Wizerud

I would keep Rowett. Arguably, considering he's managed Championship clubs pretty much his whole career, he's above our level now I think he'd get another shot with a Championship team next year if, as seems likely, he goes. I understand the record hasn't been good enough. What is it, W2 D8 L4 but even though we didn't win enough games, we were harder to beat. And this is with a bunch of players who don't care about the club, bar a few. And that's not even mentioning that the managers we've had this year are distinctly third in the who's to blame stakes. The board and the players easily take top two in that regard. I'd keep him, on a fairly short leash, and see if he can help us bring in players who will give a shit next year. We're in League One - we need to be realistic. Who else will come to us?

You can tell the commentator doesn't watch us much. When he said "he couldn't miss, could he?" watching the replay I had to laugh.

It's much more fun watching Ayew fall over at a gust of wind and waste 45 seconds when we're winning.

They were clearly hoping that King would work out considering the backing he had from fans when appointed and the fact that it would have saved them money. Obviously that didn't work out (not all King's fault considering the bozo red cards). Maybe Rowett was considered as soon as King was appointed but they just wanted to see how it would go with King. When the fans lost faith in King they scrambled for Rowett. I actually like Rowett. There have been times in the recent past when he's been linked with us and I wouldn't have been disappointed if we hired him. I don't understand people suddenly thinking we don't have talent. We can beat anybody in this league, talent level is not the issue. It's application of that talent and hopefully Rowett will be able to activate that.

Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but I don't think we are going down. I also don't think yesterday's game is representative of where we're at due to the sending off. Even in the second half it didn't seem like it was 10 vs 11 and on another day we'd still have got something. Ultimately I still believe we have a playoff-calibre squad who are massively underperforming due to a variety of reasons. They look under pressure, nervous. The off-the-field stuff is having an impact. But that can be solved if we can get a manager in who can get what resembles a tune out of them. 17 games, 51 points available. Even if our points deduction is 9 points, I'd still have confidence we'd comfortably avoid relegation. IF we can get a manager in who the players will respect. In the meantime, Kingy and the players deserve another chance next week under normal playing conditions before we completely throw them under the bus

How much did we pay them to get rid of him?

Given that we're due a points deduction it seems likely we're neither getting promoted or relegated. So firing Marti, while probably justified from a purely managerial point of view, will likely mean the difference between finishing around 11th (if we fire him) and 17th (if we don't) in the table. So we'll be pissing more money away by firing him early.

Attendance, amongst other things, will rise.

Begovic for Stolarczyk at half-time. Or now.

When did we learn to pass the ball?

As in almost every match he plays in, Luke Thomas is our weakest link. I'm fine with him being a squad player and I'd love him to be great but as our starting left back he's just not good enough. If we do anything in January we need to address this first or start someone else.

Is that cnut Slimani still playing?

I’m more optimistic than I was at the start of the season. I think we’ve looked better than expected defensively. Okoli was one of our best players today, Buananotte has been a nice spark, Ayew has been decent and if Edouard and El Wotsit can make an impact I think there’s good reason for hope that we’ll stay up. We’re not the finished article and I believe team selection will improve over the course of the next few games as Cooper gets a better picture of who he likes. I certainly think we’re better than Ipswich, Southampton and one of at least three other teams in the league.

It’s just two games, I wouldn’t expect to see anything close to a “final product” yet. At this stage, I do expect a bit of experimentation and a lack of consistency, fluidity and identity while Cooper figures out this team and the system in which they can maximise their abilities. Having said that I would like to see an improvement over the next 10 games in all those areas and won’t be worried unless we stagnate into the often directionless mess that our current play indicates we’re in. Again though, that not unexpected. The arrival (hopefully) of new players will again change the dynamic and might even delay the final product that we eventually see. In short, I won’t be worried unless we don’t see the expected generally upwards trajectory in terms of our overall effectiveness. Hopefully that will lead to more entertaining football but I struggle to think of the last time we were genuinely entertaining other than the first half of last year vs championship opposition and that was before the rest of the league figured out how to nullify Maresca-ball.

Think he can do a more than decent job for us. He’s not a goal-scoring forward but one who will help us win back possession at the top end and create chances for others, works his bollox off, strong, savvy, experienced. He was a regular at Palace under a multitude of managers so they clearly all saw something in him. If we can sign at least one more attacker, an out and out goal scorer, this signing will start to make more sense to those who might not be thrilled about it now. He’s not the answer to our biggest problems but an important contributor in our one aim - staying up. I think he can deliver in that context.

I think it’s good that we only have two more league games (Fulham, Villa) before Sep 14 which will allow us to hopefully sign and bed in at least two players who can challenge for starter spots, one of those being a striker is an absolute must, before we return against Palace in September. Good start though. Let’s see if we can take at least a point vs Fulham on Sat and at least challenge Villa. No easy games.

Yeah this mirrors the way I see it. Corberan would be my choice, followed by Cooper. Think either one could do a decent job.

Good sub, wouldn’t have been disappointed to see the back of Doyle either. Need to get Marcel into the game more or get him off too.

I might put Choudhury on for one of Casedei, Mavadidi or Fatawu to strengthen the middle of our midfield. I might.

He reminded me of Maguire on Wednesday also. Very similar in technical ability (and pace).

Vestergaard’s re-emergence has been so unexpected it’s like having a new signing. I’m just gonna pretend he’s been injured the last two years.

Outside the box anyway.

It’s not that he’s played badly, but the game just seems to be passing him by. Seems like he’s finding it hard to get involved.

Think he’s been virtually invisible today. Much like he was against Southampton.

Casedei, Winks n Nacho off hopefully.