jimsmallman

I was at the game tonight. He’s got to go. Once again we have not played well for an entire game, and if we’re honest we were a little lucky to be 2-0 up anyway. It’s the genuinely baffling substitutions for me. Was JJ having his best game? Probably not, but taking him off for Daka is an insane decision. Bobby was doing alright, why take him off? They just can’t be that knackered. Then we just set up to get battered. There’s no fight from Marti either. I’d like him a lot more if he properly lost his temper from time to time but he looks like a mildly irritated bank manager. He’s not an awful human being. Often says the right stuff. But he’s not a very good manager, and he’s out of his depth and not getting better. I know whoever comes in probably won’t get much more out of these players but the fact that we occasionally have a really good 45 tells you there is the ability there, just not the mentality. It might be a transitional season but I’d rather have someone better in now to consolidate this season and then start next season properly.

I'd start Silko in Abdul's place on Wednesday. Bring him on after 60 minutes if we have to.

You know what, I'm starting to think that there might have been a player in there all along and he was just badly managed by two useless managers last season. It's not like he ever got a chance to even show he was half decent under Cooper and RVN. Everyone was atrocious. He did great at Norwich at this level, was in the PFA team of the year from his ever-present season in the Championship. He's here for a long time and he certainly doesn't look like one of those who is just happy sitting on the bench taking a wage.

Skipp in the post match interview: “I’ll play wherever the team needs me” Thats the attitude we need. He was fantastic today. Team defended very well across the board. Derby were always going to throw everything at us in the second half when we were 3-0 up. And it should have been 4c cheers lino.

I know we’d all love to have scored another but I think we’ve defended well today. They were always going to throw everything at us when they were 3-0 down.

Great save Jakub

Brilliant by Skipp

FFS

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CONVEY MY LOVE FOR THE CROSSBAR

JJ I LOVE YOU THIS IS BLOODY WONDERFUL

Bloody linesman. What a header from Ayew. He did well to win the corner for the second too. LORD I AM FEELING POSITIVE

Look how happy Skipp was. He cares! Smashing finish to be fair too.

SKIPP YOU FNG BEAUTY

Good lad Bobby

He’s out for six months for being a *****

I don’t mind Ayew playing. It’s not like Daka did anything last week. Let’s all imagine an Evans winner though. That would be nice.

Shame Faes is on the bench but I guess we don’t have any other defenders to pick. Soon as Souttar and Okoli are fit he can hang out with Winks on a Saturday.

Winks not even in the squad. Good.

This deserved more

Were they? Well then I take that back and we're stuck with him!

I know he cost too much, which isn't his fault. I know he isn't particularly brilliant. But dammit, he's a lot more likeable than certain players (Winks and Faes, for example) because he gets his head down and tries. He knows he isn't liked but he still puts the effort in and doesn't throw his toys out. He has ended up, accidentally, being seen as one of our most professional players and I wouldn't be shocked if by the end of the season he's become a cult favourite. He strikes me as the sort to put his hand up and say "I'll do that job" when asked - like playing LB and CB the last couple of games. You imagine some of our other idiots doing that? The post about Kisnorbo up above is bang on - was thinking that at the game on Saturday!

Absolutely not. It would be a financial disaster. I certainly don’t think we’re getting promoted anytime soon (and until our current mess is sorted out, it’s pointless doing so) but we go down to League One and we’ll be like Bolton and Reading have been recently. Doomed for a long long time.

I want Wellens. Or maybe Carrick. Prefer the former as he seems to be a grafter and I’d like to see him squaring up to Harry Winks. Not necessarily at training, either. In a Starbucks, hotel lobby, on a dog walk. Just anywhere Winks is. Even if he’s not our manager.

I think they might fire him tomorrow. Feels weird firing him on a Sunday for reasons I can’t fathom. Fingers crossed!

If he ever plays for us again it’s too soon.