Keener window-cleaner

Feel like I'm fighting an uphill battle here, but I think he contributes a lot, also today. He is strong and wins a lot of the one on one battles and he is very good in the air, both defensively and in attack. He tries to spread the passes and drives us forward as well. He had some awkward moments today, especially in the first half, but I would say that was partly because of the formation that confused some of the players. For me he has delivered as expected so far. An inch or two on our side and his goal wouldn't have been offside, and I think the reactions would have been different.

I disagree. He contributes very much defensively, is strong and very good in the air. He is a great precence in the middle of the pitch. As seen today he is a threat on corners as well. His passing isn't always great, but at least he tries to drive the team forward.

He is a constant liability, occasionally good intentions or good moves, only to in the next moment give the ball away or do something headless. Hands up, he was ok today, but still don't want him in the team.

Not sure what his position was supposed to be in this game, neither first or second half. Hopefully we will go with Jedinak and Tshibola in the middle.

Hopefully the change in performance in the second half ends this three at the back crap once and for all. 4-4-2 with RB, Elphick, Chester, Amavi; Adomah, Jedinak, Tshibola, Ayew; Kodjia, McScoremack (with Gestede coming on) will spank any team in the league. Very nice to see that Amavi is back to his old best, he was a constant threat going forward. Kodjia very good again.

I am a bit worried about this one, compared to Newcastle I think it is clear that we haven't yet found our feet with the formation or line-up. We don't seem fully settled yet. Hopefully the crowd helps us and lifts the team!

So basically we remove one striker and put in one more center back? Might be wise considering we concede fairly much and create many chances. Anything that works! Btw I thought 4-3-2-1 was the classic christmas tree formation, but I guess any formation that looks like a tree can fall in to that :-)

Or could it be a 4-4-2 with Chester or Baker as full back, Amavi and Adomah on the wings and Ayew and Kodjia as strikers?

I don't quite understand the line up, if we have Bacuna and Amavi as wing backs, where does then Adomah play? I thought he was an out and out winger.

Googled: guy from Uzbekistan Haven't done any background checks, but for the time being I vote for sticking with Dr Tony.

You said what?

I'm not comfortable with the calling for RDM to be sacked, media having polls on whether/when he should be sacked etc. I think it builds up an unnecessary pressure on the whole club and together with booing the players creates a toxic atmosphere. What would changing manager right now lead to? Most probably we would waste a couple of week getting the right manager (if such a manager really is available), the new manager would need weeks to get to know the players, trying to find out what formation etc that would suit us. RDM and his team have bought many new players, it would be very disruptive for them having a new manager come in with uncertainty if he rates the players or not. From what I have seen Dr Tony, Wyness and co are starting to build up a proper organization and Dr Tony has supported RDM in an unprecedented way in the Championship. We have an almost completely new starting eleven and the management team have had limited time to work with the players. I just don't understand the suggestion to sack RDM right now when we for the first time in a very long time have stability and a foundation to build upon. In parts we have played some great football in the last games, and although I was very worried about the last minutes of yesterdays game, there have surly also been many positives in the last games to build on. I haven't heard any reports of him loosing the dressing room or him not being fully comitted. Sacking RDM would be a big risk and we are not yet in a situation where we need to flip the coin. I hope Dr Tony, Wyness and co (and RDM) are strong enough not to fall under the pressure. The start of the season has been disappointing, but I believe the best for the club at the moment would be to show support and not yet call for drastic changes.

With the attacking players we have I would like to see a 4-2-3-2 formation with Grealish, McScoremack and Ayew behind Kodjia and Gestede. It would require us to play with one extra player though. You're the manager - you solve it RDM.

Well at least Bacuna wouldn't take any throw-ins at that position :-)

Next game only three days away, woohoo! I love the Championship!

It was a very entertaining game, can't remember the last time we created so many chances.

I rest my case and walk out - hand in hand with Gary G.

Eagle-eye IN!

Didn't want to repeat what I wrote in the match thread, but here goes :-) In that particular situation, I thought the fault for the goal was as much the other player who didn't meet his pass, at least it was both players fault, Westwood was far to easily bullied over and should have taken a free kick/yellow card when the player got passed him. The two central defenders was as much at fault to let their player have a free shot at goal, and one could as well fault Bunn. Apart from this bad pass just outside their penalty area, I thought he hardly put a foot wrong. He made several key blocks and headers just outside our area, showed good strength and won almost every duel in our half. Looking at his attacking play he contributed more than I have seen him do before, and considering he played such a big part in the defence, I was impressed by the number of forward bursts he made. He had at least two good shots at goal, of which one went very close. One of the bursts resulted in a free kick just outside their area, he also took good positions in their penalty area at many occations. Appart from this, he did the regular job of making himself available in the middle, making simple passes. I thought he contributed strongly to us dominating the game. He did, as Westwood gets praise for, make it ticking over, and on top of that, he was solid in defence and at the same time good in attack. We do see different thing in games, but for me he was one of our best players (stil prefer Tshibola and Jedinak though).

I thought his passing was a contributing factor to us dominating the game, I noticed that especially Elphick often gave the ball to him to start our attacks. Very comfortable going forward and a very good passer. That said, the main task of a defender is to defend, haven't seen the replays of the goals but I got the impression when I saw the goals that he was at least as much at fault as anyone else.

If their keep didn't have the game of his life, then they have made a real coup in that signing, what a player!

Athletic, fast, strong, good technique, hard working, good on the head - this was one of the most promising debuts I've seen, he so deserved to score. Perhaps off topic, but is that goal decision system, eagle eye or what it's called, in use in the Championship? Re his header that their freakish game of his life-keeper saved on the line, it looked like it didn't cross the line on the replay, but was a hard call.

I thought Gardner was one of our best players today.

In what way was Gardner piss poor? He made one bad pass at the edge of their penalty area before their first goal, but you can as well blame the player who didn't meet the ball, Westwood who then was too easily bullied, the defenders that let the greek have a shot at goal and perhaps even Bunn. Except that pass and one strike that cruised quite high over the bar, Gardner hardly put a foot wrong, moreover he was solid defensively and made several key blocks, he won quite many headers and tackles just in front of our penalty area. Attacing wise he made quite many bursts forward that resulted in free kicks outside their penalty area and got in to good positions to score. One of his shots got came very close. Appart from this, he did the routine midfield job to recieve the ball from the defence, passing it safe. I thought Gardner contributed to us completely dominating the game.