Where are the goals coming from ?

He would be foolish if he did.

You could be right about the Everton game, lose that which is quite possible on current form, and EM's trigger finger will be getting very itchy.

We need more experience at the back -Aurier, Felipe or Worrall - just to calm things down and get organised.

I'm sure we will be trying to get another striker lined up for Jan, but to be honest I think it is more important that we sort the defence out. If we don't concede we don't lose.

We have scored 2 or more in 5 of the last 6 games. Scoring isn’t the problem in my opinion it is down to being overrun in midfield which in turn heaps more attention on unorganised defence missing 2/3 first team regulars.

It’s two or more goals in 4 of the last 5 games. But, I get your point.

However, I don’t think we can rely on the likes of Aina, Mangala and Wood to score regularly to get us two goals a game. None of our current team have a decent scoring record.

I think we have the personnel defensively and in midfield, we just need to work on defending set pieces and stop switching off.

Up front is an issue for as long as we have Awoniyi out.

I’d go for this vs Everton:

V.Dimos
Aina Niakhate Murillo Toffolo
Dominguez Mangala Yates
MGW CHO
Elanga

Turner, Boly, Aurier, Montiel, Tavares, Williams, Kouyate, Danilo, Wood

Wood slows us down too much. Origi looks terrible. Tavares has played LM, so him and Williams can come on to go three at the back (late in the game) if we’re winning.

Beat Everton in the next game and we see Burnley and S.United draw each other and we’re safe imo.

Yes, it’s very early to say, but we’d be 11 points clear of the latter two (a hugely better GD) and 12 from Everton.

Safe by default of other teams being worse than us isn’t exactly the greatest progression. It also won’t help us compete for transfers.

Without a striker and currently the worst strikers (surely) in the league, I’ll take it.

My feeling is the next 5 games are season defining to a certain extent

Everton H
Wolves A
Fulham A
Spurs H
Bournemouth H

4 of the 5 games are all teams that will be around us in league position.

10 or more points and I agree that’s safety.

5-10 remains a cloud of uncertainty

5 or less then we are in big trouble.