rubberman

This is really just wtf territory. Truly desperate even to be letting him have a trial.

As long as the team sheet starts with Not Johnstone, I don't think it matters much. 2 for Gayle, 1 for Shelvey and maybe a consolation goal for us from somewhere.

I'm getting more and more nervous waiting for these threads to pop up! Clinging on by fingertips. And can I just say thanks @Chewie for banging these out esp when games are coming thick and fast. Brilliant job and much appreciated! Name Home Team Away Team Guess Barnsley 1 1 Brighton Draw Birmingham 1 0 QPR Birmingham Burton 0 2 Norwich Norwich Cardiff 3 1 Rotherham Cardiff Ipswich 0 2 Leeds Leeds Forest 0 2 Wednesday Wednesday Wigan 0 1 Preston Preston Newcastle 3 1 Villa Newcastle Derby 1 0 Burton Derby Huddersfield 1 1 Reading Draw QPR 1 1 Wigan Draw Wednesday 2 0 Brentford Wednesday rubberman

I agree. I still think we have brought in more quality to the squad, but I said during the window that it felt like we were getting carried away and doing too much business. Bruce said he regretted throwing so many new faces in at once and we would have settled far sooner if we had only brought in 3-4 players and been able to integrate them rather than ringing wholesale changes to squad and formation. Whatever happens for the rest of the season (and whoever is our manager) I don't want to see another summer of massive upheaval. Obv a new keeper, but otherwise I hope it's only one or two additions (+ replacements for players leaving) and we actually try to build a team from what we've got who are obviously better than they are currently showing.

Very true. Round - get the feelers out now for replacement at the end of season latest. I was in the stability camp, but this series of results is untenable. If the right person is available before the summer get them in, otherwise lets stumble on and hope we can sneak enough points to be safe.

We conceded yet?

Don't have any real option at keeper. Hutton. Otherwise happy with that. As always this season I expect a win. Have wagered on a draw. And then will be double disappointed with a loss.

I'd take Jason Statham as the next manager. He'd sort 'em out.

Name Home Team Away Team Guess Villa 0 0 Barnsley Draw Brighton 2 0 Ipswich Brighton Derby 1 0 Cardiff Derby Fulham 1 0 Forest Fulham Leeds 1 1 Bristol Draw Norwich 2 2 Newcastle Draw Preston 1 1 Birmingham Draw Rotherham 0 3 Huddersfield Huddersfield Wednesday 2 0 Blackburn Wednesday Wolves 1 0 Wigan Wolves Reading 2 1 Brentford Reading - - - - - rubberman

It is slightly shocking to look at the table and see that even if we win games we are barely going to move up places now. Shambolic season.

Goal(s) tomorrow pls. Thx.

I guess we could try the 5-4-3 and see if we get away with it.

I'd like to think that with another full week to have worked on the new formation with the new players that we will start to see the improvements. I don't expect it to be the finished article yet, but criticising the new squad after 1or 2 games (shit ones agreed) seems unduly pessimistic.

That's the spirit!

Name Home Team Away Team Guess Wednesday 1 0 Birmingham Wednesday Villa 2 1 Ipswich Villa Brighton 2 0 Burton Brighton Derby 2 1 Bristol Derby Fulham 1 0 Wigan Fulham Leeds 2 0 Cardiff Leeds Norwich 1 0 Forest Norwich Preston 1 1 Bentford Draw QPR 0 2 Huddersfield Huddersfield Reading 1 0 Barnsley Reading Rotherham 1 1 Blackburn Draw Wolves 0 2 Newcastle Newcastle rubberman

So this is a couple of years old, but covers the years from 2004-14, so has some solid data. Blueprint for promotion This against the average tenure of a championship manager of less than a year currently. Or to put it another way, 65% have been in place for longer than a year. Unless something catastrophic happens, we need to stick with Bruce and let him build the team.

Given that the play offs are a write off now, we need to see the bedding in of the 3-5-2 and some steady improvements in performance and results for the rest of the season. Anything below top half and I think we'd need to see a change in the summer. A decent run in from here and a finish around 8th (still 10 points away!) to 10th and that would be enough for me to stick with Steve. The average managers tenure in the Championship is less than a year these days, but IIRC over the last few years most of the promoted clubs have had managers with 2+ years at their clubs. There really is a benefit to continuity and allowing the manager time to develop his team. It's grim to have another year down here but as it's now pretty much inevitable let's use the time to get properly prepared to go straight up next year.

Any decent pubs near-ish Aston station where I can meet with an Ipswich mate beforehand? Normally drive up so have zero pub knowledge nearby. Ta.

Can't quite remember (beers) but came in a posh box. Ginger oatmeal type possibly. Anyway, back on topic - just been watching Hogan's youtubes and got myself all excited again. Maybe, just maybe, this will be the match where it clicks.

Me too. We came second and each won a packet of biscuits. Disappointed that I got England's second winningest manager wrong though.

I admire your optimism.

Name Home Team Away Team Guess Barnsley 1 1 Preston Draw Birmingham 1 1 Fulham Draw Blackburn 1 1 QPR Draw Bristol 1 0 Rotherham Bristol Burton 0 1 Wolves Wolves Cardiff 0 1 Norwich Norwich Ipswich 0 1 Reading Reading Newcastle 2 1 Derby Newcastle Forest 1 2 Villa Villa Huddersfield 1 1 Leeds Draw Brentford 1 2 Brighton Brighton Wigan 1 2 Norwich Norwich rubberman

That is good news but, boy - what a missed opportunity the last few weeks. Now he's behind kodjia and Hogan and looking for a bit of bench time if he's lucky. Bet he looks at green and thinks he should have fired his agent a while back.

Fair enough. I think Bruce fancies Kodjia out wide, so we'll see Hogan up front in a 433 when going 'attacking' (such as it is). I'd go: Kodjia Hogan Grealish Hourihane Lansbury Jedi Amavi Baker Chester Bree Jonhstone

^ No Hogan?