It's normally the manager that makes the difference in these situations. Allardyce being the classic example of taking any old players and getting them organised and set up correctly to become difficult to beat. Mowbray has never been about the defence in his entire managerial career. He isn't going to start now. I think it was yourself that posted a quote where he had 6 strikers on the pitch at the same time. He seems to believe we can be a possession based team and therefore under less pressure defensively, looking at the Charlton game, we had 62% possession (according to the BBC) which isn't too shabby but we still lost 2-1 because our defenders just aren't good enough when it matters.

That's a bit simplistic. (According to Mogga)

Yep, it will be. Should have been the number 1 priority over the summer to get in a couple of full backs and centre back. It took just 1 game to highlight that our defensive issues haven't been resolved in the slightest. When did we sign Bell? That back 4 against Charlton could have started a year and a half ago. Not good enough.

If we sign any defenders now, they will be considered back up in the extreme. Mowbray obviously thinks we have enough cover in all positions across the back 4 with Bennett, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams, Hart, Tosin Nyambe, Bell and at a push Downing. In fact, he wouldn't even acknowledge the back 4 as a problem after the Charlton defeat. It's a concern that we haven't replaced some of the above and it will cost us over the season.

We always ride the wave of optimism until Sharpe comes in and kicks us off our surf board

Theres not many things about football you do like!

Not another hatred for a Man Utd player?! Must have been that overhead kick past your boys that did it ?

If he starts with the same back 4 as he did against Charlton, he should be sacked on the spot. Nyambe needs to come in for Bennett and Tosin, although a largely unknown quantity needs to replace Mulgrew. Assuming Hart and Williams are still out injured, can't see anyone other than Bell in at left back. Not a fan of this idea of Downing being at left back. ------------------Walton Nyambe--Lenihan--Tosin--Bell ------------Travis--Johnson Armstrong----Dack-----Rothwell ---------------Graham

@DE. on absolute ? in this thread. Some great posts.

Just opened Twitter and this was at the top.

I actually reckon Mowbray might drop him for the Fulham game. Downside is, he will put Tosin there, who by all accounts struggles at right back.

He's got till Thursday to get a defender or 2 in and despite his post match comments, he bloody well needs to.

We were always conceding with that back 4. Just need to see if we have enough up front to bag.

FFS

Lee Bowyer probably did.

No Rothwell Mulgrew and Downing start

2 mins and we can see if we have progressed in anyway shape or form.

Expecting to beat them is one thing but expecting us put 6 past them is crazy, no matter how poor you think they are.

?? All you do is slate the manager and his signings as not being good enough. Now we are sticking 6 past someone?

Sky do hate us. I don't reckon we will make the play offs but i think we will finish higher than 19th

Nuttall leaving is probably best for everyone. The lad is lethal at U23 level but doesn't seem to have the same impact in the first team. Guessing we won't be getting much for him if he's off to Blackpool

I reckon we still start: -----------------Walton Benno---Lenihan--Mulgrew--Downing ----------Travis---Johnson Gally---------Dack--------Armstrong --------------Graham I can't see him starting the city lad, nor can i see him paying £5m for Gally and not playing him either. Brereton might start upfront ahead of DG too, after bagging a couple in preseason

I await his first red card with great anticipation

Any chance of me bedding Natalie Portman? Thought not.

I think the frustration (for me at least) is that the majority of our business so far has been decent. However it will be undone by failing to sign the defender we need. Looks like we've had targets and missed out, which is a shame. Sounds like we are working towards getting some in. So let's hope we get these deals over the line.