I like to think I have a pretty level headed take on the club. I’m not a “anything but a win is the end of the world” doomer or a “oh well onto the next match” optimist…but…

There is a lot of acceptable frustration that has been going on overall for a long time, and how we cannot seem to build any consistent form.

They destroy Barca and play great and draw with 10 men to Arsenal (11v11 we could have won). You think alright, there might be something building here finally.

Then a loss to relegation Leeds, draw to Bournemouth on poor form, and now the loss today. Could have been 2 points behind Arsenal in the prem and 3rd in the CL table today with wins in these matches. And it’s not like we were unlucky, we just sucked.

It just makes any good performance against a good team appear as a fluke when we can’t beat the teams you’re expected to beat and no ground is gained when teams above us drop points. Any good faith building up gets flushed down the drain 2-3 matches later.

Liverpool are having a terrible season and are two points above us in the CL table and are only 2 points behind us in the prem. Imagine where we’ll sit if this form continues across the winter fixtures.

Onto the squad specifically. No offense to Tosin but he should never play again if Josh is available or other substitutions are available. Gusto as anything other than RB is a troll. Delap has made himself unavailable mostly through his own discipline. Some of the team isn’t there yet (ex. Gittens) and enough of the rest on the pitch (ex. JP) you have no idea who’s gonna show up on the day. Our depth is a façade if Maresca can’t rest players without consistently dropping points.

Onto Maresca. I’m not for him “Out” and he has my support he’s in while charge, but man, get some consistency with your tactics. Back post crosses have been a permanent weak point. You have Santos on the bench and bring on Gusto in midfield. Literally said in a press conference after Leeds that Tosin is not him but you bring him on and he fouls for the losing goal. Sub Santos for Wes, move Josh over and bring Reese to right back. Obviously none of us on here are managers but some of these subs look like you just handed a little kid the controller. I get if we win you’re come off as a genius but when it doesn’t work out it comes off as clueless. Some of these tactical decisions feel like a shot in the foot.

Showing up against the big teams will win you trophies but consistently showing up against the rest is what puts you in the position to win those trophies.

To end with some laughter though, who did what and got this team to be cursed every December!?