Red-Robbo

Do you think there's a third brother called Tommy?

Barnsley will be very interesting. And we have a decent chance of putting in the performance of the season seeing as I won't be there to see it.

What's concerning isn't the result, but the performance.

Unless Tanner was feeling a bit under-the-weather but still fit to play. The backpass could've suggested he wasn't up to it. Hypothetical, of course, but that might explain it. We'll find out after f/t.

Watching it once was bad enough.

He left Hull to rejoin Leicester when Hull were just outside the play-offs. He had a pretty good record there, including a 13-match unbeaten run.

So who do we bring on for him now?

Hmm. But parachute side or no parachute side, we've played better than today. Even at home!!! We KNOW these players can and have done better. That's where the question about self-confidence comes in.

Yep, I did consider whether they have reacted badly because of that. Long-term, the best decision though.

Bonkers to want Pearson out at this stage. Unless the unthinkable happens, I'm for keeping him and seeing how the club evolves under him. That doesn't mean we can't question his judgement of course. Today is not the first time it's seemed very faulty.

Looks like Eritrean barbers are shrewd readers of the game...

What I'm disappointed at, is you'd think Nigel Pearson would be better at lifting morale after a crushing blow like Tuesday's loss. A vetran manager, you'd think he had the man management skills to lift players back up so they do, indeed, go again. Play to their best ability. But here we are, in a sort of last season death spiral again. Against decent oppo admittedly, but the belief just seems to have gone from the side.

Well, exactly. That's the crux of the problem. To put it simply, we need a new Korey Smith.

You've got to lose the sax solo!

I don't think either King or Bakinson do that DM role very well. In King's case it might just be age catching up with him. When he's on the pitch with Matty James we have probably two of the slowest midfielders in the division. I just don't think Bakinson is Championship standard.

I'd love it, but I reckon we'll just have Wells/Martin + Semenyo when available all season.

Alex Mighten

I can't see him leaving a job as AM at the premier league club that he supported as a boy, to come here.

I think we'll be unlikely to get a new striker in January. At least not one good enough to walk into the first team. I'd be delighted to be proved wrong there, but I think this player will only be sourced next summer. What we could get, and I'd be happy with, is a defensive midfielder. Matty James is decent in this role, but he isn't fast and he needs a suitable replacement being available from time-to-time. Bakinson doesn't cut it for me and I don't like Vyner in MF and none of our other midfielders particularly fulfil that role of providing a last-ditch barrier in front of our defence.

Maidenhead FC walked straight into the trap by calling one of their stands, the Bell End. Hence supporters often wear this charming apparel:

I suppose you could say we see the result of their day-to-day work when we see players failing to link with team mates, failing to spot runners, not quite knowing who to mark. That might sound harsh, but I've not been that impressed with our on-field organisation for a while. Whether that's down to Simpson & Downing I couldn't say, but it is a fact that most teams playing at AG seem better drilled than us.

The Dicks Stand has certain linguistic complications. Maybe just a statue should be, erm, erected.

You might have to send in the Keyboard Warrior Squad, Fordy. But the guy is right. There have always (well since the '70s) been silly little boys who like to have playground-style slap fights with other silly little boys on football days. What's tragic about it, is the silly little men who think that should be celebrated, or even tolerated.

Seems to me an argument as why you bring on a fresh, untired striker near the end of games rather than midfielders with few defensive qualities. Unfortunately, we didn't have that option on the bench.

Oh dear...