StrangelyBrown

What I can't work out is why we played at such a pedestrian pace. When we play high tempo fast Russ ball we tear teams apart for fun, but it just was too slow today. Poor finishing aside, Middlesbrough were there for the taking, but we seemed to be scared to really go after the second goal. This must be something the team are under instruction to do - be patient and trust the process (which has dropped us points again and again and again). Russ needs to be braver but sadly nothing he did really changed the tempo or added any extra cutting edge and so in my view the 2 points dropped are squarely on him. I'm dying to know what the Russ evangelists think because I can't see how he isn't at fault?

Well that was all a bit predictable - all fart and no shit again. Come on giosaints tell us why we should be happy about that collosal load of guff?

For a lot of that half we looked like we were going through the motions against an inferior team, but being one nil up isn't enough when we have so many mistakes in us. Sule has to do a lot better - there have been a lot of players described as having "no end product" on here, but he's got to be the very definition of that expression - I just don't see why he seems to automatically start if he's fit? Presumably Russ sees something I don't?

I think the fact that he's different and doesn't fit the style is his major asset. He gives us a plan B when we don't have any other plan B players - we've already seen what a difference his direct running can make.

The first was a beautiful combination of manning falling on his arse and failing to get up with any urgency and Stephens doing as you say one of his classic half arsed blocks. A summary of everything that is wrong with our defence at the moment in one move.

Fair point regarding the abuse and I haven't condoned it at all. I suspect what underlies the abuse is that people are frustrated with his performances but unable to express themselves without resorting to vile insults - I'm not saying this is ok. And you are right I naively hadn't realised the abuse was that nasty.

Perhaps because he's only half a player. I don't disagree that he's good enough with the ball, but a midfielder really should be able to add something defensively - the only thing he offers defensively are sloppy fouls.

Fair play to RM for defending his player publically - nothing wrong with this and very admirable. However, I hope privately he's working on Smallbone's inability to defend, track back and tackle - it's not been addressed all season and is causing more problems than ever with he playing in a DM role.

Please no more Smallbone and no more Manning. Fingers crossed Downes and KWP can play...

Smallbone and manning combine to demonstrate how utterly shit they both are FFS. We've played quite well for a lot of this game, but the same old problems continue to haunt us.

Rest Smallbone??? He's been resting on field for weeks

I'm not sure why anyone is talking about this when the hot topic should be about RMs inability to address specific weaknesses that have crept back into the team - i.e. being far too vulnerable on the break, lacking urgency with the ball, central midfield being immobile and poor against the ball and an astonishing inability to turn dominance into goals

Any hopes of automatic promotion must surely be over unless we put together an incredible winning streak! Shameful really considering the position we were in.

What's worse still is it's Millwall at home - a game we should win comfortably.

How have we turned 80% possession into only 1 goal. Clearly I'm some sort of dinlow for not getting it...

Whoscored.com underlines everything that is wrong with a stats based view. Just compare Smallbone and Downes... Smallbone apparently is the better player according to the stats. Eyes and a simple grasp of the game will tell you otherwise. Anyone who has studied stats knows that you can use stats to prove almost anything you like - the interpretation of the data is the important thing not the data

If we don't go up, is Wilcox really such a success and is this really something to worry about???

Foolish it was ... Martin has learned important lessons along the way. Hopefully he learns the lessons from tonight - for once and for all Manning simply isn't good enough, Rothwell shouldn't start and we need to have some defensive cover in midfield.

Wow. Brave line up - no defensive cover at all. Can't help but think we'll concede a few.

Or maybe he's just found his level...

Quality performance. Dominant aside from that shit 10 minutes before half time. Bloody tater going on and on and on about the handball that wasn't a handball and ignoring the fact that west brom were in our pockets all night and didn't really do anything to threaten us. Stuey was absolute class tonight.

I'm not sure why Baz is getting such a hard time, the first and second goals were symptomatic of the crap way we were playing - defenders/midfielders letting them shoot - the first was non existent marking on a runner, the second was cowardliness from KWP and Smallbone who both failed to close the guy down. The third was just a flukey deflection. Goalkeepers will concede goals - yes Baz may have done better for the first one but the rhetoric that every goal we conceded is somehow all his fault is utter nonsense.

7 for me. 2 good (at this level) players in Charley out which is a bit disappointing but understandable. KWP still in the building - which is far better than I expected McCarthy still in the building - a shame considering his wages No temporary replacement for Stewart which could be costly although if Che can keep his form up may not be an issue.

Spot on. I was very much one of the doubters, but fair play to RM he has a vision, he's implemented his strategy, stuck with it when things weren't going well and more importantly seems to have recognised the failures and has fixed them. The latter part I wasn't convinced he was going to do, but something seemed to happen when calderwood was appointed and we now look like a frighteningly good side.

Perhaps he's competition for Smallbone?