hypochondriac

OK so we made up a story about food poisoning?

Depends how poorly tbf.

What do you think then? Downes decided to refuse to come and then we briefed to journalists that he has a stomach bug and then our director of football and manager said he was coming whilst we desperately tried to persuade him behind the scenes? Likely?

Where's @trouserswith the picture?

My prediction is we lose on Saturday and this place goes into meltdown. We need a couple of signings to placate fans and continue the positivity as well as strengthening the team.

Carillo was pretty random...

Or maybe we like the Bristol City defender more.

My usual barometer of chatting to some mates who don't bother with any online stuff and there's certainly some murmurs of discontent about the lack of activity over the past week or so. We really need to get a few in after the departure of jwp and likely Lavia shortly.

I expect that's because we will. KWP going surely.

Maybe so. All I know from reading the westham board a few days ago is that Moyes was trying to play him like that and he got slated for playing him out of position and him underperforming

Downes isn't box to box, he's a defensive midfielder.

It will only get more annoying on Sunday when people will start talking about Geoff Hurst if an England player scores.

We don't have three decent keepers. You can't honestly believe that.

What do you mean? I'm sure he was annoyed because he wants the goalkeeper to be as confident as possible. You do however have to be blind not to see that the keeper has had his problems during his time here and I'm sure they woukd like to at least have the option of bringing in a competent player if his form does take a dip. That isn't saying that Bazunu isn't up to it, it's taking sensible precautions due to a young keeper with promise.

Not least because there's zero chance we sign two cbs of that quality.

Sorry I ruined the party is my abiding memory of Viafara.

Actions speak louder than words. I can absolutely see the logic in the manager publically backing his keeper. I fully expect us to dump McCarthy and get in another keeper who could do a job if Bazunu fecks up.

The thing I like most about Martin is how he seems to watch the same game as all the fans. With the last few managers (even Ralph) I found myself shaking my head when they praised someone like Mo or made an inexplicable substitution that seemed to make no sense at all. When Martin talks about the game on Saturday he has praised Charles and Smallbone and made other comments that I feel aligns almost perfectly with what all the fans are saying. It's reassuring when a manager sees things the same way that the fans do because it shows that he is on the same wavelength even if he has some added context behind the scenes that fans don't see.

That's what I remember unfortunately so you are correct.

Not sure I agree with this. The only reason he's all that we have is because the club haven't addressed it. Despite what they've said, I still hold out hope that we will get rid of McCarthy and bring in a decent number two to step in of things go really wrong with Bazunu. At least then I can be reassured that we won't be in the position of last year of having a goalkeeper being out of form but with no viable alternative who could be better.

That was the best bit of the forum and he is completely correct. We had no defined identity last year because we talked all about it at the start of the season and then inexplicably tossed everything out the window in a panic when the mad Welshman came waltzing in.

Just watched this and haven't read reactions in here. My reaction is wow that was incredibly impressive. Also very impressed with the young fans and the questions which wrre intelligent and not fucking annoying for a change so well done to everyone for that. Russell Martin is extremely likable and intelligent. I think we could have something good here and I really want things to work out for them.

Agree to an extent but personally, I didn't understand why he didn't start every gane that he was fit. Selles refused to play him mostly because he was safety first but he always looked decent when I saw him. I'm not sure he can be blamed for last year.

It would if he could pick it up within two seconds.

I thought we had a change of regime now who vetted the attitude of players before they came in. If what you say is true then I'd be very worried about these two new reluctant arrivals and what they might do to the harmony in the camp.