Silvio Dante

On the cup vs league thing, I think what you have to do is see if the cup is an outlier to the league performance. If you take 2017, we were good in league cup and league - so I’d absolutely say we were in form, and it wasn’t a case of weakened teams/sides not being up for it. Conversely, as I’ve mentioned before, if you take the Liverpool season we were poor in the league with barely a goal a game and turgid football. The performances were outliers, maybe due to the pressure on Souness, maybe due to the atmosphere. But we got relegated the following season with a whimper as the league performances were undoubtedly the norm. With us currently, our cup performances are markedly better than the league. So it’s erring more to the Liverpool season than the Man U. With any statistical analysis you remove outliers - and the cup games are that. So, I think it’s probably wisest to review based on the league performance alone. And as I’ve said elsewhere, I think 3 from the next 3 is a decent haul in isolation, but when that makes it 20 points from 17 games that’s pretty close to relegation form over a season from a good sample size. So yeah, I’m a touch worried about next season. @Davefevs - you mention the Oxford game. I really wonder if that was sliding doors. I’d be confident we’d sounded LM out way before NP left and I wonder if that game convinced LM he would be coming to a side that could challenge, and he overestimated his ability to get the side playing his way or the sides ability to adapt in view of the scoreline. Either way, he’s never felt like a natural “continuation” so you start to wonder why here, and why not wait for a better fit. I’m thinking that league cup game was a big factor.

To be honest, I don’t like the phrase and LM is a bit “buzzword bingo” but all I think it is would be the modern equivalent of “It’s still nil nil lads” - play your game and don’t get overly drawn into the situation. Not to my taste but understand what he means. As for whether LM has made us more passive/regressed us that’s a whole wider conversation….

I said pre game that 4 from 4 would have been an acceptable return (predicated on us playing well) and with 1 from 1, we’re on track. So I’m not unhappy overall. But… - I think Cov were below par and a bit there for the taking - The reason we didn’t was the wide men. Anis was abysmal, and I didn’t see any real threat until we went 2 up top. The real positive for me there was that it was LM trying to impact a game - the prior subs were scheduled and passive - Yes, absolutely Max should save the second. I think had we played more front foot earlier it wouldn’t be a factor but it was Overall, fine. But I think being braver we could have had more.

He sees all the way and as opposed to pushing it away from goal parries it into the striker. Yes, the shot shouldn’t have come in but there is no excuse for Max there

Yep 5-0. Up the bluebells!

I’m guessing these are planned subs. Tactically, and performance, you’d take Anis off. Subs made directly on the hour is always a sign.

I’d probably go with this. Thought we were better first 5, then they came back. Took advantage (territorial without threatening) after Sheaf went off and the goal marginally against the run. They were then on top for ten-fifteen and we scored after great work from Cam to force the corner pre build up. Id call it an even half, but we don’t look overly threatening on the whole.

He’s not far off now. I think he’s got the same number of league goals (non penalty) as Conway now with only Sykes ahead of him. What that says about our creativity generally is a different matter!

Possibly. I’m not sure I’d necessarily play this system but I’d rather Harry over Anis - he’s at least got awareness. The one positive as to where we are for me though, considering that I don’t think either are long term answers, is there is an opportunity to at least give young players a run and I’d be disappointed (but not shocked based on record to date) if LM doesn’t do that soon.

Sorry, I’m just so tired with him now - didn’t mean to snap. He’s just wasted another ball. At one point we just need to say he’s not up to it, and considering where the season is, I would much rather try and see what one of the academy boys can do. He’s nowhere near good enough.

Who says there is no agreement on OTIB?

This is a ridiculously reductive argument. Hes shown nothing to say he’s up to standard in his time with us, and it’s totally factual to state that he’s been wasteful tonight. So yeah, I would - I’m confident in saying he’s not up to the level needed and I’d sooner see what someone else can do - be that Nelson, be that Yeboah, be that anyone else as LM has said he’ll look to the academy first. Do you think he’s not been wasteful so far?

Lee Majors was available but was outside of our budget.

The problem is he’s exceptionally wasteful. Three opportunities for cross or decent shot already and hasn’t delivered.

Chris Honor stating he doesn’t think Cov played on the weekend. Nothing like research is there Chris?

The thing with loan players (and remember we’ve had a loan physio previously) is that you naturally (a) have to tread carefully and (b) defer to the parents judgement of the injury. It’s one reason why I’m not a fan of loans overall - the time out of the team is always going to be a touch higher as on a 50/50 call you, out of deference to the parent club, err on the side of caution. There may be nothing wrong in that long term but it is a fact that the judgement is not that of your medical team alone. And city may think he’s fine but if Burnley have any doubt - he’s not playing. (NB - he is clearly injured, this is more to say any period out is likely to be longer than if he was contracted)

Was planning to watch Yate Town go for a fifth win on the bounce (they’ve doubled their points tally over the last four games) tonight but stinking cold so flying to Amsterdam to watch City instead

It’s a bit difficult see us getting much out of this one considering Coventrys form, our current inability to create clear cut chances and as has been said, the come down post cup game which saw in part a poor Preston performance. This is one of a batch of four games we could really struggle in, and although not season defining (we’re safe and not going up), will define LMs start to his City tenure. I stand by that 4 points from the next 4 isn’t a bad haul (dependant on how they’re earnt stylistically in part) but that would be 20 points from 17 games, and coming in at around a goal a game currently. With season ticket sales likely around the corner I’m not sure that would convince waverers. It feels we’re coming to enough of a sample size to start judging where we are with LM being in charge for over 1/3 of the season after the next batch. Hoping for positive signs on a consistent basis, while noting it is in no way going to be easy.

Apparently they employed a special consultant on the rebrand:

And this is why I didn’t let you ref on Sunday.

Just had a bit of a look on the BS3live website. There is a heck of a lot of availability….

What is interesting on the O’Neills site is they have a few items that our store doesn’t seem to - don’t recall having seen this in stock for example…

Sorry! Done some work in commercial property previously so can’t help myself whenever this subject comes up!

Trouble looking for and badge I have in.