Grealish & Ayew on bench

No fluidity but plenty of defensive strength. Bruce's aim is to get a good way through the match
without conceding.

So it didn't work. Can understand the reasoning, but fact is neither Gestede or Gabby provides enough in the middle. Gestede might be better if he was getting service, but as the setup was primarily defensive he didn't. Playing Kodjia out wide is a waste.

Wigan, Norwich, QPR and Burton coming up. If we can get back to playing as well as we were, there's at least 3 wins in that lot. We need to grab them.

Think Bruce will be quite busy in the transfer market. Surprised Bacuna wasn't on the bench, and Tshibola didn't get on the pitch.

My mistake. Bacuna was on the bench.

Sarkic was there as reserve goalkeeper. Maybe Bunn is on the way out.

Im afraid that game showed we are a long way off.

Passing second half was shocking, no threat upfront. Agree Kodja wasted out wide.

Hutton Gardner Gestede Elphick need to be replaced at least. Also we will be hit hard by African nations.

Maybe just me but Ayew didnt seem to be trying when he came on either.

Small Blip hopefully and Leeds deserved it.

You look like a good side and if you had taken one of those chances early in the second half, it could have been very different. The only difference between these teams is confidence. We are beginning to feel that we can hold onto a lead without panicking, and win tough games. You will get that with Bruce. I predict 8 points in your next four games.

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

Was a tough place to go and Bruce was going to lose eventually, but we were really poor today. Knew it from when I saw the team sheet.

Gestede is not the answer and should never be starting games for us. Kodjia is a goalscorer and talented unlike Gestede and should be playing as the number nine. Grealish, Ayew and Adomah should always be in the team, I've no idea why two of them were on the bench today, we should always play our strongest team and focus on ourselves not the opposition. (At least not to the extent where we drop our most talented players.)

In January we need to be looking at a number of areas. Hutton needs replacing with better, Westwood/Gardner need replacing with better, and another centre back as Elphick/Baker don't inspire (though James Chester has been excellent and Baker has improved this season).

Hope we bounce back quickly after this, really bad performance needs forgetting. Bruce has been great and I have great respect for what he's done but he needs to realise that he cannot afford to not play certain players who can make things happen in the final third. We need wins whether playing at home or away, draws are not good enough if we want to climb into the playoff positions.

Another great performance from Idrissa Gana yesterday.

Central midfield is such a weak area for us with Westwood and Gardner, but if we could have Delph and Gana back this midfield would be ridiculously good:

.............................Jedinak.............................
.................Gana...................Delph................

I really hope Bruce focuses on this area in January because it really needs improvement. Right back is also a concern, but if we could sort out that central midfield with dynamic, mobile players we would improve our away form dramatically and able to play the counter attack style that Bruce loves to play.

You're right. A dynamic midfielder like Delph or Gana would make a lot of difference. Hoped that Gardner would grow into that sort of role but he's not really seized the opportunity.