robin_unreliant

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.

Or what it takes for Naismith to lose his place after gifting so many goals.

Nobody going to comment on the suggestion in the OP that we may soon be sitting second in the table? Seems a bit optimistic. More surprising though, is the fact that it hasn't been shot down immediately. Think there may be a bit of over-confidence on display. I guess it makes a nice change though.

Surprised to see Pope only cost £10m. That was a bit of a bargain imo. Maybe he didn't have long left on his contract? Good business by the Toon there.

If Nige truly picks the team based on performance then Naismith will get dropped. Don't think that will happen. So I am not sure this is totally the case.

I get the argument but what must his team mates feel about him gifting goals like that. Nige is big on players having to perform to win the shirt. For me it undermines that message when it stands out so obviously.

Is this a woosh or are you thinking Zak is wearing No 4??

Bored myself close to sleep watching the Test Match. Still can't get my head around the fact that it is ok to play bloody cricket but 'distespectful' to play football.

Whichever team is behind will inevitably 'go for it' in the llast quarter of the game. We would expect city to attack gung-ho if we were losing at that point. I think we notice it more partly because we have been in front so often, not really a bad thing.

No news is good news I feel. Don't want him to go personally and it seems unlikely now as we are so close to the deadline and there is nothing new being reported.

Sky showed it over a longer period on the coverage last week. We were miles clear at the top of the 'points lost' table. Nobody anywhere close.

Well said. I'm pleased we have a team that can play exciting attacking football again. I would've taken a point pre-game.

Aren't Atkinson, Naismith, Pring and Klose all naturally left-sided? I would think it was RCB where we need cover.

Who would've thought Tommy Conway would be the catalyst for a change in fortune. Him and Wells up front have changed the whole balance of the side. Long may it continue.

And what special inside kwowledge allows you to know this??

Well done Nige. Glad to get the first win, onwards and upwards.

We are our own worst enemies.

Fair enough. When I first signed up for sky I'm sure every midweek game was on the red button. Lockdown arrangements have obviously led to it changing but they don't exactly make it easy to understand what you will get before committing to a contract.

Nice of Sky to change the red button arrangement now I have signed up to a 12 month contract. ?

Palace was top of my list of clubs where I thought he might end up. I'm not as concerned about the fee, more what we do with it. We have got big fees before and wasted the money. Will NP get any of it and will be find a decent replacement?

I'm sure Zak was sorry to see COD leave. Now there's only him left as a scapegoat: no-one to share the load.

Steve hsd a 'vision' of a multi-sport complex which I think he said came to him when visiting Barcelona. So he is partway through creating an integated sports empire. Now he wants out, by the sound of it. Seems like his vision isn't very appealing to outside investors. I'm not sure he thought this one through. I would imagine he would've saved money and found it easier to sell if he'd just focused on building a football club and kept it simple.

He was better than I expected from previous games. As for your point, I'm sure he reached toward his pocket for a card then stopped when he realised he'd already booked him.

I'm not sure why anyone was expecting a big improvement when we have only signed free transfers from lower league clubs. Naismmith an exception and had a good season at this level last year but I think has largely played below championship hasn't he?