Toussaint

Because he didn’t, he had a fresh start with a new team behind him giving him 100% backing in his philosophy and a bunch of premier league players and loanees at his disposal. Having said that, we are we are are and I feel much more positive after Russ and the team’s performance yesterday.

That team would get mullered I fear. I would stick with McCarthy, he’s the one we are going forward with and needs the game time.

I think stage fright also came into play in a big way that day, the Millennium Stadium is an intimidating place, first game ever under a closed roof, Arsenal's familiarity with big occasions, Fabrice Fernandes's refusing to take the field when called upon and so on. My main point is I don't want to see a team like last Saturday's fielded, that is to say no attacking threat and no midfield strength. Use some of the fringe / up and coming players if we need to who maybe some value in the playoffs.

I'd probably go the weakened side to, but with the proviso that we give some of the younger guys a go, we having nothing to learn or gain by watching powder puff Mara &co. poncing around for an hour or more. I would probably give Rothwell a run out as well, from what I understand his favoured position is the one Stu held, and we don't have a natural replacement for Stu.

He has. I was indirectly responding to the point that he should get a new contract if we go up. I don’t think he should, this is his level imo.

We do all see things differently, but if in doubt ask me, because I am always 100% correct.

If we go up he will perform to exactly the same level as he did previously in the prem. His contribution has been immense this season, but he will just not get the time he needs to set himself in the prem that he does in the championship.

We were putting loads of crosses in earlier in the season, but no one could make anything of them.

I was never as convinced he was as bad as many were claiming. In the very rare occasions he received decent service, in a terrible team with two terrible managers, he looked ok. And, as point out this is the championship. I actually think Russ would have liked to get crosses in, hence signing Ross Stewart. We have no forwards now who can attack a decent cross, Che is short, Armstrong is even shorter and Mara is a powder puff.

In our current plight, that is relegation followed by where we find ourselves now, all roads lead to Rasmus. As long as he is pulling the strings nothing will improve. I still think we could have survived last season if the right manager was appointed to succeed Ralph and the money was spent more wisely in January.

It has, Bournemouth and Portsmouth.

Way better option than Mara

Maybe sympathy for the fake limp he put on?

“There was a player in there”

I agree, not just him, but all of the u23’s who are on the periphery of the first team. What did we learn from giving Mara a start, or Brooks who seemingly has head elsewhere?

Useless little prick

Fair point, but he is a bit of a willy-bum poo-poo head.

Not 100%. It may feel like it, but it’s not over yet. We have had some dramatic form swings this season, we have Downes to come back in hopefully, I’m assuming Ryan Fraser has been carrying an injury, so hopefully he features more. Potentially we are going to see a bit of Ross Stewart. Maybe Russ will be a bit more pragmatic? Who knows. If you asked me directly after Leicester I would have agreed with you, but somehow some optimism has returned.

Potentially a positive for the playoffs. He won’t be fit, but could make an impact.

4 more? We are not progressing through the playoffs then? It could still happen, it could still be an excellent end to the season. It doesn’t feel like it right now, but it’s not over.

Why do you think that? Do you think he will be here next season if we don’t go up?

His hands are probably tied, he has to work within our rigid doctrine, which I’m sure given the choice he’d prefer not to given a defensive coach’s main focus would be minimising goals against.

Not when it really mattered.

I think I’d be able to demonstrate an admirable degree of stoicism.

Easy to see now what Rasmus saw in him, they are like two peas in a pod.