Hairy Canary

I'm not sure where this often stated conviction that Wagner will go in the summer comes from. There's no indication from the club that that is their intention. In fact quite the opposite in both word and deed. Delia was quite open about aspiring a long term manager in her last interview and also the club stood by Wagner when virtually everyone (myself included) wanted him gone when the wheels came off earlier this season. It fact it was public knowledge that Delia rang Wagner to offer her support at that time. Personally I think the club will feel that decision has been totally vindicated by the upturn in performances, whatever now transpires. Next year, if we don't go up, we are going to have to make some serious economies when the parachute payments end, and that's going to mean sales, big changes and a period of rebuild. My reading of the way the Board reacts is that that means Wagner is much more likely to stay than go.

Interesting you thought we could have been three down at half time. I certainly didn’t see it like that. Like Parma’s post above I didn’t feel feel concerned at all. Maybe Sargent stayed on for more minutes because we now don’t have a game for 7 days and can manage his recovery? Also why give your opponent information about your lineup when you don’t have to?

Not sure there is a decision to make yet. Rowe is only just back so hardly going to be ready to play 90 mins in the next game, or even two. Coming off the bench seems ideal. Be brilliant to have a sub that can make a possible difference. If and when we get to the playoffs there’ll be more of a decision to make. Let’s hope everyone stays fit and we have that luxury.

Absolutely! Seems obvious we are trying to manage his workload and recovery time.

Talk about faint praise! Great win, tactics spot on. Rowe back and Sargent played nearly 90 mins and you have to come out will this negativity. What is it? You need to be proven right that when Sargent went off against Wednesday Wagner lied to cover up his bad call rather than Sargent feeling his ankle? Sad.

Could be. Or maybe he was out for months with an ankle injury, not had full training for weeks and is so crucial to the team that we are trying to nurse him through these vital games? Jeez…

Everyone agrees we are worse when Sargent doesn’t play, isn’t fit etc. Wagner has to decide if our next best option is to play SVH or to go to a plan B and play a different system. From what I’ve seen neither option fills me with optimism.

Perhaps he was fibbing?

I hope you’re right. 🤞 Difference this time is we start at nil nil rather than winning two nil when he was subbed so got to be more positive.

The crap Wagner got for taking him off against Wednesday, saying he should have stayed on until 80 mins.

I was thinking that. If they had settled for a two two away at Ip5w1ch after they’d had a man sent off they would definitely be in the hunt.

Well I had a feeling it wasn’t and his fitness is so vital to us that we are very carefully managing it. The major problem is that we swapped Idah for SVH and left ourselves in this predicament.

Thank goodness I’m not the only one thinking that. Well said.

In draws.

We’ve had this before when everyone booed. The guy is struggling with his fitness when we play this number of games in such a short period. Did you think it was tactical!

Maybe that’s because our bench is so lacking. Who would you have brought on!

We’re 5th, 6th or 7th I reckon. Personally I think 5th is a big advantage over 6th as Southampton are the weakest team above us. WBA in the final 😀

Probably because they were wearing blue and white…

Your report compared to Ricardo’s is about on par with the difference between the two teams today.

Usually a team with 87 points after 40 games would be close to home and dry, another 6 points would be plenty. A draw away at a top six team would be fine. This year though a draw wont be enough. The way the table is they'd probably drop out of the top two if that happens. So they are going to have to come here and look to win. I feel that will play into our hands. We're pretty good at playing on the break especially if they commit players forward. Nice and tight to start and the pressure will build on them..... 🙂

Good stuff. All done 👍😊

It’s one of those games which could go any way. They’re buzzing after Southampton but we’re good at home and I feel we are a bit like a monkey on their backs while that unbeaten run goes on. I’m not expecting us to lose

Happy to send a donation Nutty - not sure how though??

If you based it on yesterday’s performance we’d only be keeping Gunn

No of course not. I was making a point about the respective strengths of the squads and that maybe Wagner needs to be cut a bit of slack.