Anyone else’s stream skipping and glitching? (I know it’s early, but I usually have it on while I potter about)

Basically far too early to go off anything at all, so the below is conjecture, but I’ll have a go anyway… I think Bruce is done at this level and I’m optimistic that JDT’s focus on adaptability and planning will find Bruce wanting. Bruce just feels like a bit of a dinosaur Part of me expects a cagey opening, with them trying to keep hold of the ball, trying to sow a bit of unrest among the fans. Another part of me expects us to fly out of the traps and hit them early. It’s the fact that either is possible - and difficult to predict - that is encouraging. If we carry confidence into this and the crowd can help the team along, I see us winning 2/3-0. Bit of misfortune or lapses in concentration and we may struggle to a draw.

Bizarre watching Burnley, I’ll admit I haven’t caught anything live before now. The press has been poor, especially against ten. They’re unfortunate with one or two chances, but on what I saw, they didn’t deserve anything. Think Kompany is another one of those managers with ideas above his players’ stations.

Purely going off what I’d seen online and comparison with the Morton delay. Conjecture to judge how thin they view themselves at CB.

Joel Matip is apparently an injury doubt for Liverpool, so you’d imagine they may end up delaying this move.

“We could be men with Ven”

I don’t want to say this (or for it to happen) but the thought just occurred to me… BBD to ManUre? They’re apparently looking all over the shop. As a wide forward he might not exactly fit what they’re looking for, but it’s just crazy enough to fit into their basket case logic.

Having slept on it, the Martin comments just become funny. At a very basic level, our team was much more capable of executing our tactic than his team was capable of executing theirs. He’s asking players that aren’t at the requisite level to play a style that tends to work best for the top-end clubs, because I think he’s more interested in increasing his profile than actually delivering anything. Genuinely deluded to think that because he likes watching City, Pep’s Barcelona and Spain, that he can plan, execute and deliver the same thing in South Wales and I suppose 15th last season and losing your first home game 3-0 this season is testament to that. Good luck to him, I suspect he’ll need it.

So am I, but less about that the better

Swansea are so poor in the final third, but I don’t much care, we’re going up.

That’s where the fear lies. They’ve got money, they’re fancied to go up and their manager is an iconic CB.

If he turns up at fucking Turf Moor, I will lose it.

With respect, I reserve the term “donkey” for the likes of Ashley Ward or Chris Brown. Really quite extreme for a player like Gallagher who appears to favour being played as a wide forward (mush as I disagree) and whose numbers aren’t as atrocious as the aforementioned.

Careless with possession(s) as well, by the looks.

Really enjoyed the day yesterday. Overall encouraging. Some visible weaknesses, albeit forgivable at this stage of the season and the new regime. I’ll go against the consensus and say that I was really impressed with Vale. Wasn’t a revelation but his linkup play was of a good standard. He’s not got enough nous currently to lead the line but as a part of this “fluid front four” he’ll definitely be able to contribute. Somewhat staggered by the decision to only field one sub when five are now available. A couple of players were spent by the end.

Szmodics is an interesting one. His age and where he plays aren’t dissimilar to Dack and there are aspects of “threat” that each provides with some overlap but I think they’re not identical players. If it’s to provide cover or competition to the 10 role, who’s viewed as the better option? Do we have a strong central striker for either to play off? If it’s to light a fire under Dack’s arse, what’re the performance objectives for him for the season? Is he now viewed as super sub/rotation option? Can’t quite get my head around the logic and I hope I’m wrong but it seems a lot for a player without a huge amount of pedigree and at the beginning of their peak years. Are we panicky about Dack and alternatives? Food for thought, anyway.

A thousand fans Google “how to make snowballs in May.”

By comparison with Sparks’ no-doubt illustrious career, who wouldn’t be a rookie?

Heading home for the weekend especially to catch this and I suspect others will be travelling from equally far afield. Head is 1-1, but last time I was up was Sheff Utd at home, so let’s hope for a repeat of that.

Have you been watching a lot of The Wire, recently?

Totally agree here, I’ve raised q’s on Pickering’s physicality before. Depends how they’re prioritising, though, which we won’t find out ‘til the window shuts, I guess. Again, would love to see him join.

Genuine chance that Barnsley want a fair wedge for Styles (he’s an international and that’s fair enough), so if we don’t think LWB is too much a weakness, we look elsewhere and don’t want to splash out on that position. Think he’d be a really promising signing, but just my two pennies.

Deeply impressive stuff. Both content and to nail the questions and recounting it after.

Tricky one to understand, is Tayo. I think he can fill in at LB/LWB (although not sure he has good enough positional awareness when playing LWB), but I think he should be encouraged to challenge for a midfield battler role. Lefty CMs with a defensive leaning are tricky to come up against and if there’re right-footed opponents used to running the show from the middle, he would definitely be useful to disrupt that. Can’t see Trav being permanently dislodged but if Edun wants to push on in his career, he has to prove himself. I think either a first-choice LB/LWB or someone to push Pickering would allow the above. I have my doubts on Pickering, not convinced by him physically and the press may expose that side of his game.