Anyway: Stoke

[ramAnag]

It's painful. Stoke were so poor today. We couldn't score against cardboard cutouts.

We need a manager with a plan ASAP, or we are going down by January

Bit harsh, Adi. Three weeks ago we were bottom and adrift. Now we’re a two goal GD away from safety.
Share your frustration, but Rooney has still only got the same goal shy forwards available to him at the moment.

Bit surprised Bobby Duncan hasn’t had a look in. Someone like him or an (eventually) fit Marriott feeding off the disruption and distraction caused by CKR might still be useful.

[MadAmster]

Bit harsh, Adi. Three weeks ago we were bottom and adrift. Now we’re a two goal GD away from safety.
Share your frustration, but Rooney has still only got the same goal shy forwards available to him at the moment.

Bit surprised Bobby Duncan hasn’t had a look in. Someone like him or an (eventually) fit Marriott feeding off the disruption and distraction caused by CKR might still be useful.

I think he's had ONE five minute sub appearance for the U23s thus far. He's played more minutes for England U20s since he signed than he has for us.

[swaledale]

Well at least we aren't conceding goals, but where re our goals going to come from? And we have very little creativity.

For me all that has happened it that we have become more disciplined and stopped the risky playing in front of our own box, otherwise not much has changed.

[Andy_Faber]

Well at least we aren't conceding goals, but where re our goals going to come from? And we have very little creativity.

For me all that has happened it that we have become more disciplined and stopped the risky playing in front of our own box, otherwise not much has changed.

Isn't that a lot? I would also add that it was a bit more than playing across our box, it was being seemingly determined never to make a risk free forward pass. So the win in cutting that out is bigger. Still only 'any good' in comparison to the Cocu era though

[swaledale]

Isn't that a lot? I would also add that it was a bit more than playing across our box, it was being seemingly determined never to make a risk free forward pass. So the win in cutting that out is bigger. Still only 'any good' in comparison to the Cocu era though

Well yes its significant progress, not trying to play out from the back, not playing across the box, defending better, so as has been said, build from the back. I don't think Kazim Richards is the answer to our lack of goals, we need a striker, but can we get one thats any use?

[Andy_Faber]

IMO CKR was back to 90% of the player he was in his first full game and no. he isn't the long term answer but his attitude and energy has been an important catalyst in turning this bunch from a backward facing rabble to a team who at least look like they'll give others a game. If someone better comes along in Jan and CKR receeds into the squad and then away, he'll still get a (virtual) handshake from me.

Still think Marriott playing off him might work IF ONLY Marriott stayed fit

[Geoff Parkstone]

I think he's had ONE five minute sub appearance for the U23s thus far. He's played more minutes for England U20s since he signed than he has for us.

Duncan is only 19, what's the rush pushing him early into a side that can't hit a cows arse with a banjo. Would just destroy his confidence

[ramAnag]

Duncan is only 19, what's the rush pushing him early into a side that can't hit a cows arse with a banjo. Would just destroy his confidence

Fair point, GP...although I think I’d expect someone with Duncan’s football ‘background’, with experience of Man.City, Liverpool, Fiorentina and England U20’s, to be able to handle the challenge of the Championship after being with us for three months now.

He’s older, and much more experienced, than Kornell McDonald who was suddenly dropped in at the deep end at Brentford and certainly didn’t ‘sink’...while te-enage debuts didn’t seem to do the careers of Lowe and Bogle much harm, but you may be right. None of us know what happens on the training pitch, although personally I tend to favour the theory that, ‘if they’re good enough...they’re old enough’.

[MadAmster]

Fair point, GP...although I think I’d expect someone with Duncan’s football ‘background’, with experience of Man.City, Liverpool, Fiorentina and England U20’s, to be able to handle the challenge of the Championship after being with us for three months now.

He’s older, and much more experienced, than Kornell McDonald who was suddenly dropped in at the deep end at Brentford and certainly didn’t ‘sink’...while te-enage debuts didn’t seem to do the careers of Lowe and Bogle much harm, but you may be right. None of us know what happens on the training pitch, although personally I tend to favour the theory that, ‘if they’re good enough...they’re old enough’.

You both appear to be missing the point that he's only had FIVE MINUTES for the U23s since signing. Why so little? Not fit? Bad attitude? We don't know but if he's not starting for the 23s and, even when he does make the bench he's not being used, it should be obvious why he isn't in the 1st team match day squad.

[ramAnag]

Yep...another fair point. Sorry, didn’t realise he’d played so little. Again I’m ‘surprised’, but for different and more disappointing reasons. Find it hard to believe that a 19 year old who didn’t arrive injured can still not be sufficiently fit after being with us since early September.
Who knows?