firstdivision

No. Not really. I find it easy to be open minded. It was just that I got up at 5am for work this morning and there was a lot to read.

Exhausting.

You do realise there is far too much common sense and logic in this post.

I’ve literally no idea what you’re talking about, Graham.

Quite right too. He’s still cleaning up the mess created by the Visigoths in the 4th century.

‘So the excuse of poor inheritance is being used too often to given NP an excuse.’ Bingo.

The art of effective communication, Dave, is that your message is clear. There was enough ambiguity in what he said for supporters to infer he was having a bit of a go. For all his ‘blame me’ rhetoric, he hates being criticised. He always wants to jab back because he is naturally spikey. It’s starting to feel like the last days of Rome. Dreadful performance, admittedly against a decent side: poor team and squad selection, odd substitutions and two more mistakes leading to goals, one of them basic. If O’Leary had come for the through ball, he could have a post-Christmas G&T and still got there.

Totally. That was my point. There was an air of contrition about proceedings, the need to get the fans back onside.

I thought one of the most interesting aspects of the press conference (and there was a lot in there) was that he was prepared to engage. He was much friendlier in his approach - less tough guy - almost as if he realised that he needed to play the ball not the man, by which I mean speak to the fans, not try to belittle the questioner. It’s basic media management, which he too often struggles to adhere to because he a) has low tolerance levels b) gets too frustrated or c) is too stubborn.

Fans should watch the interview - mainly after the Radio Bristol interview bit. I accessed it through Twitter. It’s on YouTube. NP was in a mood to engage. One of those days when you could ask him almost anything without him biting off the head of the person asking the question. Loads in there. Eg Atkinson back in contention for Boxing Day. Rangers haven’t made a bid for Semenyo. Six or seven offered new deals. We clearly want to trade in January. Also addressed the growing fans’ discontent with him (although I would have liked to see Richard Forrester delve a bit more here because he was in the mood to answer.) Anyway, 25 minutes of it. Have a go for yourselves.

I agree. The Sykes recruitment was a puzzle when we had enough cover there and not much cash. Surely we had other priorities. I’m not sure he’s that good either. I wouldn’t have renewed Andy King’s contract and probably not Klose’s. Is Klose’s new contract one or two years, Dave? I seem to remember there is an option for an extra year. I hope not (unless the club has it, not the player).

‘Pearson loves talking about trust. He might be able to trust King as a person but he can’t trust him to defend a high ball, that much is evident.’ One of the best comments I have read on here following NP’s interview. Looking forward to seeing NP trust King under Millwall’s high-ball barrage on 29 Dec.

Yes, Dave. He was as bad as the two goals we conceded. I saw your thread defending Andy King’s selection as a back-three defender. I said last week to a friend that sooner or later that selection was going to cost us. Sooner, obvs. Where is Rob Atkinson? You said he might be ill. My hunch is that he’s still paying off his debt for Lincoln. With a largely fully-fit squad, we can afford to keep selection simple.

Poor game. Until the 88th minute, Stoke had two chances, both gifted to them by a bloke who is not a central defender. Meanwhile, we have a perfectly good central defender not in the 18. I don’t understand it. Unless someone tells me Rob Atkinson is, for some reason, unavailable. He seems to have been out of favour since the Lincoln game despite doing well for us generally. Seem familiar? See Cam Pring. Who surprise surprise is not doing too badly now he’s in the team. And how does Chris Martin make the 18 when we have Semenyo and Bell to come on?

Southend 0 City 2 in a L1 promotion season in the late 90s on the day England drew in Italy to qualify for the World Cup. That’s my best guess.

Iran remind me of us playing at Birmingham.

San Bell always looked tentative to me in the first team. He’s lacked conviction. There was another classic example at Boro where he had the chance to play in Wells or drive on in the box and have a shot. It was one of our few dangerous attacking moves in the second half. He under hit his forward pass and we lost a great attacking position. But he also showed a beautiful touch when he killed a high ball on the left touchline. He was then cynically fouled as he ran towards the box. (We, inevitably, made absolutely nothing of the free kick.) That moment showed he, perhaps, does have what it takes. I hope he can find some belief when he steps up. To me, he’s not looked ready. But youngsters can make big leaps in a short space of time.

1 Pearson goes. 2 Find someone who can inspire and organise. 3 Move on from something that hasn’t worked before it’s too late. 4 Don’t grimly accept the lot circumstances have handed you. The other side of the argument to consider - just for balance. Stick or twist? I’m not entirely sure there is a clear right answer at the moment. Perhaps we literally can’t afford to change. If so, that’s an uncomfortable position to be in. Change always has to be an option. 1 Pearson goes. 2 Find someone who can inspire and organise. 3 Move on from something that hasn’t worked before it’s too late. 4 Don’t grimly accept the lot circumstances have handed you. The other side of the argument to consider - just for balance. Stick or twist? I’m not entirely sure there is a clear right answer at the moment. Perhaps we literally can’t afford to change. If so, that’s an uncomfortable position to be in. Change always has to be an option.

Yes, a team that has three over-the-hill old men and two not-ready youngsters is likely to find it difficult against a competent, well-organised team. I saw the side last night and thought that midfield two looks very thin. Plus Antoine looks out of form/short of confidence. Daft to play him as wing back on Saturday.

Only Scott and Conway (eg that goal at Millwall) have looked anything like ready when we’ve played the academy youngsters in the last couple of years. I say ‘only’ - they are excellent young players. But playing in the first team clearly doesn’t make you a first-team player.

You’re right. I’m wrong. ??

It’s not even right, sadly. ??

Ha. Good point. Tonight’s performance has addled my brain.

Some good news: we won’t be in the bottom three for the World Cup break. Wigan play Blackpool on Saturday.

Glorious hat trick tonight of defensive incompetence: not closing down, defender robbed, set piece. Sums up the last two years.