I’m not saying to be extremely overconfident or that we can afford lapses in concentration. I just think those critical matches you’re so doom and gloom over aren’t in the short term future — which is good, because that allows us to build up momentum and consistency heading into them. How this is a controversial take I’m not sure

I don’t understand, do people expect us to go 38-0 and win the treble or something? We didn’t lose and everyone is acting like the season is over. We can’t win every game so we need to have appropriate reactions when that happens.

Those incredibly tough fixtures aren’t “coming up” in the immediate sense, so there’s plenty of time for the team to find form. We haven’t even played 15 games in the season yet, so once we get into a more established rhythm of playing every 3 or so days without breaks I think we’ll see form pickup.

Right, but it’s not like they stop working for shits and giggles. They stop working to go represent their country at a prestigious international tournament. So it’s a little bit different and you would be a callous manager to deny that.

Right, that’s what YOU would do. But I don’t think football clubs operate with that rationale, and that’s my point. Everyone is saying “this is what I, a fan, would do” and I don’t think that’s what large footballing clubs are thinking about.

That’s just untrue, Drogba Kalou Obi Mikel at Chelsea for years, the Toure brothers at top clubs for most of the 2000s, Inaki Williams at Athletic. Could go on and on. African players are not less valuable because of AFCON, this sounds like you’ve made up an argument in your head and are working backwards to justify it, rather than basing it in reality.

Did I say we went forward or did I just list some of the reasons why he left (because he wasn’t sacked).

Did I say we went forward or did I just list some of the reasons why he left (because he wasn’t sacked).

Did I say we went forward or did I just list some of the reasons why he left (because he wasn’t sacked).

Years of mediocrity, falling out with sections of the fans for extended periods of time, poor transfers, lack of CL, stagnating methods and staff appointments, couldn’t win a game away from home…it was time to go sadly.

Years of mediocrity, falling out with sections of the fans for extended periods of time, poor transfers, lack of CL, stagnating methods and staff appointments, couldn’t win a game away from home…it was time to go sadly.

Years of mediocrity, falling out with sections of the fans for extended periods of time, poor transfers, lack of CL, stagnating methods and staff appointments, couldn’t win a game away from home…it was time to go sadly.