Bethnal

Based on Chrisene being poor and O’Riordan coming in to replace him, with Scott Wharton missing last time (I’ve since seen he’s back), McFadz and Hyam either side, O’Riordan likely the more mobile of the three to carry it out through the middle, the strength of Millar on the left and his crosses in, I’d like McFadz to have a better chance of challenging for the crosses, which he would have being in the opposite side. It’s moot if Wharton is back, as the back three picks itself, but those were my thoughts. Their right side isn’t as much of a source of joy for them as their left, basically.

Difficult to call this. If the same mentality arrives at Deepdale on Saturday as was on display at St Andrew’s, I expect Preston to put quite a few past us. Eustace hasn’t had long with the players, but if all we can muster in that time is a similar performance to what we offered on Tuesday, I won’t be particularly hopeful of a turnaround this season. The players - in the main - don’t look like they have the minerals for what we’re going to need to do. Waggott being the one to appoint him adds further doubt, which isn’t necessarily deserved, but how can anything that man does be looked at positively? JRC - if fit - should replace Brittain on the right. Brittain doesn’t have the defensive attributes necessary for our current position and JRC hasn’t impressed in his preferred position. I would switch Chrisene for O’Riordan, with McFadz on the left of a three. If Fleck is looking at all useful, I’d have him in ahead of Garrett for this game. Gut says a loss by two clear goals, sad as that is.

I usually caution against reflexive opinions, but if that same performance is offered up on Saturday, I will genuinely be “Eustace Out.”

Well, I’m glad the players got what they wanted, in the end. Fortunate with the weekend, as Stoke were drilled on a high press that found them out early, but by the end we were clinging on. We didn’t create anything here to cling onto here and couldn’t maintain whatever grip on a point we had. If Birmingham were marginally better, this could’ve been a hammering. Eustace has barely been in the building for ten minutes, so there’s not a lot you can immediately level at him, except the same stuff that has been levelled at the previous manager, which is that “he sets the team up.” He quite simply fucked it today. We’re as high as 20/1 for relegation at the minute and while I really cannot bring myself to make a bet like that against Rovers, those of a stronger constitution might be wise to. Given the Senior Players’ Council™ were able to instigate a meeting with fans to complain about the atmosphere hindering them, I wonder would they be so forthcoming as to sit down with me so I can explain how fucking pathetic they are?

Been thinking this for the last ten mins or so. Haven’t won a single battle. Everyone has looked limp. Saturday 3pm at Deepdale and they’ll be up for it. Could be an embarrassing scoreline. This one would have been, if Birmingham had their shooting boots.

Fair, though worth mentioning that my tongue was so far into my cheek it had fused into it.

That’ll be that, I reckon. Buzzing about this new era

Strongly considered going tonight, late decision and work kept me away. I’d be fuming if I’d made the journey. We don’t look like we fancy this at all. Only Sammie, Dolan and Fadz seem remotely up for it

Think he’s looked extremely solid in his 150 mins so far

Inswinging corners I’m not a fan of.

Why’ve I got Joni Mitchell playing in my head..?

Occasionally, you are reminded that you’re in the championship by the quality on display and this is one of those games. Poor and Brum have been only marginally better.

Think this is the thing when you let players off the leash. Not a lot of coordination or synchronicity at all.

O’Riordan, who I’d rather see, but doesn’t fit into a full back position when we’re defending

Chrisene is all over the shop at the minute

Never mind what I said, he’s woken up

Yeah, he looks a little bit overawed currently. First start, big game, on the telly, so not surprised. Definitely not a game for Palace to play to his strengths, either

Tend to agree here. He probably is worthy of the opportunity, but it’s an opportunity to him because of the situation we find ourselves in. Very arguable that he was treated unfairly at Birmingham, another crack at the Championship seems “fair,” if you like. We could do - and previously have done - a lot worse, but it’s not an appointment that sparks the imagination. His interview is pragmatic and we probably need that in the short term. Ours seems a squad of good characters that lack a bit of fight. The new, “experienced” additions might improve that and hopefully this manager is able to instil some. Full support from me and obvious intrigue around what he brings to the club, who he evaluates as his first choice players and how it plays out, but I’m nervous about it.

I’ve defended JDT a lot and will continue to do so. I know a lot don’t agree with it, but that’s what being a fan is, caring about something and not always agreeing on what’s best for that thing. Definitely a rollercoaster, some real ups and downs. I think on balance, the majority of issues we’ve faced in his tenure have been club-led/-instigated, but definitely some accountability to be taken for position by JDT. Best for all of us if we don’t labour those points any more than we have done the past week. I will miss his pre-match pressers, I thank him for the good memories (last year’s goal of the season was mind-blowing to watch at the time, properly joyous) and will rue the missed opportunities (layer of paint away from Hedges firing us into the FA Cup semi-final; a bad decision or 6 away from the playoffs). As an aside - the politics will be different at international level, but I think he’ll suit the role and do well.

A fair point!

Many ways to skin a cat and lots of willing bladesmen that would take the task on here, but a plan is essential. Either you’re identifying someone short term or long term and recalibrating the plan under a director of football or you’re allowing a penny-pitching CEO and a former fruit juice distributor to pick someone. I know which I prefer.

I would argue that Broughton is the only one with something resembling a plan, at the club. Is it still “not a huge loss” when you consider that without him, our next managerial appointment would be made by Waggott and Suhail? Broughton has to stay, for me. Whether he wants to after the bullshit that’s been pulled in the past week or so remains to be seen.

There is something fundamentally wrong with the club and that is the owners, we’re all onside there, I think. I just cannot handle the Mowbray love-in, when it pops up.

Labouring the Mowbray point is laughable. The training ground stuff. Reece James’ dad’s interview about nearly coming on loan to Blackburn and how Mowbray put him off. Death spirals. “It’s not the 90s anymore.” Telling key players to look elsewhere for bigger deals at the end of theirs. Telling staff members that “big ships like Sunderland don’t come along very often” (League One Sunderland, at the time) and encouraging them to leave. A complete free pass in the Covid season. Bradley Johnson as a false 9. “It’s a long commute.” Do me a favour.

I’m aware of that, the point I was making was it overlaps with the period where the Club were aware of the proceedings against the owners and the filings and there was the HMRC issue in that time frame. Combined with what’s going on at present, there has to be a declaration in the filings that we are a going concern. If someone’s being asked to put their name to that without agreeing to it, what might happen at that point?