turvontour

Nothing better than a McGinn goal. Would love him to get ten goals this season.

Yes, it doesnt feel like weve had a bench that strong for a while.

Yes, exactly that. Otherwise most of the teams are in a relationship battle for most of the season, surely? Who isnt in the relegation battle? Are Wolves bang in the middle of the battle for the champions league spots right now? They were deep in the relegation battle last month? Or do/did neither of the battles exist? We were in what I would class as a relegation battle at the end of the season before last. We needed better results than Watford and Bournemouth (I think it was) across the last few games and just about came out on top. That's not comparable to a bad run of form in November. The media love it though. The Norwich, Watford, Newcastle etc managers are all struggling in the relegation battle, and need to go. Dean Smith being dragged into the relegation battle with Villa. Surely his times up etc. It's more the terminology I dont like, it feels like it's there to make unattractive fixtures more important. And everyone buys into it. "Burnely v crystal palace is on next, both sides will be fighting to avoid being dragged into the relegation battle. Is Dyche's job on the line? And its live!"

Yes but the point I'm trying to make is that you cant be in the hunt for European places in November (wolves) or in a relegation battle in November (us). We were ten minutes away from being on the same points as Wolves. Theres still about 70 points to play for for God's sake. Were we in a mad relegation fight when we lost to Watford at the start of the season? Were we gunning for europe after we beat Man U the other month and were 7th? No, neither of them. None of the scenarios exist until April next year. Sorry, I'm not responding directly to your point, I largely agree with that. I just feel that the media have basically created a percieved relegation battle that lasts the season in order to drive interest in unattractive games. Probably contributes to so many managers losing their jobs, as you can't be in a lower league position than your club is aiming to achieve, despite that being very likely to happen for spells across the length of a season.

This exactly my thinking. The owners, managers and players would have had to have got this season very wrong if we are actually in a relegation fight come May.

So who isnt in a relegation battle then? Everton 2 points above us? Man u 4 points above us? Wolves who are in the European places, but if they hadn't had that ten min comeback against us would be on exactly the same points as us right now.

How can we be in a relegation battle in November? Also, who are our rivals? Teams that have actually been in the relegation zone in the last year?

Oh man, how depressing has his career been. About 12 clubs in 12 years, and probably about 12 goals.

Haha cheers

Feels like he plays so many games for Scotland. Probably because he often scores or assists so more noticeable. Must be playing about 15 games for them this year.

So this is the brains of the operation. Ah, no, that'll be Ted.

They've lost something like one of their last 54 league games. Irrespective of how poor the league is that takes a lot of discipline, motivation, focus etc.

Absolutely. If youd told me a year ago after beating Liverpool 7 - 2 that Smith would be sacked, Grealish gone and Gerrard in charge! Its nuts

I think where we are as a club, a lot of our appointments and signings are gambles. Danny Ings maybe one if not the only ones in recent times where you knew exactly what you were getting. And to be fair, the majority of the gambles have paid off in the last few years.

Gerrard odds on now.

Gerrard is the current favourite.

We would have definitely gone down season before last without Grealish, probably bottom. And we would probably have gone down last season without him. Not sure of the points per game without him in the team last season, but it couldn't have been more than 1. Really worrying that we dont looked to have improved at all, and we now just have el Ghazi in his place.

Absolutely, I couldn't work out what our tactic or approach was, not having much in the middle doesnt help. And by the end it was just roll the dice smash it long.

He had a serious think about stopping the game the ref to send him off, when he dived. Luckily for el Ghazi the play continued for another minute.

The defeats are clearly a concern but equally I dont think weve controlled a match for the best part of a year. If you think back to last season I remember games like fulham away liverpool at home arsenal away palace at home, west brom away etc. It doesnt feel to me like weve dictated a match for ages.

Not to make us look bad at all. It's basically saying that other than the relegated teams, we've lost the most games, which is fact.

We have averaged one point a game when Grealish doesnt play for seasons now.

We're starting El Ghazi, Nakamba, Tuanzebe etc, bringing on Keenan davis.

When I literally cant remember a Watkins goal that went in near post. And yet it is where he always shoots.

Why does Watkins shoot near post. It never goes in near post.