GrahamC

Apart from the back post volley by Whittaker I’m not sure they had any real chances. They started well & had about 4 corners in the first 6 minutes but in truth they didn’t threaten very much at all. Second half Whittaker had another shot that Max palmed away but that was it. In reality it was a comfortable win.

Been away this week, was anything said yesterday about TGH’s availability for tomorrow? Arguably if he’s fit then our injury “list” only consists of 3 players because you can’t consider Benarous injured if he came through the last 21s game unscathed.

He is pretty bitter about his time with us. Have to say though that obviously Andy Cole & arguably Leroy Rosenior aside, his signings (Atteveld, Thompson, Mitchell, Rouse) were all uniformly awful.

Think that’s right, Bird’s signing, plus Manning wanting a number 10, which then sees Knight drop back makes it more likely it is an either/or rather than both. You’re spot on about wages, anyone not thinking these two will expect top earnings (whatever that is for us) is being incredibly naive.

We went through a spell where most of our signings were with them. I think the 3 are all at different stages of their careers to be fair. King is probably at the end, James would see his next contract as his last big one & Williams should consider himself at the peak of his career. How that pans out in negotiations for anything we offer time will tell.

Are they the same ones saying James had an appearance clause in his contract so wasn’t really injured & wouldn’t play for us again this season?

If we could afford his wages I’d always have kept James, that’s nonsense.

First thing to say is none of us know what these two are actually on. Williams was Holden’s big (pre pandemic) signing & James was definitely Pearson’s statement of intent one. Next we didn’t lose £22m last year by paying everyone £7k a week.. That having been said, if James does really want to stay (I know he’s said so, but lots of stories his family live elsewhere) & we can offer a sum he’s happy with, I’d keep him on a two year deal. I’d only retain Williams however if we don’t keep James. In his case maybe he gets a better offer from elsewhere anyway & if that’s what happens then so be it.

Fair enough. I haven’t worn a football shirt in probably 25 years now. I just think the white sleeves (which I appreciate we wore in the 50s) just isn’t what you would associate with us now. Whoever makes the shirt it has to be predominantly red. Personally I’d prefer a white away one with the third kit for when we play Stoke, Sunderland, Sheff U, Southampton as purple & lime.

I’m really not sure that’s true in the case of Chelsea. The Abramovich era definitely hasn’t been properly investigated yet. He was basically Putin’s money launderer, every trophy they won in his time is tainted.

£15m? Ok then.. Paragraphs, mate, paragraphs…

You do know it’s cruel to mock the afflicted? Those as the Bountyhunter gag memorably went, the afflicted mock the gas.. Horrible season, horrible kit.

Doncaster Rovers, struggling to name anyone else though..

Yep, also no way can anyone say he’s done as well as Cifuentes, Robins or Wagner. Ryan Lowe has had far fewer resources too..

I say you’re right. Either some sort of version of the top flight one or the shirt that we wore when we beat Leeds in the FA cup would be ideal. That having been said, I quite like our current one, far better than that Arsenal/ Rotherham abomination that preceded it.

Rosenior is genuinely laughable. Aren’t even going to make the playoffs despite spending fortunes (especially wages) on it. Wouldn’t have him in my top six. Archie Gray surely wins the young player? Can’t stand Jordan James for 2 reasons, he dived to get Rob Dickie sent off at our place & pretends to be Welsh to play for them, he’s from Hereford, FFS.

Or maybe he’s always like that?

Fair, though having scored the winner v Leicester & being involved in the goal yesterday, Mehmeti might well climb that list by season’s end. Wells might only have 4 league goals too but the 3 away from home (equaliser at Hull, what should have been a late winner at Cov & only goal yesterday) were all important ones.. Went for Conway’s goal right in front of 8000 away fans at West Ham as my champagne moment.

That’s not really my point. We are run by people with a very narrow view. Brentford were at our level when they appointed Thomas Frank, not a chance in a million we would go down that road. Likewise Huddersfield with David Wagner. It really doesn’t matter if you’re a “name” or not, results determine whether people take to you. Our most successful manager since Alan Dicks definitely was not a “name”.

100%. Tinnion wouldn’t have had a clue who De Zerbi was, Brighton are so far ahead of us in every respect it is ridiculous.

Warnock was sacked by Cardiff after we beat them under LJ.

You have to speculate wisely to accumulate. We’ve speculated in the past & it has been shambolic.

If you really think we are going to be the most attractive club in for Whittaker, prepare to be disappointed. Lazio were linked in January & he’s far more likely to join a club with parachute payments than a mid table Championship one. I think Twine will be our main target this summer & won’t be at all surprised to see him here in August. Burnley will have parachute payments & if last summer is anything to go by, will bring in a raft of signings (like HNM) with absolutely no coherent plan.

Why would we do that? He’s not our player & it was blindingly obvious from the QPR game he’s a million miles away from the required standard. He’s only on the bench now because we don’t have anyone else & we are trying to minimise the embarrassment of signing him. The person who mentioned Mehmeti has to be having a laugh. Even at his most inconsistent we are talking about a player who had a season at this level with Wycombe & had scored the winner at Stoke last season. This lad has made 3 appearances in Belgian football & played 44 minutes for us. There’s a good reason he’s not getting off the bench, he isn’t good enough.

Certainly not uninterested or disinterested today. Important winning goal & looked very lively when he came on. 140th League goal of his career.