06 Dec 2025 13:38:28
When you asses the recent pressing style which most teams have attempted in the past few seasons, Sloppy was very efficient and effective with his players but it was consistently working, chasing, closing especially in the final third of the pitch. It was no coincidence that he was pushing for the 5 subs which allowed ample opportunity to take out tired players and maintain the high tempo. Without euro football our players have no excuses if you cannot only give 60mins working your arse off that's fine then come off. RA seems to consistently make changes to the back three, when it midfield where we are weak.

His stubborn refusal to stick to his methods just isn't working consistently. I have been very positive each week looking at 3 points getting us up near top four, now, a few losses could put us back down to bottom 4. I really think with the players we have and the formation of other teams we should be in the top four already. So frustrated as we have be given opportunities to be up there in the last few games, but failed miserable, where is the passion and drive in this team.

1.) 06 Dec 2025
06 Dec 2025 16:46:30
For me it’s the inflexibility that’s costing us.

The system works in some games, particularly games in which the opposition is pushing high up the pitch. Amorim’s approach stretches the pitch, and this opens up space to hit on the counter. Problems arise, however, when the opponent sits deeper. Stretching the pitch doesn’t work then because the opposition is tight and compact, and our players are spread too far apart to put together moves that cut through a low block. That’s when we end up with plodding sideways passing and crosses into the box without no one there. Worse, when we lose possession, the players are so spread out that teams can go right through us.

What I would like to see is more common sense flexibility. Everton is the perfect example. We had an extra man, but weren’t creating chances. The common sense solution would have been to bring on an extra midfielder to help us play through their low block. Amorim didn’t do this because it would change the system. The result was losing a game we should have won. If your system becomes more important than the result, you’re never going to make it at top level management.

2.) 06 Dec 2025
06 Dec 2025 16:57:12
Who are you calling asses?

It's quite clear that we simply do not have the depth in midfield to control the end of a game. Once Casemiro tires there's no one left who can do his job. So when inevitably the other team pick up the pace in order to get back into the game, we're left with Bruno and either Mainoo or Ugarte, neither of whom has shown any ability to step up and stem the flow through midfield. Amorim's playing with a limited deck and until that's fixed I don't see us maintaining any consistency. Unfortunately it's hard to see us forking out £100k in January, even assuming that the team's the desired midfielders are playing for are willing to sell at all. It's incredibly frustrating.

3.) 06 Dec 2025
06 Dec 2025 19:44:50
Like, I get that Ratcliffe’s a bit of a Scrooge, but I’d be surprised if he wouldn’t spend £100,000 if the right player was available in January.