Red-Robbo

Always 'in' games, Harry? I can't remember that when Peterborough tore us a new one at AG, or when we looked sub L2 versus Wycombe - to say nothing of the abject failures last season. Now I know you rated Sean and don't like Steve, but your problem is you over-egg your arguments and look on the SOD era with the old rose-tinted bifocals. I respect your POV but don't overdo it.And let's try to suggest how we can get out of this quagmire, eh?

Bit like Sean in that respect then Harry. Can't remember him coming out and saying he'd mucked up after his many losses. However I can recall him using the wind as an excuse on one occasion. Tbh anyone's a mug who reads too much into these post match interviews. Before managers have time to get their heads together and really analyse the game, they have a mic pushed in their face and told to fill 5 minutes of airtime. I thought that during the scathing examinations on here of O'Driscoll's interviews too.

Own goals still count mate! Well, I think - as I keep saying - it's an entirely moot point as to whether we'd be better off or not. What anyone's done in the past elsewhere doesn't mean nowt (and personally I think Sean's miracle worker rep is slightly overinflated by his fans) because - as we've seen - we've had players who were good elsewhere but then poor here. What's fact is we're no better off than when he was sacked. And what I think is also becoming clear, is that Steve (or Keith Burt - or both) managed to muck up the transfer window and opportunities for strengthening where the side needed it. Looking forward here, I'd shift Osbourne back in the middle and bring Moloney into his position. Rest El-Abd. Rest Jet - at least for half the game - and put Pearson into a forward midfield role. And if Kelly's available play him rather than Pack. Dunno what you do about the keeper conundrum - none of them has exactly inspired confidence.

Or another way of expressing it, is a manager with the worse win ratio in City history (if you discount caretakers and Copout) who had taken just one point out of a possible six in his last two games. We're both just using statistics to bolster arguments. I prefer to look forwards rather than backwards. Looking backwards condemns us to walk into life's lamp posts. Would you sack Cotterill? That would just take managerial churn to the max. The theory didn't work over at the dark side of our city. Given that he stays, what to do next?

But the results were dire before. If you take a particular start and finish point you might argue that there'd been an upturn, but it was just as likely to be a false dawn. Our last feeble showing v SUFC could argue that way. One thing's unarguable however, we're no better off at present than we were. As SC isn't going anywhere this season, I'd rather talk about how he can improve the side's performance and get us some more wins. Moloney back in would be my first move there.

I reckon he could vary his portfolio....

Does anyone though? People liked Steve because he seemed more upbeat than Sean. I can't recall anyone saying " I like his arm-waving". If we wanted that, we should've appointed Kilkenny player-manager!!!

Always a toughie, to come in when a season is well under way and try to change things. Steve's 2014 hasn't exactly inspired though. All isn't lost, but he needs to get all his powers of motivation at work. And rethink the midfield.

We'll never know, Aiz. My instinct is no, others think yes. Both positions are based on various assumptions. The "should SOD have gone" argument is, as you've astutely observed, pointless.

Which returns me to "what is the point of Keith Burt"? However, I can't write a spineless display like that off due to the two players we brought to the club in January. More established players must've let themselves down. . I await the verdict of the brave/foolhardy who went to Bramall Lane

Me neither LB....

Isn't Keith Burt supposed to be in charge of that? And if he has no say in these transfers why is he here? What a waste of money. As I say, we had overage players brought in under SOD. Can't say I was thrilled when I saw Shorey playing back then. Is El-Abd the problem here today though? I'd like a considered opinion from someone there as to why we are plywood flimsy befoire their attacks and why we haven't got a decent shot in.

Cotterill may not be the answer, but really I think El-Abd and W Elliott are no worse or better than Shorey and Harewood. I think both managers have made mistakes in their own way, but I don't think there was some golden age under the past manager. We're now in the same place he left us, no better, no worse. Anyway, they clearly won't sack Cotterill this season. So, move Osborne centrally and bring back Moloney? Rest JET and start Burns? There are options, but we have to take them as this line-up clearly isn't working.

Words from anyone at the game? Assuming you haven't hanged yourselves...

I didn't expect a win, but that doesn't make those stats any less disappointing. Question is playmates, what's the [short-term] answer? I've not been overly impressed by Wade Elliott, but one poster said he was playing well first half.

Us v Plymouth is only a derby in the minds of Argyle fans.

You mean the "Sheffield" forum....

Someone pay this man to attend every away game!

Ecstatic!!! I don't even care that this was the one London game I could go to and instead I was dragooned into taking the father-in-law out! I love you Mrs Robbo and your family and I LOVE YOU CITY!!!!!

Shockingly Awful, more like!

Well it's East and it's not Saarf of the rivuh!

Me too. Not ideal but conditions were not condusive and an experimental line-up didn't spell disaster - for once.

Wouldn't be surprised, A. Probably fallen into the sea.

Torquay's postponed.

Other than Williams instead of Cunningham, it seems the manager is doing what most posters here have been calling for.