07 May 2023 23:29:53
We played good football for the first 25 minutes. We had 5 excellent chances before West Ham scored. Unfortunately we couldn't even hit the target, never mind get the ball past Fabianski. Once de Gea made his blunder and we went behind, the game changed. Not only were we forced to contend with a more defensive set up but our team, out our already fragile confidence, evaporated. The loss is down to one person and one person only and that's de Gea. I simply cannot believe that United are considering keeping him. He's weak in the air, he's a poor sweeper. and his distribution is dreadful. Yes, he makes some good saves, but so does every other top goalie.

I have been a big supporter of ETH, but I think he's lost the plot of late. Weghorst is awful. Why is he starting? It's all or nothing now. Go with players who at least have a chance of scoring a goal.

1.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 00:16:13
Yeah I have to agree mate. Genuinely we would be no worse off if Butland or Heaton if fit started the rest of the games. We have become far too soft as a club and mediocrity is just accepted now to a certain degree. De gea should have been moved on a few years ago and replaced. I would honestly be amazed if he is number one next season and the only reason I see it happening is if there is no money available to replace him. At this rate it wouldn't be a shock if Henderson even came back and replaced him that's how bad it is.

A striker and goalkeeper an absolute must in the summer for me aswell as centre back, full back and midfield. Without backing ten hag this could easily turn into another nightmare. This take over is really holding us back and dragging on now as it seems all our plans are on hold and we are stuck in limbo.

Oh well lads it is now onto Wolves and we need our home form to pull us over the line more than ever now. We've made a mountain out of this but I still fancy us to scrape over the line. Come on ??.

2.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 07:52:23
Dean cannot even get ahead of Navas, he is hardly the assuring goalie we need at the back.

Keepers make mistakes, our biggest issue isn't at the back, but our goal shy strikers and has been like that for a number of years.

Martial, Anthony and Sancho are either underperforming, or just too inconsistent.

3.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 08:03:36
It's obvious that the players know how EtH wants them to play and they are even capable of doing so for a period of time.

Ultimately though it's clear that we do not have the squad depth to cope with a season as long and truncated as this.

A world cup mid-season has massively interrupted our campaign, along with cup runs deep into 3 competitions (making 2 finals) and the Thursday/ Sunday schedule that the Europa League forces.

It's simply too much and our players are burned out. I think that is why we are seeing Weghorst play more than we would like as he has legs and provides energy our team is lacking.

The injuries are piling up as well, which is not just an issue in that it gives the manager less options, but it's also a sign of fatigue.

We just need to get this season over with and try and reshape the squad so that it is both better equipped to play EtH's style of play AND provides him more depth so we can go deep into multiple competitions without stretching ourselves too thinly.

Since the start of the season I have said both that DDG isn't suited to how EtH will look to play and he'll need to be replaced. Something that is becoming more and more obvious to most fans by the day.

I also said that it would take at least 3 years before we are ready for a serious title challenge. Much like Klopp at Liverpool and Arteta at Arsenal, EtH was walking into a fallen giant that hadn't challenged for years. That sort of turnaround cannot happen in a season or even two. It's a minimum of a three year job to ship out all the unsuitable players, replace them, train them to play as the manager wants and to change the mentality of the squad.

It's not the same as Pep walking into City, or Conte at Chelsea. These were proven managers taking over a side that had won things recently and were well set for the next manager. Not sides that needed rebuilding from the ground up.

It doesn't matter who we sign this summer, or who we sell, or who are owners are. We won't seriously challenge for the title next season. There will be too much change off the pitch and not enough on it for us to be real contenders.

If we get the right owners, who make the right changes, sell the right players and bring in the right ones this summer and next summer then we might be in a position to challenge for the title in the 2024/ 25 season. But no sooner than that.

Anyone who cannot see that needs to either remove their red tinted glasses or start living in the real world.

4.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 08:50:55
Shappy nobody really said anything about a title challenge at the start of the season. I believe even your words were that play better football and be entertaining. We have not done either. Is EtH culpable for that?

5.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 09:32:52
Lots of peopke were saying in January/ February we were in a title race on here.

Others were saying if we just buy a striker we were in a title race. Some werw saying we are 2 players away from a title bid.

There was a post maybe a fortnight ago saying that if we buy Kane we win the title.

There are a lot of people who think we are much better than we are. We were always a couple of players getting injured from having a tough time.

I have said all along we are 10 to 15 players away and from the start of EtH 3 to 4 years away from a title challenge, far too many issues in the squad, total lack of depth, players that don't fit the system.

The solutions aren't in this squad of players.

6.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 11:28:54
UA, plenty of people did on here in January/ February, yet I doubt you saw it as you only seem to post when we either lose are aren't playing well.

7.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 12:11:46
Shappy I totally agree we’re on the right track no doubt and experiencing a few bumps at present but just an opinion, this squad with just one addition Harry Kane for example puts an extra 12-15 points on the board for us this season!
The amount of games we haven’t put tonnes because of missed chances is incredible!
Palace away, spurs away, Newcastle home for example! It’s obvious we need to strengthen elsewhere too no doubt but to be where we are now with such little goals is crazy really, but also likes of Martial sancho and Antony have really let down the side in that department!

8.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 14:03:03
Chris, I'm not denying Kane would have an impact right now.

He's a quality player and for the most part I think stylistically would be a much better fit for an EtH team than someone like Osimhen.

The problem isn't this season, or even next season. It's the fact that we are unlikely to be able to put a serious title challenge in until the 2024/ 25 season at the earliest. Which would make Kane 32/ 33 during that season.

Do you think he would still be able to play at the same level in 2-3 years time? Do you think he will be able to stay fit for most of the season in 2-3 years time?

If the answer to either of those questions is no, even if it's probably not, then he ain't the guy to get us back challenging for titles.

9.) 08 May 2023
08 May 2023 14:26:57
Sorry shappy not disagreeing at all just highlighting the point that even with this squad that has glaring weaknesses, if this season we had hardy lane or similar, a number 9 who scored regularly even this squad would be 12-15 points better off! We’re not a million miles away despite the doom merchants! Far too many games have got away from us because of wasteful finishing and not putting games to bed! Poor form happens unfortunately!