tin

• 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! ?

I’ve been down to Home Park twice on a Tuesday before and both times we sold out our (smaller) allocations.

Excellent post. Rather than leaving a legacy, I’ve long suspected SL prefers the idea of being the richest man in the graveyard.

Sean definitely went to Gordano; I played in the same Sunday team as him about 15 years ago. I think JL went to QEH or BGS.

A lot of truth in that. And to add, the only executive he did give freedom to recklessly racked up costs without a care in the world. We share the same opinion on him!

Not from me, Rob. I was under no illusions as to the job NP faced. Like my opinion or not, I’ve been consistent in wanting the Lansdowns out for many years now. While grateful for the infrastructure, we will never achieve anything with them at the helm. And by anything, my aspiration is to see us in the PL before I die. 31, nearly 32, years of support and waiting.

Pisses me right off that finally things are moving in right direction on the pitch, but off the pitch it’s a complete and utter shambles. Lansdowns out.

I didn’t warm to PA but I suspect this is another damning indictment of SL’s reign. The sooner he goes, the better

Two Bears players (Luatua and Vui) played for Samoa yesterday

Class challenge, definitely; certain goal? I’m not so sure. Thomas-Asante is hardly prolific or proven at this level..

Two things from me: 1) He worked the keeper into a reaction save, so it was a decent save IMO. Had he failed to test the keeper, he’d be more deserving of the pelters he’s getting now. 2) And this is the bigger point, the game should’ve been sewn up by half-time had we taken any of the previous chances we passed up.

Definite technicalities, but we were chasing Bryan in May and he would’ve commanded top dollar so the budget - supposedly set in March - was obviously there for him and Roberts. My question is why weren’t those funds used to add one or two more before deadline day, especially if the cash was there for Bryan (and to a lesser extent Thomason and Murphy). That says to me the goal posts were moved and this strict March budget is a load of retrospective shite made up to fit the narrative IMO.

Well, I didn’t know the deal for Roberts was all done and dusted as soon as the window opened as I thought we were chasing Bryan at that time and Roberts was Plan B. Clearly the budget was there to sign both of them, which flies in the face of this strict March budget.

I saw the peloton three times that day after riding down to Cheddar and seeing them go up the Gorge, then over to LA and watching fly past opposite the Miners’, then I dashed over to the Downs to see them roll in. A really enjoyable, and much colder, day. Alaphillipe won the stage that day after breaking away on Providence.

And surely if SL had a manager who achieved those goals, he’d be keen to praise those achievements and secure his long-term future… ?

He’s hardly speaking with clarity, is he? It’s a massive contradiction or move of the goalposts; call it what you will.

I can’t see Howe leaving Newcastle any time soon, and can Potter command the respect of the very best players? He’s got a lot to prove and I’m not so sure.

I’m in the “we will win nothing with Southgate” camp as he’s tactically naive and too loyal to certain players. I don’t know who would do a better job, mind.

Nepotism, just like Tinnion, Millen and LJ before Holden. More jobs for the boys or those he can manipulate without them speaking up. I think it all stems from that trip to FCB, personally. SL has tried to copy that model as much as he can, but the major difference is that FCB’s players who go on to manage them have experience at the very top level and know what it takes to win. The same can’t be said by our internal apportionments.