Ric Flair

Got a feeling he writes his name in folklore this Saturday vs Coventry. Born in the area, came to us at a very young age, scores an absolutely ridiculous winner and doesn't even smile. The lads not bothered mate.

The reason I prefer Hamza as a RB is because his pace helps protect an otherwise cumbersome back four. I also think he switches off in midfield at tracking runners more so than he has when playing RB for us but maybe that theory has not yet fully been evidenced either way.

Could be very adaptable with this personnel. James definitely can play further forward and perhaps when we face the stronger teams in this league we go a more robust midfield 3 than an out and out 10. Also I like Ricardo and Hamza being able to cover the positions they're used to but Hamza in theory be the RB and Riccy the midfielder.

Surely that's a good thing? look what happened to Kurt Zouma

I think it'll be something like this Stolarczyk Hamza Vestergaard Faes Thomas Ricardo Winks James Fatawu Ayew Mavididi

Reminds me of the situation we were in with Iheanacho at the start of 23/24. Picking up points but just didn't quite look aggressive enough up top with an inconsistent team press. I still think there's some fine tuning to do in terms of team selection or tactics for certain players and he's one of them. Definitely got a role to play for us this season but we need more than we are currently getting.

That's absolutely disgusting

Do we?

Any of the U16s you'd tip to have a big future here?

I highly doubt it's that

Jordan James is 6ft 1

Not me pal, I think he's better suited as a winger or behind the striker.

Good completely against what we've tried to do since Nyoni left. Which is get thr very best 16/17 year olds in the U21s and give them a closer pathway to the 1st team. Hutchinson was very good for the U18s last season, theres nothing more for him to do at that level. I'm surprised he's signed a pro deal with us to be honest.

Looking at some of our current issues, I don't see a burning need for us to play a midfield three against most teams. All three of our so called strikers are better in a front two. Daka played as the on the shoulder striker in a 4-2-2-2 at Salzburg, Carranza played as the more withdrawn striker in a similar system for Philadelphia where he scored a lot of goals and Ayew has always been a support striker / utility forward so can play alongside either of them. A midfield two of Winks and James is probably robust and dynamic enough to screen the defence and support the attack when necessary. Not to mention we're playing quite reserved full backs in their positioning who are more likely to support the defensive midfield than they are the attack. Both Ricardo and Choudhury are obviously very comfortable going centrally in that role.

Stoke are notoriously a disgrace but their squad has suddenly got an air of handiness about it and Robins is a good manager.

Same mate, I won't leave the house for a month if we lose this.

I am quietly confident we evolve in to thr team we need to play the football he wants.

Me at Beavers aged 5. Had two orange squashes which was apparently a huge no no, got told off by a bloke with a tunic and a pair of ugly khaki shorts and I never went back. Years later it was still talked about as a were you there moment.

Already dreading this. I absolutely detest this lot, with every fibre in my body this is the rival for me. Really hope we maintain that ability to scrap that we've shown recently because whilst our record at the KP vs them is obscene, i'm not convinced we've played anyone remotely any good yet and looked crap every game.

Picking a few players not suited to passing and controlling the ball, sets up so that his wingers are expected to find 1 v 1 situations on their own and got a blindspot well and truly with Oliver Skipp. That said, he's got us fighting for everything and I do think we'll get better. His subs often impact the game which is massively important. We've been absolutely revolting for 65/70% of this season so far, quite possibly more and are averaging two points a game. Not played anyone any good yet either and our away form is suspect but he's started OK.

There is an air of MoTM one week and calamity the next week which is no good to man nor beast for building long term confidence but he's a work in progress. If he's capable of the sublime once every few games then he's got the ingredients to do it more and it needs to be fine tuned. Distribution is as chaotic as Hermes over Christmas though, RUN FOR THE HILLS.

Stupid prat thought i'd booked Northampton half marathon for tomorrow but when I checked on Thursday night i'd not and it had closed. Went out this morning early and did a local one. 1hr 46 which is decent for me (3 mins off my best) but not run that distance for a few months so quite pleased. Should set me up nicely for 3 in the next 3 months.

Nice one mate. I really wanted to do Tissington next weekend, its on both days isn't it? But unfortunately the missus is away so I can't.

Caught the last 30 mins, thought he looked lively. Baptism of fire at this level but he's simply got to keep at it and his quality will start to shine.

Will take the point but we were horrible again. Going to go and enjoy the rest of my weekend rather than get angry about things but Cifuentes is as much a work in progress here as the players. Some extremely kiffy decisions he's making. But I love the way we scrap.