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As for 4-4-2 I don't think we should be fixated on it, but with the players we have at the moment it would seem the best bet to get the most out of them bar maybe Andreu who could be one of the two up front or an alternative to Bayliss. The thing about being fixated with a system is when people...

Oh for a team like that now, although Whelan for me was always a back-up striker and Froggatt would be LW. Shaw should never have been more than a back-up either. Not quick, not tall or muscular, but reasonably decent positional sense to be a nuisance jockeying backwards trying to hold up play...

I seem to remember during the Hughes era we played a lot of 4-5-1/4-3-3 with strikers out wide which never worked.

FWIW the few times I saw Ponti play at youth level he seemed like a natural forward and goalscorer. He made intelligent runs into space and 'knew where the goal was' - without looking up he instinctively got his efforts on target. That counts for a great deal at any level of football. I'd say...

I agree. Right now if does feel the squad is bloated but come Xmas/New Year if we've picked up a few injuries the matchday squad may well be picking itself. Does always seem like those team with larger squads seem to have fewer injuries though. Possibly due to being able to occasionally rest a...

Only listened on the radio but we sounded much improved with the different formation and players more familiar with each other. As someone else has put, I think a lot of the new players will improve but we've shoved too many in at the same time. Robins tried a revolution when he just needed an...

It kind of makes sense though. We play well and win there's not really much to say. "Well Clive, I'm really happy with the result and performance and felt everyone played well" Not really adding much to the conversation are you. When we lose/don't play well everyone has their opinion why not so...

But you could also argue playing him from the start would allow us to get into the game more because his pace will stop them putting us under pressure so much. On the other hand, if they control the match for an hour they'll have pushed higher up, we bring Thomas on and he has space and the...

Different expectations. Losing regularly in the PL was considered OK as long as we stayed up. After relegation we were expecting better, but were often also rans or in danger. Yes, that's also to do with financial troubles but if a manager is losing games and doesn't look like turning it around...

It does seem like there might be something we need to look at, particularly in pre-season, because all three have happened very early on in the season. Hopefully this means the system will change and best wishes to Max for his recovery. At least with his new contract he doesn't have to worry...

Agree, away from home. At home I'd prefer Ogogo and Bayliss as we need to take the bull by the horns a bit more, then bring Doyle on near the end if we're winning to close games out.

I just felt he was a little bit better in terms of marshalling the defence, possibly due to being more experienced than Westwood during his time here. Technically, Westwood was probably the better keeper. But I'd be happy with either of them between the sticks (if they were being assessed on...

Hedman was a decent keeper in his day, though I still preferred Oggy. I'd probably choose Murphy over Westwood but of the last ten years those two would be the ones I'd take. Kasper on loan you could see was decent and I always had a soft spot for Fulop (RIP). Of course we've got the likes of...

It can be debilitating to even the most healthy and fit individuals. If anything when it starts showing in those individuals they have a pretty bad case. Went to school with someone who had ME - practically bedridden for months.

-------------------Burge Grimmer Willis Hyam Mason/Brown Thomas Ogogo Doyle(Kelly) Shipley ---------------JCH Hiwula Subs: LOB, Mason/Brown, Davies(Thompson if not fit) Allassani, Bayliss, Andreu, Baka/Ponti Choice between Mason and Brown is who is most solid defensively...

IF Biamou were injured for any length of time it could end up being the blessing in disguise JJ and TA's were last year, in that it forced MR to switch to another system. I'd say Biamou is the only striker at the club really even remotely capable of the lone striker role - although not the...

Do you mean what age was Ponticelli signed? He was 17, and spent his first year in the U18 Academy team with Bayliss etc, when he scored 28 goals. However, I think he was signed similarly to McCallum, in that he got a two year deal so was in effect given a pro deal whilst in the academy.

Depends though. Everyone knows someone who just seems to attract trouble because they get people's backs up and generally just p### people off. Then when it all gets a bit too tasty they disappear and hide behind their mates who take the flak. After a while you just have to let that person see...

Ponticelli was an academy player, albeit just for one year rather than two. It's very difficult to judge how the youngsters would cope, having not seen them play in men's football. I've only seen a couple of academy games but definitely the three standouts for me Bayliss, Ponticelli and...