Is our team worst than Burnley’s on paper? Their line up yesterday was shocking - people are massively overstating how bad our team is.

I’m 20+ years a fan at this point so seen a fair bit, the majority of that I would argue has been reasonably entertaining - to be clear I’m not talking about successful, just generally worth watching - I’ve never felt more resentful of spending money to watch us than I have this season.

To approach a relatively meaningless home tie against a really weak XI the way we did yesterday is, in my opinion, not good enough.

What other team in the division lines up with 3 defensive midfielders every single week? In what world do you approach an away tie with Liverpool the same as a home one against Burnley? There’s no clear plan that I can see to create chances outside of hoping Wilf or Ayew produce a moment, which has worked unsustainably for too long. Players go through woeful runs of form and get picked regardless, and we seemingly have nothing close to a plan B to change a game - something as simple as swapping the wingers flanks yesterday made a clear difference.

I think those are all valid questions/criticisms, and the quality of our squad is not that bad that it justifies persisting with the same s***e.

They were without Barnes, Wood, Lowton, Rodriguez, Brady, Hendrick yesterday - that’s as weak an XI as you’ll see at this level.

Yep, not since Venables (we'll ignore the second stint) and then Coppell and neither of them sustained anything.

The team of the eighties might have amounted to something if it had been built on.

Edited by Stirlingsays (30 Jun 2020 9.17pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Who are the players that would have brought this attacking play ?. You've lost Benteke (not great but improved of late) I've watched Meyer closely. Not quick enough to make a yard to deliver a killer ball around the box, can't shoot, hopeless out of possession 2 assists in 44 odd games. Failed to impress in cup games against lower div sides when played more centrally. Riedewald tidy like Meyer but slow and leggy defensive mid player. Pierrick shown signs of promise and would have gambled on him as an alternative last two games rather than Meyer. Lost Tosun to injury.

I also think that the relative age of our squad puts them at a disadvantage in regaining fitness after the lay off.

Burnley did a job on Zaha. Ayew and Guaita have an off day. Game over.

Simply pointing out the lack of options for surprise although, as I said, I'd have taken a punt on Pierrick over Meyer.

Roy had no trouble playing exciting football when he had Cabaye and RLC at his disposal.

With regard to your question I think we rattled Liverpool at home.