rubberman

This. My worry is that we will limp along, getting enough results to keep Steve in the job, but not enough to properly mount a top 2 challenge. eg from September we'll get 10-12 points, leaving us on 15-17 from 11 and maybe around the top 8? Not going to be enough.

Yes - I don't really get the dissing of Wyness. I wasn't keen on Bruce, unlike many on here at the time, but I could certainly see the reasons for going for him and they are still valid even if it hasn't worked out. Hindsight doesn't change the fact that it was a reasonable appointment at the time. I can also completely understand that the board are giving Bruce more time than many on here would like given the backing he's been given to get it right. I don't think he will (though really hope he does) and I'm sure (again hope) plans are in place if September doesn't see a major turnaround. They won't stick with him forever if results don't pick up.

Not all bad then! But if we do go up, it's a good thing that we don't have players who need replacing on 5 year contracts. That's shrewd business IMO.

Morning Mr Cantona.

I don't think the forum allows that word.

According to Leroy Rosenior on the Totally Football pod, West Ham have already been sounding out Jokanovic.

And yet look what he came up with for the start of the Bristol game. Still mind-boggling - maybe that was him trying to do tactics?

While he's still here, we have to cling to that hope because if we blow the september run of fixtures our season is likely over, or at best we'll get into the playoff lottery.

If we stay down, all in your first para is true, but relative to the rest of the clubs in the division we will still be one of the bigger clubs. Yes - not as big as we were, with less clout, but still a bigger draw then many we will be competing with. And when I say in the mix or competing with, I don't we necessarily will be up top (see last year for details) but we have the capacity to be up there. As in the PL, there are say 10 teams in the championship who would never expect to be troubling the play off places. We won't be in that group. Whether we use this advantage is up to Steve Bruce currently (and Tony & the board).

They were never going to be ins. Some of the outs haven't come through that's all!

Well, if we're not able / willing to ship anyone out, we should be targeting a couple of good cup runs as well, considering the squad size. No more excuses now.

I can understand the sentiment, and yes it was a disastrous time to be relegated, but I think this is a bit overdramatic. There will still always be 3 teams that get promoted and we will always be a bigger club down here - have bigger support and have better resources for developing kids etc - so (given the right manager) we would always be in the mix to go up. FFP constraints apply to all clubs in the division. But I agree it's depressing seeing the cash that the 'small' clubs in the PL can now splash about.

a ) How players fit in doesn't seem to particularly bother Bruce , but ... b ) This presumably means no more ins. It's just outs that are being worked on.

Unless the players position has Left in it, or results in 'moved to other football', I'm not interested in hearing about any moves today.

Please don't sign Crouch.

Dwight says hi!

Yeah. That's what we thought about Samba...

Well looks like he'll be here for Sept now, barring something catastrophic happening. We need 14/15 points in sept for me (and not overly bothered about the cup game, though with the size of our squad we should win that too). My fear is we will limp along - get 10-12 points - potentially not disastrous enough for the board to sack him, but bad enough that automatic promotion becomes too big an ask. In the same way as the recent win and draw were enough to keep him in a job. So while you're here Steve: Please forget about 3 at the back. Select players in their favoured positions. And attack. Thanks.

Well, it'll be (once again) fascinating to see where Bruce plays him and what the formation is. I am extremely unconvinced that he is what we need and potentially will cause more problems than he improves things. Signing 2 players to replace your top assister from the previous season, whilst ignoring the left hand side is negligence. Similarly if he's to play through the middle, that inhibits Hourihane who just seemed to be finding his feet and pushes back O'Hare's progress. And there's still Grealish to come back who was supposed to be the fulcrum there. Seems to be to be a total lack of cohesive thinking about this window.

Sure - doesn't have to be, but inevitably is when we try it.

Dreading that the international break gives Bruce longer to work on the terrible, overly defensive 5 at the back formation.

Just wow. Steve - I really hope this is some kind of masterstroke. A week ago 3 right backs, now one....on the bench.

Not selecting a match day squad with 3 right backs and 1 striker (+ Gabby) would also be a step forward.

Name Home Team Away Team Guess Bristol 1 2 Villa Villa Bournemouth 0 2 Man City Man City Chelsea 1 1 Everton Draw Palace 1 1 Swansea Draw Huddersfield 1 1 Southampton Draw Newcastle 0 1 West Ham West Ham Watford 1 0 Brighton Watford Man Utd 3 1 Leicester Man Utd West Brom 0 0 Stoke Draw Liverpool 2 2 Arsenal Draw Spurs 2 0 Burnley Spurs rubberman

True. But for now I'm just happy to have some cake - if it eventually gets icing that's great.