What I don't approve of is people expecting handouts. We've recruited two players for £40m this season. Plus Batshuayi, Clyne, Ferguson, Butland, and Banks.

That's not bad going.

The manager named it his best ever squad.
6 players have England caps.

We've got a better squad than all the teams currently below us bar Wolves. Probably better than Leeds too. Yet most believe that avoiding relegation is a great success.

Just to clarify I would be pretty certain that West Ham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Southampton come straight back up. If Fulham, West Brom or hopefully Brighton go down I would expect all three to be in and around the playoffs/promotion. So slight categorical difference between pretty certain and expect.
I am envious of Southampton depending on how you look at it they are either the biggest small club or smallest big club. They have that infrastructure required, gate receipts and commercial revenue of £15-20m more than us, and have had a category 1 academy since 2012 along with Fulham and Norwich. T
To be fair to Bloom at Brighton his has invested upwards of £300m but £100m plus of that has gone on the infrastructure the ground and category 1 academy, they would be in better position if they went down, including having a younger squad on lower wages with more sell on value but don't want to digress.
To me it a question of how do we stay in the premier until we are able to get that infrastructure in place. In my opinion it is in being cautious in having a manager who is tried and tested.
I'm not particular wedded to Hodgson he does a good competent safe job, which is what I think we need. Dyche, Moyes and if it wasn't for his history Bruce would do similar , Howe wouldn't be bad either. Should be said looking at the list of managers I'm miserable and defensive minded but I can’t see who else we are likely to get.

Edited by Ketteridge (21 Jan 2021 12.17pm)

One supporter of hacking argued that without it "you will do away with the courage and pluck of the game, and I will be bound to bring over a lot of Frenchmen who would beat you with a week's practice -Blackheath secretary at first meeting of the F.A

I'm not sure that is the real concern, more to do with our inconsistency and competitiveness which has been a real nuisance this season.

i thought i'd bump this thread, even though we were abject against Wet Spam.

in defence of Roy :

- Wet Spam are very good....now above Liverpool

- Quite a few of our players are not performing well, as Big Sam has discovered at West Brom. Its hard to make a silk purse out of a Sow's ear.

- we miraculously only lost by 2-3 ( but i will confess it could have been 2-30 )

- our attacking play was not as bad as the rest of our squad.

- we needed Tomkins fit

- Benteke didnt score, again.

- we are still miles above the relegation zone

- our home form, at Selhurst, seems to be cursed for the last few years. Can the boys play more practice matches there ?

- some of our squad look ready to retire.

Edited by PalazioVecchio (26 Jan 2021 11.44pm)

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

This is a relevant point but note that we are static and seem to be stuck at 23 points. If we stay where we are the relegation zone is going to come to us.

Wolves on Saturday is almost sure to be a loss given our recent form, which there is no reason to think is going to change, but the telling game will be Newcastle next Tuesday. If we can't get a result against them we could be doomed.

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

29 Points by the 2nd of February.

Still Benteke underperforming in front of goal. It's not Roy's fault the fella is crocked.

Shoestring financial budget.

15 points above Fulham (ok they still have 2 games in hand ).

a nice little away-win against Brucie the elephant.

I still love Croydon-Roy

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford