S-Clarke

Yes, it's getting on my tits as well. Media have a new angle to attack/focus on at the moment. This is all about the players setting an 'example', but it's all a bit waffle like as it makes no difference given that they're climbing over each other in game.

Can't blame the keeper. Leicester came out in the second half and pressed higher, closed the space, played more compact. We found it a real struggle to get space in the second half as they closed it down fairly quickly. Then we were forced to push higher ourselves, which meant we were leaving gaps...and they were exploiting that towards the end. Agree with other views, first half us, second half them. Even game all in, not too fussed. Onto the next one.

One for MLG...but I think they changed the rules.

I doubt that's going to change a great deal given our finances! We have been hit quite badly though. Redmond, Moussa, Romeu, Vestergaard, Salisu (lol), Ings, Obafemi Add those players back to the squad and all of a sudden we have what could be considered a strong bench. Clubs of our size will automatically struggle if we lose that many first team players in one hit.

Nope, it will follow through to the next PL game.

I thought KWP was poor, but....Justin pushed him up and stopped him attacking, Justin in particular had a really good game for Leicester, one of their better players. Barnes also kept him very busy, so he was rather subdued because of that. He had no real protection in front. Theo was awful though, really, really bad unfortunately.

Why are people so intent of throwing vile abuse Stephens way? Does he really deserve being called what he's being called? He's improved massively under Ralph, but he has always been limited. He is always beaten by the turn, or pace, or skill. Backs to the walls/blocks etc, passing out from the back, decent and he's improved in that element. But against genuine quality/pace our CB's aren't really up to it, Jan is better...but still weak in those situations.

Really, really poor second half I thought from us. Deserved something on the first half, but second half - no where near. But that's what happens when you have no depth.

Someone ITK has posted it on here before, and someone I know (who knows people at the academy) has said the same, which is why Ralph had him shipped off to second division Dutch football to bring him down a peg (bit full of himself)

Just looked back, it was Stephens and not Jan. Unfortunately that's Jack all over, he has got done like that many a time. He's a good backs to the wall defender, but gets done by skill and turns like that way too often - that's why he's slightly off the level needed (if we are aiming for top 6). Don't really feel McCarthy is to blame.

Yeah, you probably are. As clear as a foul you can get, he was pulled back twice, then he was clipped at the end...I thought the ref was just playing for advantage and it was one of those ''Eventually he gives the free kick', but nope....astonishing miss by the ref.

Dunno, just an average season really. They've had a few high flying years, but they're reverting to more of a midtable side whilst they blood some younger players. They're only 7 points worse off than us. Two wins and they're looking at top 4 again.

Shocking attitude. Hasn't got a future here, this is about him building a first team reputation and a future elsewhere.

I genuinely think he's another Forren, albeit a much more expensive one. We'd have seen him by now if this was a normal situation, but something is awry in a big way.

I think we've been the better side to be honest, let down with the final touch/final pass. It's been the best I've seen Smallbone play, seems more aggressive in his play. We were unlucky not to get that foul on Diallo, it was a foul 9/10, but the goal came from a phase a lot further on and it was really lapse defending by our centre back (I think it was Jan) Overall, not too bad. There are still moments and there are still openings, but you feel maybe...we just lack that little bit of quality with the final touch. There's not much to turn to on the bench either, so we'll have to hope we can show a bit more 2nd half.

I think they are already gone tbh. It's between them and Sheff U for 20th, then a clutch of other teams to battle it out for 18th.

I'd like to see a club who posts financial growth over the last period. We are no different to other clubs having had to take out loans to tide us over. Match day income is the blood of clubs, we've been without a consistent match day income for what must be 10 months now. Sad as it is to say, but we do have a couple of very sellable players who could turn that loss around in 24 hours, that may be what we have to do at some stage and then go again (as we do so many times).

I don't think Targett is a reject, he would still be here had it not been for the insane fee Villa offered us. He's developed well there too. I think we will see the likes of Sims, Hesketh etc go down into the lower leagues - and to be fair to them I fully expect them to have a very fulfilling career at the lower levels too. There's been a weird bit in the news about us recently (from the Burnley chairman, makes me wonder what else has triggered his criticism) but I think in the main our approach is a fair one. For instance we now do not loan out anyone if they have a future here, they are trained and developed in the way the first team players. Sure, there will still be ones that fall by the wayside but we will have a much more fulfilling batch of players who are suited to our club imo. Good to see you posting again by the way David - feels like a while since I've seen a post from you!

That would be huge, there'd be no rearrangement of it either due to the World Cup next year! I do believe we will probably see the season halted shortly, so many games being postponed everywhere atm. There comes a point where you just cannot make a decent competition out of it, no matter how hard you try. You could end up with some teams with 6 games in hand!

They're a good side, but they will attack us. They won't sit back and block us off all game. Should be space for us to break on them.

Euro's will happen, they won't postpone that again. Lots of $$$$ invested in that. It will go ahead in 'secure bubbles' and no fans.

It feels like Forren all over again. Didn't he turn back up at Molde for like £1m?

I thought we'd see Salisu on the pitch against Shrewsbury, that seems unlikely now. I wonder if he'll go an entire season without a minute of reserve or first team football?

He's not a PL defender, gets caught out of position too much and his reading of the game is poor. He's got decent technical ability and pace though, so deployed further up may be an option. Still think he'll be off though.

He has improved so much over the course of the last 18 months. That was the Jack from the Man City game, he is an heroic defender. But let's give a nod to his passing ability as well - that ball over the top to Valery was impressive.