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I don’t think the Gate will ever be a fortress. The board wanted a watered down, prawn sandwich atmosphere and that’s what they’ve got IMO. The atmosphere affects the players. Today it should’ve been bouncing after going 2-0 up and instead it was pretty passive as usual.

If he’s fit enough to be on the bench, he should be fit enough to play longer than the few minutes he did. If he’s not 90% fit, he shouldn’t be on the bench IMO.

I thought both Tanner and Sykes looked to be carrying knocks, which isn’t ideal when we have two more games in quick succession. Whoever made the subs chose to roll the dice and it backfired; it happens. I’d have like to have seen Conway earlier and alongside Wells, but we didn’t lose because of the strikers or the subs IMO. We gave away some shite goals and were lacking in quality and game management.

Meant to say, “we didn’t deserve to lose that…”

We deserved to lose that, but it’s so painfully clear we are bloody desperate for some real quality to make a tangible difference in games like these. When’s even a small portion of the nest egg going to be made available, Steve? You talk about PL but that will never happen if you don’t win games like that, and a bit of quality is the difference.

Some of the Scott money could’ve bought one or two players with a bit of finesse, mind.

No, it’s wasn’t the Robbie Savage; he never played for Bolton and didn’t make his debut until the mid-90s.

Thanks for sharing that, what an insightful watch. For me, how they approach things - from ticketing to atmosphere, succession planning to the boardroom and much more - is poles apart from how we do things. And it only reinforces my view that we will achieve nothing under the Lansdowns unless we are very lucky or they copy Brighton’s approach (not that I’m advocating copying anyone).

Just looked it up, I think that was in March 2000 - 23 years ago! I remember those big bastard dogs as well while also having a quiet drink out the front of the Ship that night!

I can vouch for it being cold up there as I recall freezing my nuts off when Tinnion scored from the halfway line many years ago. What a goal that was, mind. I’ve never had any time for Stoke. The LDV Final, bottles flying outside the Ship and Castle, scrapping before we lost up there under GJ. Horrible club in a hovel.

He’s worked hard with little reward, but I’ve never been convinced playing as the lone striker gets the best out of him. Put him alongside Conway again and he would be back on the goal trail. I doubt that’ll happen though as it’d involve reverting to three at the back in all probability.

Which was complete bullshit.

He’s just turned 17, Sleepy, and has plenty of scope for development to come both physically and technically. If SL had spent an iota of the Scott windfall, Yeboah probably wouldn’t have the chances he’s getting now but we are where we are and his raw effort can’t be questioned.

Another honest, hardworking shift from us, but the gulf in class is as wide as anything I’ve seen at this level. That’s what we get if we shop in the lower leagues, though - plenty of graft but we fall massively short in quality against the best teams.

That’s how I see it, too. We’re going up against a team with way more quality, compared to Plymouth, Swansea, Hull and West Brom, and we will have to be at our defensive best today to get anything. A proper test against a team of real PL quality, IMO, although I think today is a bit of a free hit as the pressure’s off us. It will be a good test to see what we’re made of.

Totally agree, and it wouldn’t have lasted five minutes on the East End. Millwall and Swansea look like idiots when they sing it, it’s embarrassing some of ours feel the need to copy them. There’s a reason no fans of the other 89 League clubs sing that. It’s Cringeworthy shite.

I was in E33 on Tuesday and the atmosphere was shit. If you’re being told that was a good atmosphere, when the loudest song in that section was that “I can’t read, I can’t write” rubbish, we’ve got problems IMO. I said at the time to @Spudgun, who I stood with on the East End for many years, that should we ever play the gas, I fear our support would be pretty dire if that’s the loudest song we’ve got.

Was just going to post the same. Saturday’s trip to Leicester won’t define our season, so if we get dicked it’s important to shrug it off. Their relegation was as much of an anomaly as their PL title triumph and they are already champions-elect IMO. We will need to be at our very best defensively to come away with anything, and that means no gaffes from Max, and Vyner and Naismith not allowing situations to arise where last-ditch defending is required. We will get punished if we’re as sloppy at the back as we were on Tuesday. I’d also take a point, if only to keep the unbeaten run going as Stoke are beatable next week.

• a reputable kit maker, eg Umbro • bring back the robin badge with suspension bridge • consign the splat to history • don’t let JL anywhere near the process, or anywhere that might allow him to get his crayons out

He’s very raw but bloody quick and I suspect he will be a real handful when he fills out in a few years.

I think Tanner’s developing nicely. He’s a solid RB who’s got the technique to offer more going forward with, as you said, a bit of confidence. My only concern is O’Leary, and there’s no back up for him. At least with Tanner there’s Gardner-Hickman and, in time, McCrorie.

Yeah, I get that, and they looked decent going forward. While I agree you can’t make seven changes at get away with it, you can’t defend like that. Shame we couldn’t catch up last night either, mate. Next time.

Agree. If they defend like they did last night, they will go straight back down. I thought they were abysmal. Whether that was down to us being close to our ruthless best, the seven changes they made, or somewhere in between, teams that defend as badly as them don’t last long at this level and they were all over the place at the back. Their keeper was dire as well.

Williams has impressed me so far this season, although I thought his levels dropped slightly last night. He looks more like the player who impressed while playing for Bolton and Wigan. Naismith and James are indispensable. James’ influence is vital and Naismith’s wand of a left foot is crucial to getting us on the front foot. The midfield three are gelling as a unit, but the lack of depth worries me if injuries and suspensions begin to bite and that boils down to SL. Pretty sure James and Williams are in the final year of their contracts. I’d be extending James right now if he’s keen. Jury’s out on Williams IMO, but he’s doing his case no harm.

Much like Swindon in my book. It’s their biggest game of the season when they play us, all while we view it as just another game. West Brom are closer to us than Argyle and that ain’t a derby! ?