I will try and make this a considered post rather than an angry rant, but I am having my doubts about Vieira’s judgement over some aspects of our play.
I’m not calling for his head and like him as person and acknowledge he is trying to stick to certain football principles.
However, in my view the way we are setting up is not getting the best of our resources.
The very talented Eze and Olise appear to be luxury players as there is nobody to win the ball for them and they drift aimlessly around midfield having no influence on the game.
This results with us being dominated in midfield and if Doucoure is pressed in deep midfield we are unable to start any moves.
The only outlet is the long pass from Anderson.
This means Zaha is isolated when playing down the middle chasing lost causes and having zero impact on proceedings.
When it’s clear the tactics are not working (as in today and v Forest) I can’t understand why Vieira does not react and make changes.
If the players are not following instructions change them for those who will follow them.
If the players are not capable of performing in line with the tactics, change the tactics to suit them.
It doesn’t seem like rocket science.

the ref was a cnut,was Mitchels challenge any worse than Coefals for west ham that i have just seen and only get a yellow. Tompkins second yellow was a joke and not even a foul and i know for a fact that the Fulham dugout were convinced that their goal was going to be chalked out as he headed the ball onto his hand.But none of that will be debated because people will quite rightly focus on the totally gutless performance we put in , no effort, no bottle in 50 50 challenges, terrible body language from the very first minute with heads down,slouching shoulders as if they didnt want to be there .With a manager who had the reputation PV had as player ,to be a leader and warrior we had no one today.No matter how many players (and there is plenty of talent in the squad) feel they are square pegs in round holes , the minimum that fans would expect is some effort,passion and pride in their performance none of which was forthcoming from any player today

I agree. Anyone is better than Schlupp. He is truly awful. Ayew is currently our best player out of the ones you mentioned.

Last season McArthur played about 20 games,Gallagher about 40 games and Kouyate about 30 games.They all made positive contributions.
Our midfield 'Engine room' is vastly weakened by their absence.

We signed Doucoure in the summer but the other signings were a backup goalkeeper, Richards who has been injured and an inexperienced Ebiowei.

Our performances have been dire in our last 2 games, another defeat on the back of an abject performance at Bournemouth and HOL will be at its splenetic worst.

Yep agree with all of that.

Tomkins was woeful today. Was a great signing for us IMHO and has served the club well. By the same token the same could be said about the likes of Ian Wright, however I have no great desire to see him play as the only option following a single suspension.

On top of that, we only had one recognisable midfielder in midfield, no striker on the pitch and nothing to offer off the bench.

We’ve some great players in the squad but can’t even make an obvious starting XI. Our lack of depth is looking likely to be our downfall and now the starting team is in doubt.
I also anticipate that no further funds will be available.

Today was a catastrophe start to finish, and highly unlikely to repeat, however you can’t help but feel it really exposed our precarious position in terms of playing staff.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Ayew better than Eze or Olise??.. Wow... I'm lost for words at that...

Edited by kennybrowns leftfoot (27 Dec 2022 12.57am)

Don't waste your time with jealousy. Sometimes your ahead, sometimes your behind, the race is long. But in the end it's only with yourself!!