Patches O Houlihan

I agree with all of that, but it's Ralph's song, and always will be.

I couldn't agree more. The almost continuous stream of negative posting even when we've just won 4-0 might be slightly more palatable if we didn't have to continually see that avatar of the world's most arrogant, smug and self-satisfied twat attached to every comment. Jacob Reece Mog is probably the biggest bellend in Britain, so it speaks volumes when you want to be associated with him. Nevermind Legohead what about TweedC**t?!

As discussed earlier I think Sam plays best with confidence. He know's he's not great at recovery tackles and tracking back. So if you play a proper LB behind him you give him licence to play his game. Play Bree or KWP behind him and he'll do fine. Play Manning behind him and we'll ship loads of goals down our left, he'll be less willing to just play his game, RM and the fans will get pissed and then he'll stop being a starter again. Plus Flynn Downes returning gives everyone confidence that many opposition breakaway attacks will just get nipped in the bud. Maybe Smallbone, Fraser and KWP can give him some tips on accurate passes from the byline having passed a defender we might have scored a couple more if he had that skill locked down

The other change was that while we still played plenty of straight through balls on the ground there were a few lofted passes, and Stu did the standing lob over a defender into the area for a runner a couple of times. If we can consistently play with that intensity and variety of passing/movement we'll be top or nearly top for points scored in the second half of the season

Bree for Manning, but playing RB with KWP playing LB allowed Edozie to just focus on beating their right back... and he had him on toast every three minutes until Edozie was swapped for Fraser. Stu Armstrong play like a midfield maestro - back to his pre-covid best. We were cruising the whole game, never really in doubt.

RM already has his eye on him - you can see by the way he's looking at him!

Imagine Downes and Lavia playing together: both receiving under pressure, and then both playing quality straight through balls to the attackers. Both with a good ability to read the game, position themselves correctly and time tackles. It would be like having Romeu & JWP again, only less sideways. The rest of the Championship would get ruthlessly humped! [In midfield at least - we'd still miss a shed load of goal scoring chances]

I can't believe that Ipswich - the original Tractor Boys don't sing it

I appreciate the chat about the Saudi league / Euro Super League taking the Premier League's mantle. BUT I was reading an article this week about the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Super League and the huge salaries they were throwing around. Many of the top clubs have gone bust or are on their way out soon; all the top players left due to high level political decisions beyond the control of the league. I don't think it's a nailed on certainty the Saudis start running things. With regards VAR and the lack of a level playing field I couldn't agree more. Sat on my own in a terrible bar miles from home watching a frustrating game against Watford ~2 years ago it occurred to me that for the last few years I had been subjecting myself to all sorts in order to enjoy a win roughly every third game (and less in our last few PL years). I'm not looking forward to going back to that win ratio or VAR. But I also quite like the team we have now, and would like them to stay together. Which means we need promotion. The Catch22 of the modern non-plastic football fan

Our December fixtures certainly look a lot more winnable

I think its reasonable to expect us to loose at least another 4 or 5 games. So on that basis I agree. So I guess we ought to get the players fired up with a tournament mentality to win the playoffs, practise penalties, and turn Baz into a penalty stopping machine!

I broadly agree with this. But I think we'd do better to focus on scoring more goals rather than giving Baz a hard time. This I also agree with

It probably doesn't help that all our 50/50 games against the expected league leaders appeared in such a tight space of time, just after we lost our big PL stars and before the Championship team had had a proper chance to gel and get used to the new style. I don't have the stats to hand right now. I might go and have a look. 2022-23 Burnley finished first on 101 points (2.20 points/game average). Sheffield Utd were second on 91 point (1.98 points/game average) 2021-22 Fulham finished first on 90 points (1.96 points/game average). Bournemouth were second on 88 points (1.91 average) 2020-21 Norwich won 97 points (2.11 average). Watford second 91 points (1.98 average) 2019-20 Leeds won 93 points (2.02 average) West Brom second 83 points (1.80 average) Right now with 20 games played Leeds are averaging 2.05 points, and Saints are averaging 1.90 points, which normally, assuming teams improve a bit over the course of the year would be bang on top two team status. BUT Leicester are currently on 2.45 average, and Ipswich are on 2.40 average. That's what I mean by a freak season.

But that isn't because we are significantly under performing as a team. As far as I'm aware we are within a point or two of the 'average top Championship team' points haul at the relevant stage of the season, and have been for the last month or so. The issue is that Ipswich and Leicester are having freak seasons. Usually Leeds & Saints would be the league leaders, having built a useful; cushion over the chasing pack.

It feels like about 25% of the commenters here expect us to win easily 3-0 every week. Anything other than that and they have to go looking for a scapegoat. On match days when we win this board is quiet as the grave 15 mins after the match. But if we draw then Baz, RM, Manning get it in the neck; + whichever player's aggressive through ball that they've been pushing to see gets cut out by a defender and lumped up the pitch for a goal.

I see Troll Charlie has the log in this evening. He's my least favourite.

Which of those players has an 'on field 2023 Alex McCarthy' as his competition?

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I don't think we even have to wait for the next game. If you can't see the improvement in our defending recently that's on you. I would like Colin to have a word in Manning's ear though, and tell him to be 2ft closer to the attacker; we'd have far fewer dangerous crosses coming into our box.

Baz man of the match for 94 minutes today. But undeniably should be saving the Watford equaliser. I find myself really feeling for him - today was going to be one of those days when he could have really stuck it to the naysayers. BUT there is a positive. Right now he is not likely to get poached off us by a top PL team, and by sticking with him through thick and thin you would hope that there is a feeling of loyalty to the club being built up with him. Plus he has been largely very good for the last 12 games. I still believe he will be a properly top level keeper, and we likely won't need to wait until he's 28. While for some supporters anything but an easy 3-0 is not good enough, I'm enjoying watching his development. Yes it's frustrating at times, but all the best dramas have some moments when things don't go as planned. Keep up the good work Baz

Boring Boringtm Arsenal under George Graham

KWP has been superb

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RM quoted as saying that he has tried to sign Ross Stewart for every team he has managed... you'd hope that he would know the LND's game thoroughly at this point.

We have - he went off injured with a hamstring...