Midlands Robin

I wonder if that has anything to do with a certain David Brent tribute act no longer being around?

With Shrewsbury looking like that decision to force Cotts out was a really clever one and if Cotts could keep FGR up, that would make for an interesting fixture next season.

For those who say we should just judge Liam on the here and now and forget the past, they are correct but to some extent looking back can't be helped. Imagine if you were going to watch a bang average film. One that you'd not heard anything about in advance but you knew a few of the people in it and thought you'd give it a go. After watching it you'd form an opinion of the film, there'd be bits you enjoyed, bits you didn't and you'd give your opinion to others on what it was like. Now imagine the same film but you're watching it because you've been told how great it is and that it should be recognised as a brilliant bit of work and that you'll really enjoy it. The film is still the same bang average film as it was before and there will still be bits you'll enjoy and bits you don't but your expectations have now been increased by someone telling you that it's better than it actually is. That's exactly the problem we have with the Nige / Liam situation. Even though 90 percent of us knew that the board were talking out of their collective backsides, its still expectation management at its worse. On another note, if you look at some of the clubs that Nige has managed for a decent spell, in the first full season following his sackings at Hull (12/13 season), Leicester (15/16 season) and OH Leuven (20/21 season), all three clubs were promoted or won their league. It seems like Nige is great at setting clubs up but not so great at getting them over the line. We've got 10 days of the transfer window to go and aprart from brining in Twine on loan and nailing down TGH (who would have been here until the summer anyway), our first team transfer business has been slow so far. I have a feeling it will remain so with maybe 1 more coming in but no big cash signings until the summer. This season has already been parked at board level and they a) know that and b) don't give a flying fig. The big step forward will come in July and then, starting in the 24/25 season we will really be able to properly judge Liam on what we see on the pitch.

The best example of this that would match what we would like is Villa Park. It proves it can be done. Originally, Away fans were sat in the North Stand behind the goal but in 07/08 they were moved into the Doug Ellis stand. To do that they walled off the right hand end of the stand so that away fans sit in the upper and lower tiers. Its a bloody awful experience. I can't talk about the lower tier because I haven't been in there but the last time I watched City from the upper tier, the view was crap, the service is shit because there is only one counter to serve the away fans and the concourse is quite tight for that many people. The wall between the away end and the remainder of the Ellis stand has fire doors in it but these are controlled by stewards.

Good bit of business. Can't help but think we got the deal done now just in case he continued to do well and the Baggies wanted him back.

Great player and scored some cracking goals. Always worked hard on and off the pitch. He'll always be regarded as a good signing for us. Wish him all the best for the future.

I certainly agree with the OP regarding transfers and the need to give the club a lift. We've got 19 days of the the January transfer window left. We need quality up front and as fans we need a lift.

While I see your point, the big difference the following season was that Osman had cleared out what he saw as any remaining challenge to his managerial authority and, with almost zero transfer money he went on to sign a handful of utter shite to join the utter shite he'd already signed. At least this time Manning will have more funds.

Exactly this. It must have been clear to Lowe that we weren't doing much up front and he could go more direct and attack without trying to sit too deep and defend. They played with less fear in the second half and that was that.

That was shocking at the back but make no mistake, the main problem is that we are so powder puff at the other end of the pitch. The mistake that led to the Preston goal would be far less of an issue if we were two or three up. I've seen more power in a gnats fart than in some of our shots at goal today. We need quality up front to win games like this.

We're defo the better side in the first half but we really don't have that killer finish and a lot of our balls into the box have been poor making it too easy for a bang average side to mop up out attacks. Preston don't look like much going forward but I'm concerned that we are giving their wide players too much time and space. Our back three stay narrow and no one seems to want to go out and press the Preston players allowing them to pick out a cross without pressure.

Got my match tickets. My journey to the Bescot will be very green given the distance

It's a tidy little ground with decent transport links and parking. It can take an age to get served in the ground if you want a half time pie and a bovril though. There are some reasonable pubs if you fancy a pre-match drink in Walsall town centre which is about a 15-20 minute walk from the stadium. There's not a lot around the stadium itself except a McDonalds.

The Bescot is 20 minutes drive from where I live so I've been looking forward to this one since the fixtures came out. Hoping to get 4 tickets for the family.

Only got back home in time to watch the second half but we looked good for our draw. Great performance all round. In the pot on Monday and we stand a good chance of taking this back at the Gate. Lovely.

Great goal by Tommy. Did anyone end up 7 rows forward?

Well that says all we need to know then

To be fair, getting to play at least 1 season in the Premier League is difficult, just ask any of the 51 clubs that have played in it over the last 30 years.

Jonathan Pearce is great. I know he's a bit marmite to some but there aren't many distinctive voices left in the comm box these days who can put a bit of life into a dull game. Long may he continue.

Mine were some crappy Gola boots but I was so shit at football it wouldn't have made any difference anyway.

They've got Aspall's cider on tap which isn't a bad drop so it could be worse. It could be Strongbow. Every cloud and all that....

This thread has raised the memory in my head of that awful Gold, Blue and White striped monstrosity we had for the 2000 Auto Van LDV Paint Pot Final against Stoke.

Great final. Realy enjoyed that. Humphries has been brilliant the last few months. I wonder how long he can keep playing at that level?

There's some wonderfully rose tinted glasses being worn here. Are you telling me some of the absolute bollocks served up under Russell Osman in the mid 90's with players like Colin Loss, Henry McKop and Rodney McAree should now be seen as some sort of footballing nirvana? I don't think so. I've sat through some go awful shite over the years regardless of the era

I caught the second half of the coverage on Radio 5 and it was very noticable that despite Cotts being at the game there was very little chat about our game. I could tell it wasn't a great game just by that but when they did refer back to us and the words "abysmal" "dire" and "awful" were used it couldn't have been any clearer. Not a great couple of games after the high of Watford on Boxing Day