I think there's a lot of speculation on here and that's fine as that's what it is here for but I think you need to be careful with it too and jumping to too many conclusions is quite easy. Just look at @philipl (not having a go at all) saying that Lenihan might be out for a long time when, hopefully, he plays today. There's also a lot of hyperbole in my opinion with too many going OTT. I think TM isn't a bad manager, neither is he a very, very good manager. I think it's very unlikely we will go down but unless something special really clicks we aren't going to finish top 6. Most likely we will finish mid-table. Is that good enough? It depends on your expectations. I don't think Venkys will be happy with 12th or 13th but 8th might be enough to persuade them to give him another season. Even though we have lost the first two games I don't think we have been terrible, Charlton wasn't great and very frustrating but the Fulham performance was decent. Obviously, another couple of losses will really pile on the pressure and TM does seem to be feeling it a little, but so far if you compare this season to Coyle's then there's a big difference. I thought that season we were awful in the first two games versus Norwich and Wigan. Overall I don't think TM is likely to take us up and if I knew Johnno was going to be really good I'd be happy for him to take over but I don't think TM deserves the sack just yet.

Yeah, it was tough on Platt and Grayson, go to the man and free up another one... TM was quite often telling Nyambe to get further forward so can't blame the full backs either, not that we ever managed to exploit the space in front of him. Was the game on iFollow after all?

I think people are being a bit harsh on Brereton, sure he didn't have a great game but he did show a few nice touches in the first half, his run to get on DG's great through ball was good and although his first touch there wasn't great it did look like he got clipped. He would have had a goal if there wasn't a handball on the line missed by the ref. He does need a little luck but he wasn't hopeless. Watching the highlights it doesn't show on the first goal if Platt had gone to the ball he would have left his man free in the middle for an easier shot though perhaps he could have done better, with TM pushing the full backs upfield we can't afford to give it away so easily in the middle (Smallwood). Grayson didn't look super solid at the back but did put in a few very nice passes. We didn't play DG on the left as someone else suggested, we started with a narrow 442 with Buckley on the left but we were quite fluid.

Not read all the comments. As poor as we were this is just standard for the league cup, I’ve been coming home for July August for years and every year it’s the same pretty much. Dack made the difference but Danny Graham was key and the only one in the first half who wasn’t a bit poor. All the young lads made mistakes but it’s hard when generally everyone is not very good. Felt sorry for Richie Smallwood after he came off, he had to walk all the way around the pitch and looked really dejected.

I'm the same, I think the first away game I went to was Oldham on a wet Friday night in the away with no roof and we lost. There were a few Oldham fans at my school too and no one from Burnley. If I were TM I'd be playing a fairly strong team with 2 or 3 youngsters coming in if the sports science team advise rest for a couple. I think TM needs to think about the best tactics for the season and play them, like many I'd like us to go for it in pretty much every game. I thought Dack was good versus Fulham but if he doesn't play then that's where I'd play Buckley not sure he's ready for centre mid yet. JRC looks good going forward but I'm not sure he's ready to play right back in the Championship defensively but maybe right midfield would suit him. To be honest I haven't seen that much of the youngsters. I certainly wouldn't make too many changes as I do think we would benefit from a good, confidence boosting victory. Plus I only have this and the Boro game to see us win before heading back to the Far East, my unlucky girlfriend who hasn't seen us win a competitive game yet (she's been coming with me every summer for a good few years now) won't be there so there's every chance.

Gutting to lose. Don’t want to say too much right now but I do t think we were too bad today. Cairney scores a cracker, though he had too much space and they scored late in as we pushed forward. We started pretty well, pressing high and making a few chances and we were unlucky to go in behind at half time. There was a lot of energy and pressing from the front. Tosin almost got caught out a couple of times but I’m the whole I thought he and Williams did ok against a talented Fulham team. I don’t think the subs helped and going 442 with Brereton and Armstrong on the wings and Dack centre mid didn’t really work. We created quite a few half chances but lacked a bit of creativity and weren’t clinical. Did we have a shot on target that wasn’t blocked?

8 Bells was one in one out with a queue the wind is really picking up by the river, some very strong gusts. Hopefully Tosin and Williams are ready for it.

You’re entitled to your opinion but a guy giving the ball way 80 metres from goal with Downing behind him isn’t the main culprit for me, fair enough if you think he is.

I doubt he’d say much about the first seeing as Bennett was by the opposition penalty area and perhaps he himself should have done better with the cross. The second was absolutely atrocious though. I’d much prefer Nyambe at right back if he’s fit though.

I've got no idea what happened but Mulgrew was really poor last week, that misdirected header under no pressure in the first half that led to the Taylor chance was shocking. The other players must see that, I doubt Lenihan appreciated it so even if he was your best mate it'd be hard to defend him unless TM was really nasty which is hard to imagine.

I don't think Keith was as bad as some make out but I strongly disagree that he was FAR FAR superior. Bennett isn't the most skillful player but he's not a non-footballer. At right mid he has been decent, perhaps not always the most creative but he has set the tempo of the side and pushed everyone else on to more. I always believed if he'd played more in the first half of the relegation season we wouldn't have gone down. I know that he's not brilliant but played in midfield he is not that bad either. The captain of one of my old sides wasn't anywhere near the most talented in the side but he was all energy and bite and inspired those around him to play much better and we were poorer without him. That said I wouldn't have Bennett in my current 11 I just don't think he's shit and could be cut a little slack.

