tin

The old Adomah song would work for Anis. “Anis, Anis Mehmeti runs down the wing for me” (to the Heartbeat tune).

And we weren’t fazed by playing in front a crowd of nearly 40k

Yes, Nahks!

Doubt it. We’ve been the better side against the form team in the division and been done by a bit of quality.

What a goal that is, to be fair

He wasn’t wrong, mind

I haven’t said there’s been any ranting and raving, and I don’t think we were under the cosh aside from a spell after the break. They made a triple sub at half time because we deserved our lead. They wasted time at every opportunity, and would’ve been delighted with a point IMO. It wasn’t up to recent (high) standards, no, but you get games like that several times a season. That’s a game we’d have lost in recent seasons and yet if Scott buries his free header or Mehmeti’s cross-shot curls in at the far post, we’d have won ugly. Fine margins.

I find the negativity a bit odd. Before Preston away, if I was offered seven points from nine I’d have jumped at it. Had we beaten Wigan last night, and drawn with Norwich or Preston, people would be happier. But the end result is exactly the same. I can also understand resting that trio ahead of what looks like our toughest test in a while at Sunderland.

The stewards were jobsworths as usual, but what’s the obsession with singing “I can’t read, I can’t write…” over and over again?

Mehmeti took his chance tonight. My word, I’m a big fan of twinkle toes already. He has to start at Sunderland. Cornick looked like he’s lacking match fitness and Weimann was wasted on the right IMO. Scott should’ve scored from his free header, Mehmeti was unlucky with his cross shot. Both of which hit the woodwork for those who weren’t there. Wigan were exactly what I thought they’d be — a tough nut to crack. They were organised and wasted time. I thought we zipped it around well at times, but struggled to break them down. Point was a fair result.

I’ve been saying this for weeks now. All the sides below them have games in hand as well. Is a 10-point buffer from the bottom three enough to survive with 14 games left? It’ll be bloody tight if they don’t improve sharpish.

Tammy was better, but Scott will go further IMO

Abysmal, as usual

I think it’ll be exactly that, possibly plus King for Williams depending on whether Williams can play three games in a week

On loan at Gloucester City last I heard

First home win over Norwich since Pinamonte scored the winner circa ‘99?

You do realise these “kids” would’ve probably got their degrees and passed their NCTJs? They will/should have had all the training they need to ask better questions than that. If they’re not up to it, there’s a huge number of candidates queuing up to replace them, often for free or a pittance. And from my experience, it’s highly unlikely you would give a work experience kid the microphone at a press conference unless they’d shown they could be trusted. If you ask stupid questions, you should be prepared for stupid answers IMO.

Two of the most important elements of being a journalist involve being able to actively listen, and having the ability to elicit answers out of people. Piercy is good at that, but the rest of them on our patch set a pretty low bar and these questions really scrape the barrel IMO.

Brighton makes a lot of sense IMO. They’re flush with cash, likely to sell Caicedo for another huge fee, their scouting is top drawer, and he’d be a natural replacement for Caicedo. The only way he stays beyond the summer is if he gets a long-term injury or we make a late charge for the play-offs and sneak up. If he continues his current form, surely offers start at £30m?

Thanks from Leopardstown. Keep them coming. You Reds!

58

A month ago, the nights were long and dark, confidence was low, injuries were rife, and uncertainty loomed over the January window. I still think, and thought at the time, that the reaction to WBA home defeat was massively over the top but it might have been needed for us to kick on. A few good results and performances followed, we’ve reduced the wage bill, got a decent fee for Antoine, and things look rosy again. It just goes to show the fine margins and how football is so fickle IMO. Onwards and upwards.

Ellis Simms, please

Great signing, this. He looks a proper baller and every inch the maverick Nige has been talking about.

I don’t think he’s ready for the PL and I very much doubt he will score the goals to keep AFCB up. He will need to drastically improve his first touch, learn to stay on side, and at least hit the target with half chances like the two he had against Blackburn if he’s to make it at that level. Big step up, but will he care of £50k pw? Doubt it.