MrBlack

I suggested that keeping one or two of the old guard from last season would have been sensible for stability, experience and emergency backup but the argument against it was that we've tried it in the past and they just end up being a waste of money. Most were against it as I recall. This is one of those things that is probably clearer in hindsight, but at the time it wasn't so clear and largely considered the right thing to do. Who's to say that we would be any better anyway. I'm beginning to think it was always mission impossible, thanks in a large part to FFP rules. At least with FFP rules we haven't gone bust doing what we did if we go down. Imagine going down and having spent another 100 mill.

My view before the game was 2 up top was the way to go. Arguments were made that suggested maybe not against a team like Newcastle... fair enough. I don't mind him starting with 1, but to stick with it for soooooo f*&%ing long when it isn't working is criminal. The fact we looked better with 2 up top in no way surprises me, but those lost points are going to cost us. The fact other results went our way means nothing. They were games that the respective teams were expected to lose. As it is we don't have enough games left that we're expected to get something out of. I think we're down, and have lost any hope that Dean will stop taking too long to make changes.

Did you read the rest of my post or just selectively quote for a sensationalist clickbait comment

I cannot blame Mings for that, he's been playing dangerously possessive football all season and look where that has got us. Our midfield have been terrible under pressure and we end up giving the ball away in our own half instead of the opposition half. If Luiz has learnt to play that role effectively during lockdown it might be worth a go, but none of our players were showing the ability to do this before hand

Even the Liverpool game could be a totally unscripted event if they have the title sealed up by then (highly likely). You are totally right, football has shock results. You can't, however, deny that we need something to change for us to get a result against a top half team (repeating history and expecting a different outcome). Whilst there is every chance that something will change in one of those "unwinnable" games (teams not fighting for anything, teams with players out through covid,etc) , I don't see it mattering unless we beat Newcastle

It is definitely very different. It was ALL doom and gloom then. This time there are reasons for optimism given our owners pockets if nothing else. But throw in the ability to spend given parachute income to offset, the fact the FFP rules will almost certainly have to be relaxed given covid, and the ability to keep some of our better players (there are some!), we are in a much better position. Nothing to do with being used to failure though, it still hurts. Edit: Talking like it is a given already as well, its not over yet. Lose to Newcastle and I'm sure it will be as good as, but not yet.

Totally valid points, which I guess goes to show how difficult its going to be for Dean. Assuming he sticks with the formation and we win, people will see it as the minimum needed, and he's a one trick pony. If he sticks and we lose, he's really screwed, not learning, how did he not see it coming. If he swaps and we lose, your arguments become "the blindingly obvious in hindsight", but if he swaps and we win it was something that had to happen given the trash preformances we've seen since the restart. Who'd be a manager/ head coach

This has to be the team for me. If Guilbert isn't fit Elmo to substitute. Gives a kind of threat off the bench in the form of Conor's free kicks, Jota as mentioned above, and chance for El Ghazi to realise he's not untouchable and does need to perform. Weirdly, my biggest concern with this team is our supposed two best players. They have to start (primarily because there is noone else), but McGinn and Grealish both need to up their games. I think this formation is the best chance of them doing that.

I'll be in very much the same boat if we don't beat Newcastle. Based on our respective Sheffield Utd performances you better make some room, I'll take the right oar.

Good points, I think we're on roughly the same page. Maybe if Dean had shown a consistent approach during the season as to who starts against which types of teams then dropping Conor for the Chelsea game might not have been such a demotivating factor. It does seem as though one major difference to pre-lockdown is Conor is being given a lot more game time. Maybe this is an area he's trying to switch up to change our fortunes, but it isn't working. Think it needed a more drastic change to our playing style than just the personnel. Maybe he did think Conors free kick threat was our best chance to score, hence why he started. Then stuck blindly to that (if its our best chance when we're behind, why not stick with it when we're ahead and then when we do go behind again)... but for me it was a crucial mistake. I keep thinking back to that game against us where Conor totally dominated the midfield and looked like a world beater. Where did that player go ?

It wasn't hindsight to know that Conor would not be an asset against a team like Chelsea that dominates the ball. Nakamba was the right choice to start and anyone with a footballing brain should have known that. Aside from the decision to play him, the decisions to keep him on the pitch after we took the lead undeservedly, and after we conceded a goal, were even more bewildering. We were being massively overrun thanks to Conors passive play. Admittedly on this occasion, McGinn was having a mare too, but I am truly lost when it comes to justifying Smith's decisions against Chelsea. It sets up an issue that the game Conor should possibly start in (Newcastle) comes off a poor performance and result that will impact his confidence.

Poor performance, very poor management. A win against Newcastle is needed. Another poor performance there and I'd reluctantly have to join the Smith out bandwagon. Sad state of affairs.

Tammy on

Why not Vassilev, or someone else who hasn't already wasted several opportunities to perform from the bench. Nakamba was the sub to make when we were winning, not when we're behind. Bizarre

It has been coming since the second minute. We took the lead and had a chance to actually get something out the game. But instead of taking advantage of it, Smith stuck by the failing game plan. Maybe he genuinely thought we'd continue to get lucky. This has not been a good managerial performance. And despite going behind, he still hasn't changed anything. Wtf are you waiting for Dean?

f&*# sake

Even Nyland playing the get the ball back to them as quick as possible style now

Pointless for me. But we do have 4 more to use so...

I figured out the approach. Have 8 players zonally making the 25 yards in front of our goal line at all times.

I don't understand how they can have an option out wide and then options in the middle as well. Its like our players have been instructed to mark open air. Its making me nervous, but miraculously worked in the first half

Don't bring logic into this

This is what has me hoping we may stay up. Whatever conditions we were playing under weren't working ( we were in the relegation zone...). A change can only maintain or improve our fortunes

At least he'd win the ball back before giving it away. Conor only doing the latter so far

Sooo, winning but playing terribly. Do you still change the formation? I'd still bring Nakamba on for conor

I do too!