JamesBCFC

Should have been a pen, but Jerome wanted an Oscar instead.

I think his career has mostly been at teams at the top end of Serie B, so not sure what that standard is like, he had a few seasons in Serie A too, but no way would he have been used to Saturday-Tuesday games from the start of the season. Wright has done a decent job at RB, but we've missed Pisano as an attacking outlet because he loves to bomb forward. We're very lopsided when going forward, but when we eventually get Pisano and O'Dowda back that should change.

Our physio did an video update at the start of December and said it wasnt down to training or how we play. At least 2 were from bad tackles, O'Dowda put in a poor tackle and got hurt doing it, Diedhiou- now back- ripped 3 ligaments landing awkwardly after a Palace player made a back for him back in October. Our first choice RB has struggled with muscle problems, possibly related to the tempo of the league- after our Reading win he was huddled in a corner muttering "it's so fast, it's so fast"- he had only played in Italy until this season.

He went off in another game hurt, but was back for the next one. Our squad is so stretch now, we've had 7 players injured at the same time for nearly 3 months, and one of the players whose been fit has been playing with a hernia! Diedhiou who came on for Baker wont be match ready yet either, but at least adds another dimension when going forward.

2 enforced subs because of more injuries. 1 player back, 2 more injured. This is an absolute pisstake with our luck.

Derby on top first half, but their players falling over so easy they make Bambi on ice look stable.

Congratulations, you read my post and ignored the point being made.

I think we went completely gung-ho when 2 down against you. It nearly worked, with 2 shots goalbound before being blocked by our own players, but ultimately backfired. Had one of those gone in it would have been a different game, but it didnt and we carried on, and paid the price.

Wouldnt say we're a mess right now. Obviously 5 defeats in a row looks bad, but there's perspective behind each one. Wolves, shocking decision making cost us, narrow defeat to the best team in the league. Villa, injuries and number of games takes its toll, mixed with a good Villa performance (at this point we had something like 7 players who played more minutes than anyone in Europe in December, and no options to rotate them) Watford, u23 side with 3 senior players beaten by a strong Premier League side. Man City, away at one of the best teams in Europe. Norwich, the first one to have any real concern over. What it vital is that the run doesn't go on past Derby/QPR. Home game against Man City will likely be a defeat too, but fully expected.

Thats true, but they didnt have many fantastic chances. They had plenty of shots, most from 20 odd yards. First half particularly, their best chances came from our players being sloppy on the ball in silly positions, sloppier than we normally are. Not saying we will beat them, just that we'll give them a tough game again.

Extremely unlikely but we aren't out of it yet. Perhaps a bit odd, but I feel more confident of an upset now than before the first leg- I had backed us to give them a good game, but not as much as we did. I actually chucked a fiver on us winning the cup Wednesday morning, if my some miracle it comes in then I got £200 towards my next season ticket.

Tell you what, you guys can have promotion if we win the cup.

Bit unfair, we havent had any yet. Oh, right... You meant them

Not long back from Manchester, gutting to lose the game in the fashion we did, but proud of our players tonight. Not a full strength Man City side, but it wasn't far off their best attacking players and most of our problems we caused ourself from sloppy play in our half. A semi final exit is still almost inevitable but we are still in this for now.

Entirely rotated side from us, bar Flint and Smith. And even then Flint is arguably only in the team because of long term injury to our RB. Everyone else is 2nd-6th choice in their position. Defeat today not awful as it was expected, a draw would have been worse.

I just want to fast forward to February. Other than our League Cup Final () it will be a much easier month than this one.

After tonight I am unequivocably "Bruce out"

At the moment our record signing (Diedhiou) and Djuric are both out injured but due back within a month or so. Diedhiou and Reid clicked really well before Diedhiou managed to injure 3 ligaments at once when a Palace player made a back for him. We've been linked with Hugill but not seen much else. If we buy a striker I expect we'll probably dip into the foreign market again. We also have a Swede, Gustav Engvall who we couldn't register until today because of loan rules as he spent the first half of the seaspn at Gothenburg. Flint upfront was almost a forced act of desperation, but it worked against QPR (we dominated after he went up in that game) and it lead to our goal against Wolves, though he should have been moved back after that.

I'm never one to hide and you guys seem a decent bunch. Tonights result is a bit embarrassing, from what I read we went for it after going behind which I like, but perhaps a bit too much so. Currently out doing tech for a drama show so thats about all I can comment on the game. After this and Wolves I think 8 games in 30 days with 7 injured might have taken its toll, but thats a seperate issue.

Oh dear

Great results for both of us in the other games. All set up for a draw tonight so neither side takes advantage.

Steele has looked poor at times, he was shaky against Palace to start with but pulled off some great games. Had a very good game against Man Utd too, coming out of that game there were several people saying he should be first choice. Fielding is prone to some bizarre decision making. Steele we probably havent seen enough of to properly judge in truth, but personally I would be equally happy with him in goal as I would Fielding.

Well ****. When I went out it was 0-0. As I left wifi range it was 1-0 Get home to see we lost. Can't comment on the game other than the Wolves red being very soft. And Fielding being out isn't as big a blow as you may think. Steele was brought in as competition for the #1 shirt, and while he has looked shaky at times he has also had absolute blinders. There's a possibility Fielding won't be straight back in the team after his suspension is served.

I think that, as long as we are top 4 this time next month, we have done enough to say we will probably finish top 6. Tonight is just the start of a horrible run of games and the League Cup will have an effect too. Game coming up in the next 3 weeks include you guys at VP, Watford away, Man City x2 and Derby away We desperately need some players, none expected back for a month though and 2 playing tonight went off injured against Reading.

Last year was a bit more than a collapse We have no idea how to break down teams who turn up just to defend. Once teams work that out we are screwed.