rock bus

What must players like Rowe, Rashica, Rupp, Tzolis , sorrenson and Cantwell (actually he’ll be p’ing himself with laughter) feel like watching this bunch of useless idiots being selected ahead of them? pathetic and embarrassing, seriously would look at sacking smith now

Completely forgotten about Tzolis! Beginning to make the wolf look like a better investment.

that’s a really odd line up, not sure about it but suppose at least he’s trying something. how the hell McLean still plays is unbelievable!

I should perhaps reiterate that I am not anti 'British manager' and perhaps the better term would have been a more 'traditional' manager? My main point is that I am struggling to see what Smith's ethos is in terms of playing style. I am also really concerned that rather than building on what Farke achieved with the club we have basically just thrown it all away and now seem to be starting afresh. Maybe that is something you always have to do when you sack your manager but I am sure that was the vision sold to us when Webber came in.

I should say at the outset that this isn't necessarily a dig at Dean Smith himself and neither am I suggesting we should've kept Farke. But I do wonder if the club has taken a backward step by appointing Smith. Smith is probably not a bad manager and he is being hampered by a squad that is clearly not premier league standard. He has also had to cope with our ongoing bad luck ie Covid/injuries. Despite this, I am not convinced that there are enough (any) signs he is capable of getting any more out of the squad...a la Lambert. What concerns me even more than this though is that with the appointment of Farke and Webber's position the club had made an important step in terms of showing a more modern and constructive approach to the management of the club: Farke himself brought a different style of play based on skill and possession with a defined methodology that was meant to thread right through all playing levels. At the moment under Smith I'm struggling to see what our style of play even is (this may be just because he doesn't have the players to suit his style). We were adopting a non domestic transfer and scouting policy - allowing us to fully exploit the opportunities where we can acquire better prospects for less money given the strength of the English league even at championship level. The concept was also that you could swap out the Manager and/or the Sporting Director without a total upheaval of the coaching staff and/or philosophy -something that plainly didn't happen. Succession planning would mean identified replacements who will continue the strategy of the club - again didn't happen as Smith wasn't available at time of Farke' sacking. Whilst Webber may always have liked him I cant believe he knew he would become available and we clearly didnt have a lined up Manager as should've been the case. I now fear that we are heading towards the championship with a very 'traditional' British manager and coach with no defined playing style or a strategy to get us promoted again. We had managed to re-establish our identity as a club and as a result the Management, team, club and supporters all seemed totally united. Now we appear to be more disjointed than ever and I fear this bodes for a really long spell in the championship (or worse, if Smith cant sort the squad out).

Whilst I broadly agree with the sentiment if the OP, as others have said Williams has probably been the best player this year and you can’t accuse him of a lack of commitment. That Loanee Skipp didn’t do too bad for us last season either. You can’t just right off the loan option (even if Gilmour is a total waste of space!)

Webber is a business entrepreneur who rather fell in to football and has had great success until now. Sadly like Farke, our owners and the players he is not premier league quality. let’s thank him for what he has done and ditch him before next season. Bring in someone else to sort the business side and let Smith, Shakey and Neil Adam’s find the players

Rupp played on Wednesday and looked better than McLean

Yes, unfortunately Smith will! God knows why though!

I don’t think that’s controversial, exactly the team I’d pick.

I've been calling for Byram to start instead of Aarons for weeks. Having seen the way Byram dealt robustly with the Liverpool players and continually got across to the wingers to block crosses (ironically only one he missed did lead to 1st goal but that was as much due to inept marking in the box) I'm even more convinced he should be starting.

Whilst it feels so wrong ..I tend to agree. Pukki has been off form and doesnt necessarily suit Smiths game or the players he is playing. Sadly, I'm not sure Sargent is anywhere near an adequate replacement. But whilst agreeing, I'm not sure Brentford is the game to take that disruptive risk (last night definitely was!)

Unfortunately, last night he was just totally ineffective (as he has been in every game I've seen him in). Doesnt use his pace at all to threaten defenders and as someone else said he is always on the back foot and reacting rather than positively influencing the game - both in attacking and defensive areas. I've tried to give him benefit of the doubt and put it down to a confidence issue or lack of game time. But Smith has now given him plenty of time and unfortunately I just dont think he has the quality or ability for the Premiership and I seriously doubt even for the Championship. His selection at the moment is effectively wasting a spot in the team, ideally I'd like to see Tzolis given a run of games but we certainly need to try something different as it isnt working for Placheta

I'm going so definitely yes. But it would be even if I wasnt, I always care about our results and want my team to do well

Sorrenson and Gibson is what I meant and about best we have

Kabak is also out, I've feeling Smith will play Sorrenson to give him some game time.

I'm sure there is an element of giving them both a rest and actually think this may see Byram come in for Aarons longer term if he performs well. Not great for prospects of a clean sheet tomorrow as will be very much a make shift defence with Hanley also serving a one match ban.

Do we want our top scorer for the last 4 years who has proved he can at least score at premier league level….I think that’s a definite yes! BUT I’d want us to buy a player to compete and by the end of the season I’d hope Pukki will be an impact player coming off the bench against a tired defence. (although I also live in dream world where we actually buy a decent CDM!)

Somewhat sadly given how far we are in the season our team still needs to settle and players learn to play as a team. So I’d start with our best 11 and then if (when) we are behind take off Pukki, Norman and Hanley to give them a rest. id like us to go for it as a win here and continuing in the cup could be our only joy from the season

I honestly cant understand how one of McLean and Gilmour keep gettng played let alone both togethe. Both are totally ineffective and in fact a liability. I'd start Rupp, Sorrenson, PLM, Byram, Kabak, Gianaloulis, Dowell and even a cant be assed Cantwell over both of them. McLean in particular is the best exmple of why we are perfomring so poorly .... a player totally out of his class who offers nothing but poiting and moaning.

To an extent I agree. Firstly, lets sendf Gilmour back to Chelsea, there's not even any point in players getting use to training with him, might as well introduce a new youth team player for the experience. I'd also play Byram ahead of Aarons on basis we will sell him (and Byram is actually better). Lets foget McLean and give Sorrenson some games to settle and prove himself. I think we should keep Williams in the squad as he at least has a bit of guts about him. Smith also needs to decide on his preferred shape and play whoever he expects to be here next year in it. All a bit depressing!

I think this is a really good approach and one that I hope Smith and the team will be adopting. I know there's an argument that just a point could end up keeping us up but with the predicament we are in we really need to be going for 3 points in every game (esp with Man City and Liverpool out of the way - the only 2 I would fear giving us a humiliating beating)

Fine with me if we win (although I'd be home by 3 as I live in Midlands!)

Me too, looking forward to trip to Anfield under the lights and hopefully a victory (even if against a weakened Liverpool!)

The concern here is that the majority of the comments here are based on can we manage to cobble together a team good enough to compete in the championship. The answer to that is probably yes. BUT the real question that the club needs to answer is can we build a squad good enough to survive in the premier league if we are promoted. That means we need to keep Rashica and, as someone else mentioned, spending money on acquiring Normann and other players of his quality. Surely none of us want to keep going through same cycle with us relying on the hope players like Tzolis may eventually come good.