Hasta

Thats OK if the 21 year old lad from city, who spent most of last season at RB and has a been touted as a defensive midfield player, is commanding at centre half. If he works out then it's a much stronger defence providing they are all fit. However if he's exposed at the centre of defence at Championship level then we are screwed. Massive risk which will define our season and, I now suspect, Mowbray's reign. Williams is certainly not commanding in the air, and his positional sense in the centre of a back four is suspect. He's a bottom half centre back at best.

Read what I said. Which defender didn't get his head on the two high balls that came his way for both goals on Saturday?

First choice yes. Anything else them nope. For the problem we have (aerial presence), Williams, Lenihan and Mulgrew are as bad as each other. The city lad doesnt sound like the centre back we need (although we havent seen him tbf). Therefore we need a first choice centre back who is commanding in the air - just as we have for 24 months.

Defenders are going. Defenders are going.

Thats a blow. I was hoping he would be ours by 5pm.

I can't stop humming "defenders are coming, defenders are coming" to the Coca Cola christimas advert song.

Of course he tracked back. Thats nonsense. Hes just limited as a footballer and is too slow in both pace and decision making at this level. His plus point always was he did what J-Lowe did but better, which in league one was fine. However you need midfielders to do more at this level.

Fairly brief summary of my thoughts there. I thought after last season TM would learn and thought no way would we be playing the same back 4. I was wrong. Tosin will have had over a week with the squad so must surely start at Fulham. I'd then be somewhat happier that, although it has taken too long to get alternatives in, at least he's got someone in to replace either of the centre halves. However if he doesn't start the new lad on Saturday then I'll have completely lost faith in his judgement to correct our glaring problems.

To be fair, he's probably used to his defenders heading high balls away and not jumping under them..

Just watched the highlights. Lenihan should really get his head on the first as well.

Admittedly he should have said "What does he bring to this team at full back", but its a very good.question. I think Nyambe is as good going forward and better defensively. So other than energy and working hard, what does he bring at full back? The first tweet is a definite jibe and ive no issue with Bennet responding, but the second one he's on dodgy ground calling that lad out as hes asking a genuine question we all asked in the pub after the game.

Where's the character jibe in the second tweet? He actually kind of praises his character at the end, but simply says he isnt good enough. I dont think theres anything wrong with that tweet. Your basically saying that you shouldnt give your opinion on your.own personal twitter at all unless its positive. If Bennett is searching his name on twitter for abuse, he probably reads this board too. In which case, Elliot you are an ok midfielder who can also cover wide but you are bobbins as a full back.

Pies. £3.60 today. Anyone recall how much they were last year as I'd be amazed if they hadn't crept up by 15 to 20% Also, I went with a guest today and left my seat at 3.35 to get a pie and a pint at half time. Got served at 4.02. He went for a social day out and thought that was ridiculous. It is but guess im used to it.

Kean. Thus Venkys.

2 high balls. 2 goals conceded. 6 transfer windows.

I think somehow we will grind a win out tomorrow. 1-0 or 2-1, and it won't be pretty, but I just feel for once we will get the jthe b done on the opening day. He's already hinted it will be Mulgrew and Lenihan at the back. I hope it's Nyambe and Downing at full back. If I was picking a starting line up, I'd want DG up top with Dack in behind, and then 2 of either Armstrong, Chapman or Rothwell on the wings. Johnson and Trav in the middle. BB and Gally on the bench.

Only because the PFA are paying J-Lo's wages.

i see the takeover of bolton is likely to be completed in the next 24 hours before the opening game according to the latest reports. During discussions, the new owners probably said 'if you dock more points we are pulling out' and the Football League played safe and left them alone

What, for 5 consecutive transfer windows? I get your point in isolation, but when it looks like we may start Saturdays home game with the same two centre halves we went down with 3 seasons ago it has to be down to poor management of the transfer market.

Downing may well be a better left back than Bell. We simply don't know. Im hoping Nyambe is still being rested after his African Cup exploits hence why Bennet starts at RB. If we are playing 1 up top then Rothwell should be in for DG or Gally.

By support, do you mean supporting him and getting behind him at games? Or do you mean not giving your opinion on him on a messageboard?

Maybe two of them could resign and join a Man City Fans Forum? In all seriousness, interesting read. Thanks for posting.

Just had a look backm Conway, Evans, Smallwood, Palmer all started in midfield that night with Arma upfront on his own. That was a team set up for a pasting!! I recall it was a ood job we had Raya. I've no issue with Johnson or Downing but not sure we needed them both.

We've replaced him with someone the Wigan fans thought wasnt really good enough, and they saw him for two years.. Of course I'll give him a chance but Im hardly sure it's an upgrade. As for the question posed on the last page, if we now brought a good centre half in because of the money we have freed up then I would be ok with the transfer. As it is, it is a bit underwhelming.

Worrying that the Wigan forum I linked to a few pages back said he was a good shot stopper but poor on crosses and commanding his area. Pretty split on there if they wanted him to stay.