Signed some real dross with the possible exception of Stephane Henchoz who was a class centr half. He had Zanetti, Djorkaeff, Ince and Aaron Winter in midfield when he was in Italy and they were still crap to watch. He did best at clubs were he had hardly any money to spend.

I learnt that lesson listening to the panel after a game in the 1966 World Cup. They were discussing a pass Bobby Charlton made. George Cohen, who was a bit erratic on the ball at right back, had made a run outside Charlton towards the byeline. Instead of passing the ball directly to Cohen Charlton played it up to the touchline making Cohen sprint and cross the ball as soon as he got there. Malcolm Allison said - “ That’s what I call pulling the strings, he made Cohen cross that ball because of where he played the pass “.

Thinking about it - then the ball was played in front of players most of the time for them to run on to. Now it’s played directly to players much more, consequently they’re taking it stood still and they still need two touches.

I liked how everybody was looking to get the ball forward at the first opportunity. The game was more spread out then, there was room for the midfield players to work. Todays it’s all bunched up in the middle.

Good to see Tony Parkes striding across the midfield. Some really good players in that team.

Very dubious, even in todays football. Jimmy Hill, what a shit bag, he never had a good word for us. Showed what a good player Tony Field was, a quicker version of Bradley Dack. I would have put my house on him scoring with that first half chance. What a great advertisement for the old Div 3 that game was. Eccles and Fazackerley must have been our youngest centre half pairing. When you watch that game and then todays football it’s like chalk and cheese, a completely different game.

Phillips and Mola are having their turn on the treatment table apparently.

One dimensional manager.

West Ham are supposed to be lining up a January bid.

One thing is for sure we won’t beat the number of sendings off at yesterdays Boca Juniors v Racing Club game.

I was optimistic until I saw our second half on Saturday.

Southampton looking for a new manager now. Jones at Luton in the favourites apparently.

Being around the 40C mark in July and August isn’t quite as enticing.

Yeah it must be shit living in Sevilla. Where we stay, not too far away, the forecast is mid 20’s C all week.

In my experience players who have had serious injuries previously aren’t happy with doing extra training because they don’t want to exacerbate the injuries. Some of them hardly wanted to train at all.

Have they sorted out the traffic jams around Torrevieja yet ?

Strikers have to self centred to be successful, that’s a given. However I thought Armstrong took that to an extreme. Just my opinion.

If we win on Sunday with a goal just like that I’ll be doing handstands !

There can only be one winner if it’s come down to this. The manager has to be seen to be in charge and what he says has to be the final word. Dack has been great for us and pre injuries he was a shining light. As good a player as we’ve had out of the Premier League. Not quite in the Garner, Speedie league but not far behind. Just my opinion of course. I’ll be really sorry to see him go but the manager has to prevail in situations like this.

I know that but we needed him to be where he was most likely to get the ball given we were just booting it down field most of the time.

That might be on paper but in their heads it’s still 40,000+ every week. I have a pal who’s from Sunderland.

I can’t remember a home game under Big Sam were we spent the last half an hour defending our last third of the pitch almost totally.

I’d have brought Garrett on as well. That and put Brererton up the middle instead of leaving him out on the left wing were he was basically out of the game.

That’s up to Wharton, on his day he’s a real talent. Just don’t expect him to do it in a midfield two against three.

Bloody hell. Is there anybody at Ewood that hasn’t given the treatment table a whirl this season ?