Negan

For me now it’s top 10. If we can get 10th then I’ll see that as decent progress, however it needs to be bettered next season. The club (Jon and tins) have made a rod for their own backs with how they’ve handled things, if manning fails to get us in the mix next season, and by that I mean consistently in and around the play offs and not a bit of form at the end of the season to sneak in there, then it’s not him who needs to take a step down but the ones who made the decision. 

11 minutes ago, Bar BS3 said:

We have a decent little squad coming together, with the forward line strengthened in the summer & hopefully Williams & James (for another 12 months) retained, or upgraded - maybe already covered with Bird - we have/will have far better depth heading into next season - whatever comes of this season. 

Everywhere but goalkeeper and attackers. When I seen the line up today I knew none of the front 3 were scoring. They’ll be good as the back ups but definitely need a whole new front line for next season. 

Thought it was a matter of him being absolutely shattered more so than an injury. Maybe a bit of both but he’s got to be at the top of the list for distanced covered in the squad this season. Robert’s is very decent cover so we’ll be ok if he is out for a game or 2. 

I just want to see city in the prem and England win the World Cup or euros before I die. I’m 31 now so may have another 60 years in me, don’t fancy my chances of seeing either 

Has to be the most random signing ever  hasn’t played a great deal of games in Belgium either, haven’t even heard of the club we’ve signed him from! No clue if he’s any good so will be an interesting one. 

Looks as though it will just be bird, who we won’t have until next season, be a pretty rubbish window if that’s all we do tonight. 

3 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Derby have intimated consistently through the January window he is going nowhere this month, along with Cashin as they're going for promotion.

Might have said that so clubs knew they’d have to bid big to get him. Deadline day here now and knowing he’s going for free in the summer might have changed their minds. No good listening to what a manager says about players, all well and good him saying Bird won’t be sold but it’s not up to him. 

31 minutes ago, BCFCGav said:

Good Championship keeper that had a stinker. 

At what point does saying this get exhausting? He’s a number 2 at best. 

Well we never beat Leeds so let’s just forget about that already. Boro away tends to be a very good ground for us, southampton and cov… maybe a point. Don’t have much expectation for this so anything more than 2 points will be good

He’s an average keeper, but we’re an average side. We’ll never progress up the league with him in goal and it’s as simple as that. If the club are happy for us to be mid table then great. He needs replacing as number 1 though imo. Great back up option but had he been singed in the summer and not from our academy then he’d receive even more criticism. No problem with him seeing this season out as it’s pretty much done now, won’t go up or down but if we don’t bring in a new GK in the summer window then I’ll really question this clubs true ambitions. We need much better quality in goal and upfront, we aren’t far off challenging for top 6 but those 2 positions are where we lack serious quality. 

11 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Forgive my ignorance and reluctance to trawl a 25 page thread, but is the feeling that Twine is "the next one" that we moved onto after Azaz went to Boro?

Twine was wanted long before azaz was (summer 2023) and now a deal is possible again. Manning being here has helped with it whereas we most likely lost out to hull in the summer window

3 minutes ago, OliOTIB said:

Deal is done. He is at AG right now. 

Oli here with a tap in on the line 

He has his good games, today was one and he’s been in decent form as of late so it’s his shirt to lose at the moment. Imo though GK along with a striker is the 2 positions we need. 

It’ll be a summer event, arctic monkeys and take that last year so I’d imagine it’s a big artist performing. 

Honestly any point against Birmingham I’ll take. Them along with Leeds and Norwich tend to be hard for us no matter the form of us or them, just one of those teams. Sure Middlesbrough feel the same about us! 

15 hours ago, Antman said:

impressively stupid

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/67648122

Almost as stupid as us giving Norwich 1 million great British pounds for him. 

Pring has just been a bit hit and miss, wouldn’t say he’s been bad but he hasn’t been great either. Doesn’t really do much to lose his place but it’s surprising Robert’s hasn’t been given a run of games yet. As for Bell… don’t rate him at all. The top goal scorer comment is all well and good but every goal he’s scored this season you’d expect any forward player to put away regardless of being a youngster or not. He just doesn’t offer much for me during 90 minutes. Doesn’t beat his man ever, never takes people on, his pace is his biggest asset so I’ll give him credit when the right ball is played to him he usually either gets a decent ball across the goal or can carry it to get us forward, that’s just not enough though. However before every game when I’m choosing our team, can’t help but put Bell in there, he has zero competition as Mehmeti, albeit a somewhat good sub performance yesterday, has been extremely poor. 
 

I love that our academy produces talent but if I’m being brutally honest, O’Leary, Conway, Bell and Pring have all arguably been the worst performers this season. Pring I have confidence in, as I do with Conway but for me O’Leary and Bell need replacing in the team in January. Conway also needs better competition, Wells should do for this season but in the summer a striker needs to be top priority. 

I mean you don’t play as many games as he has under pep if you’re not any good mate  there’s a reason he isn’t at Stoke. 

I mean this is no different to a Pearson performance at the moment and wasn’t ever going to be any different. Very boring and scrappy with little quality but just feels like one of those games, 2 new coaches so you never know what you’re getting. Shame for manning really as the next 3 fixtures are extremely difficult, annoying we had to play QPR now with this being their managers first home game. Just have to see this out, point would be good. 

Just now, Selred said:

To be fair, Sheff Weds CB's are VERY quick.

Twice as strong as him as well. Think a lot of people forget Conway is an academy player still learning his trade. Has his good games but then goes missing for 3-5 as well. A striker is desperately needed either in Jan or the summer. Our attacking options are extremely poor. Can’t see any of Wells, Bell, Conway, Mehmeti, Weimann and Cornick getting double figures in the league. 

Christ I hope not 

Jesus…. These names are proper depressing 

Tbf to him, that chelsea side which won the champions league was all his. Tuchel did well to win it of course but think he’d of got them that trophy as well. He’s a pretty decent coach, just never deserved a job as big as Chelsea that soon, we all know why he got it. The Everton job would make anyone look average, manager graevyard ever since Moyes left. This is the sort of job he needs now. Security of a solid championship team who he can build with. Certainly puts us in the limelight more for players and coverage too. 

22 minutes ago, redpole said:

His assistant at Brum was Keith Downing

Absolutely comical. This is Dean Holden 2.0 

Probably paid Australia to drop out. Come 2034 they’ll most likely own most sport, sad really.