joey_big_nose

I wonder if they pulled the shirt because they realised they were going to get absolutely panned. If they had any desire to sell it even after Christmas they would have done some communication on it.

Wow... really feels like we are setting ourselves up for a classic death spiral here. 😞

Agreed.. its completely evidence based on previous seasons to assume Carter and Wharton will play only 50% of games each and we should have planned on that basis. Really we only have 3 cbs, and that is counting Miller who is arguably more of a rcb (McLoughlin, Miller, Carter+Wharton). On that premise we should have two more cbs in the squad as its a totally accepted norm that you need five.

If he was a good fit for the centre of the three I would maybe be open to risking Carter, but him and Miller are good RCBs but I dont think they really have the head up style that you need in that centre CB role. I would definitely be looking more at Pickering for LCB - he has done that role well before. Riberio just doesn't seem a good choice imo. Not as comfortable in the air and physically one on one. Across the back five I think the preferred options are as follows (bold starter, italics back up) Hedges. McLoughlin Wharton. Carter. Alebiouso De Neve. Pickering. McLoughlin Miller. Miller

Will ownership of the club and how this has impacted supporters, the club and the area be a focus? As I think there might be a lot of feedback.... I think that might be a theme across a lot of clubs in the North, including ours. I think the general consensus could well be the that the quality of new and existing ownership needs systematic improvement, and the football regulator needs to have the tools to drive change in this regard.

Both Kalinic and Nzonzi left before we played in the Championship I think, so not in scope. Rochina a great shout though.

He came in about two years ago - was okay, then unbelievably bad (wigan away...), back in after Wahlstadt (even worse than Pears) and a bit shaky, then around six months of being actually pretty good, then back to shaky, and here we are. I reckon we are looking at about a 33% chance of him coming back in and being any of good/shaky/diabolical.

Oooh what a great pub quiz question - since 2011 what player has gone on to have the most top flight games across Europes five major leagues. Got to be (if we exclude loanees) 1. Raya 2. Cairney After that a lot more guessing. Hanley, Duffy racked up a few. Hoilett? BBD. Wharton now obviously. Ooh... Josh King must be up there. Armstrong Really highlights how few top level players we have had.

Footballs all about having a good plan to generate chances that is hard to counter, and a good plan to limit the opposition. We seem to have landed on both at once which is rare. Even when we were doing well with JDT it was built on pushing a lot of players forward and leaving ourselves exposed. Its very pleasing to see us able to create without weakening ourselves defensively. Putting myself in Eustaces shoes its hard to figure out what to do to hurt us with the starting XI yesterday. Theres not an obvious way to find opportunities. But with Toth and Wharton out it opens up playing it long down our left and seeing how Pickering or Riberio who dont have the aeriel ability of centre backs cope. Also Tronstad being out could opens up the space in front of our cbs.

Hmmm i don't think we played badly at all second half. Conceded virtually no chances. If we play that badly while protecting a lead I am all for it.

It's very weird the club have not announced it but third parties are selling it? Anyone know what is going on?

McLoughlin got the armband yesterday after Wharton went off so I guess they will stick with that with Tronstad also out.

Looking ahead to Derby I think Id go Pears Miller. McLoughlin. Pickering Alebiouso. TGH. Forshaw. Hedges Morishita Ohashi. Gudjonsen Just look to get forward down the right and defend on the left. Bring Montgomery, De Neve, Henricksson for extra energy around the 60th-70th minute. I have include Forshaw as I think Montgomery and TGH are a bit too similar in how they are most comfortable getting forward, and we will need someone who can drop off and calm things down a bit in the middle. If we had Toth and Wharton id be optimistic, but feels like our defensive confidence could be quite fragile. First goal even more crucial than usual.

Yup works on an immediate sorting of players as good or bad then will stick with it come hell or high water!

Agreed we have to stick with the 3412 - the combination of Miller, Alebiouso, Morishita, Ohashi down the right is absolutely devastating. Sort of setup which is both offensively almost impossible to defend against as they totally overwhelm the oppositions left side while being very robust off the ball. That said I wouldn't go for Riberio at lcb - he is way too small. We were lucky Bristol were poor and down a man so couldnt target him. Pickering seems more suited to me. A bit bigger and more physical, and has more quality on the ball which you need in that role. Feeling a bit concerned about not having Wharton organising things though as he is brilliant at it.

Great performance... Not only winning the game, probably should have scored more, but completely limited Bristol City to virtually no chances. Really first rate. Hope Wharton and Toth are okay. Wanted Ismael out four games ago, but suddenly we look as good as we have done jn recent years, maybe the exception of JDTs first season. Championship football is so bizarre. Anyone who says they know what will happen in advance doesn't have a clue.

Could just be cramp

No way Morishita can do that job, no where near physical enough. De Neve and Hedges both been good enough for me.

Wharton off is bad news, breaks up the back three who have been brilliant. Really surprised we haven't seen Montgomery or De Neve

Surprised we brought Forshaw on instead of Montgomery?

Classic Championship. Such a mess, especially with all the relegated clubs being poor. Should be very entertaining!

I guess we'll bring on De Neve at some point, with Henricksson and Montgomery. Massive energy infusion around 60-70 minutes.

I think they've both done okay in recent games. In combination with Alebiouso Morishita has been brilliant today.

Who is the co commentator? Feels like he is ex Bristol?

Well I take it back, Morishita showed great pace and a bit of strength there. Really great performance this half. This system is brilliant for us.