Got a gut feeling Hull are gunna save us here. Can see shef weds getting a result, and can see us losing. Birmingham need a win mind and norwhich are safe in playoffs..

Will be alot of top half team losing results going against us if relegated!

Either way we've likely got the easiest run in now out of the relegations scrappers.. lets hope at least cov or leicester have taken the pedal off, and we put it down when needed for once!

I'd be happy with carter and hyam if a back 4 (with o'riorden and a new that can cover rb) if a back 5 i think we need 2 cb's.. happy for a loan to cover scott, gutted for him though had some great games this season.. can't see mcfadz staying unless we go down, league one with his age/pace?

4 hours ago, tomphil said:

Rhodes - Graham - Dack - Armstrong - Brereton - Szmodics 

Common denominator ?

Every one of them cost money including DG who was on Prem wages.

The line has run dry now if we do not INVEST in one or two forwards you can stick your entire savings on relegation next year. A new contract for big Sam isn't the answer and hanging the hat on Telalovic type punts or Leonard or Siggy to come up with enough is like a turkey looking forward to Christmas.

It's not happening and neither is 'oh well if more players chip in we'll be fine'

Massive summer for spin doctor Broughton and the affiable Mr Eustace.

It's incredible how lucky our hit rate has been with striker signings the last 10 years or so. Or am i forgetting all the duds (ie goodwillie). A 20+ goalscorer has come out the (albeit expensive) woodwork everytime drastically needed. A lot of clubs havnt had anything close.

I think 8 mil and i'd keep him (as a goalscorer is coming from nowhere otherwise), 15 mil+ i'd sell and reinvest (w wharton + raya cash) to make a solid squad for 2-3 years (wage budget wouldnt last longer) and take a punt at promotion. Neither will happen.

I wonder if day passes for efl will be cheaper also!

Hope i can still watch the full match replays for free

Point or win against wednesday and we're safe

Eager to hear his reasonings.. tactically that was lost before a ball was kicked.

Well the quadruple change was interesting, which led to passing it around the back and absolutely no forward intent. Worst i've ever seen us play in the flesh. I live down here and they have bizarre fans, takes 4 goals up until they're singing. Had to endure that from the home end..

Bristol will be only game i make this season, so a win would be amazing. Goddamn we need it..

I agree gallagher adds a well needed physical side to the game, despite not being amazing at it.. i think we'll get more results if we play like that - JDTs fluid quick passing style with a confident defence, wing backs not being over commited and exposing us. A nice mix of long ball and playing from the back. Like a normal team

I agree would go back 4, but cant see him making changes whilst winning. Would rather see full backs defending channels then any of that back 3. Wharton was trying to play like his brother at one point there (quite effectively to be fair!!)

Ayari and buckley would be pretty effective in a midfield 3 with tronstad behind them.. cant say anyone on bench fills me with confidence except siggy keeps getting skinned so would bring on hedges

Leos made good saves but distribution awful, we keept trying clever through balls rather than to feet.

We're in no position to let anyone go in the summer (except a couple dud strikers), if fadz could do another season i think we'll need just a LB in defence, would sign chrisene!

Couple of cm's, winger and x2 strikers.. maybe gk depending how pears gets on.

Could do it with 10m easy, i reckon max 5 mil will be spent..

48 minutes ago, Groundhog said:

Was chatting to my Dad this weekend after the Stoke game, who has witnessed far more football in his 74 years than I have, we're both delighted with the win but almost a deep frustration who it can take a change in manager to totally shift the players as a group. To him, having watched some of the most famous successful sides down the years, he finds it almost unbelievable that a team can be so wedded to a set of tactics even though it clearly ain't working, with players just doing what they are told. 

I'd like to know from people who have played to a decent level, how is t possible for teams to continue with systems that clearly aren't working, following them to the letter. What's it like in the dressing room? Is it just a case of the players with their heads down, shrugging their shoulders, "it's what the gaffer wants"...

Is it case of the game now being so professional that players carry out tactics regardless, or is coupled with the fact that we haven't had any real leaders or experience on the pitch to help manage certain situations - i.e at Turf Moor last season, "put your foot through it Clinton!"

I've been guilty of being jobsworth at times when certain bosses, managers and clients treat you in certain ways or tell you what to do even though you disagree - I suppose you just coast through, get it done and go home. It's so hard to imagine this happens in football, but it must like any job. 

If anything the game on Saturday made me more and more angry at the last 6 months of JDT's reign if I'm honest, that through this blind commitment to this style of play we're risking a dalliance with relegation.

I find Brittain's comments pretty revealing:

"As a group, we have spoken in the last week about using Gally's strengths. Hedgey coming in at the back post, we don't do it enough."

"I think we turn down crosses and we come out too much. We want to put the ball in dangerous areas and we did, it caused problems.

"I think it is a strength for me, crossing. It wasn't something the last gaffer wanted, it was a different style," he explained.

"The manager (Eustace) told us to take the shackles off, I think we did that today. I'm very excited to work under him."

They obviously know what they want, but under the previous regime couldn't do anything about it. I find it really frustrating.
 

It is interesting, as we were quite effective, gally won a lot of flick ons and Dolan was there to pick up. 'Releasing the shackles' were they really told not to cross it? Mad. We don't have a plan b target man mind.

I did think we didn't play amazingly also though, and Stoke were awful but had chances. We'd lose against a better team.

Going to be very interesting seeing how we play now, its a great jumping off point for Eustace my opinion. As JDT had some very positive attacking aspects drilled into them.

Have to say Tomasson gave me Jeremy Corbyn vibes (think what you will of him!) First glimmer of hope in years, enjoyed watching us play, though with its flaws. Did a good job and a what if / could of gone all the way if backed properly

The bench we've been putting out for most this season has barely been league 2 standard.. crazy really.

Wayne rooney may have something to not say about that new manager bounce.

Big game for moran, can't lose the ball everytime he gets it like normal..

Devils advocate, i doubt he's built a squad/teams style of play around having one 19 year old (relatively untested at start of season) who can play the pivot role with no backup. Must of been promised another CM though that isn't unfit. Reason enough

Well a very bad window all in all, adam needed replacing with a half decent playmaker. A lot of dud loanees purely to make up numbers. At least it looks better than last night - interested to hear what actually happened..

I think fleck (tbh never stood out to me when watching) and mcfadz are smart short term signings, can extend contracts next year to keep experience/leadership in squad, it was clearly missing. Not the best players now but have won promotions. 

Mcguire is a big risk, cant see him having an impact on this season, better than Ennis though? Lets see - worst thing is i'm actually happy Gally has stayed..

With JRC and flecks injury records (and buckley to an extent) its a massive onus on garrett to perform..

Seems theyv made an effort to stop shipping goals, cant see us scoring many though.

Wait are we even trying to sign someone?

Wouldnt say no to brannagan from oxford

Its funny how another article is saying we've hijacked Orlando's bid for that viking defender, seemingly their bid using the money we were paying them for their striker. Creative perhaps

Not expecting a happy ending here regardless.. this mcguires in his off season and would need to adjust, so wouldnt hit ground running anyway?

Either hearsay or we've agreed a deal with someone better, this guy looks a huge risk.

Or they're totally inept and signing nobody

Is this game on tv / going to be on in pubs anyone know?