Ah Patrick. Unfortunately, I can't argue with your analysis. I think you hit it dead on.

Success will lie to you but failure always tells you the truth.

Playing Eze gives us a higher chance of winning games and thus staying up imo. However Roys ethos is playing to not lose rather than playing to win. I bore myself sometimes with going on about it.. but nothing will change with Roy.

Schlupp with that left-foot provides some balance on the left side and he adds more physicality than Eze.He is also more used to the 'Hodgson way' having worked with the manager longer than Eze.

I suppose supporters will ponder as to whether Hodgson specifically asked for Eze to be purchased or whether the club saw the opportunity to purchase a young flair player who was highly rated in the Championship and perhaps could have been deployed as a Zaha replacement.

Edited by Willo (02 Nov 2020 9.16am)

But it’s only Roy’s apparent insistence on seeing it as a straight choice between Schlupp and Eze that causes the issue.
They are very different players and there’s no reason why both cannot be accommodated in the team.
It will require some flexibility and a new role in the team for Eze, but that’s Roy’s job and to just stick Eze on the bench is a cop out.

I would put Eze in the attacking midfield slot with Schlupp at left back the two Macs in midfield and Wilf, Ayew and Andros up front. Bats doesn't seem to have had the same effect as previously and Ayew's combative efforts and skills do make up for his height. Of course Roy will continue to go with safety first until he and Steve P have a car park meeting. Although that may be down to not having a settled pair of centre backs.

Enjoying getting up later and not having someone who knows better than me (apart from the missus of course).

Eze is not a winger, if we bought him to play on the wing somebody didn't do there home work, he plays through the middle ask anyone from QPR, MM is the same not a winger, square pegs in round holes.