[Slick_Footwork]

Obviously I know nothing about football, but I wasn’t disappointed with the performance last night. Yes we could have speeded things up more , but in my opinion we certainly weren’t outplayed. What are some of you on here expecting ? Did you think by now we would be in the top half of the table? I honestly believed we would struggle this season no matter what. Every point is a bonus. It may not be, but so long as we play reasonably attractive football, which I thought we did last night, considering some of the crap I’ve watched over fairly recently times, I will be happy.

I didn't expect us to be top half. I expected before the season started that we might finish 16-17th. That expectation changed to 20th after seeing our opening games of the season and the fact we were a soft touch and Bilic decided to start games with a formation that was alien to the players because of fear. We didn't lay a glove on Leicester or Southampton and didn't have the balls to see off Chelsea after being 3-0 up. It didn't help that we were camped in our own half all 2nd period waiting to concede.

That said, despite expecting us to finish rock bottom, I still harbour hopes of 17th and survival...

BUT in order to finish 17th, you have to beat sides like Burnley who were missing their captain and other key players. With that in mind, I expected the team to TRY to win. I think it's fair to expect a modicum of effort and bravery in home ties against sides around you. Actually taking a chance to commit an extra man forward occasionally or trying something to change the game.

Unfortunately I didn't see that. I didn't see the desire to win or take the game by the scruff of the neck. What I saw was a desire to always play the 'safe' ball going side to side or backwards when there was the opportunity to carry it forward. The team played with fear and it wasn't a shock, because it was obvious even from last season that this team lack guts. We needed an injection of guts and personality and while Ivanovic has that in droves, we needed 2 or 3 winners added to the mix.

I seriously question Bilic for not being able to see it. All summer he made a point of Krovinovic being the 'top target' and let's face it, he didn't really excel in the Championship. Apparently he makes others around him better, well I've yet to see that in the 2 games he has played so far. He might be a fantastic personality off the pitch, but he certainly isn't the character we were desperate for in midfield.

The frustration of this lack of guts coupled with the fact we keep making basic mistakes made it an unacceptable performance in my eyes. How many free kicks is Pereira allowed to float straight into the goalkeeper's arms before he's hauled off? The answer is infinite and Bilic obviously didn't tell him to stop doing it. How can Hegazi fail to head the ball before it bounces? Letting it bounce resulted in both of Burnley's chances, which thankfully they missed. I mean this is stuff you learn playing Sunday football...

It's a shame because Gallagher, Livermore and Ivanovic looked good. The problem is they are carrying too many luxury players who don't do a lot when the going gets tough, which we saw at the tail end of last season. The problem is, Bilic doesn't have a plan B, i.e. introducing Ajayi and trying to play long. It's just the same old same old even when it's blatantly obvious that it's failing.

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Allardyce, seriously? Presumably with Pulis as his no.2. Rename The Hawthorns as Jurassic Park while we’re at it

At least our crowds wouldn’t drop this time.

I would prefer continuing to build a young, attack minded team with potential rather that revert to a team of 6 foot plus aging cloggers even if that meant relegation. In fact I’d prefer being forced to watch Crossroads on a never ending loop while being prodded with a red hot poker than going back to those days.

You must be seeing something that I'm not in this team.

What I see is a team that could've played all night at Southampton and not scored. Could've played all night yesterday and not scored. Lowest possession in the league, no bottle, no plan B.

This attack minded team have failed to score in 3 of 5 games. In 2 of them, we didn't have a meaningful effort on goal.

Yes... they are young. But I've never understood being ageist in football. I'd rather have a bunch of 30 year olds who stand up and be counted than a bunch of 20 year old wimps who play with fear...

The irony is Bilic has brought in a 36 year old and his performance yesterday was the best we have seen this season...

IMO we could've done with a few more like him...

Yes, it's all good having flair players. But they need an enforcer or 2 around them to earn the right to play. What's the point having 4-5 luxury players with 30% possession?

So yes, unless Bilic wakes up and smells the coffee, I fully believe we need an 'Allardyce type' manager to stay up. Someone that can actually organise and motivate this set of laid back wimps.

Don't really see the comparison with Allardyce and Pulis either. Again, maybe I'm missing something or have a bad memory but I remember him having decent footballing teams with flair players. His Bolton team played some cracking football with Jay Jay Okocha, Djorkaeff, Stelios and loads of good footballers. His Blackburn side were mid table and look where they ended up after they got rid. He did a good job with Everton. Can't remember any evidence at all of him only picking 6 footers at all. The players his teams were built around - Tugay, Okocha, Joe Cole - were all short footballing midfielders. He's always selected flair players but had a blend of enforcers around them. Campo and Okocha, for example.

Hell, he's the only manager in history to get performances out of Ravel Morrison!

Not saying he is the answer, but I'd rather have a manager who can see the wood from the trees and understand you build flair on top of guts. Bilic doesn't seem to understand the requirements for 'bottle' at this level.