The ‘football’ under JDT is so boring, we create nothing and in areas where you need pace and skill we have none. The front three having one of their worst performances of the season. Sam and Vale have failed to do basic things like control a ball or run. Get them both off

I would be happy to see Hirst go, he hasnt shown anything to warrant staying in the few games or cameos he has had. However, in fairness to the lad we just don't play a system that suits traditional strikers. Its the same reason Gallagher gets so much grief for his goal record. A striker thrives on crosses in the box, through balls, cut backs in the penalty area, neat 1-2s on the edge of the box. All the things we dont do as a team. The role of a striker in our system is more akin to a pressing midfielder like Dolan who harrasses their defence into mistakes for the wide lads or midfielders to take advantage of. So whoever we replace him with they need to make sure it suits the playing system otherwise we will just be sat here slagging some other fella off in a few months time.

Like others if I wasn’t a season ticket holder no way would I be going to this. stupid time and not really enjoying our football this season. In terms of the match if we can play like in the first half from Boro we should turn these over comfortably but nothing seems to be going our way lately so prob lose.

Thought the first half was a decent performance with a good mix of short passing and more direct cross field balls. Probably should have bagged one or two more. Also Boro could have had a couple and got down the wings a lot. Second half was just ruined by a poor first 5 mins then the red card. Stupid to do it but no right minded ref would red card for that. So a better performance than of late but nothing to show for it. Desperate for 3 points v Cardiff now

Totally agree with this. Every single player would benefit from a a change of formation and tactics so why do we persist with it. He won’t get 15 new players in January. It isn’t like we are playing this way to get the best from Diaz or Dack or anyone. Baffling

The less said about Saturday the better! One thing that irritates me though is how JDT was adament he wanted the world cup break to instill the style and tactics into the players like a fresh team would burst out post the break. I realise its only one game but that was as bad if not worse than all the other games we have lost this season. A fair few of the ones we have won have also been just as bad but we got away with it. Optimism waning big style, as others have said same old mistakes rolled out every week and he doesnt address it on the field or in his interviews. No way we have performed well enough to be in the playoffs and pretty sure will be found out to the bottom half over the remaining 20 or so games without major changes.

Hang your heads in shame and refund the poor sods that travelled to watch that

So many stray or misplaced passes tonight

Yep should be 3 or 4 down complete shambles of a performance

Not sure I can watch anymore of this suicide foot all on display. All over the place needs half time and complete change in tactics and personnel

I feel like a stuck record but its the same issue again and again at the moment. The cohesion between defence, midfield and attack is non-existent, its like 3 mini teams playing instead of 1. For the first time this season, Morton on Saturday dropped in and ran the show linking the defence and midfield. The attack was still very much separate but thankfully broke away and scored 3 goals. Last night Morton didnt manage to replicate it and as a result the whole thing broke down like in most matches this season. In fact he ended up giving them a goal so you could argue cancels out his performance on Saturday! Under JDT we are tactically atrocious, forget being up near the top end of the league for the most part this season we have been utter shite. I thought the days of wingers at right back and strikers on the wing were over when Mowbray left. The manager says he needs the world cup break to instill his style of play into the team so I am willing to give him that. But if this same performance is rolled out after that then you have to start questioning his ability surely.

This is dreadful

This is exactly how I see it too Jim, for this to work we need more in midfield and they need to drop deeper to receive the ball off the defence. There was a prime example the other night were Ayala attemped to play a ground pass from the six yard box to the halfway line where Travis/Buckly were standing that was intercepted and nearly caused us to concede. JDT says they are picking the wrong options but I would argue that they arent provided with any options!

give this man a job on the coaching staff, agree with every word!

I dont like the passing out of the back either but it is an issue for midfield as much as the defence. In most games this season the gaps between defence, midfield and attack are far to large allowing the opposition to fill the gap with numbers and force possession to be turned over. Its blatent, and after 10 games should be being addressed rather than constant repetition in matches in the hope our centre backs will suddenly become Kevin de Bruyne esque at passing. It feels like the team is almost 3 mini teams of defence, midfield and attack with no cohesion between them

Of the permanent signings I think the defensive signings of Hyam and Brittain are looking good buys. Less so on Szmodic who just looks totally lost in most the performances I have witnessed so far. I wouldnt at this stage be offering any money for Hirst either who looks way short of match fitness. Morton has been ok but would rather see Wharton or Buckley developing in there who seem to be on a par with him talent wise.

I think a big decision he needs to make is whether to play 2 or 3 at the back. personally I think we look at our most comfortable with 3 centre backs but he seems to keep swapping it about which I dont think helps any of the players getting familiar with a system. Too much tinkering so far, just play your best team and if players get tired after an hour sub them off rather than bringing them on as he does at the moment.

Well I didn't see that coming, best performance of the season and dominated from start to finish. For the first time this season at home I saw a team with a game plan and the intensity to match it. It is hard to single anyone out but I think Dolan gave their backline a really tough night constantly harassing and turning over possession which I think is exactly what JDT wants from the forwards. The back 5 as well were immense and made it look easy, we looked a million times more solid than we have in recent weeks. I was really worried so far this season but if that is the standard going forwards I will be very happy.

Think it’s been said by plenty others but yet again the tactics and game-plan cost us in this one. That’s three in a row. You can argue we don’t have quality players but its no excuse for the lack of passing and movement in the first half. Once again the distance between the defence, midfield and attack was massive meaning all they did was go backwards into trouble. It’s also no excuse for the lack of effort and aggression shown by the players in the first half. Stoke just wanted it more whilst most our team went into hiding. The first half was basically Stoke vs. Daniel Ayala. Really worried about the start to the season we look clueless.

Big week on the training ground to stop the rot setting in I feel. Two woeful performances that are on a par if not worse then Mowbray’s worst. There seems to have been a fundamental breakdown in the tactics last 2 games. The high intensity pressing has gone and the overall positioning of players when we have the ball too. All that leads to is a quick turnover of possession back to the opposition as the gaps between defence, midfield and attack are so big you could drive a cruise ship through them. Ayala and Pickering aren’t going to launch accurate 60 yard passes every time they need a couple of short options and players making themselves available. I hate to say it but the last two games a lot of players have gone into hiding and need to take a long hard look at themselves. Particularly the front 3 and Buckley.

It’s one thing to be be lacking quality in certain areas but tactically it’s abysmal. There is acres of space between players when we get the ball leaving a player to turn back or just hit and hope. The players need to get much closer to each other for some short simple passes. Ball retention is the worst I’ve seen since Kean days

It’s like reading game just carried on after the 90 mins. Should be down by a few goals and literally incapable of keeping possession or passing to a team mate. What has happened in last few days?!?

If we lose Ash Phillips on top of the big assets lost already due to a lack of admin on contracts then its time for Venky's to sack Waggot. It's absolutely criminal that a club that relies on academy development to fund the club and drive the 1st team has lost so much in such a short space of time. You can only blame Waggot for a complete failure to negotiate in the longer term interests of the club. Yes that might mean paying a few grand more in the short term but you have to weigh it up against getting £5m fee plus % future sales on players. It is like the administrative part of the club from contracts to ticketing to marketing is overseen by a complete clown.

I had a stadium tour on fathers day and the pitch was looking good, the guide also showed us the new weave and light units so can confirm 🙂

A nice F you from Waggot in the telegraph today, his view and that of the fans absolutely poles apart reading his comments.