Not all of it is on Slot but Jeez some of it most definitely is.

I mean play at RB at RB FFS! Why would you willingly disrupt our midfield to avoid selecting the Scottish lad?? Why play Mac when he's off form? Play Jones FFS. Why play Gakpo when he has what 2 goal contributions in 16 games?? Why play Salah when he's clearer not at the races?

WTF were we thinking when we allowed Diaz to leave without a fight? If we had to lose him get a similar profile. I like Gakpo but he's an elite one trick pony. Why weren't we after profiles like Driouech? Even I noticed him last season as a low cost potential star. We're a mess.

Not knocking Frimpong/Wirtz/Ekitike - those buys were absolutely our traditional approach in the market. Replace Trent's creativity with Wirtz, give Bradley competition with Frimpong, replace Darwin with Ekitike. But after the loss of Jota why further dismantle a winning team?

Giving it the billy big bollocks was never our style. Paying 100m plus for not one but two players in the same window. Neither of them a DM or CB of course! We have always bought semi-realised potential at decent market prices. Isak looks lost. Didn't like his treatment of NUFC.

Don't forget Jürgen and his pal bought Endo/Mac/Grav/Szobo in one summer after a chat over a few beers after our midfield had been neglected for years but the number crunching nerds. That was a fantastic window. 4 players = less than 200m.

But we somehow managed to beat Madrid. For the rest of the time the team looks and feels like a knot in the stomach. Unable like last night to even play out from the back. No idea where we go from here. Very little faith in Edwards/Hughes finding solutions

Add Salah and VVD's form being affected by age or fatigue to the mix. Plus the collective grief of losing a teammate that they may or may not be processing well. Then Slot's static selections ignoring form. His inability to find solutions. His chaotic subs.

We lost players we could've kept but then didn't even replace (Leoni wasn't a like for like replacement for Quansah, we could've got Leão for Diaz). Gakpo can't put up Diaz's numbers. We didn't buy a DM or CB despite missing out on various CB and DM targets

Big question marks over our recruitment and our confidence falling through the floor despite winning the league (imagine if we hadn't!). Isak a daft expensive toxic needless signing after we'd bought Ekitike, Kerkez isn't an elite defender or attacking wing back.

Theirs to lose now, (yes it's November). They were close in the CL, close-ish in the league until they bottled it (or had too many injuries to cope) and this season they're a lot closer. Eze, Gyokeres, Madueke, Zubimendi, Hincapie, Mosquera - they've all settled seemingly.

And their recruitment, well, it frankly puts ours (for the moment, and Ekitike aside) in the shade. Seamless integration in the group. We may laugh at them calling Arteta world class but some of that has to be to his credit/down to him.

OMG, he's got the attention span of a flea. Charlie who? Oh look..... a new ballroom.

Only way to do it. Don't feel desperate if it's a bad day, don't feel guilty if you concede yourself a laugh or two. Knitting I'm sure is wonderful therapy. Sending hugs, constantly, hope they arrive.

Just wanted to check in hon. Hope you're okay.

Been thinking of you. Hope you're holding up okay whatever that means. Day by day I guess.