Bob

The bar couldn't be lower this season if we are being realistic, with the -12 points and our first 6 games being write-offs. Think everyone was relatively satisfied with Keith's work up to and including the MK Dons home win in November. A lot of League One clubs and fans seemed to be shitting it that we'd stay up. Being realistic started to turn into hope. The next game when we lost 7-1 to Accrington though, everything started to crumble after that and maybe Keith wouldn't be under such scrutiny if he hadn't had the decent start that he did. Maybe I'm wrong though and people would've been even more pissed off had we not mustered a bit of hope.

Would be inclined to agree but that BWFC12341 has had a few accurate shouts this season that have come true. When that second Blackpool goal went in I was firmly KH Out, but having reflected since I do think he deserves more time. I don't think there could have been a harder job in football this season, and as soon as results started to slip away, it was always going to be impossible to keep the players believing, which counts for a lot in my opinion. He had us playing some good stuff in the early part of the season and then lost key players to injury, on top of all the other bullshit this season. He is probably a victim of his own success from the start of the season, as it's a stark contrast now. If it gets toxic though towards the end of the season and fans aren't on board for next season, then that will be more of a reason to sack him than the current results.

The England team is lacking quality in centre midfield and central defence. Mids: Henderson, Rice, Maddison, Grealish, Dier, Winks, Dele, Foden. Centre Backs: Stones, Maguire, Gomez, Mings, Tomori. Plenty of decent players in there but none are in the same bracket as, Kane, Sancho, Sterling, Trent Alexander Arnold. Croatia and Netherlands games really showed how average our midfield can be. I remember Pirlo running the show against us in the last Euros too. We either need someone that can do that role for us and dictate the game, or someone that can nullify a Modric or a Frenkie De Jong. Assuming we play 4-3-3, I can't think of a balanced central midfield with enough quality. Henderson can be a CDM, but is more of a workhorse CM, he has Fabinho doing the dirty work for him at Liverpool. So that means playing Henderson with either Rice or Dier, both of whom aren't in great form, or play Henderson as our CDM, and have Grealish and Maddison/Winks/Dele, as our CMs, but that just seems too attacking. A friend told me we should play Kalvin-Philips from Leeds as our CDM, can't see a championship player getting in the squad though. Our attacking quality should see us through against the weaker teams but can see us predictably getting bossed when we come up against another good team. Fair play to Southgate for getting the feel good factor in the World Cup, although he did get a bit lucky with the way the draw went, but I don't think he's got the tactical ability to make us pull off an upset.

Some speculation on Keith Hill's future.