"Death spiral" still on then Forever?

He would still score an absolute shitload as prior to his first injury he could do it all on his own. That's an irrelevant comparison though, we're never likely to find another Shearer even if we had unlimited money to spend. We do need at least one and probably two viable attacking options.

He was the nearest player and should have been picking him up. Not switched on to the situation and was marking space Did the EXACT same thing for Sunderland's first at Ewood.

Not way off but he was just off. Again in that sort of situation you have to be alert and time your run perfectly.

I agree. I had no beef with the starting line up, thought it was quite positive from Eustace. It wasn't as though they over-ran us as a result. As for subbing Gueye and ACD off and bringing on players like Weimann, Hedges and JRC when we're losing - I think it makes us less likely to score. Highlights the desperate need for reinforcements.

Tronstad turned off for the goal. That was the only real difference between the two sides today and apart from that everyone would probably have been relatively happy with the result had it finished 0-0 irrespective of the rather obvious deficiencies in our performance. I've no idea how you get this lot scoring though. Eustace has worked miracles to get us where we are as it is.

Wilsden! Wash your mouth out with soap and water! Lol.

100% Den.

They don't need one. They won.

You've got to want to influence the game before you can. I don't think Cantwell would make much of an impression if he had Messi at his peak in front of him.

I didn't think Baker was bad today for a loan player he certainly bought into the importance of the fixture and was fully invested. Overall I'd say he's as good as you're likely to get as back up. Really nasty challenge by him on 5 mins though which should have seen red, he fouled the Burnley player then as the opponent was on the way down he did him on the back of the achilles. Don't like to see that, notwithstanding it was a Burnley player he could have caused very serious injuries. Elsewhere there were any number of petulant, niggly fouls by players on both sides and I thought the ref did very well to keep 22 players on the pitch.

The game paled into insignificance when I found out Lisa formerly on the Disabled Supporters Committee had passed away age 42. Must have had an incredibly difficult life but always incredibly cheerful and always ready to try and drink the next person under the table if required. If you think you have problems - you probably haven't in the general scheme of things. RIP Lisa. (Please put this in a separate thread if required)

Who is the real captain on the pitch. Immense again today but lucky the shirt pull and take down in the area wasn't spotted.

As with the first goal against Sunderland absolutely appalling from Tronstad for their goal. Gave the ball away to initiate the move then when the cross came in didn't realise the guy who scored was coming in behind him. Pretty even game overall, must have been a dire spectacle for the neutral, overall we weren't quite good enough. Two points from five games, no wins since Travis has been out, heaven knows where we'll end up without reinforcements. Edit: Cantwell offers nothing for me - all fur coat and no knickers.

I'm an avid watcher of the big televised darts tournaments, and and was really looking forward to Ally Pally this year but have to say I found it very disappointing overall. It seemed to go on and on forever with countless matches involving players you'd never heard of or had only ever seen on the very odd occasion. Considering how long the tournament goes on for the early games are also an extremely short format which can catch players cold and which this year did for Michael Smith, Rob Cross and my personal favourite Gary Anderson very early doors. Lots of games in the last 16 and 32 involving relatively poor players and very few barnstorming matches - the two semi finals and final being a case in point, two 6-1 matches and 7-3 in the final. I think the tournament would be better if they knocked a round out and limited it to 64 players and made the opening couple of rounds a little longer. Delighted though that Luke Littler won, apart from a nervy opening match he was the pick of the crop by far and is the most naturally gifted darts player I've ever seen. I wonder how he can maintain his enthusiasm for it having won the major prize a mere year into his career but if he could maintain Phil Taylor levels of discipline and focus and current form he could have a good stab at Taylor's record. Huge ask though - if he won one every two years he'd still be nearing 50 by the time he did it. Surprised to see the negative comments on the Premier League though, I find it compulsive viewing! Each to their own. It does badly need some fresh faces in the starting line up though and this year I expect we'll get that.

Yep. That's two with him and Sigurdsson. Presume Garrett wasn't getting any game time at his loan club.

Steve Archibald. What an impact he had. Just need SWAG to authorise Suarez's 6m E p.a. Inter Miami salary. Do you think we could order enough shirts in to cover it? Lol.

He's certainly been rattling them in for Inter Miami. 21 goals and 9 assists in 30 appearances.

Well, Broughton didnt convince Brereton to sign a deal after he arrived. Probably a fait accompli by that stage but it would have been major for us even if the player was being sold He also only left in summer and it would appear we have a full on crisis brewing if not at the end of this season, certainly by the end of next season. Still been no real effort to tie down experienced players who might be after a higher wage as it were. Against that, once The owners Waggott and Broughton had flogged off Phillips, Wharton and Szmodics, given the performances last season you would probably argue that there was no-one worth tying down other than Carter - which he did - so I wouldn't criticise him on the contract front - there's plenty to go at apart from that.

Great picture. Good find Gav.

OK, I'll take your word for it, I may have been thinking of the 2020 injury. Time flies faster than you think. Good work on finding a list of the renewals that were signed. Very much geared towards youngsters with potential (at the time) or maximising the value of players that were about to be sold in the main.

He's had two fairly serious injuries hasn't he? He was definitely out at the time because someone I know who knows his parents said Scott couldn't believe he'd been offered a bumper new deal whilst out with a long term injury.

But we no doubt will. Not Fulham in particular, just PL Clubs in general.

So really - Buckley (seemed a bold move at the time but player has fallen off a cliff since. No way of knowing that at the time) Scott Wharton (sidelined with a serious achilles injury at the time), Carter (fair play) Pears (don't suppose that would have been a popular decision at the time) Rankin Costello. Not as good as it appears at first glance but shouldn't knock it I suppose as it's more than we're doing currently.

I'd pass on that unless we are absolutely desperate. Not bothered about the Burnley connection either but I'd rather have someone on the way up than the way down. Also his name conjures up visions in my mind of an overpaid prima Donna. That might be completely unfair as I've no idea either way.