The tombola doesnt have many balls left in it so we might all have a chance of guessing the team right this time.

Aye but TM does have form for this wherever he has gone. I too have harbored thoughts of the lack of defensive reinforcements since the clowns rocked up might not be a coincidence but when you read that TM did exactly the same thing in many of his previous jobs, it does make you wonder.

That is quite the outrageous claim. Lowe, Andrews like you say, then Chris Brown, Danny Murphy, Luke Varney, Jason Wilcox, Bradley Orr, the list goes on. Players get stick for their performances (or lack of) on the pitch no matter their skin colour.

Released by Reading...think we should be aiming higher. Though admittedly he would probably be good backup.

Thinks its best to nip political arguments in the bud as they can derail a thread faster than wild fire. Interested to see the views though - perhaps a MT thread in the non-footballing side of the forum?

Playing a funny game of trying to read the posts before they are deleted. Saw a few, obv missed a few. I make it 4-3 to me.

Did you believe TM when he said 'Defenders are Coming'? What he says to the media and what is true or happens - are two different things.

Not completely implausible. Cannot remember myself but has a manager been 'summoned' to India mid-season before? Just trying to remember if this can be classed as normal Venkies or them starting to get a little cranky.

Agreed, the article states how big a deal it was Dalglish became manager using Pep moving to a Championship club as an example. However, you could imagine how talks went. JW basically says you have an open chequebook and outlined his plans to bankroll this club to success. Dalglish knows he can attract the players was probably on a great wedge himself - so I am not sure it was that big a shock. He does admit that if Liverpool had come back for him before they appointed Souness, he would have gone back. Was the pressure and circumstances around the Hillsborough disaster that originally made him walk out. Anyway going off on a tangent there but agree that Dalglish had all the tools that any manager could dream of as well as some very good ones of his own. Hughes didnt have that and built a fabulous team.

Can probably add Walton to the 'will' play list - at this rate though, he might be in defense.

Well, I like to send to speak to my clients using Morse code but its hardly practical is it? Doing something that takes days instead of hours just impacts the running of the club needlessly. Modern day technology means that we can use software like Skype which is about as close to a face-to-face meeting as you get without being able to physically kiss the person on screen - would you want a smacker from any of that lot? And you believe that? Just a coincidence that TM, Waggott and Venus all worked together at Coventry? The Venkies decided they wanted a new CEO and suddenly decided to bring this man over many others? They would have asked for TMs opinion as they no nowt about football and he would have suggested his mate - they then hired him..end of.

Read it again Chaddy, he said they COULD have done worse using Philips as an example of how.

The crux of it yes. Even if a manager did come in he would have to try and get a tune out of two non-scoring strikers and a desperately thin and crap defense. Will be spoilt for centre midfielders/inverted forwards, false nines and the like though.

So many players I would put below Bell as worst ever footballer at this club. Many have been described above. Lets not forget the 1 million kid Jordan Slew who now plays for Boston Utd in the National League North aged just 27.

He did have some ability, I actually remember him having good technique. He was just too lightweight and clearly not built for a more physical league. Wasn't the hardest worker either. As mentioned, he was also really unlucky on a couple of occasions. Better league, new country, massive fee and the luck never rolled his way.

No shit sherlock Thats half the problem. You think a Keane, Fergie, or someone of that ilk would be letting players jet off around the world after their latest non-performance? Edit: Not claiming Keane is anywhwere near the ilk of Fergie as a manage.

Not sure id agree with you on this one being stronger but either way, there really isnt much in it and that is the problem. Shipped close to 70 last season, not sure i see us doing much better this one.

TM hired his own boss effectively, you couldnt make it up - to coin an annoying half-breed dingle.

Think the point is, why should they be given days off? This is not about just Dack. It looked like the entire team was already on the beach in that last game against QPR...they are paid handsomely to play football for this football club, get plenty of time off during the summer (more time than most of us to have a break) and to put in a performance like that just before their 'break' was criminal.

Seriously? An out of favor and confidence RB, City kid CB, Williams, and a L1 level LB (or should i say L2)?

Our defence is now going to be weaker for a few months at least than it was last season, and that is saying something.

When I first saw that interview I was delighted, i thought finally he has seen the light and he seemed as adamant as you could be. Now when i see that video, it makes me sick to my stomach.

Seriously, a blind man could tell we were seriously short at the back and that an injury or two would leave us royally screwed. He tempted fate with no depth behind an injury-prone defense in January (even sending Downing out on loan and therefore weakening us further) and was punished for it. He tempted fate again this summer despite the now infamous 'Defenders are Coming' statement and low and behold, it has happened yet again. Good job we spent our entire budget on more midfielders and another non-scoring striker then.... Seriously, if the lack of investment at the back is TMs choice, then he deserves sacking for it. Our season is now over...in fact I would start to worry about staying in this division.

What senior players are not being played? DG played, Bennett always plays, Evans shouldnt be playing anyway or should Smallwood. THats about it for senior players unless you talking Johnson and Downing who have both been playing.