robin_unreliant

Of course, you are absolutely right. Mabe I should have used 'convinced'. I don't know - it is just my take on it.

I'm no fan of MA. However, I am sure the model he followed was set by SL. Sell players at the top of their value. Re-invest in cheap, young replacements with the potential to grow their value significantly. You don't have to be a genius to see the parallel with Steve's approach to the stock market. MA wasted it on poor choice of player but my firm conviction is that the failed strategy was SL's idea.

England fail to qualify from their group and prove this is in fact true. France win the cup.

Hope so, I've put a few quid on at 8/1. I believe Southgate has stayed on too long and we are about to see the result.

I don't see any mystery in why other clubs have done more with less. It is very simple. Whenever journos ask NP how we can solve our problems on the pitch his answer is get better players. Recruitment - that is where BCFC has repeatedly wasted its money. SC and Birt recruited brilliantly well for L1 and SC had a few players he wanted that we know turned out as quality at Championship level (Gray and Maguire) but SL refused to back him. We have failed miserably with recruitment and SL gave money to people who were inept at spending it. I have a feeling NP would do better on this given chance but I am beginning to feel he will be gone before the financials allow us to spend anything.

Looking ominous

Here we go. Floodgates gonna open second half.

Totally baffled by that team. Hope it turns out to be NP genius but I'm confused.

I was hoping Atkinson would be back.

Thought the defence looked more solid than usual despite the changes. I really don't get why NP doesn't play Pring more often.

Naismith is a factor, when did James come back into midfield? He's solid but I always feel he slows us down in terms of the pace we are playing at, which NP was saying is a key part of the problem.

This stick with a winning side theory is out-dated. We can't maintain the energy levels - Nige needs to freshen it up but he's too set in his ways.

Great win. WBA were pretty poor going forward though. Not what you normally see from them up there.

A few weeks ago the main worry on here was Leicester taking Nige off us. Talk of getting rid now is as ridiculous as that was then. Get a grip folks.

Is he working ten years notice then?

Wonder if the impending crash in the housing market will affect the price SL gets for the land? I presume he will get enough for the finaces to work still.

I do think JD has been a massive disappointment when you look at the fee we paid and the fact he came from Chelsea and was an England U21 player. He really looks bang average compared to some of the left backs we have had, even at L1 level.

Just shows how much difference Alex Scott makes to midfield.

He was gonna be our saviour once he was fit, according to some. Seen nothing much from him myself this season. Another one who's twice as good when he's injured.

I'm trying to decide whether to bother trying the Sky Sports app via VPN on my Android phone as am in the canaries. It works but the app just constantly freezing and buffering when I tried watching games on the weekend. Wifi is fine for everything else. Considering the cost Sky is a crap service unless you watch on a sky box.

I can see if you were colour-blind it would be tricky. Otherwise you'd have to be watching in black and white to have any issue with it imo.

Our opener at the WC is against Iran, who beat Uruguay last night. Might be worth a bet on them. I'm expecting at least one Iceland moment and Southgate to go after we don't qualify.

Stale is exactly right. I'm expecting an embarrassing WC and Southgate to walk. His employers don't have the balls to fire him.

Didn't forget Martin. I think we are a weaker team if he plays. He is too slow to play the high press we have adopted. In fact CM as cover illustrates the point imo. You can't really say we have cover at CB when Kalas is fit. He has yet to play this season and we don't know yet when he will. I still feel, as things stand, a couple of key injuries could result in a fairly big drop in the team performance level.

Therein lies our problem. Two or three injuries to key players could leave us looking a much weaker team. Hardly any cover at CB already and really only Semenyo up front who isn't starting.