Another point, but apparently, 25% possession, 1 corner and 1 shot on target at home is close to rubbish. Brighton will be disappointed that they didn't win.
Whilst it was amusing that they lost a goal to VAR at 0-0, what we saw today was an advert for the way 2 different teams have gone about strengthening and progressing at this level. Brighton, and it hurts to say, are seeing the shoots of some shrewd scouting and good business.
Whereas with us, despite 10 years at this level, now very complacent and standing still, 2 newly acquired players on the bench, the biggest cheer of the day almost for the return of Macarthur (who I have always rated), but who is not the future, PV again making his statement to the board, selecting 2 goalkeepers on the bench, Luka and Riedewald on the bench.
Not difficult to see how we are the team that has run the shortest distances during games and certain players appear to be in a comfort zone.
Our build up play is so slow, playing out from the back so much, partly because we have a 36 year old goalkeeper who cannot kick and who must have been not a little relieved to see that goal lost to VAR as he did just watch it drift slowly into the net (I expect flak for that because like Wilf and Speroni in the day, he is a player that is, for some reason, so far above criticism, however I was directly above it and he didn't react at all), so many players today who had such poor first touches.
With our self-imposed limited squad depth, surely it would have made sense to perhaps have recalled a loan or two during the window because I am certainly not convinced that any of those young players could have put in less effort today than Olise or Mateta and perhaps in the case of Rak-Sakhyi and Kymani-Gordon, they might know where the goal is !
The summer will again be a time change and uncertainty with a large number of players out of contract, will Mr Textor's money again keep the wolf from the door ?
We may have avoided relegation by then, but how many of the fans I wonder, feel that any real progression or growth is possible at this level without new owners/direction ?
I am not suggesting hurtling the club again into an unsustainable financial position but the time has gone now where it is possible to compete at this level on the cheap.

Let's be honest chaps, we got flippin' lucky again today. I'm almost getting used to them being significantly better than us, but somehow we get a pointt or even a win that any neutral would say we didn't deserve. I suppose that is a good habit but it would nice to see us actually play well against them...

Viera incessantly talks about "Performance" in his interviews.
"Performance", "Performance".....
Today's performance was deplorable and we were presented with a goal.
At home, 25% possession, 1 corner and 1 shot on target - Totally unacceptable.

Supporters felt positive when Vieira arrived, the narrative was all about a change of style and more progressive football, sadly we have returned to the days when we ground out results.

1 win in 11 games in all competitions and that was against lowly Bournemouth. It is only a matter of time before the likes of Wolves,Leicester, W.Ham and others overhaul us in the table.
We have regressed.

On that note I shall now depart for a tipple or two.

Another point, but apparently, 25% possession, 1 corner and 1 shot on target at home is close to rubbish. Brighton will be disappointed that they didn't win.
Whilst it was amusing that they lost a goal to VAR at 0-0, what we saw today was an advert for the way 2 different teams have gone about strengthening and progressing at this level. Brighton, and it hurts to say, are seeing the shoots of some shrewd scouting and good business.
Whereas with us, despite 10 years at this level, now very complacent and standing still, 2 newly acquired players on the bench, the biggest cheer of the day almost for the return of Macarthur (who I have always rated), but who is not the future, PV again making his statement to the board, selecting 2 goalkeepers on the bench, Luka and Riedewald on the bench.
Not difficult to see how we are the team that has run the shortest distances during games and certain players appear to be in a comfort zone.
Our build up play is so slow, playing out from the back so much, partly because we have a 36 year old goalkeeper who cannot kick and who must have been not a little relieved to see that goal lost to VAR as he did just watch it drift slowly into the net (I expect flak for that because like Wilf and Speroni in the day, he is a player that is, for some reason, so far above criticism, however I was directly above it and he didn't react at all), so many players today who had such poor first touches.
With our self-imposed limited squad depth, surely it would have made sense to perhaps have recalled a loan or two during the window because I am certainly not convinced that any of those young players could have put in less effort today than Olise or Mateta and perhaps in the case of Rak-Sakhyi and Kymani-Gordon, they might know where the goal is !
The summer will again be a time change and uncertainty with a large number of players out of contract, will Mr Textor's money again keep the wolf from the door ?
We may have avoided relegation by then, but how many of the fans I wonder, feel that any real progression or growth is possible at this level without new owners/direction ?
I am not suggesting hurtling the club again into an unsustainable financial position but the time has gone now where it is possible to compete at this level on the cheap.