Patches O Houlihan

We've lost 4 and drawn 7 with him playing. The WBA win we had Charles playing CDM. Flynn is magic in this league, but if we actually played another midfielder with a defensive mindset it would make a big difference. Despite the first half today Smallbone isn't that player, although Aribo being a big lad definitely improves our midfield with Smallbone as the anchor. Imagine if we had Jack Cork available, when Downes wasn't. (Obviously I would also take Romeu, JWP, Schnederlin, Wanyama too - but probably unrealistic in the Championship!) You could see the car crash coming today when he brought Aribo off, essentially surrendering the midfield

Scored three today, if we don't play him he will leave like several of our talented youngsters already have

If Ipswich are in the playoffs they might loose to Norwich in their semi... [clutches at straws]

So to cap a shite day the skates lifted the bloody trophy at the hole they call a ground. But at least they did loose to wigan beforehand. Days like today blow goats

Only idiot managers chew out their players in public. How do you know he isn't tough on them behind closed doors? Macca instead of Lumley isn't the kind of soft choice you're referring to. --- That said I'm beyond frustrated today. Whilst the starting team did great (except for the woeful finishing) I really think we should have started with Charles instead of Smallbone, and the second half subs were ridiculous: > Fraser & Edozie have never played together for obvious reasons > Stu needs to be subbed by 75 mins; but instead was asked to prop up a midfield full of lightweights because there was no Downes/Aribo/Charles. It's no wonder he's gone down with what looks like a career ending injury. > I would rather see SAA come on than Kameltoe - has always been far more effective Brookes to learn to play Stu's role against Leicester, with Fraser and Arma as the wingers. SAA & Edozie to come on when they tire.

and he's out of contract at the end of the season

Let’s get Charles on

Why take off Aribo?!!

Ref is apparently the same one who sent Charles off against QPR. Maybe that played a part in the thinking?

Only in the league 😉 Gillingham.... shudder

Virtual Private Network - hides the location & identity of your machine. NordVPN works for me when I'm abroad

Leicester allowed the Baggies 18 chances... Hope for Tuesday

WBA messed up. Choudry cleared the ball off the line 3 times. Leicester win 2-1

It’s almost like RM read my post about rather having Dibling than Mara (Valderama doesn’t make the bench)

So let's enjoy winning and scoring goals now; rather than worrying whether we might not score as many next year IF we get promoted. If that happens 1/3 of the team at least would be new, and we may end up having our manager poached - so any pre-emptive moaning now would be pointless. If there is one thing I've learned following Saints it is that you have to smell the roses when things are pretty good, because there will be plenty of times when they aren't. Right now we're in the hunt for promotion. Lets enjoy the ride. COYR

More than 19 - we are way more creative this year than last year. > This is your cue to ...moan... striker ... winge... injury .... banjo .... sad face.... We may have four 'cup finals' in the next fifteen days, and even if we don't we'll have two or three in the playoffs. Our side has lost fewer away games in the league this year than anyone else, and we're in better form than our rivals. Can't you just hang your bedsheets out in the sun for a bit and be cheerful?!

To be fair I haven’t watched Rothwell live, on the pitch. Just my impression is that we loose some midfield resilience when he comes on, which is ok if we are still dominating the game.

I guess the exception would be Aribo for Smallbone: But big Joe brings a physical presence which is really working right now

Scoring hugely important goals in our biggest games - I'd take that

With Mara out for the next three games, a sighting of the monster would be very welcome. Although RM suggested he might be nearing fitness last Friday morning I haven't seen him in a training video yet. Sunderland fans started a seven page discussion thread on him yesterday morning. As you'd expect there are plenty praising their management for moving him on. But there are also plenty wishing him well, and pointing out that if fit his value would have been twice the fee the papers reported. Watching that League 1 highlight reel, and knowing he scored 11 goals in the 13 Championship matches he played makes me wonder how this season would have panned out without the hamstring tear after his return... maybe he could still make the difference. COYRS (Come on you Ross Stewart!)

What about Rothwell? He's got a good shot, and is a bit too lightweight for the midfield when we're tiring at the end, but is still a reasonable height. I'd rather throw on Dibling - at least we know he'd run his heart out

...and Gillingham

Have you ever watched a game of football where one keeper didn't touch the ball for the whole game?

I like Nord

You'd hope we'd be building some momentum now. Will need to rotate the squad a bit, and trust the players brought in. 🤞 Has Bazunu ever put in a MoM performance for us? One of these next few games might be a good time to start...