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Awful shot from an ‘opener’ facing the third ball off the spinner. Not for the first time in his Test career, he looks mentally shot.

It did but I’d also say both of them had run themselves into the ground and were flagging, added to fact Wells was on a booking and the officials were at risk of losing control of the game. That Conway interview is a joy to hear. I severely doubt he’d have got a chance if certain other managers were still here.

I thought the game was crying out for Wilson or Tanner after Sykes’ moment of madness but, as @Davefevs pointed out, I could only think Nige was trying to protect those two. I assume one of them will have to start on Sunday, mind, so he can’t protect them forever. I was surprised at how poor Luton were, but Nige got his starting XI spot on both and the desire and application from the players was superb to see. Nobody can question they’re not playing for the manager after that sort of performance.

Agree with a lot of that, although I thought Freeman had to go as well. An Oxford-supporting mate said when we signed Sykes that he can be a bit of a hot head. This isn’t the first time he’s seen red in similar circumstances, basically.

I actually thought the ref was having a good game until the sending off. No question Sykes had to go, but Freeman should’ve seen red too. It didn’t look a pen on Atkinson to me, but I was miles away from it in the old Block B of the Dolman!

I was really impressed with Atkinson tonight. He looked class and won everything. The front two were both excellent, backed up by Weimann. Wells took his goal superbly from a great Scott through ball. Conway ran himself into the ground and looks a real prospect. Scott and Massengo won most of their battles in the middle of the park, too. You could make a case for many of them, an excellent team performance.

I think we’ve got more options to change formation than we had last year. We could easily go with Pring on the left wing (his best position IMO) and Sykes on the right. The question is, with Semenyo out, who should get nod as the lone striker assuming Weimann plays as a 10?

To sell for £12m would amount to giving him away on the cheap IMO. He’s an integral first-team player, just look at how pedestrian we are without his pace and power. What Palace paid for Eze should be the minimum we’re after.

??????

Wasn’t that why Max got an extended run last season? And, for what it’s worth, we looked more comfortable in possession during that time IMO. I’ve got a bigger issue with Bentley flapping at the corner from which they scored today, on the back of two saveable goals shipped last weekend. Over-rated and needs to be moved on IMO.

What had your namesake done after two years in charge? Bugger all, too, then what happened? Pearson’s done a lot of good in his time here IMO, ridding the deadwood and lowering the wage bill. I accept, however, there are concerns over early performances and some of his decisions.

Pathetic attempt to ‘command’ his area from Bentley for their goal.

It’s beyond a joke now, ain’t it? Every bloody week we’re on the wrong end of decisions. That’s not bad luck IMO.

Get in

Yeah, I can understand the logic for that and wouldn’t have been disappointed if it happened, assuming Tanner is match fit. That odious shit McClean could have a field day down our right today.

Yep. Sykes is a round peg in a square hole there. We’ve got two decent young RWBs available for selection. Wilson should’ve started IMO.

Birmingham look absolute dog shit based on this performance.

Conway starts, Massengo left out of the squad

Let’s hope they’re undercooked! I’m interested to look at Steve Humphreys today, after suggestions we should’ve looked at him when he was at Rochdale. I agree on Vyner/Klose today, and it’s time for Wilson to come into the XI as well IMO. Is that Jamie Carragher’s son in their ranks?

Wigan have had an extra day’s recovery as well from their League Cup game in midweek. I don’t think think can be underestimated in the heat, especially when key players like Weimann played the whole game for us on Weds.

There was interest in Moore, though; there has not been one single enquiry for Vyner as far as I’m told and you can understand why. Not many lower league clubs will match what he’s on at this level, and no Championship club other than maybe Rotherham would take him. Back to the OP’s post, Vyner might well be able to do a job for a game or two in DM but I bet you he would still lose his man at set pieces, lose his runner and be far too passive to make the position his own at this level. He’s 25 now; he’s no youngster anymore.

It speaks volumes, to me at least, that not one single enquiry has come in for Vyner all summer. He’s a liability.

