firstdivision

Pre-signing Cornick, what did you think of Luton’s Harry Cornick? I thought it was an odd signing. Didn’t think we needed him. Other priorities.But like with all signings, you think ‘ok, let’s hope this works out.’ And most fans don’t watch enough of another club’s games to have a clear opinion. You hope those who’ve brought him in know what they are doing. That’s their job. Fans have their jobs to concentrate on. I’d have preferred Ogbene. More money but cheapest is dearest in the end and all that.

My hunch is neither. Just that we had everyone fit (for once). If Mehmeti had been in the squad, we would have to have left out Wells or Weimann, I presume. The bench was balanced with lots of options. We won last week so that means an unchanged team in NP’s mind. Weimann scored the winner; Wells created it. I’d have left out Harry Cornick because I don’t think he’s made the impact we all hoped. But 19 into 18 doesn’t go.

I think that’s my feeling too. A bit too thin to challenge, although I think we’ve squandered some points. I think I was more interested in your response to my second point about a possible front three of Mehmeti (left) Conway and Bell (right). See my point about the signing of HC.

This is the discussion we were having a while back, Dave. Despite the financial issue, we still had good players. (Their wages were hampering us, yes - Kalas, Dasilva, Wells - and the injuries - Williams, Atkinson this season - and I know the financials limited us on recruitment but we still brought in Sykes and Atkinson who most feel have done well). NP has been fortunate to have some excellent young players coming through: Scott and Conway are the best two in my 50 years, and I’ve changed my mind about Bell this season. Plus we had Antoine for a while. (Still sad that’s he’s gone.) And when he went, we brought in two forwards. Anyway, let’s move on. Here’s my question: do you think we could play Mehmeti, Conway, Bell as our front three? Bell has the same engine as HC but looks to have a lot more speed and guile. I felt, and still feel, that HC was an unnecessary signing. We have options there. We needed to strengthen in midfield and defence. And if we were/are going to bring in a forward player, we need a different type - one with some height and strength for when we need to go to plan B (for want of a better phrase).

There’s a lot of good sense in this post. At times, it’s felt like a nearly season with some good performances but no points. But I still feel the squad was a little too thin to give it a real go. And when injuries arrived we looked a desperately ordinary side (at Luton and Swansea, for example). Also, play-off chasing teams don’t have Andy King at centre-back: the Stoke home defeat was one of the most dispiriting of the season (a game we should have won but for two gifts). I would argue that play-off chasing teams don’t have Andy King in them full stop but that’s just me.

He did.

But he brought in Cornick and Mehmeti in January. The signings will be in midfield and defence.

At West Ham, they had the sign ‘Managers’ Office’ on the manager’s door when Alan Pardew was there. Anyone concerned with the concept of attention to detail would have had that changed pdq.

I think it was but it was impossible to be definitive because of the camera angle and the sun/shade.

I think their goal is one of the softest I’ve seen us concede this season. Their centre back has it for quite a while before drilling the pass out. We had loads of time to become solid in formation. Pathetically soft. Embarrassing.

I’ve rarely seen a more ridiculous rating. Omar is a promising young lad, but he really struggled yesterday.

Do you mean by summoning up a biblical storm?

Some proposed law changes: players should immediately move ten yards away from a free-kick conceded. Punishment - five minutes in a sin bin for the closest player. GKs should be compelled to release the ball within six seconds. Punishment- ten minutes in a sin bin. Time wasting - ten minutes in a sin bin. The game has shown in can act to speed up the game and make it more attractive: eg back-pass law, tackling from behind, pro-foul law, three points for a win.

Yes, it is very interesting. Well worth a read.

Did you know, Percy, that some pros refer to players as ‘dogs’, as in ‘he’s a dog in midfield’? Meaning, he runs around a lot, gives you no peace, always at your heels. It’s not a term of abuse. Thought you’d like to know. But please rant on. It’s your absolute right to call most of our support either ‘dweebs’ or know nothings.

You’re living up to your forum name with that post, DP. It’s absolutely not right for people to abuse HC. But it’s perfectly understandable that people are watching on and thinking, ‘Mmm, hold on a minute. What have we here?’ My main observation about HC is more about why we bought him. I'm not sure we needed him. Also, his signing would seem to preclude the signing of the type of striker we do need - someone with some height and physical presence for those different sort of afternoons in the Championship where we have to bomb the box a bit. We have so many forward players that it's not obvious we'll go for another in the summer. I’m very much looking forward, though, to HC banging in a couple at the Vetch (old money, I know) on Sunday.

I really like my dog.

I don't think our fans like a scapegoat at all. I believe what happens is that plenty of individuals see the same thing and have the outlets to point it out. Thus, it looks like a pile-on but lots have come to the same conclusion by using their skills of observation. And I suppose supporters are a bit concerned because they think things like 'have I got to pay money to watch this bloke run around like my dog for the next three years?' Or 'why did we need a player who's similar to what we have?' Or 'could we have done with a forward player who offers something different, like a physical threat?' Or 'Why did we sign a forward when we needed a midfield player or a defender?' Or 'did we pay money for a bloke who can't seem to control the ball and pass it someone in a shirt of the same colour?' Of course, posters can restrain themselves and think, 'let's give him a chance. He might not be as bad as he's looks for a variety of reasons.' And they probably should. But most people think, 'I'm not not living in North Korea, I'll give my opinion.' He looks like a scapegoat but it's just lots of supporters seeing the same thing and having the medium to express their opinion. As you say, it doesn't help HC. What's the solution, Percy? There isn't an obvious one. Life is brutal. So is the Championship: the Luton fans serenaded our players with a sustained and loud chorus of 'you're ****ing s***, you're ****ing s***' last night as they trooped off the pitch. Let's hope, as NP claimed when he signed him, 'we can improve him.'

Yes, I’ve heard this story but as BCFC Dan says the club appeared to have denied it. It’s not clear if it’s true or not.

Doesn’t that smack of double standards. We’re allowed to run down a player’s contract but woe betide him if he runs it down. Don’t see how he would be blocking a young player’s pathway when we play 34yo Andy King instead of a young player. James was injured last night but we still didn’t bring on a young lad.

I agree too. But here's a question for anyone really. Dasilva is out of contract in the summer (and probably leaving) but is playing/part of the squad. Massengo is out of contract in the summer, but was basically frozen out. He's now on loan when anyone with half a wit could see we might easily find ourselves short in midfield. Couldn't we have been more pragmatic? We gave Massengo a four-year contract. Get four years worth out of him at least.

I think we need one, but I don’t see it being a priority. We already have so many forward options (Wells, Conway, Bell, Cornick, plus Weimann, Mehmeti and Sykes if we’re playing a 4-3-3). I just don’t get the Cornick signing. Even more so after seeing him play.

Apart from in nearly all of the 133 league games he’s started for us.

When Cornick signed, NP said ‘we can improve him.’ I damn well hope so.

She’s a professional broadcaster who is a morning presenter on a national radio station. She was also a key part of ITV’s presentation team at the World Cup (where I thought she was excellent. And I’m not easily impressed) At the actual World Cup - you know, the biggest football tournament in the world. And her job is to present, hold the show together, elicit opinions from the pundits, take constant talk-back from the producer, make the programme flow if anything goes wrong. Very different skills from kicking a football.