Chez

it's quite difficult to put your finger on. The squad obviously has some talent going forward, we have scored 2 goals a game, which is not bad at all, but we've conceded a fair few more than Leeds and Leicester. The eternal problem at top flight football is getting the balance right between attack and defence. If you lack quality up front you have to commit too may going forward to get goals (or play too many attack minded players) and that leaves you open at the back. We don't lack quality, so that shouldn't happen, but it does. The manager must then change personnel or the way players push forward.

fully agree, it was tinpot. I was in that corner and I found the two fellas and their actions cringeworthy. I didn't join in with the crowds displeasure and I had a firm eye on what was going on the pitch. The whole thing had zero impact on the players.

Wasn't his first miss the one on one with the keeper? He telegraphed he was going near post but lacked the ability to smack it in the far.

I think it's worked ok this season because we have some pretty good players at this level. It won't work when the quality of players goes down. Whether that's as soon as next season, we shall see. Swansea without Flynn saw them freefall.

The crowd didn't stop chanting in support of players. There was no chanting on that period until the two guys got fans chanting... and then it stopped, with a very short burst of wanker wanker lasting maybe five seconds. The players weren't distracted at all. There was no noticeable difference in how they played. It had zero impact or bearing on the game.

I would argue it was the complete opposite. Our CBS tried it (long diagonal to Sulemana) four or five times, but Ayling cut them all out easily. Decent idea but poor execution. There was a lot of that today.

Their goal had absolutely naff all to do with a ten second "wanker" chant and everything to do with us failing to keep the ball or pressure the opponent when they had it.

Just got back home. A game that sums up our side. Lots of nice football, we dominate for periods and go flat for periods, we create chances but its pretty easyt o create chances against us. How the fuck did Che miss that chance? He should have buried the one on one just before that too. Even if you ignore those misses and he was still fucking terrible. What's worse is when he went off, we looked worse. A few other things. I think Brooks is quality, but defensively he is a liability. He provides zero cover, doesn't track back or help out. Defensively, we are shocking. We put absolutely no pressure on the man with the ball at all. They had so much time to get their heads and and pick out a cross. I'm surprised Boro didn't score more than one. I am sure Stephens was lauded for preventing the breakaway goal, but the reality was he was at fault in the first place and should has spotted the danger, the forward was then useless allowing him to recover. Bazunu's handling is shocking. He hasn't improved at all. There are maybe three players in that side that can play in the Prem. not even sure about that.

They have all been given opportunities (to a lesser extent Dibling) during the season, but the more experienced players have generally performed better - which is why they are being selected now. It's not as though Fraser walked into the side. Edozie and Sulemena were picked ahead of him as they were playing better, but Fraser's goals made it hard to not pick him.

Not sure. But I don't think you put your clothes in it.

got to say that after our abysmal display last season, massive overspend and experienced the last relegation from the Prem, I didn't think it was a foregone conclusion that we'd be challenging for promotion. Slightly surprised at just how good Leicester have been too considering their own financial challenges.

he was absolutely fucking abysmal in that game. Sill better than Lloyd Isgrove (when he came on) though. Not sure he'd been terribly impressive in games before that one, but I think almost immediately after that game he seemed to find his stride and started to score some goals too. And that's what's missing here with Sulemena. Goals. Fraser has scored goals and that sure has helped ingratiate him to the fans. What we need from Sulemana is two or three goals, especially a winning goal.

You are probably right. I was certainly surprised he was here in September 2023. The league we are in, our ffp situation and importantly the offers we receive will all be factors.

so, basically it just a feeling you have. You don't know for sure and therefore there is a chance that he stays, just as he did last summer when no one made an offer good enough for us to accept.

Sounds like a plan, but maybe Bree is not quite fit enough to play a full game. Not sure.

I see. Obviously with KWP out we haven't had a lot of choice, but when he's back fit the manager will have to make a decision on his best CB pairing.

Did he explain why he wanted all three? Was it to add a little more height at set pieces?

Seeing as you watched it again, I'm surprised you didn't notice and subsequently mentioned Bednarek's woeful clearance-come-pass that was the first error that led to the first goal. His hesitation to close down for the second, though understandable, was also a factor in that goal too.

Is there no chance he stays if we go up?

spot on. Rewind the tape a few seconds further and you will see a pretty woeful clearance come pass from Bednarek that started the whole process. Zero blame for him though. All three players are attempting to get the ball down and play out of trouble, which is our footballing philosophy. On another day those attempts turn into a break and possibly a chance to score. Yesterday it didn't.

thought he played well. Not as well as at Brum.

Thanks. You have made my point for me. Conceding goals is not necessarily down to who is playing at CB. Protection in front matters, along with a host of other things. Anyho, KWP will be back soon, THB will move back to CB and everyone will be happy. In the meantime, I'm very happy to get the win.

again, you've got a point, although I'm pretty sure we've only conceded 9 in the last four games. And he didn't play against Hull. He did start in the WBA game though, five games ago (at left back) and we didn't concede in that one. We conceded three against Bristol before that and he didn't play that game. Maybe there have been other factors for us conceding goals in the last four games other than simply Stephens playing? We've not had KWP in the last two for example. Flynn Downes missed the two games before that.

he's a little more mobile...that's perhaps RMs thinking. We need KWP back ASAP and to tighten up forwhen we play the better sides. The break we have is timely.

Agree, I worry how we will fair against the four or five teams around us in the run in and play offs, but he/we ain't changing now.