Chelmofox

Read my post again. No where did i say we should have got rid of full backs. Its not my decision after all. But in appointments like Enzo's, I try to understand why someone might opt for one system over another. Making the conclusion that both our defence and the fullbacks were both worth keeping following relegation probably wouldn't have been a smart move. Regardless how the final 3rd of this season has gone, we still have the 2nd best goals against in the division and joint top on goal difference. I do think something had to change in our defensive structure, and if you offer someone a project where they want to make this change, it surely has to be something that is considered. I still don't buy that we play last years system and are on 91 points after 43 games - but we will never know. We would have probably 'enjoyed' more games though. I tell you what is bizarre though, thinking that Riccy and JJ will be able to be overlapping fulllback roles for 45 games in a Championship system. Sure, would still of had Victor (although our fans had already put him on the sh1t list) and Luke (firmly on the sh1t list), so no matter what recruitment was very likely for that role anyway. To be clear, im not 100% sold on the inverted position but when it works well it is really good. Home to Norwich a few games back is one where you see Riccy play it brilliantly and effortlessly and we made a very good team look poor. It is not 'stupid' as the consensus seems to be on here. It requires an astute and technically gifted player, and one who has faith in his center back. Hamza has played it well a few times (was ok today because our in possession stats were low), but he has not been consistently good at it.

It’s funny in what circumstances stats matter.

Interesting yellow card. Not really sure what happened.

Think this will be nervy and both teams will be tired.

I get it. My point was it’s out of their hands. They have to win and hope others mess up. Ipswich have a tough run in and are catchable. They just need to win games and knowing they aren’t retaining a lead can relieve some pressure.

Nice for Iversen to get a clean sheet. Not been the easiest of times he's had there but hopefully not much more to do to stay safe.

Last season was not just because of a goalkeeper. There were problems everywhere, and our defence including the full backs were a huge part of it. All of them struggled. If we played full backs this season and got 91 points after 43 games would that then have been a success?

Maybe. The pressure has affected team strangely this season. There seems to be increased pressure once you are top. If you are chasing, teams see to perform a little better. But i suppose as you say we haven't been in that position where you have to win to stay in it. Beforehand, there has always been enough games left to get back to it.

Fullbacks did us proud last season? Our best one we have can't play the position anymore without his body breaking down. Its funny that those who want a change so much, want that change to be what wasn't working for us before.

I don't want Cooper - and he looked absolutely fu**ed in his last spell at Forest. He became the dejected figure everyone made excuses for when in reality he was offered a lot players from a club who spent a lot of money. Where we are as a club, an emerging manager could really work. But as fans we need to realise that there is a downside to that where the manager learns on the job. Enzo has outperformed more experienced heads this season, and there is still nothing to suggest an alternative approach would have out performed him.

Pressure is a funny thing. Now we have won and are 4 points ahead, the pressure is off Leeds a little. I expect them to beat Middlesborough. There is still a job to do beyond Tuesday. Still potential twists and turns.

He was far better out of possession which worked in his favour as we didn't have the most possession today. They did force a few mistakes from him and have gave a few lazy balls away. It wasn't a perfect performance but it was a gutsy / balsy one, and could define the season.

This - and momentum is everything. End the season strongly and it bodes well for next season.

Sometimes when teams come at you, the possession stats change. You still play with the approach that you want to retain the ball but the opposition won't let you. This happened today for us. We had 47% possession. But Enzo hasn't abandoned possession football, just that WBA put a significant shift in a didn't let us have our own way. Brussel definitely hasn't changed his approach.

Take a bow @Harpenden Fox. You were bang on. Please PM todays lottery numbers. Foxestalk 16th April - 'I just don't see Southampton slipping up from here'.

West Brom looked tasty to be fair. Really didn't turn up to get bossed around. Felt like the sort of game we would be getting if we go up next season. We were far too leaky in Midfield though and gave so much space away in the middle of the pitch. KDH clearly not 100% but Ndidi should have been subbed at about 65 mins. We was barely covering any ground and completely stopped pressing. We were backing off far too much, but thats got to be the nerves flowing through. Best day out though. The last 15 mins were agony (6 minutes added?) and the releaf at the end was something else. Bouncing to tunes with my boy and wife - great memories before he turns into Kevin the teenager.

Told you moving away from the Belgium theme would work.

Quite a lot of tired legs at the end there today. Simply cant see Ndidi starting as he could barely cover any ground. Presume Riccy comes back. Does he keep with the 'shoehorning' Coady in approach or does he revert back to form. God knows who he puts up front. Vardy isn't starting this, and Daka looked mentally shot at the end. Lot of careful decisions to make in a key game.

He has to earn the right to get an elite job, which he has not done yet. For now he is an emerging manager and and can use his time here to improve, which he needs to do and i am pretty sure he know he needs to do. Assuming we don't shit the bed in the next 3, he's earnt the right to take on next years task. We very likely to get relegated with a points deduction, but with all the off field crap thats going to happen he has an opportunity to rise about that.

We earnt that lead. And odd that its still 4 points over Leeds, after everything they did to catch us. 3 games left and 4 points, over the best team in the division I think too much guff has been written over the last months and i think a lot on socials to some degree are blindly following the the loudest dissenting voices. This is an arse of a division and you don't just get everything your own way. 91 points is a good tally, and for the first half of the season we were unmatchable. i think 91 points would have been enough on its own right to get promoted in the last 6 seasons. Its nowhere near perfect but i've still got faith the he can improve and get more experience on the job. I agree he doesn't trust a lot of the squad, but then i don't, and a lot of them will be out of the door soon. I find an emerging manager much more exciting than a Rodgers or Potter who on the whole look down on us.

Did he tell you that?

Would guess you are misreading the situation.

Thats the massive goal he was going to get us. After a penalty miss and a stinker from Mavs cross, it needed to happen. Not sure how much more he can offer to be honest.

Place was bouncing during Free from desire.

Right by the players. Coady screaming at them already. Good lad. Kasey warming up with the first team.