Rightdm00

Maybe we were saving our energy for the 2nd half. I can't understand how else the 2 halves were so different. Happy for the away draw. Please Dean, no more of the Danny Drinkwater experiment.

Same, Leeds already owe Wolves 15 million for Helder Costa promotion or not. Can't see it.

The Athletic just dropped an article on Bournemouth's struggles. They are at 85% wages to turnover. Their two 13 million pound summer signings have played a total of 4 games this season due to injuries. The poor transfers of Ibe and Solanke have been mentioned on here before but I had no idea Begovic cost 10 million. So in summary they're in real trouble and probably don't have much to spend this window on improving their chances. Also, the Solanke transfer was mentioned as a panic buy with most people at the club not knowing the deal was done til it was announced on Twitter. That transfer happened during the winter window so it shows how a club can really screw themselves when a panic sets in.

Honestly it looked like the same amount of effort they gave during the Fulham game. No tackles, barely any physical play. Just looked like they were trying to stay healthy. Makes for horrible viewing but I get it.

Just go back one page on Nakamaba's thread and he was the worst midfielder on the team. Now Smith was wrong to bench him. .

Smith tried something to make our midfield more solid in possession. It failed spectacularly. All you can do there is throw that plan out and try something new against Brighton.

Really hard to judge a keeper when the whole team was shit in front of him. Should have saved that Mahrez one at his near post but that would have only delayed the inevitable.

I get it. He needed a run out, hasn't played in ages. The game that we really need him for is next week. All that said he looked awful. The only way to go after that is up.

Either that or start preparing for your championship promotion campaign. Watford's second goal was 8 Bournemouth players watching Deeney stroll up and crush a loose ball just bouncing in their own box. If that isn't the effort of a team who's given up then I don't know what is.

Liverpool spent heavy but you can still find bargain purchases any club could have made. Robertson was 8 million from Hull. Matip on a free and Gomez cost only a 3rd of what we paid for Konsa. City on the other hand is just huge purchase after huge purchase. The only smart buy is maybe maybe Zinchenko who they got for roughly 2 million from shakhtar Donestek. It's almost comical looking at their expenditures. Also, if KDB went for 80 million 2 years ago then Jack is easily 100 mil plus.

I was wondering what was going on with Fraser. Just going through their past fixtures and they desperately need to bring in some attacking options. In October they had 3 games and scored 0 goals. In December they had 6 games and scored 2 goals. That type of ineptitude in attack will keep them in the relegation battle all season.

Watford and Crystal Palace are 2 teams with huge midfielders roaming around. We could definitely use a midfielder with some bulk to help us out against certain opposition.

Bournemouth look completely devoid of any creative talent. When you look at their transfer activity you can see why. 19 million for Solanke and his one assist over 1200 league minutes. 15 million for Jordan Ibe. Then you have David Brooks out for the season. They are in real trouble.

DC United is my local club so I catch all their games. He doesn't have the legs anymore. Our pressing was non-existent with him on the floor. Notice with Derby he isn't even playing up top. They have him as a deep lying midfielder.

So is no one going to mention that Benteke isn't in the 18 today. Or is he hurt.....again?

I will beat that drum anytime someone talks about our summer purchases. Our previous caretakers spent 40-50 million on players that aren't even in the squad any more. Sheffield United got Ends Stevens and George Baldock for a combined 900k. Norwich got Pukki on a free. I could go on. The time to build a team on the cheap was while we were in the Championship. The emoji Doctor pissed that all away. Leicester had six players in their starting lineup that had transfer fees of at least 20 million. They brought a striker off the bench that cost 25 million. You look at numbers like that and our 1-1 away from home looks pretty damn good.

He's the same height as Fernandinho and Jack. You remember how small Jack was at 21. Douglas body wise is hardly a finished article.

He is probably on such a low wage. Are y'all really that cut throat when you play FM?

Brighton spent 20 million on that Iranian footballer from AZ Alkmaar and he took over a year to score a goal or register an assist. 20+ appearances last year and nothing to show for it. Miguel Almiron cost 21 million and it took him 11 months and 25+ appearances before he registered a goal or assist for Newcastle. Now he has 2 goals in his last 3. Trez has 3 goals already. Being in a relegation scrap patience is thin but that is exactly what we need with him. Also, 8.75 million is couch change when looking to purchase a prem league attacker. Any anger should be directed at the decision makers who thought spending 30+ million on McCormack and Hogan was a good idea .

Nakamba is bad at the stuff Nakamba was never good at. Before he was in a midfield 3. Now it's just 2. That extra option to pass to is a big loss. While the 3-4-3 has made our back line more solid Dean is still playing that attacking 3 up top. This has caused us to completely cede the midfield once teams up their pressing game. This 3-4-3 doesn't suit our current crop of midfielders at all. The only one who is adequate is Luiz. Hourihane and Lansbury would all be non-entities in a 2 man setup. I'm starting to think we may need another CM option besides Drinkwater. Hopefully Mcginn doesn't have any complications in his recovery.

Just did a rewatch. He started dropping deeper halfway through the first half. Brendan countered that by putting on another more defensive minded midfielder, pretty much a Jack tracker. Also, Leicester's CBs were almost coming into our attacking 3rd to win the ball back from Jack. They know he is our only threat. I pray Drink water can still hit those 40 yard over the top balls that Vardy used to run on to. The gaps will be there as teams put all their focus on nullifying Jack.

Shock! A defensive midfielder who has never looked good going forward looks out of his depth against the 2nd best team in the league. Our midfield was out numbered 3-2 the entire match. It was the sacrifice we had to make given our lack of a striker. And you know what it worked. We got a goal and were a Douglas error away from stealing a 1-0. We made a 3 goal improvement off the last time we played them. No way anyone in the defense had a shocker. There were mistakes definitely, but our midfield was under the cosh the entire second half. With that type of pressure only the best midfielders would escape mistake free. In a 2 man midfield you need both your midfielders to be all arounders. Nakamba is not that nor was he brought in to be that. He's doing a job while Mcginn is out. It's not like he is failing at his primary duty. He is still leading the team in tackles and recoveries. The extra duties being asked of him right now may be a bit to much but how about we give him a couple games to get settled before we start tearing him apart.

I get you. Honestly most of the post in this thread have been positive. The Nakamba hate has been over the top but the level headed comments don't really come out til the day after a match. I'm still curious as to what type of performance people expected from our out numbered midfield. We all miss Mcginn doing the work of two men but this is all we got right now. Let's get behind them.

Yep, my thoughts as well. Him and Guilbert defended fabulously all night but his complete lack of offensive talent just takes all the shine off his performance. Not even his fault really. The requirements for a modern day full back have passed him by.

At least all that buy back clause talk has stopped. Wasn't at his best but this new formation ask a huge amount of him. With Jack pushed up top and 2 wingers also on the pitch Douglas and Nakamba had an impossible task in the midfield. I think, given the fact he was facing the 2nd best team away from home, he acquitted himself well enough. Can't ignore the mistake but that's part of the growth of any young player. Hopefully Dean gives him a little more help versus City.