firstdivision

My point really was more about telling them to ‘eff off’. A logical and reasoned analysis is fine. So too is wanting them to leave, if that’s what you believe.

What makes me laugh is that no one was telling the Lansdowns to eff off after we drew at West Ham, or won at Watford to make three wins in a row. We lose at Preston and the toys come out. It’s pathetic and childish. And so is the abuse. I’d have far more respect for our keyboard-warrior supporters if they called for the Lansdowns to go after every win. Do you think @Davefevs (our most thoughtful and constructive poster) resorts to this sort of abuse? But fill your boots supporting abuse if that’s what makes you happy.

I’m sorry, this sort of abuse disgusts me. It is unnecessary and uncivilised.

TGH has to do better with that early chance (different game then) but it was a truly awful second half performance. No agression. Too many basic errors. No idea how we were trying to score. We couldn’t cope with a poor pitch and stubborn oppo whose changes at ht helped them grab the initiative.

I would suggest, Lew, that’s because you don’t understand the laws as they are currently written. But you’ll probably disagree with that as well.

I thought ref got both decisions just about right. (Could have been red for Cov defender.) Lee Hendrie’s analysis shows he doesn’t understand the laws as they are. Amateurish summariser. Even Nige thought ref was right on both - and he doesn’t tolerate refs easily.

I actually thought it was a penalty and a probably a red card (not yellow) under the current laws. He’s not in control of his body. He follows through high onto the right thigh area of the Leicester player. Doesn’t matter that he got the ball first. Fans don’t know the laws. They just decide their view on what they want the laws to be.

Oh, they’ll be tempted by that all right. The magic of the cup goes out the window when there’s a chance to show a Manchester United game.

Not me and four others. My daughter had a theory that the West Ham support was so subdued because it was full of City fans trying to be quiet.

The support looked fantastic from among the home fans. The equaliser was a tough moment of suppressed elation. Just had to sit back and purr at the clinical finish. Loads of grumbling from the home fans. Slightly disappointed we couldn’t quite find a winner. Great that we more than gave them a game though. Vyner, on the ball, was superb.

That’s the Championship though, oe. Not much between most of the teams.

Quiet please, Leveller. Best to let people use their own initiative. And not broadcast it for those who have.

One thing I've been wrestling with is why they didn't sack NP at the end of last season. That actually would have made more sense than doing it when they did if you believe, as I do, that they essentially wanted to get rid. The fan unrest would have been there but would have had no focal point - two months until the next game etc. The new man would have time to work with the players, and we could have recruited properly with the board presumably wanting to support a new manager. They sacked NP at the first relatively opportune moment anyway (after 5 defeats in 7). They must have known we wouldn't really be challenging for the top six. Of course, they wouldn't have appointed LM in the summer. Perhaps they had vague notions rather than clear plans.

I’ve long felt that deserved to win is one of the most overused and meaningless expressions in football. I’m sure you’ll agree that so is using possession stats to determine who should have won. Sunderland played some delightful football (I’d love to see us emulate them) but they didn’t do enough to draw this particular football match…for one very obvious reason.

That was a true Nigel Pearson-style battling performance. We’d have lost that game under Liam Manning.

Agree.

Ian is a good broadcaster/podcaster: good diction, nice turn of phrase, and articulate with a clearly argued point of view. He makes me laugh, not necessarily because he’s trying to be funny but because he’s so irascible and opinionated. He’s the best aspect of the podcast, even if you disagree with his opinions. I too would liked to have heard more of Ian discussing matters with Dave F.

We live in an instant social-media driven society that really has no basis in reality. The bloke has had SIX games. Of course he needs some time. Anyone would think we were any good before he took over (15th was it?). We’re just not that good. Everyone needs to calm down a bit. What do you actually want to happen? Would you prefer us to struggle just so you can be right? Life is far more nuanced than you suggest. NP irritated the hell out of me some of the time but I always wanted us to win and I wanted him to succeed. I think the board got the timing of his sacking hopelessly wrong. But I want Liam Manning to succeed because life is too short not to want to feel happy on a Saturday and Tuesday/Wednesday evening (after a win), not angry and bitter, and harking back to a marriage that’s not going to be revived. I’ve seen over fifty years of this club’s football and I can’t remember a more knee-jerk reaction to a new manager. It’s been far from perfect, and deeply frustrating at times. But we’ve been in every game and could have got something from all of them. If we lose nine in a row - like a previously successful manager incidentally - you can fill your boots if you want.

It was Revie. Clough was a one-off maverick. He told the Leeds players that they'd won their medals by cheating. Leeds had been very successful under Revie. Apart from just about all the details, yeah pretty similar.

My impression of the first half was that the players said ‘let’s go back to how we were playing before LM came in.’ Mind you, it was dire, which is kind of why the board made the change in the first place. We improved when we started to pass it. Eg lovely move down the right that ended with Knight’s shot saved by keeper to his left.

Harry, that post is far too rational and sensible for those who have already decided on their narrative.

Just continuing where NP left off. We lost 5 out 7 at the end of his time. We’re just not very good and we’re a few players short.

It’s not just Ipswich though, Silvio. Quite a few clubs are going for the younger coaching ‘guru’ type (eg, Swed and QPR. Indeed, Oxford to replace Manning). Brighton went down that route a while back. So too Swansea.

When was the last time we loaned out our joint-leading scorer to a L1 team?

I agree with most of this, Harry. Very disappointed we didn’t win today because we controlled the game (Huddersfield gave up trying to win it) but there was a lot to encourage us as well. Huddersfield could easily get relegated but few games are straightforward in this league. We need a 2/3 more players and to be more ruthless (in attack and defence).