The Fat Controller

Yes, Graham's post and yours from Wednesday sum it up. There is definitely balance to be had, and there has to compromise too. I think some of that comes in the form of versatility, which I know is not to everyone's liking. Having a CB capable of playing in midfield come in eases the pressure on players we are having to flog and also offers some financial balance. I appreciate finding players like that of the requisite quality is not easy. In an ideal world, yes, another GK for example to genuinely challenge MOL. I am pleased with Pearson's use of the academy and if we have genuine quality coming through then we do not want to block the pathway. It seems we are beyond sensible use of these youngsters at the moment, so again, a balance to be had.

Yes, that's all fair comment. I do think it's a fine balancing act as we don't want to return to the days of a bloated squad and signing players with no idea of what to do with them. I think we are probably only a couple light. We have been horribly exposed by the number, seriousness and timing of injuries.

Okay, I'll nibble.... Is a restrictive playing budget responsible for the number of concurrent injuries we have?

It doesn't get any better viewing

Agree. I don't think it's been as bad as is made out. Retaining composure seems to be the difference - Conway free header, Max, Bell's delivery quality.

I, for one, will never forget Zak Knight.

Well, being that I'm at work and I can't watch online... I am a results based person and I couldn't give a shit if it ain't pretty

We're getting a bit bare bones, aren't we.

Yes

But presumably there would then be another £25m that SL would have to dig out from his pocket?

I think it's very easy to spend other people's money.

He's two different players. I like the midfielder. The defender is a liability.

Bell does seem to fade in games. Is that a fitness or concentration thing? Like Wells, I think he does a decent amount of pressing. Puts in the yards. Agree on Cornick. Yeboah just seems to want that fraction longer on the ball, we I guess comes with experience of that pace/intensity of this level of football.

Seemed pretty clear to me that Sykes was hooked for lack of tracking back off the ball. He was fine going forward but wasn't offering Tanner much support.

M32 slow crawl from Hambrook

Honestly my perception is mostly influenced by each clubs performance through my childhood. It's a weird metric for sure. It means sides like Crawley and Stevenage and Burton are absolute no marks in my head whereas the likes of Leeds and Villa and Norwich will always seem like relatively big clubs even when they've dropped down the divisions. Still can't wrap my head around Bournemouth being in the top division.

Any excuse to spend the day somewhere other than Stoke

Petition to make this a permanent feature. All the best contributors are here.

Has LJ been out there measuring it? Infuriating, isn't it. We never seem to learn. Sometimes the ball just needs to go down the line.

Mine hasn't either, but I have been successfully scanning the QR code.

I'd go further than that and say retrospective bans for clearly feigned head injuries. Head injuries have to be taken seriously and that becomes nigh on impossible if they are being faked.

A little disappointed to not be going in ahead tbh

Maybe he's the one selling the spaces

FYI any licensed premises must provide free tap water on request

It's the announcement of our blue fourth kit.