Patches O Houlihan

Mad Nate signed Bree in January

Was Wilcox sensibly advising RM, and then the wheels have fallen off since he went on gardening leave?

Roy Keane & Rasmus Ankerson - a match made in heaven! 🤣

Fixed it for you

It was taking Fraser off that started the rot. Ryan said something to the staff as he crossed the touch line, did anyone lip read what he said? To be honest our recruitment has caused some real issues for RM in that game. You have to say that he got the game plan right because we were firmly in charge for virtually the whole first half and the first 10 mins of the second. He's started the biggest, strongest, most experienced (the closest we have to mentality monsters). But then after 65-75 mins you're going to need to bring on some subs and all we had were the lightweights. Usually we have Aribo to come on to bring some steel, Brooks to bring some magic, and Rothwell to either be anonymous or pump in a couple of rockets. Edozie can be good against tired legs, but he wasn't right for this game. Subs available to bring on: Brooks - yep worth bringing on. (I would've brought him on with 10 mins to go for Arma) Rothwell - bit of a Hail Mary but worth bringing on for a tiring Stu around 70-75 mins KWP - arguably should have replaced Bree 5-10 mins before the red card. Who else: Sulemana - nope Mara, Edozie, Smallbone, Manning = all too small and delicate to be able to deliver what we needed in that game. KWP and Brooks are also a little soft but their quality would justify bringing them on. Sadly this group aren't at that level. Arma can't be the strong physical forward that we needed, so you have to keep Che on, because Mara isn't doing it. Sulemana isn't going to be able to deliver the passes we need, Edozie will just stop and then try to beat everyone, and then get shouldered off the ball. So Ryan Fraser has to stay on. If Stewart had been fit since November I see us at least 7 points better off, maybe more. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Will be really sad if we have to wave goodbye to Stu/Fraser/THB/KWP. Nights like tonight suck. PS I appreciate Baz has some skills, but it would be really lovely to have a keeper who pulls out a top draw save now and again. I can only remember one memorable save in nearly 2 seasons...

We need to sign Fraser for the rest of his career. Love watching the wee man at work. So clever, inventive, quick, skilful.

You do get the impression they were set up to attack and defend KWP, and now they are defending Aribo who is an entirely different kettle of fish. Plus we have more height in the back four to meet their aerial threat. It's working so far 🤞

Stu is playing like a demon. But there will come a time when he's all out of gas; and he's done a lot of high speed running that half. I think he'll be replaced by Rothwell on 65 mins. Hopefully with the game won already...

Have texted. Are you in contact with @EssEffCee?

I would be happy to meet at the game if you could collect the tickets from EssEffCee

Are you based in Southampton, or local? - Perhaps optimistic bearing in mind your username?!

I'm interested in one ticket but I live 40 mins away from Ipswich so Shirley collection would be awkward!

That has properly pissed me off. What the fuck did Valderama achieve? Jogging about conserving energy when he's only got 15 mins to play at best?! Fraser & Brookes were excellent. What could we have got with them playing longer? And Che wants to take a long hard look at himself - he did well to be in the right positions to get the shots, but he really needs to be doing better.

You got there seconds before me!

In his defence that final shot looked like it might have come off the defender in the replay

I'm also interested in an Ipswich ticket if anyone has a spare they are willing to sell

RM confirmed in the Middlesborough press conference that Ross is back training with them on the grass.

What's even more impressive is that Leeds have only conceded 3 goals across all their league games in 2024

I once bumped into him in the chandlery - presumably when he was fitting her out as he had a huge shopping list of items every boat needs. Was great to be able to personally thank him for the considerable effort and energy he put into the club. He did a great job keeping us up during the Gao years when there was no top-up money and no liquidity. I hope his boat gave him some respite and a place to relax: I was very keen to avoid compromising his free time, so was short but heartfelt in our exchange. Ultimately he probably should have left in the summer for his piece of mind and the sporting success of the club. Water under the bridge now. I hope he goes well at Wolfsburg.

Bellingham hit their second really well; he shouldn't really have been allowed the chance, but once he hit it there's very few keepers stopping that

I do really enjoy their podcast - because the game is still fresh and they have clearly experienced the same emotions you have watching it. Plus Jo usually finds some interesting technical/tactical point to discuss. I've never been able to get radio commentary and TV coverage to overlap closely enough not to be a distracting load of bollocks. When I'm at the game I watch it! But when I do listen I enjoy the commentary.

Sulemana... picks up the ball on the left wing, drops shoulder, powers past the defender on the outside, more defenders crowd him by the time he reaches the box, and he ends up shooting with a tame effort that ricochets off a defender from an acute angle where he'd need to be a wizard to score. Repeat five to eight times every match he plays. The only variation is when he enters the box, cuts back inside to make a terrible soft pass to someone in space waiting centrally and it is cut out easily by defenders. Usually 2 to four times a game. It's not like there aren't great examples of wing play for him to learn from all around him. If he could play like Fraser or Brooks with that pace and physicality he'd be a monster - and yes I know then we wouldn't be able to keep hold of him. I feel like even the fear that he instilled in Championship opposition right backs at the start of the season is no longer a thing now because his play is so predictable. Hopefully he'll score a hat trick after the break and make me look like a knob. COYR

I thought he was having a really good game - even won some very physical challenges. I would have bought Aribo on for Stu, as he'd done his best work by that point

Smallbone created two assists today... not enough for you?!