Mazrim

Drawing too many has been the bane of us for three seasons now.

I think Smiths motivation to do better was because its his job and he wants to succeed, rather than degree of fan pressure. I think thats a bizarre notion to be honest. So if we do go up, absolutely all credit will go to Smith and his team. On the point of Leeds, well, I agree that I would rather not face them. However, if they fall short of the automatics after looking lije shoe ins all season, it will be very demotivating and they could be more vulnerable. I also agree that, playing like we are now, we should fear nobody and could in fact be the best, most complete team in the division. If we keep everybody fit. Its the perfect time to get everything right.

Not at all. I think he's caught that bug.

Its better to carry momentum into the playoffs than reach for the top, stagnate a bit and flounder, like we did last year to a degree. We look like building some.

Im confident we'll finish above Bristol and Boro and really, so we should. Boro next. At Villa Park, without their best defender and considering we wiped the floor with them up there, I'd be very disappointed with anything less than 3 points. The playoffs beckon...

I wouldn't put Chester back in at all. I don't rate him. if Tuanzebe is fit he goes in alongside Mings and Hause back to left back. Taylor has done OK recently but I'd still prefer him on the bench.

I don't know what to think anymore. My head says Smith hasn't had a proper chance yet, and I'm sure he hasn't. And its fair to say this isnt his squad yet at all. But. We havent played well since West Brom. Even with this disjointed tired band of misfits we should have turned in a few more convincing performances than we have. Is Smith being asked to polish a turd beyond reason or is he just not up to it? Is it all just a case of Grealish being absolutely essential? Has ge been let down in the trabsfer window? We carried no momentum from it - two left sided centre halves, a curious midfielder who is already injured and a right back we definitely need but can't have yet. I don't know what the answer is. But we dont look anything like the team we were in November and just the loss of Grealish seems too easy to justify it. I'm fed up. I think only Grealish's return and some brave and timely refresh of the team with youth will possibly save our season and it's probably too late already. Let Smith try and build a squad or try something else? I haven't got a clue. I guess Im still of the mind that he gets a proper chance but I cant stomach that same team, more or less, taking the field every game and phoning it in. There has to be something else to try. Anything. Bad night. Bad month or 2.

I think our midfield is terrible. Theres just nothing good to say about it so far tonight. Nervous and lethargic.

If one thing baffles me its how he keeps starting.

I asked the guys at NASA JPL and they say their Crays came up with... It is mostly Bruce's team.

Lets not pretend we've been manhandled by footballing supermen. We've been poor. We've both had limited chances. They've been had more, we've had better. Its not a great game yet. Another half like that one will be very disappointing.

Hardly

Nope. Some of the worst football Ive ever seen under Bruce. This is merely cack.

Indeed. The players were picked by a committee of commitees. They just appear on the training ground like Terminators emerging from a ball of energy. Naked and confused.

If we're in the PL? Absolutely.

I'm really not sure what made him awful. He was busy, energetic and hungry. Yes, he overhit some crosses and is raw, but he was much better and more dangerous than Adomah. And he scored I wouldn't mind him being that terrible again.

Completely agree. That calls for a strong central midfield and hard working wide men and unfortunately we dont have that. I'd still give it a go if plan A isn't working mind.

The midfield is the biggest weak point for me now. Lacks mobility and creativity and energy. Grealish will be the biggest boost. McGinn is very eager and busy but not creative. Id throw Carroll in too to complement those two and keep the ball moving. I'd show El Ghazi videos of him playing in November and ask where he has gone. And Adomah hasn't been the same since the Blues match. If they don't show up soon I'd throw Green in and maybe Davis up with Tammy. As for defence, Mings and Tuanzebe would seem the obvious choice for me. Fullbacks, we're stuck with a shit sandwich. Possibly throw Chester alongside Tuanzebe and move Mings to left back.

Frustrating result but far from the worst we've played. Grealish would have made a huge difference as has been said many times no doubt. Clean sheet and not scoring are both rarities. Not scoring won't happen much I reckon, even with our ineffective wingers and hopefully clean sheets will happen more going forward.

I dont remember anybody celebrating when Albrighton and Cahill left and I still don't care about any of the others mentioned, nor would want or welcome them back.

I just can't believe how defeatist some people are. You'd think we were getting hammered every week and not scoring, or 20 points outside the play off places.

We have 2 players who can play left back. Mings especially has excelled at that position in this division before. I know Smith said he's been brought in to play centre half mainly, but he will be considering him for left back too, along with Hause. Yes, we should have got a specialist in and yes, Taylor makes baby Jesus cry tears of blood lately, but there are at least alternatives now. I dont get the right back situation but at least Hutton and Elmo wont be an issue next season.

Yeah, lets not pretend Hourihane is an all action maestro all of a sudden. 96% of the time I forget he's on the pitch. Carroll isn't what I would have gone for personally but I would have no qualms throwing him in instead of Hourihane at the moment. Bear in mind that Swansea fans still point at aircraft and black people in amazement.

Oh Carroll.

He would get in our starting XI. So he's welcome.