We need to talk about Branch.

It’s been clear for a while that currently Hutchinson is great when he comes on but struggles when starting. He’s young and should get better over time but on current form shouldn’t be starting.

And as a side I keep hearing people bang on about our 36 shots, most were poor efforts from range, CHO played a few nice back passes to Sa, whose only real save was the prod from Morato after Jesus effort hit him.

What I found odd about last night was for the past few months we have been lumping into Jesus, who has been far too small for any of it, so we get a lump upfront and stopped doing this.

When we got into good positions, we tried an extra pass and got crowded out or misplaced it. Lots of times we got bored and shot from terrible positions. Neither of those are on the manager. If you have lots of shots, you’ll have a high xG but Im guessing only two or three shots actually had a reasonable xG and the xGOT must have been really low - Sa only really made that one save.

Did TV show Morgan wagging his finger at the crowd after Hutchinson’s second straight corner into the side netting got booed? Body language all around was awful but I guess you expect that in a team that’s struggling and can’t score.

As I said in the other thread, I don’t think that performance came close to deserving a sacking but maybe on build up over the past month…

Dangerous times if the players have told the owner they aren’t having the manager. That’s another Leicester marker.

Beeb suggesting that Vitor Pereria is in talks to be the new manager

Would be hilarious if it was happening to someone else.

Please look at the form table. if every manage was judged on 3 games at a time they would all get sacked within 6 months or sooner.

18 jobs since 2002. Watch us offer him a 4 year contract.

And then add in the context of who we have played recently.

I wouldnt have sacked him till the end of the season though. Its got too stupid.

He's also managed our next oppenents twice as well.

Last 10 games, 9 points from 30 isn't it? Not great.

BBC saying 2 wins from last 10. That’s poor.

It seems the most vocal reason for not sacking him is it’s a bit mental to have a forth manager this season. Which it is but not a reason just to accept the inevitable relegation.

7 points better than Perreira's last 10

Form's bullshit by the way. It ebbs and flows.

In 2022/23, after 21 games we were 13th with 24 points. After 32 games, we were 19th with 27 points (with Arsenal and Chelsea still to play). If you believe in the ju-ju of form then we were completely fucked and it would be impossible to believe that we'd finish 16th with 38 points.

And we didn't even have to change the manager.

It is. Though do that over the next 10 and we're probably safe.

You reckon, I think it could be 40+ this season.

West Ham have got a bunch of tough games - hard to see them getting more than a point or two from Liverpool, Brentford, Newcastle or Villa away and Arsenal or Man City at home.

Do they have it in them to get another 15 from 12 to get to 39?

As I think you've said before, we have essentially 8 games left as I only see 4 defeats in May.

On different tack I know views are mixed on booing at the end, but last night a significant number in Main Stand were applauding the players at the end. I almost got into a row with a woman as walked past her remarking why the fuck are people clapping them that was shit.