That would be my team, though I'd be equally happy with Graham just depends on the tactics. Personally, I'd want us to go at them from the off and I think Gallagher pressed very well on occasions last week. Fulham lost last week and although they made some good signings they lost last week too and I'm hoping Scott Parker is poor for them. I think if they are played right and on form, we have some very good players there, on their day Dack and Rothwell can take and Championship team apart whilst Johnson and Travis could be top class in the middle. Cunningham must play as Bell isn't a very good defender and it at least seems TM has seen this going off his comments. If Tosin is as good as Pep makes out then with him and Nyambe we can push up and condense the play. Mitrovic was excellent for them in the Championship last time but he isn't quick at all so best way to stop him is to play on the front foot and not allow them lots of possession. It is gonna be a tough game no doubt, I came down to London on Thursday and currently, the weather isn't too bad, not that windy at all yet.

I think it's really sad the way people are talking about Bennett. He would probably make a very good captain. He is passionate, he gives everything and would lead by example. I think it's a real shame that being played all over the place has seen him put in some poor performances and now he's being talked about like he's Keith Andrews or someone. I do understand that most don't want to see him start, especially at right-back, and I would agree but he does deserve a little more appreciation of his effort and energy. Without knowing all the lads I'd go for Lenihan if he's got TM's confidence and is gonna be first choice CB but I can see the arguments for an older head like Johnson and would be happy with him too.

If true Mulgrew is signing then it must have been a very recent development as he was announced as a charity ambassador for the season a couple of weeks ago and last week was talking about mentoring younger players this season. Cunningham and Hanley would be marvelous.

I’d be delighted with Cunningham, at this stage left back is priority one. I have high expectations of Tosin and TM and the player himself have both indicated he is going to start. I think Williams is a decent Centre back and Mulgrew is now 4th choice. So makes me think I’d be happier with Bell out of the team.

Surprised at the reaction to Mowbray’s Magloire comment. If I were Tyler I wouldn’t be at all offended, he didn’t say anything bad at all. His Rays comments on the other hand were much worse. I know youngsters these days are supposed to be far more sensitive but I didn’t expect it from some of the older gents on here. Theres plenty of other TM quotes to be annoyed about.

I think TM definitely regrets his defenders are coming talk. This is from the end of June "I did talk about the defenders towards the end of the season and when you look back we did concede too many goals. “But there are reasons for that but I’m not sitting here worrying about that any more than other positions. The emotion of it all came across but what I will say that we’re looking to strengthen all areas of the team.” What reasons? I think he got emotional but spoke the truth about what he was thinking but it probably upset a few (which was possibly a good thing).

I would say that Hanley and Duffy while not perfect were pretty decent and the reason we never really challenged for promotion during the Bowyer years were a week midfield with Williamson and Lowe being pretty rubbish and lack of tactics.

Really? 1. I don't think all of these players would be out of our budget, really take a look. 2. Out of contract players will only get what someone will pay for them e.g. Martin Olsson may well have been on 40K a week in the PL but he's unlikely to get another PL team and won't be getting anywhere near that for his next contract especially considering he's coming back from a serious injury, and even if I'm wrong on that Johan Larsson just got released by Guingamp, I wasn't under the impression that teams that got relegated from Ligue 1 paid that much in wages.

I think Nyam be still has a lot to learn but I think he's better than Bennett and I think TM didn't really help him much last season. The more he plays the more experience he gets he will improve and I think dropping him, even not in the squad sometimes, has stalled him a bit more than the other way around. I also think it's unfair on Bennett as although he has had a couple of good games at RB and some ok ones he's also had quite a few poor ones now and moving him around too much has a negative effect on not only fans perception of him but also his own confidence and comfort in his position. I really hope you are right with this and I think that whilst we are being pretty optimistic there is a good chance it will be true. I think Pep obviously rates him and sees him as a potential City first team player, he's not seen as one of the Chelsea loan money makers but a genuine prospect. He's had a year at this level to get used to it and now could push on and be as good for us as Tuanzebe was for Derby.

I think that’s true and is possibly really hampering us, especially in defense. In LT article he mentions again about not pushing players out. He’s just wrong here and it could be costing us and it’s not always in the players best interest. Impossible to know for sure but Mulgrew I think is a big barrier to getting in another top of the championship Centre back

I don't know a lot about finance but surely taking anything for granted in regards to Venkys is not smart. It may be that there is some financial trickery that means they can write off some of the money (£170+ million is a lot to write off) but I don't think they are happy losing money if they were why bring in two accounting firms to go over all the books? We might be better in midfield and attack but we are weak in defense, last season showed it and the Charlton game just confirmed it and even if Tosin is as good as Pep makes out Lenihan might get injured and Bell will still be poor.

He missed quite a few good chances if I remember correctly, he is talented but has always been inconsistent, maybe he's gonna push on this year.

Tosin hasn't been signed as a bit of backup or Downing's replacement. If you have read what the lad himself and TM have said it's pretty clear he is going to be first choice. With Tosin and Lenihan at the club and both expecting to play the majority of games I don't think we will sign a "first choice" centre back but we might go for someone who is happy to fight for a place, perhaps one of the foreign players who have been mentioned. I would be delighted if we did but I think the hold up with the City loan might have been connected to assurances that Tosin would be played regularly in his preferred position. I do hope we sign a good left back though (as unless Hart has improved a lot we don't have one) and I do think there is some money available to be spent.

I saw it at the game and I have watched it back on ifollow, he didn't go back to his position because Downing was running with Purrington and if he hadn't stopped running with him he would have been there to stop him scoring. Rothwell did fluff his clearance but there are several other people just as culpable for that goal. You're right about the two sitters, best chances of the game, Gallagher and Downing the culprits.