

I think this 'teams have sussed how we play' can apply across all sides at some point. Look at Southampton. Look at Liverpool of recent weeks. Look at wolves this season. Sheffield United? Eventually, teams will figure Brighton out and they will start conceding again. The challenge, and it's a challenge I said about wilder earlier this season which he hasn't passed really, is to find a new way of doing something to work. It's something for Dean to ponder, he's done it more than once in his tenure, I trust him to do it again.

Definitely keeping it more simple in recent weeks and looking a better player for it. Good on him.

Exactly. Plus, we will only get better. I think we will continue to buy young and develop. We may have a few years of inconsistency as we develop but we are heading in the right direction.

Difference is, the squad will aim for that. There's no reason we can't aim for that. The players won't use it as a tool to criticise the manager if we don't achieve that. And that's where the issue is.

I think it's human nature to think 'what if' in these circumstances. If we do end up 12th, I'm sure I will reflect and think what if we done a bit more and finished 8th? However, I wouldn't use it as a stick to beat Smith with, which is what we are seeing. I respect, enormously, the job he is doing. This is the key bit for me, Smith is quickly turning into a victim of his own successes because, the average football fan wants it right now.

He can keep making these 'mistakes' if it means we improve as much as we have done in the previous 2 years. Another poster has commented how those people that didn't want him here in the first place are the first, quickest and most harshest to criticise. I didn't necessarily think this was the case, but my god you've changed my opinion. I didn't want him here in the first place, but what he has achieved here is remarkable so I'm enjoying it and he definitely has my vote. I think we could finish top 4 and he still wouldn't win some over.

Pretty sure he'll be a man in demand this summer. Can see a number of very good midfields he goes in. Chelsea are crying out for this kind of player as Kante replacement. Man city? I see Liverpool were linked in January. I don't see him as realistic now. He will go to a champions League side. As much as I think he would be an excellent signing.

Mini slump, out of form etc etc etc... 7 points out of 12. 3 clean sheets in 4. We aren't playing the best, yet picking up points. Carry on this mini slump for the next 16 games and we end the season on 64 points. Some perspective is definitely needed.

All sides do it. We saw it from Brighton numerous times last night. Trossard was guilty of a pretty blatant one on the edge of the box against Luiz last night. Going down easily. I read west ham pride themselves on NOT doing it. But the game recently, I watched soucek go down very easily when someone won the ball. Amongst one or two others. It's part and parcel of the game and it's very frustrating. We do it, but no worse than other teams. We just get singled out because 'GreAlISh DiVes', when in reality he does go down easy but who can blame him from protecting himself when he gets kicked to shit every week by all players.

Don't know why I'm biting as I see you've been negative in nearly every thread but... 2 games. 2 games is your sample size. I'd say in more games than that this season, jack has been nullified to an extent but the others have stepped up. Like another poster has said, a one man team doesn't defend how we do and have a team spirit like we do. But, keep up your negative campaign. You'll do yourself some damage, eventually.

Yes, full version. And yes, 12 months in. I'd read something about covid being implemented but not in an obvious way. More scheduling and finances, so I figured that's why I was able to get them easily? But that just seemed over the top unrealistic to be honest. Going to finish 6th by the looks, which I'll take. Considering I lost Grealish for 5 months again. Lost Martinez for 5 months. Watkins for 3 months. All at he same time toward the end of the season. Anyone had much luck with youth intakes? I've had a young lad come through in the first season who is excellent. Think hes going to be a superstar. Really excited to watch him develop.

TWICE!! When did diving become a non-bookable offence? By my reckoning, he should've been off for those 2.

Which is exactly the kind of thing I was expecting. What have I done to make it so easy?