Dr Balls

That’s optimistic, given he’s missed the international break!

Only if they are quicker than the Jonny Wilkinson / Owen Farrell kicking routines…

Not sure how easy it is to fix a nameplate to a revolving door!

The player that Naismith most reminds me of is Ruud Krol from that golden period of Dutch “Total Football” (although obviously not quite as good as him). He usually played at left back in a back 4 or as a sweeper. The thing to understand as a team is who covers in behind when this type of player is the last man at the back and then comes forward. All of our centre backs (including Klose and Kalas) are footballers who are capable of taking the ball upfield, going past opposition players and playing a decent pass or even cross, which is core to how Pearson wants us to play. It’s very similar to Wilder’s Sheffield United team and formation from a few years ago and our very own “League 1 Galaticos” under Cotterill. We just need to cut down the individual defensive errors.

Took Reading apart. Also some really canny acquisitions over the summer in the 2 goalscorers last night, Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke, who were picked up from Man City and Tottenham respectively, where their careers had completely stalled but are now a bit older (early 20s) and certainly more than capable at this level. With Tony Mowbray in charge I actually think they are better off than with Alex Neil, so wouldn’t bet against them making the playoffs.

And in his head sometimes thinks he’s Frank Worthington! And yes going to see us play this season has been a pleasure, something to anticipate. And goals, goals, goals, although being picky of course if we could have few less against that would be even better!

And defeat at home against Brum. So far from happy Baggies right now and Bruce in the firing line!

The difference for Naismith is that he is playing as the last man and so just like when the goalie makes a mistake, when he slips up a goal is much more likely. There is little more fit error. Harsh but that is the risky downside to the way he is playing. In some games it’s not costing us, but in both the Sunderland defeat and tonight’s match the results have hinged on goals that he has given away.

It’s his lack of experience as a centre back that’s why he doesn’t yet appreciate when it’s the right time to just stick it into row Z.

I don’t disagree but the better defender taking on this role knows when to risk it and when not. At the moment I don’t think he has that quite right, doesn’t appreciate the risks, and he quickly needs to find that balance. He’s not Beckenbauer or Maldini and opposition teams will rightly target him as a potential weak link, which will continue to cost us goals.

Nsismith may be nominally played as a central back but he’s clearly not a defender and doesn’t think like a defender (yet?) which is why he keeps giving away these sloppy goals. Either he has to move out to the left and Atkinson come central or we need to work out another way to cover behind him so that he’s not the last man. Someone earlier suggested that we were playing like Brazil. That always feels like an exaggeration but there are similarities with the 1982 Brazil - brilliant going forward from all over the pitch but not great at the back, always liable to concede goals and ultimately won nothing. Football fans still love Zico, Socrates, Eder, Falcao, Junior but the game they are most remembered for is the one they lost to Italy. Brilliant players, wonderful team but still losers. It may sound harsh but it would be such a waste if a City team playing this well going forward doesn’t achieve anything tangible this season, which is the risk if we don’t cut out the mistakes at the back.

Even more ridiculous when you consider that 20,000+ Geordies are still going on their mass organised run tomorrow: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/62809442 And particularly baffling as many on the Great North Run will be running for charity, including McMillan.

Yes but rugger is a gentleman’s game and they can be respectful whereas “soccer” is for oiks with no manners or breeding!

I would have been very willing to show my respect to the Queen and the Royal Family for their loss along with 20,000 others at Ashton Gate tomorrow, with a 1-2 minute silence at the start of the game, just as I would for others who have died or lost relatives. Now with the way the fixtures are organised, that’s not going to happen at AG for us at all, so I am not sure what purpose postponing all football fixtures for the weekend has achieved, especially when other sports are still going ahead. The problem is that there is a very vocal minority, including certain press publications, that would suggest that playing football at a time of “national mourning” was unpatriotic. And they would love to call out certain groups for their behaviour during this time, which is what makes football in general an easy target, because it’s thought that football fans won’t be “respectful enough”. It’s a load of ballcocks but I can understand the nervousness of the FA, EPL & EFL of being called out on this.

Or they wear the number 9 or number 10 shirt, but don’t play in the usual positions for a 9 or 10. How about really messing with teams heads and numbering from the front to the back so the goalie becomes number 11, while 9 and 10 are both defenders? Then everybody could be “false” Although these days with squad numbers it doesn’t matter anyway. Weimann is always 14, so he must be a false 10?! Or more subversive still use letters instead of numbers. Both Bristol and Leicester rugby teams used to do this back in the day, but went in completely opposite directions in terms of the lettering and which position was a particular letter!

From Club World Champions to sacked in under 12 months. Kind of sums PL ownership short term thinking…

If the Premier League had any sense they would consider how video technology works in other sports and why it seems to work there. In rugby, it’s up to the referee to ask the video ref to raise specific questions to be answered I.e. was their a foul or foot in touch leading up to the try? So rather than millimetre decisions about offside, it’s up to the referee on the field to ask for a review. In cricket, there is the appeal process, as well as umpires asking for a decision on tight run our calls, but most of the time the umpires (usually ex-players) get the decisions correct. Alternatively VAR could be used only for “clear and obvious errors” as originally sold. The problem is that some of the refs overseeing VAR (e.g. Lee Mason) are ones who just love interfering with the game and that’s when it starts going wrong.

@DavefevsAm I reading this correctly? Are Atkinson and Vyner having more defensive duels than Naismith or is it that they are just better at them? My “coasting” comment was tongue in cheek to a degree but is Naismith really playing as a sweeper in a back 3 where the other 2 do most of the actual defending and tackling? Hence is that the reason why they pick up more yellow cards on the basis of more tackles equals more opportunities to be carded if one is mistimed etc?

Maybe it’s just the way he’s being asked to play or how he wants to play but everyone around him is picking up yellows but not him. To me that just suggests he’s leaving the defending and tackling to others, who are then picking up cards while he does his own thing.

We are now playing to his strengths. Balls for him to run onto. 2 willing runners up front in Conway and Weimann. It’s the change in our play that has helped him to do what he’s best at.

The thing I take from this is that Naismith isn’t doing the hard yards as a central defender. Both Atkinson and Vyner are on two yellows, while Williams, Scott and James have picked up a few yellows but Naismith hasn’t had one yet. Coasting?!

I always liked the “All Black”away strip that we had for the 2007-8 season. Good memories and there is something quite threatening about being any good and playing all in black.

If the economics for Championship clubs were challenging before they are going to be much worse by next summer. Increased energy prices, probably decreased season ticket sales as less people can afford them etc. It’s not like the PL with its enormous TV deals.

The only question is whether or not it’s sustainable. When the cost-of-living crisis really hits, how many will cancel their subscriptions? That and pubs going to the wall…

Hopefully Blackburn will sell Brereton-Diaz today. That would make them considerably less “clinical” as last season proved, when they slumped with him out injured.