Dr Balls

Brownhill tiring was a large part of what went wrong at the end against Reading, plus going to 4-4-2 from 4-1-4-1, adding extra work for those left in midfield against fresh substitutes. He needed replacing on both occasions st about 70 minutes but that didn't happen with the consequences of conceding late goals. I am trying hard not to blame Brownhill himself because I think there is a potentially good player if he can progress appropriately and cuts out the silly mistakes like the back heel against Cardiff. I just don't think he can do 90 minutes at this level yet & LJ should also have realised that. Considering how many midfielders we have you would hope that we had a replacement somewhere on the bench who could come on earlier than after the opposition have already scored the winning goal. We have to be able to play to 90 minutes. Until then we are risk of conceding late and losing by a single goal. And all compounded by the lack of confidence engendered by doing it again & again in the last 2-3 months.

We actually pressed really well for 70 mins against Reading then Bryan & Brownhill got knackered so LJ replaced them with..... Wilbraham! LJ also talked about getting a Cisse equivalent. I thought that was Hegeler but no, he gets put in as a centre back in a 3-5-2. There are major defensive issues to sort out. I actually like Goulbourne at left back but I know that view isn't necessarily held by LJ. Selling Ayling is looking like more & more of a significant mistake in hindsight. Not perfect but not as injury prone as Matthews & a way better player than Little at right back. Flint's confidence looks shot but at least Wright looks good although I am not sure yet if he is much better than Derrick Williams. And we need a new goalkeeper. Frankie comes across as a nice bloke, a good shot stopper but he doesn't command his area. I still think RO'D has been undermined this season because he was a very large part of our upturn last season, but he has been punished for mistakes this season, when others have been forgiven & given more chances.

If SL wants to look a prize fool, then the thought of us going down having spent many millions, while the "Sags" potentially leapfrog us when the "fake sheik" has paid out next to nothing, should keep him awake at night & bring him out in a cold sweat.