Magix

At least everyone's unequivocal on Downing.

True. There's a lot of mitigating factors when considering how this season went. The Suarez affair, losing a linchpin player to long-term injury (meant Lucas, not Adam, if anyone is unsure!), bedding in a practically a new first eleven. It's the sharp departure from the scintillating brand of football played at the previous season's tail end and the type of players acquired (British) that baffles me the most.

Yep. That's why if Rafa does come back, I hope this overcautiousness is one of the 'mistakes' he has purportedly reflected on.

Don't disagree. Had been a sticking point when Rafa was around; is one now with Kenny.

Isn't that spot occupied by Bellamy? We could do with some real moneyball signings for strikers, like what Newcastle did with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.

Plenty of that possession were of the unproductive, hit and hope variety. We spent most of the time passing it cautiously (and aimlessly) around in midfield and defense, and hoping Suarez does something magical with the ball. Little cutting edge, little decisive final ball.

Would the modern fan give a fresh face a fair crack at the whip though? If we get one of the game's up-and-comers, Pep, Jurgen, Didier, expectations would be off the charts. If we get a young coach whose name doesn't end with Guardiola, Klopp or Deschamps, the murmurs of dissension would grow to a crescendo the moment s*** hits the fan. It's about the owners making a braved and informed decision about the managerial position for me. If they believe in Kenny, they must back him to the hilt. If they believe in Rafa or other candidates in their shortlist, they must make that leap of faith.

A lot of those created chances were snatched at, desperate attempts at goal. Hardly clear-cut. The problem stems from midfield -- central and out wide. Dross dominated those positions for the large part.

Funnily, if Rafa were to come back, it could be the making of Downing, what with Rafa's brilliance with the less brilliant (Traore, Biscan) and the fact he looked at Downing before.

That's the crux for me. Mystifying, really. It's not as if the team style changed drastically from a counter-attacking side to a possession-based one, for instance. A open, forward approach was still retained, only we lost the short, snappy passes and hard, smart running into channels that so characterized that awesome late run.

While no longer the first names to have on the team sheet, Kuyt and Maxi should have been playing more this season; Downing far less. If they were more involved, I suspect they might have opted to stay.

If Kenny leaves, Rafa has to be considered, at the very least, as the next in line for the hotseat; it's a no-brainer, really. He ticks all the footballing boxes: (1) Knows the footballing structure here inside out. Heck, he helped develop it. (2) Proven track record in the CL (That's where the money and prestige is at, unfortunately). (3) Would eliminate the need for an immediate DOF, meaning the owners can actually scour the globe for suitable candidates instead of rushing one in. A lot of dialogue between the owners and Rafa needs to get underway first. Rafa has a history, rightly or wrongly, of going against the board. Commitment to overarching strategy, structure, transfer funds and issues of trust have to be addressed. A concerted PR campaign bigging up and supporting Rafa would have to be planned too, given his bad press in England and an unsure fan base that might be divisively split down the middle on his coming back.

Couldn't agree more. Meireles , Maxi and Kuyt featured heavily during that impressive run and were a integral cog in the swashbuckling style in the final third. Why Kenny turned away wholesale from this successful model is what bugs me the most.

Would play Stevie in the apex of a midfield trio, linking a three-pong attack. But he would have to be very discipline and have absolute trust in the other two midfielders for this to work.

Not a popular sentiment I know, but I'm hoping all four much debated about players stay. Would rather we built on the squad than overhauling, and, make no bones about it, getting rid of, say, both Downing and Adam -- two first-teamers this season -- means overhauling. Adam was beginning to look comfortable out in the middle before his injury, and Downing might still pull off a second-season barnstormer, if his time at Villa is any indication. Adding (quality) to the squad without needing to "balance the books" would also be a pleasant show of intent by the owners.

Hardly saying otherwise; he's still a player streets ahead when fit. That's the issue with building a squad around him now: his fitness.

With Kuyt most likely leaving, we desperately need another striker (one more the very least), preferably someone youngish who can challenge the two for a starting berth, and not some journeyman a la Voronin and Jovanovic. He still is some player but taking into account his injury record and age, he should be used more sparingly, an elder statesman of a squad player.

Terribly off form for a while now. Still a good player when on form.

Only silver lining of the loss. Filling those big boots well.

Any (really) early team news?

Exactly. As mentioned at times on this board, Newcastle were the real Moneyball club of the season. They sold well and bought smart. We could well take a leaf from their book.

Nothing to it, these dismissals. Trimming the fat and making the operations leaner. I'd only be real worried if this is all FSG does by the summer.

So is this the thread where we welcome Aquilani back with open arms?

mentally weak, infirm, spent, incapacitated -- we got the whole lot of them. Downing sits atop all that pile though.

How's his rep in Spain these days? I'm guessing probably still well regarded, but not as highly regarded as before.