Seconded. Thanks @IAmNickfrom Mallorca

Could be a good time to play them. Not many teams gel as a unit straight away following a summer overhaul. They got beat 3-0 by Posh last weekend, too.

1) What will be City's final league position? 10th 2) How many points will City get this season? 68 3) Will City score 60 (or more) League goals this season? Yes 4) Will City concede 60 (or more) League goals this season? No 5) Who will finish as City's top scorer? Weimann 6) How many League goals will City's top scorer (whether the player named in Q5 or ano.) get? 16 7) Who will finish as City's 2nd top scorer? Martin How many League goals will City's 2nd top scorer (whether the player named in Q7 or ano.) get? 13 9.) How many academy graduates will make their City debuts this season in League or Cup competitions? 3 10) Will Duncan Idehen make 15 (or more) League appearances for City this season? No 11) Will Joe Williams make 25 (or more) League appearances for City this season? Yes 12) Will Stefan Bajic make 10 (or more) League appearances for City this season? No 13) Will Antoine Semenyo still be a City player on the last day of the season? Yes 14 Will Han Noah Massengo still be a City player on the last day of the season? Yes 15) Will Tomas Kalas still be a City player on the last day of the season? Yes 16) Will Nahki Wells still be a City player on the last day of the season? No 17) Which month will Antoine Semenyo make his first on-field appearance for City this season? September 18) Which month will Ayman Benarous make his first on-field appearance for City this season? January 19) Will City sign a striker either before the end of this window, or in the January window? No 20) Who will be City's player of the season? Naismith 21) What will the Official attendance be for the first home game against Sunderland to the nearest thousand? 25,000 22) What will City's Official average League attendance be this season to the nearest thousand? 21,000 23) In which round will City be knocked out of the F.A. Cup? 3rd 24) In which round will City be knocked out of the Carabou Cup? 1st 25) How many City players will be sent off in all competitions this season? 2 26) Who will be the first City player to be sent off this season? Williams 27) How many penalties, in all competitions, will City be awarded this season? 3 28) How many penalties will City score? 3 29) Will any City player score a first-team hat-trick this season? Yes 30) Will Nigel Pearson still be City's manager on the last day of the season? Yes Young City players: Bell, Conway, Towler, Kadji, Owers, Palmer-Holden, 1) Which of these 6 will make the most appearances for City, in all competitions, this season? Conway 2) Which of these 6 will score the most goals for City in all competitions? Conway Gas: 1) Final League position? 21st 2) Average League attendance, to the nearest thousand? 8,000 3) Will Matty Taylor score against Rovers this season? Yes 4) Will Marlon Pack score against Rovers this season? No 5) Will Tyreeq Bakinson score against Rovers this season? No 6) Will Joey Barton still be Rovers' manager on the last day of the season? Yes Welsh Rivals, Cardiff & Swansea 1) Will O'Dowda score for Cardiff against City? No 2) Who will finish higher, Cardiff or City? City 3) How many points will City get against Cardiff 0,1,2,3,4 or 6 ? 6 4) Who will finish higher, Swansea or City? City 5) How many points will City get against Swansea, 0,1,2,3,4 or 6? 3 Lee Johnson's Hibs 1) What position will Hibernian finish in the SPL this season? 7th 2) Will Lee Johnson still be Hibernian manager on the last day of the season? No Ashton's Ipswich 1) Will Ipswich be promoted this season either automatically or through the play-offs? No 2) Will Mark Ashton still be there at the end of the season. Yes Steve Cotterill 1) Will Cotts lead Shrewsbury to promotion? No 2) How many points will Cotts' Shrewsbury take off Rovers 0,1,2,3,4,or 6? 2 3) Which club will finish higher, Shrewsbury or Rovers? Shrewsbury Old Boys 1) Will Bobby Reid score 7 (or more) PL goals for Fulham? No 2) Will Josh Brownhill score for Burnley against City this season? No 3) Will Aden Flint score for Stoke against City this season? No 4) Will Kasey Palmer score for Coventry against City this season? No Championship 1) Which club will finish top of the Championship? Norwich 2) Which club will finish bottom of the Championship? Birmingham