egg

What's Finnigan like? Never seen him.

It's not a question of numbers, rather that if our best midfield prospect can't a game ahead a very average defender playing out of position, you have to question what's going on.

Dreadful is harsh, but he's as much a Premier league central midfielder as he is a premier league centre forward or winger. Playing him there would be ridiculous, and show complete contempt for Jankewitz, and the academy concept.

Because neither are good enough. Valery is on the bench at Birmingham, and Vokins on the Sunderland bench in league 1.

Tough

Ha!! Stephens starting ahead of him would be ridiculous. The kid deserves another chance.

Not surprised to be honest. It's him, Salisu, Jankewitz or Chauke. I'd prefer Jankewitz but an out of position Stephens wouldn't be a shock.

Language

"a poor 8th" !! 8th is 8th, and in a league season you only have to do better than the teams below you that season. Flipping your point on its head, if we finish 18th on 42 points and get relegated but 42 points would normally be enough to finish say 12th, nobody would be saying "but it doesn't' matter, it was a good 18th" would they. It would still be 18th which is shit. 8th is good, and better than 11th.

Your argument was that people are "saying Ralph is worse than those two, let alone 46 point, 8th place Puel" . Nobody has said that Ralph. He isn't. However, if we finish with a points tally starting with a 3 then he hasn't done any better this season than those guys did.

Jeez, that's ridiculous. Even Mrs Egg has had a whinge and she never moans.

Nobody has said that Ralph is worse than Hughes and Pellegrino! If we don't get much than 36 points this season, it'd be hard to argue that Ralphs performance this season is better than anything that either of those 2 did. Puel. He was better than many give him credit for. Forget comparisons with others, 8th place, and a cup final, was a decent return.

I doubt there's anyone who wouldn't agree with you. The difficulty is why would anyone throw north of a £100m to buy us, then tens of millions a year thereafter to keep is going? They'll probably never get back. In the current economic climate, I just don't see it, and why would anyone in business, wanting a return in the future, do that?

Cottages

I thought this was a wind up at first, but you're actually serious. The only way to judge the success of a league season is by where clubs finish in a league. If a club finishes 3rd on say 80 points, but win the league the following season with say 78 points, on your rationale they've done worse despite winning the title. That's a bit crazy. 8th is better than 11th.

Eric

He's a CB finding his way into English footy, playing him out of position in midfield is not a great idea. That said, I think he has it in his locker to play LB. He drifts into that position and made a lovely little run down the left side against Leeds. If any of our defenders were to play out of position I'd say Bertrand could do a job there.

Addiction

It's irrelevant. The goal was ruled out. Move on.

I'm not convinced, but I like the way his teams play, and the Howe / Tindall duo is a good one. He's also available and the players may just need a different approach to give them a lift. I agree that something isn't right at the moment, and if we don't get a turnaround soon, change will be hard to argue against.

I agree. He is very limited. Has a lot of heart and energy, but so did Long. Judging Ralph on his inability to get Adams firing is a bit daft.

Hardly the elephant in the room for me. Adams is not great truth be told. It's Ings who is out of tune.

Blimey!! That would be weird. Especially if Tindall is back with him. Hopefully it won't come to that though - get something from Everton, beat Sheffield United, don't get disgraced against City, and it'll look very different.

If we lose the next 3, I think Eddie will be getting a call. I don't think he's any better, quite the opposite in fact, but no points before Brighton and I think he's in trouble.

Yep. Add to that continuing to play a high energy game with players who are struggling to cope with the demands of it.