WallisFrizz

He was out injured for 3 of them!

The whole team was rubbish in those games. And we did not sign him for his ability to tackle and intercept. I’m not saying he wasn’t poor post injury but there was a reason why fans were clamouring for him to return to the team asap.

6 months of awful performances? He was good pre injury, out injured between November and February. Then poor from Feb to April. I’m not his biggest fan but let’s not rewrite history.

Best performance in ages, turn on MOTD to find that the only thing they’re interested In talking about is OW vs DCL for the Euros (spoiler-they pick DCL).

Not poor but below his usual levels. Mings had his back tonight.

I dread to think of some the hate that Ross Barkley will have got this season. Yes he’s been crap for a large part of it but even if people don’t have a moral compass that tells them not to be abusive online, what’s the actual point of it?? How is destroying a lads confidence, telling him you hate him and he’s the worst player ever going to make him play better or even want to play for the club? I just find it bizarre.

Have a look at the misogynistic abuse that Michelle Owen (sky and Villa TV) got after making a mistake whilst on air. Similarly Karen Carney after saying the Covid break helped Leeds last season. And yes, the personsal and hateful hounding of young players (or any players for that matter) who might not meet the expectations of a fan base is ugly and bullying. Fans should absolutely be able to be critical of players in conversations between themselves but going on to a players Twitter/Insta post to slate them or tagging them in hateful comments is vile. People who do this to anyone, famous or not, are nasty and pathetic.

Konsa’s having a mare!!!!

Because we’re playing shite. In what world should we be grateful for that?

I think he’s been extremely reliable defensively this season and is definitely in my top 3 for POTS but, as a v slight criticism, I would have liked to see him involved in a few more goals. I can’t remember him scoring this season and I think he’s only got 1 assist. He did better last season in that respect but obviously I’m delighted in the improvement in his all round play. If he can combine both aspects next season, I think he has a chance of getting involved in the England set up (as all the other left backs currently in the England squad are capable of goal involvment)

I think it a realistic that when performances are consistently poor, and they have been, that the manager gets scrutinised. We were never going to be able to out play City in terms of skill but our performance was insipid. When that happens time and time again, I think it is fair that criticism gets levelled at the manager as he is failing to sufficiently either motivate them or set them up in a way that brings the best out of them. Yes, he has done wonders with us for which I will always be grateful but I’m wondering if he has hit his ceiling. I honestly don’t know. I know that players all like him but are they too comfortable with him? You should have full respect for your boss and worry about the consequences of poor performance. He appears to be unable to get the midfield to get the basics right. Every team in the league would want to play us right now. I would expect NWSE and Purslow to be pondering whether there is a better option out there to coach their investments. I don’t have a strong opinion on it yet but just as we were saying Hourihane had been a great servant for us but we needed to take the next step up in quality maybe we should start to feel the same about Smith. Or maybe, he just needs a couple of extra transfer windows to improve the quality of the players he coaches. I’m just conscious of whether top players will want to play for him and getting off to a bad start next season.

I think he’s great but is a bit of a liability. Today being a case in point. He’s not the type to give the ball away cheaply but he makes rash challenges and needs to control his hands in the penalty area. Like him a lot tho and think he will learn how to iron out these errors.

That’s a good point.

Do you think this is why they are timing the announcement now? Ahead of the summer transfer windows? Whether it goes ahead or not, whilst it is up in the air, will our owners or Everton’s owners or Leeds owners want to plough another £100mil into transfers when it is clear we can’t achieve our ultimate goals? Will players like Grealish, Calvert-Lewin, Raphinia start jumping ship to make sure they are part of it? It is crucial that UEFA and the PL play hardball and stand by their threats to boot them out the PL and Champions League and do it ASAP (preferably before we have to play City on Wednesday).

I remember reading that too. That there was a release clause but it was larger than the £80 mil price that was being quoted last summer. It would not surprise me if there was one, maybe one that only applies if a champions league team came in for him.

I love him but I agree with this, he’s a bit of a liability in the box. Think he will sort it out with experience. His all round game is excellent though I would love to see him on the score sheet before the season is out.

Yeah you might be right, I remember him having quite a poor game against Southampton (and West Ham possibly?). In hindsight I think the injury was starting to bother him then.

He must have had some assurances he’ll be selected for the squad then because it’s a risky approach otherwise.

I think Watkins has started doing it more ever since he stayed on his feet at West Ham away and his goal was disallowed with no pen awarded. Thing is he’s not v good at it, it looks quite obvious. I do think we as a team are diving more, I think the players are being instructed to do it and I don’t like it. We’re not great at free kicks though so don’t really understand the benefit.

It’s a sad but fair point. The plus side for us if it is a recurring injury, other clubs may well be put off dropping big bucks on him. The downside for us is that even if he stays with us, long spells without him are something we might have to become accustomed to. Personally, recurring injury or not, he’s a special player for us that I’d try and keep at all costs. FWIW, I don’t believe any of the rehab/secret sale conspiracy theories.

Has anybody worked out what his weird shooting himself in the head goal celebration was about. Just watching the highlights and I think Ollie’s telling him to pack it in.

Yep. It’s so depressingly inevitable.

You only had to listen to GS to know that Mount was always streets ahead in his thinking. I don’t think Grealish was ever in line for a starting spot and he still has everything to play for for a squad place. It’s down to him now.

You’re in for a fun summer then.

What makes you say that?