Eze wasn't bad, he did some nice flicks and looked comfortable on the ball, plus his penalty was ridiculously cool. Some of his teammates weren't quite on his wavelength at times. It looked like he'd been told not to over commit himself. Batshuayi barely had a sniff all night except from one ball that he should have done better with. We were playing at a walking pace while Bournemouth looked marginally better thanks to the energy of their front two. Overall though the game had less energy than our opening preseason fixture which says it all. I'm not sure Bournemouth particularly wanted to win it either!

More attacking line up, yet the same boring tactics. The reason I'm upset is after our pre season games and eze and bats joining, I thought we were looking at a better style of football, particularly against the weaker sides. But no, this was just like last season. Boring crap football.

Bats and Eze were both very disappointing.

Couldn’t give a s*** about the result, pleased to be out and not waste a night at City.

But, it concerns me that Roy seemingly has learnt nothing and we are going to approach games with the same dull tactics centred around keeping clean sheets - 38% and 1 shot on target against championship opposition is pathetic; I accept the defence was rotated, but Kirby aside the front 6 are all established players - Bournemouth were playing kids of their own at the back and we barely created a chance.

When did anyone last enjoy watching us play?

Similar tactics for sure,

But add a midfield and a backline who can string a pass to together and pace up top and we can become a fast breaking counter attack team again

Wilf Bats up front with Ayew Townsend Eze Schlupp in support and perhaps even a hard running central mid and we become an entirely different proposition - with the same possession.

Southampton was very encouraging to me. Not the finished product but hints of returning to some fast and dangerous counters. Key I think is Wilf up top - or more advanced anyway - and no Benteke. Ben has his qualities but he’s not made to lead a line of fast counters. He’s more of a hold up play cf - that slows play down. The absence of goals not the only reason to phase him out.

Take a look at some forwards who have prospered under RH at other clubs and this seems feasible.

The fact that the likes of Citeh didn't even play in this round of the cup pretty much sums it up. They could of put out their full 2nd XI and got through comfortably. Bournemouth will have that pleasure next round. As Roy said to make the draw for the next round before was insane, particularly if you drew a big club like ourselves. Whilst this is no excuse not to put a shift in, could easily be playing on their minds. No wonder both teams put in a turgid 90 mins, ready for the hangman's noose next round.

Edited by Booted Eagle (16 Sep 2020 3.58pm)

“ [T]here are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.There are known unknowns; that is to say there are things that, we now know we don't know.But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”
—United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld