On the whole has the football been that turgid ? Compared to say last season weve pressed higher up more, retained possession better with less long punts upfield. Played more attacking players. I don't think weve been that bad to watch.

Walton Nyambe Lenihan Tosin Bell Travis Davenport Downing Armstrong Graham Rankin-Costello Subs: Leutwiler, Williams, Bennett, Johnson, Chapman, Brereton, Gallagher

I thought yesterday highlighted the unbalanced squad that TM has created. Obviously he will point to injuries but look at it: 5 strikers in the squad yet we only ever really start with one up front. Out of those 5 strikers Armstrong is the only one who is competent out on the wing but TM chooses to play Gallagher and Samuel Samuel was naff in league 1 why is he even considered for selection at this point? Gallagher on the right wing is and has been all season embarrassing. It doesn't work yet TM keeps trying it, he's probably tried it about 20 times so far this season. His only good game was preston away when he played through the middle. He's been rubbish has gallagher but TM isn't doing him any favours. Brereton - we don't even need to discuss. I haven't got the energy to detail how spectacularly bad his signing is. It says a hell of a lot that Samuel came on before him. Chapman is the only winger in the squad yet can't get near the team - waste of money Mulgrew and Smallwood taking up wages due to TM overvaluing them. Johnson - isn't suited to playing a passing game. waste of money With 3 of our ideal back five (Walton, Tosin, Cunningham) only on loan, we've got major surgery to do to the squad with little resources to do it. By my count in the summer we need a 2 keepers, a backup right back, a left back, at least 1 maybe 2 centre backs. a wide player and a striker. possibly even another centre mid if age catches up with Downing before August. Worrying stuff.

I agree wholeheartedly with the first part of that. Fulham will have at least 60% of the ball whether we try to control the game or not. They're attack has a lot of threats let's not get too exposed. Disagree on the formation though. We can be solid and play a tad deeper than usual in a 4-4-2, two banks of 4 playing close together helps. Gallagher and Armstrong uptop on the break would be a handful.

His best performance all round this season. A real shame about the injury he picked up let's hope it's not too serious. JRC looks physically ready for the first 11 unlike buckley and probably should've come on for rothwell. In other news Holtby I thought was quiet, and I'm still not a fan of gallagher out wide.

As a number one for next season I'm not sure somehow.

I think as a number 2 who could challenge Walton he would represent a vast improvement on Leutwiler.

Depends who is fit tbh. I'm assuming Evans and nyambe are out. Walton Tosin lenihan Williams JRC travis downing Bell Holtby Graham armstrong

That's a best case scenario here

Tony definitely heard the chants from the blackburn end

Exactly. Want him running in behind not dropping into midfield to link the play

Play him up front as one of the 2 that you suggest.

I don't see Armstrong's strengths as playing between the lines

Armstrong as a 10 is not a good idea for me.

Where has he said this?

I'm disappointed I can only like this once. ???

Pedersen is an odd one but overall he deserves a hero's return. His goals and assist numbers are very strong especially considering how his form dipped in his last few years and he gave us some great memories. What confuses me is when you list what he was good at it makes it out to be better than he actually was, he had: Two great feet Good set piece delivery Good cross Great leap and decent in the air Great technique Covered a lot of ground A massive long throw (in an Allardyce team) I think he had a hamstring injury at the back end of 05/06 and weirdly he never looked quite as sharp after that, always felt like he got caught flat footed or was too slow which made some people, wrongly imo, think he was lazy. Had a very distinctive crossing/dribbling style which I always wondered if it was down to being naturally right footed

As of now Downing. There are a few who if they step up could lay a claim.

His legs had gone when he left at the end of 12/13 season and struggled to reinvent himself centrally. Hes 38 now and just got relegated from the Norwegian second division. Pass

Very much ticks the Mowbray boxes Played under him before land is a north east lad

No i'd say he's a good option off the bench. Just shouldn't be starting especially at full back.

We cant think about getting rid of Walton until weve sorted out at least one other keeper. Leutwiler is much worse. Bennett is still useful as a squad player, Graham is one of very few players we have that is capable of scoring and needs to be kept until the end of the season. Evans is probably in our best 11. Then the problem is trying to find a buyer for the rest of them. I imagine to get rid of some of them we will have to swallow a decent chunk of their wages for the remainder fo their contracts.

We have to persevere with Gallagher at this stage, does he deserve to start not really but we need to give him every chance to come good. Start Graham then. Bell is the only left back in the squad, didn't see the Birmingham but Sharpe said he played well so put him in instead of downing at left back and rothwell left of a midfield 3 (which incidentally is his best position)

Walton Nyambe lenihan tosin Bell Travis Evans Downing JRC Gallagher Armstrong Subs: leutwiler, Williams, Johnson, Rothwell, Chapman, Graham, whoever else is left.

Wouldn't mind a couple of these young Liverpool lads. Pedro Chirivella on loan with an option to buy.