saintant

It's not that it's down to team selection today.

That was nothing short of embarrassing and it's all on RM's stupid midfield selection. He should have seen it was totally wrong and changed it after 20 minutes but now the damage is done. With zero bite or cover in midfield we have made them look like prime Man City while we are left chasing shadows. Don't think there's any way back into this because they are no mugs and have us well sussed.

I agree, Smallbone, Rothwell and Stu Armstrong are all good individual players. However, it is how they knit together and form an effective midfield that counts. We'll soon see.

Wouldn't have minded seeing Stephens keep his place at left back. Like many others Manning worries me.

As you are perfectly entitled to do - it's all about opinions and perception at the end of the day. I didn't think Mara was perfect against West Brom and would certainly like to see him become a bit more aggressive and harder to knock off the ball but the signs are there that he has something about him. Maybe he'll be a slow burner and there is much more to come.

Yeah, you'd have to think they'll want him back as one of their squad because he is a very talented player. Let's enjoy him while he's here and hope he helps us to one of the automatic promotion spots.

He was neither dreadful nor out of his depth. In reality he did quite well without looking overly threatening to their goal. Mara needs games to sharpen his understanding of his role and to build a rapport with his team mates. It's a tricky situation because every game is crucial now so it will be interesting to see how RM handles the situation. I think he'll be given another start tonight and asked to give it a real go with Adams waiting on the bench as and when needed.

Hoping Leicester beat Leeds and we win our two home games. That will leave us 4 points clear of them with 12 games left meaning the pressure will ramp up on them as they try to catch us. Ipswich remain a threat so we need to better their results. It's going to be an exciting and tense run-in.

Horrendous challenge and a well deserved red card, I'm sure Chris Wilder is well chuffed with Holgate.

Leicester to do a Devon Loch 🙂

I think Downes, Aribo and Smallbone would make a great midfield trio.

After hearing RM's comments on Smallbone after the game I think he'll be starting on Tuesday.

Brilliant win and overall a polished performance with some good individual displays. Fantastic goal by David Brooks who finished a great move with a deft touch then slotted into the corner. Thought Aribo did some good things and should get more game time and Kamaldean had moments as well. Edozie had an impact and a good assist. I was nervous before hand but we were generally comfortable. If we'd had two draws against Brizzle and West Brom we'd have probably been reasonably happy so to get the 3 points was a bonus. We looked more secure from corners and crosses with Stephens height. Well done boys!

It's clearly because they have been told to press us more around our penalty area and not allow us to play out from the back. Plain as day. RM should see it and change to more long balls over the top. Keep playing fiddly against their strong press and we'll let them back in. Sort it out Russ.

Started brilliantly and deservedly took the lead. However, West Brom have clearly been told to add more men to the press and we have nowhere to go. At times like this we will get more joy by playing longer balls over the top to catch them with lots of players in advanced positions. If we continue playing short passes from the back they will get back into it.

Hope we're fast out the blocks with a minimum of walking football.

Thought if he was going to bring in Stephens it would be as a 3 with wingbacks. Think RM is probably bringing in more height and physicality. Spine is weak again so it's going to be a tough gig.

I think we're all pretty sure how they work.

It says conversations have taken place.Hope they went through the correct channels because. as far as I am aware, there's been nothing official from SFC. Still, it's another of the big greedy clubs so why should they play by the rules.

Getting bad vibes about this game probably because we were poor on Tuesday. Hoping for some bouncebackability.

They are strong at home and I think only Leicester and Huddersfield have come away with all 3 points. There's a smattering of draws but they've beaten a fair few of the better sides. A draw won't be the end of the world if it comes from a good performance. If we can somehow sneak a win it'll help massively after Tuesday's defeat. We need a fully fit Downes in the side that's for sure.

I see Utd appointed Omar Berrada from Man City in late January and he'll be their new Chief Exec but not until the end of the season. The suggestion is that he's the guy who recommended JW to Utd having known him at City.

We won't because if it's what JW wants it'll happen - assuming there is any truth in it. Surely there will be more highly qualified options than JW for a club the size of Man Utd - and that's not disrespecting him but there will be those out there with far more comprehensive CVs.

This in a nutshell - totally agree.

The other thing we do much better when Downes plays is win the ball back quickly. We didn't do that on Tuesday. The guy is so integral to how we play. Reading between the lines in RM's presser I'll be very surprised if he's in the squad tomorrow. Hope I'm wrong.