Rolta

I think he's been really good in the previous few games. He's a great defender and he'd be a good signing.

Seems like Hause ran away from goal looking for a shorter ball. I feel it might have been a plan, and more complicated than it seems.

I tried to like this.

Bruce says hi.

To be really fair our problems last year began after our covid break when Grealish was still playing. With Grealish we were pretty shit then. That suggests covid was a bigger problem than we realised.

It expired.

His all round play is so good. What an amazing header to set Cash free.

Big respect SJM.

I like them both, but I really rate Tuanzebe. I think he's been a bit of an unsung hero these last two games. I'm not against the idea though. Hause has a lot of good qualities, but on the ball Tuanzebe is on another level I think. But I more meant that Smith might use it as an opportunity to get some others involved. But I might be wrong.

We have no Axel, so a change in formation may be about to happen.

There's a good feeling around the club with the youth and the squad seeming united. It's pleasing to see, and it's proven in good performances like that. That's all on Smith.

Do you play in the Prem?

I was in full doom mode, but I wasn't aiming it at Smith. I felt we had been weakened significantly as a result of the summer events, including clubs playing games with us knowing we had extra money, and that eventually affecting our recruitment. Again, it was never aimed at Smith. I don't think I was the only one like that either. The last two games have been a massive surprise for me, and the big surprises recruitment/non-recruitment have been Tuanzebe, Ramsey and the nouse of Ings for me. Those three have really helped broaden the skills and balance within the team. It's great and exciting. It's too early to say how the season is going to go, but considering we were average without Grealish last year (and perhaps more critically post covid, which might explain a lot) it's been great to see. One way or another it's a new era now.

Watkins had decent chances against Chelsea.

It was overused about ten years ago when it was on its fourth team or something. I've said it before, but I'm not a fan—and to make matters worse it doesn't half get stuck in my head.

I thought he was good tbh. You can tell he's a good player who's comfortable on the ball. He and Ramsey have been big surprises for me in the 352, and I think they go a long way to making the whole thing work.

I have no idea and I have no information at all to speculate on. He's the manager—he'll come up with some plan. That's his job.

Weird how managers adapt tactics to different teams.

Or the fact that Buendia couldn't play and Bailey has just come back from injury and clearly, by the evidence of the game yesterday, is still getting used to the league and isn't ready yet. It's no surprise we played 433 when we had Grealish. It's the formation that makes the most of him.

You're ignoring the affect of different injuries and having different options available at different times.

He probably used his eyes. I agree with him tbh. Maguire is a top player.

And I'm sure you won't take the bolded things into account.

My word, I didn't realise those were our next fixtures. I am so much less optimistic this season, and that's a fresh hit!

Did anything happen about that rumour that Watkins has another injury?

No offense, but you seem to me to be making big calls on the club's motivation and so on that you can't really know for certain. It comes across as a little too much positive spin, and I just don't believe it. You seem to be ignoring all the times we were told European football is the aim. Plenty of things surely happened in the summer that none of us know about for sure, but it's not an out there thought that the club weren't able to recruit exactly as they had planned. It doesn't all always have to be roses. I wouldn't aim my disappointment at any individual, from the owners to Smith or Lange, but, again, it's not a mad position some of us find ourselves in, wondering if the big talk about our near future may have hit a snag or two for whatever reason.