S-Clarke

We were looking at a RB early doors, but that was more down to the uncertainty of Suguwara I think. Now Suguwara has had no takers, we're pretty much set at RB I think. I hoped he'd have been better today though, I thought we looked better when he was off the pitch which isn't a good look.

He's always been a good player in my eyes, but the loan has done in the world of good. What you notice with him is that he plays the ball through the lines, he likes to be progressive with it through the middle. He liked doing that in his first season with us as well, maybe that's why Martin didn't like him? He preferred the ball cyclers in that position, not someone with a bit of gumption and initiative to play a ball forward. The sort of player you build the team around. I hope he's one of the lads with a new contract in the offing.

Can't fault him today, he delivered. Covered for the roaming and confused Edwards quite a few times.

As soon as I saw that line-up I had a bit of a sinking feeling. I never enjoy us with 3 at the back as I feel it confuses us, and the lack of presence up top (Armstrong through the middle) was a worry. I doubt we'll ever see Armstrong through the middle again t hough. The first half played out as many of us expected. No presence up top, ball not sticking, no real efforts, and a very confused and disjointed back 3. I thought Edwards was awful, he didn't seem to know his position too well and he was somewhat uncomfortable I felt. The two full backs were 'OK', but not as expressive as I felt they'd be - certainly not on the Suguwara side. Midfield struggled. Charles individually was good, but I'm not sure if it's just me but it doesn't feel like this proactive/high press style really suits Downes. I don't think he has the mobility for it, it'll be interesting to see how he adapts as the season goes on - but I wouldn't say no if Ipswich came knocking with a £15m bid tomorrow if I'm honest. The penalty was the result of a break and a very confused backline pressing up too high. Edwards was clumsy as I think Stephens would have got there - maybe there was a lack of communication in that moment. Pen was a pen and that was that. The rest of the half followed the same theme with us really lacking any threat or quality in the final third. The second half started much the same way, as expected without any subs. But once we switched to 4, removing Armstrong and Suguwara we looked much better. We had more of a presence (although Downs didn't do much), but it felt like we had some mobility in that attacking third with Fernandes - but he can be much better than that. We pretty much penned them in after that point, and we really should have scored before we did, but we still gave up so much space on the break - only thanks to a last ditch from Stephens and a great save from Bazunu did we get anything from that. When we signed Manning I read that he was good at Free Kicks, but I didn't realise he was JWP levels good - that was on par with anything JWP stuck in for us, totally out of the blue! It felt like it was going to be something like that which would get our goal though! The winner was unexpected, we did pen them in and we really did wear them down, but I didn't expect us to win it. Great ball by Charles and then Manning does well to control and play the ball across, that wasn't an easy finish for Stephens by the way - he could have shanked that! Overall, I thought it showed some positives in terms of mentality, desire and fitness in the closing stages - those are big positives for me. But negatively, the quality needs lifting in the attack - you can't deny that, especially not after the first half. We need 2 or 3 additions in that final 3. We can't rely on Archer in a wide position or Armstrong through the middle and expect to compete. MOTM is a tough one as I felt it was all a bit sluggish, but I'd give it to Charles. I thought he was good on the ball and progressive with his passing through the line (forward passing I'd add). Good to start with a win, but not getting too excited just yet - there's a lot of work to do if we are to be competitive in the top end this year.

Pretty rubbish game if we're honest. Birmingham were better in the first half, but they huffed and puffed a bit. Ipswich were utter useless for the majority, but I think they're still finding their rhythm The ref ruined the game I think, he kept stopping the flow of it and had no real control. The pen just summed it up.

He's one of Armenia's best players, maybe their best one right now. He is heavily compared to Mikatarian, and is largely regarded as one of - if not the best - player left in the Russian leagues right now. It would be ludicrous for him to be playing at this level, but I'm still not going to get carried away or excited. I've sat through Ramos, Silva and Gakpo to know that they're not worth getting invested in until they're actually over the line.

I do hope that's a joke, please? I need some good news!

Ah yes you're right actually, my mistake. Same point stands though, £50m on his head by the sounds of it.

Bazunu, Smallbone, Fraser and McCarthy - just to wind everyone up.

One thing I did take away, was the quite direct compression Phil Parsons made between Garnacho and Dibling in terms of their relative impacts last season. Man Utd have put a price of £50m on Garnacho, so I think it's pretty clear that's where we sit with Dibling.

I mean those sorts of questions aren't ever going to give the answer that they were pushed for, let's be honest. At the end of the day, we all disagreed with it, but the club signed him on a 3 year deal. If the person who was part of that decision then turns around in the fans forum and says ''Yeah, he's shit. I don't know why we did it'', then I'd be questioning his judgement a hell of a lot more to be honest. He wasn't going to throw him under the bus, I wouldn't have ever expected him or anyone to do.

According to FM maybe, but in real life it really isn't.

Yeah, pretty much. As blunt as that , directed at Phil Parsons, he asked for a description of 'FFP' and how it works.

Spors struck me as the perfect sort of person you want. He doesn't say much, he doesn't offer much, but you can tell he thinks and 'does'. We've had too many people who can say all the nice words and sound great, but he has this inner confidence in himself and he doesn't feel like he needs to waffle shit. He seems pretty competent to me, but we'll find out at the end of the season just how much.

A rumour! And a good one at that, he's a class CM for this level.

If I was Newcastle I wouldn't bother and just avoid further disappointment, no one seems to want to join them.

Portman Road in Feb, feels like it was the year before tbf - but we actually did win there. Tall Ball in the final few mins. And we still believed...

Levy's first offer will be a signed photo of Poch and a packet of crisps. Maybe Tommy Forecasts re-gen thrown in for good measure.

They didn't renew Antonios contract, so he's a freebie now. Feels like a Wrexham or Birmingham style signing though.

Ah yep, that makes sense then. I think those calls must have been made when we had a DoF void, or when we were pretending a hybrid of model of Bitcon and Martin would work.

It feels like we're due a good period again (consistently over a few seasons), but then I guess Stoke/Boro/Blackburn would all say the same thing and they've been in the rots for a decade or more.

I still think he's a little daft to be leaving at this stage, but if he won't sign a deal the club have to maximise the value on a full home grown talent. He's a shy lad as everyone says, so with a £50m price on his head and media surrounding him in the bright lights of Liverpool (which is a tricky place to adapt for most people) he could sink into the wilderness. I hope he doesn't as he's talented, but he should have been advised to stay here in an environment he trusts to refine his skills - and when he's a tiny bit older, a bit more confident and has a bit more to backup the reputation...he may handle a big move better. It feels a risk for him right now. Not financially, not for his agent, but for him personally I think he's been incredibly poorly advised by those around him.

This is why BBD, Archer and co looked absolutely prolific in training last season. On a serious note, the poor squad (i.e. the large gap of quality between starters and the rest) makes the training environment unbalanced and no where near a fair reflection on what they'd face in real matches. We have a big squad but very little competitiveness is how I see it, and that will harm training as it creates a false sense of illusion for less savvy managers that player x or y is better than they actually are.

But didn't we sell SAA to Strasbourg under his watch? I'm sure we pocketed £10m this summer for him. Or was it a pre-agreed fee? Possibly actually, can't remember (would explain it if that's the case)

I think it's naive at this stage to believe that the Everton rumours are gossip and unsubstantiated. In my eyes, it's all but done. He's been pulled from training to avoid any last min contact injuries which would scupper a deal. That wouldn't happen if there wasn't an expectation on both sides that a deal would be done. It's just a matter of when and it's probably 99% going to be Everton.