Dman

Downes was obviously a risk, which hasn’t worked so far… however, Armstrong, Archer, Scienza, Azaz, Fellows are comfortably some of - if not the best - options in this league.

FWIW, I’d give him until the next international window, in November. It’s not been that poor we have no choice but to change, but it’s also not been good enough either. Limping on is the right word for IT. November gives Still enough time to turn the tide and enough time for us to properly weigh up options + an international window to work on the training ground for the new man. The problem is, there are no signs it’ll get better. Absolutely nothing to grip hold of to give hope. At least under Martin, you thought if we could get the balance and defence right we have a chance.

Is he shit, or is the manager killing him. All of our attacking players have looked a bit crap. Probably the former based on what we’ve seen, but I’d like to see him play for a manager who knows how to get players in behind.

It’s on the manager, for me. Azaz, Armstrong, Archer & Fellows are all proven at this level and all look lost and incredibly poor. No style, no clear patterns on play, no clue.

Has a Russell Martin side ever beat a team where its a genuine 50/50 or they're slight underdogs? Other than Leeds last season, whom he clearly had the better of, I genuinely cant recall any. Incredibly limited and arrogant manager and seemingly could say the same about him as a bloke as well.

There was a point in time where I thought Downes was a better player than JWP. But in reality they're both very similar players. Good a recycling the ball and that is about it. In hindsight, Of the 2, JWP is the better player however. Both suit a Russell Martin type of system.

Huge decsion for him to make. At 30, he's coming towards the back end of his career and will never earn that sort of money again. He'll never make the england squad again and his time in the PL is probably done. Unless he moves to a relegation battling side. Does he make hay whilst the sun is shining and sit on his contract, knowing he wont play or at best, move around on loan.. Or does he take the ££ hit and drop into the championship.

JWP is the last player we want imo. He's incredibly negative with the ball, slow and almost always 're-cycles' the ball sidewards and backwards. JWP coming back would mean that Charles is moved out. That being said, you know that he'll give his all and will generally speaking be fit almost 100% of the time. If someone comes in for Downes, maybe its something we should explore. Failing that, its a massive no from me.

They'll be without BBD, which is a real shame as that is an obvious weak link down 1 side. They're a realtively poor side. Should be a comfortable win if we can find our feet infront of goal. Has to click at some point... doesn't it? a win and the world certainly looks a lot healthier going into the international break.

In fairness, 6 if Cov win - who look a decent enough side. My biggest concern is that we look absoluely honking.

The thing is, we have tried that. We started with Jones then ended up with Juric. Our fanbase weren't having them and made a hard job even harder. Same with Puel.

One positive is that they'll likely take the game to us, which, in theory, should suit how still wants to play. I'd go as far as saying this is a must win if we hold any hope of the auto's - which are quickly becoming out of reach.

Yes, I saw this. Not a great look. However, my immediate thoughts were "we failed to beat these".

FWIW - I actually don't mind Juric. I think he was given an impossible job and I don't think it was on him (Other than playing Aribo at CB). That being said, he clearly wasn't our first choice. My point was more aimed towards Still - but appreciate that didn't come across in my comment.

The man we should have brought in the summer. Or arguably the January before. We didn't want to pay the £5m or whatever it was, to get him out of his contract. Hiring, then sacking Juric and Still will have cost us significantly more than £6m. Pay cheap pay twice. At some point SR will work that one out.

I think this is where I'm at, although I have to dissagree with the CM comments. We essentially have 3 of the best central players in this division and I really like the look of the German lad who imo will replace Downes and be the "number 6". There are a lot of 'what if's' for me. If still can get the balance right in the middle, if still can get Archer firing, if the new lads are as good as they look on the face of things, if Bazunu doesn't do bazunu things... We have the bases of a side that could, maybe should, piss the leauge (with Leciester getting a points deduction). All in all, I'm a lot more excited for the season than I was a month ago.

In Fellows and Scienza (by the look of things), we have 2 players who are brilliant 1vs1 and can beat a man with ease out wide. You could argue the same for Robinson as well. With the German lad in CM, who appears to at his best dictating the play from deep and can play forward balls (something Downes and Charles aren't good at). That'll create a load of space for players like Azaz in between the lines in the middle or Archer in behind. On the face of it, we have a brilliant squad at this level. Much, much stronger than when we started.

Maybe I’m just incredibly naive, but I think Archer is shit hot at this level. Could easily be the divisions leading scorer if we can get the ball to him. keeper is our weakness however. How long until McCarthy is number 1 again..

IMO, the Paris link was always a case of trying to drive up what we’re offering.

In fairness, I don’t think the level will be as high this year. Ipswich have also had an iffy start, Leicester will likely get a points deduction. No one has really stood out as any good this season, tbh. hopefully, with the signings last week, we’ll have a squad much more suited to Still and removal of the deadwood. im really nervous about the GK situation however.

Have you been to Paris in the last 10 years? Absolute shit hole. He’ll be rushing to move once his missus is held up a knife point for her luxury handbag.

The bench?

We need a new GK before we even think about a number 9. Bazunu is an absolute liability. His injury last time round saved our season and we’ve gone back in this year with the same Achilles heal (no pun intended) which has already cost us 3 points this season. I cannot believe we were in the market for a new keeper and we’ve picked up one that’s worse than the other 2 idiots we have… after seeing against Stoke what a decent keeper can do.

All ifs and buts, I don’t think there is much more he could have done. We played square pegs and in square holes at least. Had it not been for Bazunu, we win the game. Probably the same could be said for Stoke as well.

We've never seen him with a bit of quality in behind him though. We finally have that.