KegCity

Don't mean to keep harping on about this but I don't get where this speculation about lots of championship clubs potentially being interested in our players has come from? Weimann and Baker ultimately chose to stay here on reduced wages at the end of last season and I would say they're two of the better players currently at the club. Assuming they didn't turn down higher wages elsewhere in the league to stay that suggests that there wasn't much interest in them from other championship clubs. If those two couldn't get a better deal elsewhere than reduced terms here, I don't see how many players in the squad can expect to do better? I genuinely believe we'll struggle to levy a fee for most of our deadwood, it'll be interesting to see if anyone other than HNM, Kalas, Wells or Bentley get approached in January. My hunch would be no but time will tell. I've said this elsewhere but the squad really is bang average and doesn't have one cohesive style of play that brings the team together. It's not a squad set up to press, it's not a squad set up to counter attack, it's not a squad set up to play long ball football, for me that's more important than personnel. I can't go into detail on Luton as I frankly don't know, but surely Lansbury, Jerome etc all suit a certain style of play?

I (and others) have been calling for it for years. Can go back through any of the big threads towards the end of the Holden era if you want an idea of how many people wanted one appointed. It would make a lot of sense. A long term appointment (feels like something Tinnion might end doing in the future) would hopefully give us better cohesion as a club if they could help bridge any gaps between the manager/playing staff and the board/Lansdown.

Sky said first Premier League hat trick during the broadcast. Doesn't help that pre 1992 football is barely discussed in the media so the Premier League era has just become the default era of football.

To find targets in the lower leagues that are affordable (Tanner etc) and to identify players that we'd look to bring in at a later date when there's more money available. Preparation and planning are never bad things.

Surprised you can see the football from all the way up there on your high horse.

In terms of style I think long-term he wants us to play a 4-2-3-1, which isn’t the best fit for the current squad. He persevered with it at the start of the season before switching to a back 3 (which the squad is set up for). Think that’s just a short-term fix to try and get some results on the board but who knows. You can’t really discuss this season without mentioning the legacy he inherited as it provides so much context for the state of affairs on the pitch. Yes managers have to make the best of it, yes we should be doing better at home, but ultimately too many of the squad just aren’t good enough. Can’t see many current players still being at the club at the end of next season. In terms of style of play I’m not sure if there’s one style we would suit as we have such a mix of players. Some suit pressing, some suit counterattacking, some suit a long ball. Again, this stems from the legacy NP inherited. That being said, the style of play and results of recent games have been terrible after some good performances early in the season. Feels like we’ve been here before doesn’t it? Some strange decision making from the dugout, the only explanation for Tanner’s substitution I can think of was to take him out of firing line as he’s been having a good season so far. I think he’s fine unless we’re touching the relegation zone, regardless of who’s in charge this is not an overnight fix and I can’t see anyone realistically available better to lead it other than Pearson. If we had any chance of getting him in I’d agree, but that’s not happening.

We had better depth, we also had Brownhill, Eliasson and others who we didn’t replace once they left. We’re left with signings who weren’t good enough, players who were once there for depth but are now relied upon and a couple genuinely class players. By no means is the squad awful but it’s a mid table team, which is where we are in the league.

Pearson certainly has to take responsibility, but this is a group of players who couldn’t perform for Lee Johnson after the collapse after the cup run, couldn’t perform for Holden and can’t perform for Pearson. They’ve certainly had moments of promise, but we’ve been collectively flat for a few years now. The coaches (both current and prior) should be doing better, but we’ve hardly got a squad of world beaters. With the exception of a handful, we wouldn’t be trying to sign many in the squad if they were at another club.

Agree. The more people join in, across the ground, the better. Doesn’t help that some people love a moan about the chants they don’t like, which then discourages other to sing. Had a guy in front of me (in the signing section mind) about the “I see the east end a-rising” chant, which then killed it off around him which then spread. If fans want an atmosphere they’ve got to do their bit in creating one. Doesn’t help that there’s nothing to sing about on the pitch.

