We can't play like last night for the remaining 6 games or we'll get nothing out of them. Roy must stay proactive throughout and take every 90/95 mins seriously - last night he looked more like a spectator on the sideline. There are still 18 points to play for and we should aim to get at least 9 or 10.

all were Very poor yesterday.
Guaita made an uncharacteristic error, perhaps he is someone that needs a run of games? he took a little while to settle in here and displace WH in the first place ?
I was screaming at the tv for Hodgson to put one of The youngsters on just to freshen it up up top. I see pierrick on the bench. What's the point of having these guys on the bench?
We're safe now, 42 points, What have we got to Lose.

"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

I can see us getting nothing from any game if we continue to play as we did yesterday.
I suspect we will get some openings for Wilf and co against the better sides where we defend more than attack but a final total of 42 would not surprise me one bit.
We have done incredibly well this season but we cannot pull the same rabbit from the hat again I suspect.
A clearout, playing youngsters and a couple of wily purchases is what is required and Roy is not that man I'm afraid.
Will SP bring someone in despite Roy's new contract - it would be brave but advisable in my opinion purely because I don't see how Roy can do the same again.

We lost anyway using the ‘old guard’ so the point remains valid about trying other players now we are safe.
Unfortunately we know that this will not happen as Hodgson trusts only his senior core of players.
He gave a recent interview about involving younger players in the remaining games, which I took to mean making up numbers on the bench as opposed to active participation in matches.
He is the most conservative manage I have ever witnessed in terms of team selection, in game tactical changes and substitutions.
Had there not been an injury crisis I’m convinced AWB would never have got his opportunity.

Cloud-cuckoo land if we carry on playing as we have in the last two games (Yes I know Liverpool were brilliant against us but we let them play and folded as soon as Wilf went off). We might get 5 points if we are lucky 3 off Villa and a couple of lucky draws.

The only player going forward with any intent was the cameo performance from Meyer. Unfortunately, as is usually the case, no-one else was quick-thinking enough to be on the same wavelength. And Yes, after the Liverpool game, I did say we should get rid of him. He has some talent but he simply doesn't fit our current style of play unless he is given the freedom to buzz betweeen the lines.

Which is exactly what he should be given.

There will be those who will assert that we are 6 pts better off than at the same juncture as last season and certainly won't go down so at the end of the season "Mission accomplished".

Edited by Willo (30 Jun 2020 10.38am)

Those who want to see Meyer play ‘in between the lines’,
are going to be disappointed.
Hodgson uses him either on the right or left of a nominal front three, a role to which he is patently unsuited.
Hodgson always chooses his midfield three from Mcarthur, Luka, Kouyate and Mcarthy.
If there were injuries then Riedewald would be the next option.
Essentially team shape is everything to Hodgson and while he is in charge it has to be very doubtful we will see a No 10 type player pulling the strings in midfield.
Let’s hope recruitment runs players past Hodgson in the summer because if they don’t fit the system/shape they won’t play however talented they may be.

My concern as is yours I guess is next season with this squad? It almost needs a complete overhaul as it’s the oldest first team squad in the prem. Burnley may be older, not sure. But anyway the 2 Mc’s, Milo and Kouyaté are the midfielders that Roy H chooses from first and they don’t have much of a clue playing over the half way line? We need either to play 2 of that 4 with Meyer as a creative midfielder or if he isn’t good enough get someone else in. Personally I think he is good enough but Roy H won’t change that defensive midfield - I also think Sakho needs to play alongside either Dann, Tompkins or Cahill as he can actually play out of defence. But that doesn’t look like happening either. And don’t get me started on Zaha and Townsend and how they don’t play as they once did - Grrrr!

Bingo! He can pick a pass but desperately needs game time and not to be played out of position

Edited by Spiderman (30 Jun 2020 12.09pm)