NEWPORT RED

No real surprises that City have become a cliché: lacklustre, mediocre, under-performing, inconsistent. HNM has not been the same player since all the publicity surrounding his remaining or departure. Undoubtedly we've suffered defensively since Nathan Baker's head injury - always available to put himself on the line and to accept other (alien) rôles in defence. Doom and gloom merchant, I realise. But personally, I can't really see us improving to become contenders next season either. Arguably - and I know it's been said before - but if Reading and Derby hadn't had those deducted points, and if Dan Bentley hadn't been one of the best keepers in the division, I believe our situation would have looked a whole lot different. On the positive side, I reckon we'll respond to the Barnsley debacle by hammering The Baggies 4-0! . . . Yes, just coming doctor. I was talking to my friends and I . . .