There's a small segment of supporters- of every team, but Spurs' representatives are louder- that seem to think that the club- specifically players and manager- owe them something more than effort, that poor results deserve a verbal beating. Those are small, selfish people. /end

The players do not owe the fans anything other than effort. Now there's talk that the players won't applaud the supporters after matches. Fans don't need to show patience with the ownership and front office, but they need to respect the players and the new manager... or it all falls apart.

All that said, booing the players, who clearly are as frustrated as the fans and also feel terrible about their errors (Romero's play out at PSG, Sarr trying to dribble out of his own 6 at PSG, Vic not hoofing the ball on to the High Road against Fulham), just makes it worse.

Everybody has a right to be frustrated with almost every decision and the entire process. Dumping Ange, chasing Eze (who would have been a terrible fit), panic-buying Xavi (who still may be great), buying Tel with no apparent plan on how to use him.

I still think TF is trying to figure out how to put together the front 6. I'm still highly critical of Lange's team construction, which is very slapdash. I think we have good players but haven't figured out how to get the best of them.

Yet, we are a mere 6 points out of 3rd right now.

I mean, one of the goals was a 50-yard chip of te GK from halfway. I don't think anybody in Sunderland was proud of that.

Yes, some of these idiot mistakes being made have to have consequences (Romero's pass midweek, Vic yesterday). That comes down to squad selection, not booing.

Yes, true. I didn't say I expected fans in the stadium to yell their lungs out after getting punched in the mouth.

But to TF's point, you can quietly mutter to yourself. You can go silent. You can mutter with your seat neighbors.

But boo the guy who knows he screwed up? Toxic.

I'm sorry, were we talking about winning the PL this year?

I'm very down on the result so far. I think TF hasn't figured out how to line up this bunch and how to motivate them. I think the players should accept their role in not performing better.

I also think all of the above know that.

Not positivity. It's OK to be frustrated.

All I'm saying is I watched Sunderland go down 0-2 to Bournemouth inside 20 minutes and their stadium willed them back into the game and a win.

Open negativity runs the players down further. I watched it happen yesterday.

I don’t understand how people can think players like Vic don’t feel utterly awful after a mistake like that or after the match when #COYS lose by 1. Like belittling him is going to improve their own mood.

The fan base of this club is really toxic, and I swear is half the problem.

Am guessing they are trying to negotiate his salary down from his current $1.5m to allow for additional GAM to sign players. If they can get him down enough, it may allow them to use the 3 DP roster format, with no need for the $2m additional GAM.

If not, expect the 2+4 U22 choice again.

Gray was fantastic. Richy and RKM (2G/A) looked built to play together. Bergvall PROGRESSED the ball. And we're not going to play the UCL holders weekly.

I know rotation means Palhinha is in on Saturday and that's OK. But there was dare back in the dare to do last night. /end

Two meltdowns on the other 2: Cuti with a dreadful choice to play Sarr under pressure and then Sarr trying to dribble out of his own 6 on a corner.

But they were offensively potent. What would this team look like with a MF triangle of Xavi, Bergvall, and Gray? 2/

Hassani was likely supposed to do that before his injury. I think if the team can find another 8, it will really unlock the midfield to create more from open play. Trapp can still be a late-game lock down CM next year in his option year, but it's a missed analysis to ignore that weakness. /end

What the team probably needs (besides a Tani replacement) is a Trapp replacement. Trapp had a good year because he didn't need to create or get into the offense. But playing him in the pivot with Triantis also means Triantis is the only CM who can contribute to the attack. 9/

That said, #MNUFC tactics will make them *more likely* to succeed in close games, because they squeeze out every additional scoring chance and are so hard to break down. That's a GREAT foundation. 8/

I agree with him that the #MNUFC game plan to batter opponents into submission and win by one goal is not sustainable for the best chance of long term success. Success in close matches tends to regress to the mean. The KC Chiefs were unbeatable in one-score games last year, atrocious this year. 7/

Teams keyed on Pereya because there was no Tani or in-form/fit Yeboah to worry about. So, in line with Doyle's argument that the team needs to grow, absolutely, because Pereya needs help. But don't pin his "drop-off" on him. 6/