Miller11

I mean we are never going to get a no nonsense type while the lions are here. So I’d be as happy with Johnson as anyone.

Good post @JoeH We have been stung before with promoting excellent coaches and assistants to a managerial role. Haford and Kidd being prime examples. We’ve also had the glaring example of a prick of a coach blagging the job, but that’s a whole other story. @Amo rightly points out the Peter Principle... it occurs all over the place all the time, and football is no different. I really don’t know enough about him to suggest whether he’d be a success or failure, but I don’t think he should just be appointed on the basis he is already here. In all honesty, after all his impressive work with the youth set ups and U23s, I’d have liked to have seen a bit more of a noticeable impact on the first team in the games we have played so far. We still, for me, lack any real identity or playing style. I’m also not the biggest advocate of an overly statistical approach to the game, which I guess makes me a dinosaur in this day and age. If we are to roll the dice though, the type of manager I think we need is exactly the type of manager who would never work under Venkys in a month of Sunday’s. So on that basis I wouldn’t be disappointed if Johnson was given a go.

Well... I’ve just spent the last hour watching the Premiere of NWA Power. I thought it would have some kitch, curiosity value, but I wasn’t expecting that! It was absolutely brilliant! For those unfamiliar with the concept, it’s a throwback to the old ‘studio wrestling’ the NWA used to put out way back when. Just a ring in front of a studio audience in Atlanta. No entrances, no fancy sets... yet it’s the freshest, most interesting show I’ve seen in a long time. For all the talk of AEW portraying itself as a sports program - don’t bother now, you won’t match up to this. A few pre and post match interviews, a bit of a brawl, and plenty of good old fashioned wrestling. The roster is pretty well balanced. Some names you may be familiar with: Nick Aldis, Thom “Bram” Latimer, Ken Anderson/Kennedy, Rock n Roll Express, Aaron “Damian Sandow” Stevens, James Storm, Trevor Murdoch, Eli Drake, Colt Cabana... and Jim Cornette on commentary. It won’t be to everyone’s tastes, no doubt about it, but if you are tired of the over the top WWE nonsense, give it a look. For me it strikes the perfect balance of retro nostalgia and quality wrestling. And it’s only an hour long and broadcast via YouTube.

Do you follow our fortunes at all closely? Because that’s not a million miles from our current scenario. For the record, I would take a season in the Premier League, gaining zero points and scoring zero goals and being relegated by Christmas - because it would give us financial security and a possible end to Venky purgatory. We are currently losing millions every year just to maintain mid table mediocrity in the Championship. It can’t continue indefinitely. The only way we can substantially increase revenue is promotion. If we cut costs we get relegated.

I think I’m done with the main WWE product now. There are a few wrestlers I like on there, but it’s just the same old faces in the same old feuds week in week out, despite their hugely bloated rosters. It’s just so boring. I don’t think Heyman and Bischoff are going to be doing anything too radical, besides I’m not sure what would work. I’ll likely watch Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. Maybe the odd match that grabs my attention after the event, or any anniversary show or the like where they feature legends. Didn’t think I’d be saying this, but AEW tops the list for me at the moment (this could change rapidly). I’ll also watch NXT U.K. time permitting and all takeovers. I watched a bit of MLW, which I quite enjoyed, but not to the extent I would commit to regular viewing. I’m really intrigued by the NWA Studio Wrestling idea, so I’m going to try and catch some of that. This on top of fairly regular attendance at indy shows I’m pretty spoilt for choice at the minute, so I won’t miss Raw and Smackdown at all!

The only thing I remotely cared about on the show was Wyatt. Don’t want to “spoil” it, but it was absolutely terrible.

Here’s a team talk for any opposition manager playing against us: Get at the fullbacks. Overload them because they will be isolated. Throw crosses high into the box at every opportunity. You can bully the centre halves with very little effort. Get an early goal and we’ve won the game. They will go hiding. Get in their faces, there isn’t a spine between the lot of them.

Brilliant post! ??

Chris Coleman recommended Steve Kean to Allardyce, so he can fuck off.

At the start of the summer, Mowbray was as critical as anyone about the lack of ability of our defenders. I can’t believe anyone aside from a few glass is overflowing types on twitter, who only chirped up after the event, genuinely believed Williams - a player who’d been playing under Mowbray for 2 and a half years, was suddenly the answer. The Tosin signing became a saga, Mulgrew started as Captain before being unceremoniously bombed out... there is definitely more to our frankly bizarre transfer business than meets the eye.

Sounds like he is sulking.

Neil Harris has legendary status at Millwall, far beyond what Mowbray could ever dream of here. He genuinely loves the club, and took the decision to walk away for their betterment. We are one place above Millwall on goal difference.

Watch their first goal back and tell me he isn’t lazy. I’d have far less of an issue if he played up top, but I never want to see him play out wide again.

Give it Souness til the end of the season. If for no other reason than at least he might crack a few of their pathetic heads on the training ground. An Armstrong consolation is just depressing as it justifies playing the lazy, greedy little twerp going forward.

You could comfortably play a midfield 2 of Holtby and any of the other options if you played actual wingers instead of wide strikers.

I hate him playing on either. Whichever fullback has the misfortune of being behind him is completely exposed. I can’t remember the last game he didn’t play, but I really don’t rate him one bit. You can make a decent argument for him playing on current form because he’s actually scored a couple, but 2 in 25 (I think it is) shows what a charmed life he has led to still be an automatic pick.

I think Mowbray would confuse the words ‘natural balance’ with Swahili, judging by his fondness of playing wrong footed strikers on the wings.

Looks as though Evans is creeping back up the pecking order

8 or 9 players are guaranteed to start, with a couple of likely candidates and a possible wildcard. I think Rothwell is most likely to win the tombola today. At some point, for no apparent reason, Smallwood is going to start an away game. Hopefully not today.

I think they are a (slightly) different colour. Apparently based on the red and green of the Lancashire rose. Used to be quite seriously into my Adidas collecting but sold off about 40 pairs of trainers and 30 jackets a few years ago. Wish I’d kept them... or used the money more wisely!

Really? I saw a lot before the season had even started. Twitter was full of it also. Obviously Graham isn’t going to be around much longer, but we seem completely unable to replace him despite spending the best part of 13 million quid trying to. By and large we look a better side with him in the team.

I didn’t see all of it, but from what I did, I agree. Was looking forward to the Rock, but it was same old same old. I don’t get the fascination with Becky Lynch either. I’m just praying they don’t ruin Bray Wyatt completely on Sunday. The whole show seemed a bit desperate.

Brereton has been ‘not ready’ or injured for 90% of his time here. Graham has been, and remains consistently available. He’s chosen to play in the reserves recently, and generally being a model pro, not to mention our best player last year. But apparently he is suddenly past it.

Funny how Graham’s decrepit 34 year old body seems to stand up to the rigours of football better than Brereton 20 year old body.