BigFish

I don't mind admitting that I thought at the time it was likely that Buendia wanted to double his wages and avoid another likely unsuccessful releagation fight. As such it was logical to think the club had no choice. Events and @Parma Ham's gone mouldy have persuaded me otherwise. But the problem with alternate histories is they compare the subjective with the known outcome. Should we have kept Buendia our transfer budget would have probably amounted to 1 x EPL player (a CB or Skipp replacement) and 2 x loans. The likely outcome is another unsuccessful fight against relegation. In this situation the self same posters who rake up Buendiagate would have equal and opposite critiques. The fact I was wrong in my opinion doesn't necessarily mean I think they were right. That said I take Parm's point on sporting momentum to heart. I see that, and now agree. This is a post about opinions, not of opinions.

DON'T FEED THE TROLL

Simply put, we didn't. The view was that neither were good enough for our first choice starting 11 but could be useful in case of injuries, tiredness etc. The economics made Fisher so much cheaper for the 245 minutes of League action required. The simple question is do you want a big squad of average players or a squad of a few above average players and a larger number of below average players making up the numbers.

Effectively it is the same question, although people like the former because it shaves a couple of points off the target. But there is 11 point range between the highest and lowest points achieved for 7th place which just goes to show the variability between seasons. So the actual question is how many points to achieve 6th THIS season. It is just a calculation from now until the end of the season, not a statistical average season from August. We just need to match the performance of, say, the best of the three teams below. I suspect the worst case scenario is one of them picks up 6 wins (or 2 ppm) so 75/76 is enough. Though if one of them wins the lot we would just have to take our hats off to them & it would be a record (unless we could catch WBA).

Sunderland got 90 in '98, finished 3rd and didn't go up.

And that in itsself would equal the record (Fulham, 2017), but 19/24 looks a bit of a reach

90 apparently, Sunderland in 98, and they didn't go up. Fingers crossed.

Hadn't really noticed this before, but looks like it will be some kind of record for the team in third missing out.

Simply put there are a group of posters who just like to moan, a couple of wind-up merchants and a few trolls. Difficult to get traction when things are going well but they will be back next week if we don't win.

He wasn't really playing at all, not good enough for Bologna, not as good as Idah atm, just cover in case both Barnes and Sargeant are injured in the run-in

No one (sensible) could possibly argue that we made a good fist at our last two EPL campaigns but much of the specifics here is just hindsight. We know Webber failed, and the idea that depth was required didn't work. But in all likelihood most of the alternate histories also see the club go down. It is the nature of the fundamentals of the club and the League that causes that, not necessarily individual failure. That some clubs of similar stature do survive (for a while) doesn't change that. Luton were flattered by Everton's points reduction, and will almost certainly go down. We could see Leicester, Leeds and Southampton bounce back, and if that happens I expect they will make a better fist of staying up than the Blades and Burnley. If that happens Brentford will struggle to survive. However good their decision making their time will have been up.

The point is we have twelve games left and right now SVH is a clear downgrade on Idah. Idah was supposedly the best sub in the division, SVH is clearly not. The lack of that impact from the bench may cost us, and it would be worse if Sarge or Branes get injured.

It is very much about fans "not understanding" and "not appreciating" the modern game. This dated idea of getting the ball forward quickly and then contesting second balls is how the game was played last century or at lower level. Needlessly giving the ball away in the hope that the opposition makes a mistake is not hoe the Elite game is played now or has been for a couple of decades. This is not just about Wagner, either as Farke got the old tippy-tappy ctiticism as well. Fans have every right to say this stuff, but all it demonstrates is how little they understand of what they are watching.

Well clearly you don't accept it or understand it. It is there to draw the opposition into positions that free space elsewhere, rather than move the ball into offensive positions. If the opposition don't react you keep doing it until they do. It is a long journey back to Sunderland so perhaps their commentator can use the time to contemplate why they are going home with no points and no goals.

I had to Google Lobanovski 😀

Errant nonsense, that is deliberate tactics and has been working exceptionally well. It draws opponents into the press and opens up space for Sara. When it works our shape is perfect.

I don't get this at all. I think at this stage it is all about knocking clubs out of contention, rather than they all get something to keep the pot boiling. Combine that with (for me) WBA and Hull looking favourites and it is better that Preston beat Hull, WBA beat Cov and we beat Sunderland. We go top 6, Sunderland are finished and Cov are on the verge.

Well this is the key when posters post that Wagner doesn't know what he is doing. His choices are deliberate, he does know why he is doing what he is doing. That is not to necessarily say it works, or it is our best option - just that it is deliberate. Now both @Barham Blitz and @Parma Ham's gone mouldy are thoughtful posters, but it appears on this they disagree on point 2. For my money I agree with Parma that we have sold or lost our weapons and haven't replaced them. We do have an expensive squad of capable players but it is spread too wide, too shallow. I think on 3 Wagner is desperately trying to mitigate the situation with tactics, injuries and individual mistakes have cost us. We don't have the players to play in Farke's preferred 4231 or the 433 we tried to switch too (I am aware of in-game rotations) - despite Rowe and Sargeant's heroics it is often difficult to see where a goal is coming from. If you were building a team for promotion you wouldn't start from here, let alone a team to stay in the EPL.

True, the similarity between the posts of some on here and some on TWTD is remarkable. As is their ability not to see it.

I don't like taking off Sarge or Barnes off just to try a loanee to see if he ready. Totally different to using what was described as the best sub in the division.

Worth a bump

This is pretty much without foundation. Put simply if SVH is on the pitch either Barnes or Srage isn't, possible both. Eith little room for error in the run in giving him minutes just to get him up to speed or see what he is like is counter productive. As third choice Idah offered more (right now, as he is ready and has chipped in - not making the case that this is long term).

AS a fan I hope you are right @PurpleCanary, looks like it is possible, if not probable

We have twelve games left, you happy to leave out Sarge or Barnes just so we can "judge him". Incredible.