Nail on head. You get S82 trying their best and a murmur at best from the rest of the crowd. Used to do pay on the day and by far and away the best atmosphere I experienced outside S82 was in the Atyeo when we opened it up against Derby and others. Completely get not everyone wants to be shouting for 90 minutes but if we were able to get more of an atmosphere going from the lansdown and dolman it would do wonders. Sadly in my view the atmosphere died with the East End. Would be nice to see the rail seating go across the whole stand and make it more of a “home end” as it was a decade ago. Not sure there’s enough demand for it though (or even if the club would want to).

Asking "Why did we let Paterson go?" is a very reactionary comment. Blew hot and cold his entire time here, certainly a match winner on his day, his day comes along twice a month tops. Don't really know what more you can ask from James, been available all season which nobody else can say and he's been very consistent keeping things ticking. The jury's still out for me on King, don't think he was brought in with the intention of playing as regularly as he has.

Of course, certainly wasn't trying to put him down. Just pointing out that we're not really getting a return on our investment currently. Whether that's down to Williams being injury prone, mismanagement from the medical staff, or simply bad luck we don't know (and it doesn't change the outcome anyway.) Agree with all of that Dave, like you say though keeping him fit is a big if, and based on the way it's gone so far it's looking less likely as problems keep reemerging. Again, I'm not trying to write him off but it's difficult to put him in contention to run our midfield when his legs seem to be made of prawn crackers. Undoubtedly he's a top player when fit, but if he's unreliable again this season then I'm not sure where he goes from here.

He's played a handful of games in a year and a half. Doesn't seem successful to me. That's not to write him off, but we've had very little returns from him so far.

I agree. Martin could do with a rest, I’d like to see Wells and Weimann up top together for a game or two. What’s the worst that can happen? We still don’t win at home?

Really? When he first arrived and was played through the middle he was picking up goals with absolutely no service. By no means tearing the league apart but was scoring regularly from half chances in the penalty area. I've not got an answer on how to get the best from him, but playing him regularly and in position seems to be a good start to me.

It’s all ifs and buts though. He’s had 3 different managers to find a system that suits him and none of them have been able to do it. The common denominator is COD. I don’t really know what his strengths are, aside from occasional flashes there’s not been a whole lot to shout about from his performances throughout his time here.

Was he not injured when he arrived? Been a terrible signing so far unfortunately.

He’s a waste of time. Has had more than enough opportunities to show quality and he more often than not fails to deliver. Wish he’d gone to Leeds.

We're in a much stronger position as a club now than we were when Pearson took over. Performances have improved massively, we no longer roll over and take a defeat and show some fight - all hypothetical but I doubt 12 months ago we'd have fought for 3 points like we did yesterday. Certainly a lot of work (and recruitment) to do to be a threat to the top 6 but we're on the up.

Don’t mean this to put him down, but he’s what we need: a competent championship forward. Knows exactly his role in the side, does it very well and performs consistently. Really can’t ask of any more from him.

I see both sides of it, for me it'd be nice to not get caught in the half time fight for a pint and then have to either down it or watch the first few minutes of the second half in the concourse. There will definitely be idiots throwing pints around when a goal goes in though. Ultimately, if you can drink in the stands at Rugby, Cricket and other sports then you should be able to at football. Yet another example of the harsh treatment football fans get from authorities in general.

Think he was on the touchline in the second half against Fulham to be fair.

He's just as useless when he's playing regularly. Still dining out on that goal v Norwich, going to have to step up his game massively if he's going to offer us anything past this season.

Martin needs a rest. For one it's hindering our performances but also could see him getting injured if he's run into the ground as he was last season. Bakinson also looks miles off the pace, was disappointed with him against Fulham. Think last night has been a good reminder of just how threadbare our squad is.

Massive improvement on Bakinson, who looked out of his depth. He’s got a some work to do to dislodge King from the lineup once both fully fit though.