As an aside, would people take O'Neil over Mowbray and the style of play he brings with it?

As you say the pitch is really going to be in horrific condition even by half time, nevermind 90. Doesn't lend itself to pretty (and largely ineffective football) at all and will probably favour Stoke more than us. It'll go 1-0 either way, perhaps even needing a penalty or some set piece magic. In the interest of positivity I'll go for a 1 nil win, Branthwaite header on his debut.

I didn't even watch the game yesterday, nor am I remotely bothered about going out of the cup. Why its even going ahead this season I've no idea. The FA cup is about fans for me, mainly lower league fans getting that chance to mix it up against the big boys. The final will be ridiculous without fans too, at best I think there could be a very limited number there. Our current defensive crisis isn't able to cope with extra cup games, looking at the teams others are putting out they aren't particularly arsed either. All that said though, I did read up on the game and watch the highlights. Utterly pathetic from Mowbray. Just throwing players on with no obvious formation or gameplan or anything. No emotion, no encouragement, literally fuck all from him. Now as I've already said I'm not arsed at all to exit the cup, but I'm also not paid silly amounts to motivate a team to win matches! He's lucky no fans were present yesterday because people would have been absolutely livid and let him know. Doing himself absolutely no favours at the moment, the fanbase now must have the lowest number of pro-Mowbray supporters than it ever has. His interviews, wow, its as though he is deliberately trying to piss us off now.

We could do with Ronnie Pickering to add a bit of nastiness to the team 🤨

I've no idea how good those lads from Liverpool, City or Everton are, but we're above them all in the table so are they gonna be THAT much better than our own youngsters? I'd prefer a bit more experience personally although appreciate someone that fits that bill may not be so easy to find.

https://the72.co.uk/208452/cedric-kipres-west-brom-omission-becomes-clearer-after-bilic-departure-ex-wigan-athletic-man-wasnt-his-signing/ This might explain his lack of game time under Billic.... Someone who can play at centre half and right back would be a perfect fit given our predicament, so all things considered I'd take a punt on him.

That's the bit I don't quite understand. Their defence is shocking and has been all season yet not once have either Billic, or up to now Allardyce given him a shot. He played for their u23 team last game which as far as I can see is his only game time at all for the club. Unless Allardyce has come in and seen he's not match fit so giving him some games for the u23 team to get him up to speed now.

Crooke running a story now on Lancs Live saying we have contacted the baggies about Kipre. I would say that ones very likely to happen. The only reason it won't is if Sam looks at another defensive collapse by them last night and thinking he might be able to do a job, or of course Kipre himself gets a better offer.....

That doesn't mean it won't happen though, have you seen our track record with defenders lately? He wasn't shit at Wigan but appears to have stalled badly, West Brom have a -28 goal difference yet he can't get a game, something very odd.

Why move on? He's likely to be available to loan and we wanted him previously, its a lot more likely than plucking a name out of thin air.

He played for their reserves just before Xmas too in which they conceded 4 goals, didn't get very good reviews and one fan described him as the worst defender they've ever had......

You said he hasn't made the matchday squad all season which is wrong, he's made it the last 3 games for example 🤣

Yeah he has, he definitely was against Leeds and Liverpool

Fosu-Mensah rejected a new contract and will probably be looking to sort a permanent deal away as he'll be available on a free.

Kipre isn't even amongst the subs tonight, I would say its a fair bet someone has a deal lined up for him.

Very interesting...... Any guesses who we're interested in? Kipre? Just seems to be an unused sub all the time.

Some obvious positives and a welcome 3 points of course. I do however think that it was largely down to how utterly terrible brum were, worst I've seen all season and if you fail to score against that patched up defence you really are in trouble! It'll be interesting to see what a difference a fully fit Travis can make. Really tough couple of games following the cup match if it even goes ahead.

I would have thought so. Ayala notoriously gets injured when its cold outside.

Pike and Carter have travelled apparently...

They're 2 different websites/journalists that you've posted...

Its gonna be an absolute shit shower this if injury news is bad Just play 2 at the back and annihilate them

Yes but who the hell else could have played there

He's not match fit, at all. However, the reserves don't play again till 25th Jan, he has no other way of getting match fit than these 30 min sub appearances.

Buckley is garbage, but no point putting Nyambe in a wheelchair trying to keep him playing with a hammy. Which was always, always, always bound to happen.

Course I do yep. Not to visit the soulless grounds, or see so called superstar players. Just to survive.