Merrick's Marvels

I personally can't see how that improves us! That defence looks scary but I do like the idea of Weimann-Wells-Conway. We need to find a role for Weimann that allows him to score goals. But Pearson has continually used him to plug gaps in wide areas and midfield - which speaks volumes about our other midfield choices and I personally don’t think yours works in a 433. Played as a narrow 3 and full backs pushed up alongside, we're reasonably solid but that leaves the sort of weaknesses you highlighted in the first place and are wanting to get away from! Kalas isn't fit. We need to cash in Semenyo asap. Without a radical re-shaping of the squad, I can't see that Pearson has too many options. Thanks for the link.

Happy to agree to disagree ? You obviously have more confidence in some of our players! My own thoughts, as regards a 433: Not convinced myself that any of our full backs are particularly good defenders, rather their strong suit seems to be going forwards. Tanner at a push maybe but he's supposed to be one for the future and we're talking about the here and now. We're trying to have better possession stats, so we've brought in a ball playing centre half - Naismith therefore plays but I'm not entirely sold on him as a defender either and not in a 2, unless there's serious pace alongside him. Who's that? I'm not having Vyner at CB in a 4 and Kalas is never fit, so who plays RCB? Vyner could play RB I suppose if you were asking the full backs to stay at home more than attack. In any case, we can't possibly play with high full backs in a 4 without a quality, mobile CDM and we don't have one of those. If we did, Scott's a shoe-in but, in a 433, I'm not sold on Williams or James having the legs required to complete that midfield. And I don't think we have the right blend of forwards to play a 433 either. Who's good enough to play solo centrally? It was Martin, which allowed WSM to flourish last season, but he's past it now. So by my reckoning, in January we would need a new Chris Martin, a quality CDM, a pacy CB, and a LB to make 433 a realistic option this season. Which ain't happening. It would mean abandoning Wells-Conway as a partnership, this season's only highlight in terms of team development. And this hypothetical formation would still include Vyner and Naismith in defence, meaning the potential would remain high for the sort of individual pratfalls that continue to cost us goals and drive the manager potty, whoever and however we line up.

We don't have the players.

Thank you. Not only is handball now a complete mystery to me but also offside!

Agreed and why I'm not overly critical of Tanner on this one.

My impression was that Pring got a slight block on the cross, hence the way the cross looped somewhat and which also meant their striker was played onside?

Sadly, I'd include us in there too if only because we're not consistent enough. If we finish where we did last season, I'll be delighted. Doing some business in January may be necessary, although never ideal.

Given the standard of refereeing these days, I'm amazed Wells wasn't penalised for a foul, even though he was just using his body cleverly. One of several occasions when yesterday's ref allowed a physical contest for the ball without blowing for non-existent fouls. If only we could have him every week.

For Southampton - but it was a pre-season friendly.

Swansea. Yawn. But winnable.

I agree! ?

Leicester?

What on earth did you expect?

Why we can't do this - Ben Brereton Diaz: Blackburn Rovers withdraw striker from Chile squad for friendlies - BBC Sport - is beyond me. But no, nice Bristol City wouldn't want to do that, would they? FFS indeed.

So if all goes to plan: The football club will be owned by a local businessman, Doug King. But the stadium by someone else, Mike Ashley. If this counts as good news for Coventry City fans, I'm lost for words.

Kalas and Wells the only ones I'd be having a conversation with. Not sure either will agree to the sort of wages we're likely to be offering, though.

Plus Baker, assuming we're still paying him until next June. We have option of 1 year extension on O'Leary and Vyner - likely to do so, based on current form. Same option with Semenyo which we'll obviously take up, if only to flog him to the highest bidder asap. Think there's plenty of the reserve team also ooc - Morton, Owura Edwards, Wiles-Richards, Casa-Grande, James Taylor, Araoye, Owers, Kadji, Taylor-Clarke, yer man Palmer-Houlden. 1 year options on Morton and Edwards - can't imagine we'll take up either. Pearson to find replacements for tuppence ha'penny whilst trying to keep us safe from relegation in the most competitive league in the world.

Let's hope not, eh? Why would we want our club connected in any way with this shameful tournament - it's just an exhibition in how immoral, corrupt and sordid football has become, surely?

Bad attitude. Told to do one.

Agree King was worse than useless on Tuesday. I guess the theory today is he plays the Naismith role - the experienced organiser who can get us playing with his passing. Hopefully without the Naismith trait of calamitous defensive blunders.

Semenyo needs to understand the goals he scored last season by charging down the keeper were flukes. They haven't done him any favours. Chasing after the ball just makes him look like a headless chicken, especially when the opposition have an easy pass to get beyond him. Even L1 defenders can manage that, as demonstrated by Lincoln's first goal. He needs to understand pressing starts with blocking off passing options and channels. That's how you apply pressure to a defender or keeper with the ball at his feet - give them nowhere to go. Once they're under pressure and not sure what to do, then go after the ball while your team-mates support you in a co-ordinated fashion. That's how you force mistakes and win the ball back. Amateur hour all round for that Lincoln goal.

You've misunderstood my point.

Thanks for posting and demonstrating, once again, that you don't get it. Or don't want to. By all means have the hump with how things are going - join the queue - but try not to talk such bollocks, eh.

His time and money which, pro rata, represents a greater percentage of his disposable resources than £214M does of Lansdown's, I'd imagine. For starters.

They weren't but I dread to think what our recruitment "department" consisted of back then.