Nods

This fvcking guy.

As expected and probably the only fair thing to do. But I'll be disappointed if Ipswich don't let Blackburn score from kick off ala us vs. Forest after Clive Clarke's heart attack.

You're right. But last week we had 10 men pretty much all game and still scored. Prior to that we've managed to score one or two without really turning up. I think the full integration of Winks, James, Ramsey, and Pereira will make a huge difference moving forwards.

Always frustrating to draw without scoring at home. Trying to find the positives, though. Coventry are a good side in this division. Not scoring against them isn't an indication that we won't score freely against the majority of teams in this division. More than anything, I continue to be pleasantly surprised by our defensive improvement and general sense that the team is working as one and putting in the hard yards. We probably won't finish in the top 2, but there was a moment at Preston away that I genuinely started to fear the trap door. Getting Winks and Pereira back into the 11 is a good start. I think we'll probably be top 6, depending on the potential deduction.

Time for a period on the bench. Brings nothing.

Can't read too much into league position at this point. But obviously it is a disappointing result against someone we'd expect to beat. A point playing with 10 men away from home, after going behind twice, is never a bad point.

Didn't help!

Should be. But the rules tell a different story in the modern game. Given that the rules are what they are, and Ramsey knows that, it's beyond stupid from him. If you want to take a man out to stop a counter attack (because winning the ball was never on the cards there), you've got to slide and stay on the ground. This isn't an argument about what the rules should be. It's about what they are, and Ramsey makes a moronic decision.

I agree it's soft but didn't touch him? It was moronic from Ramsey. Never getting to the ball and took nothing but man. As I've already said, I don't think it was ever going to hurt the player. But it's late, over the top, and he absolutely does make contact. Unfortunately the rules are black and white and don't take into account the sort of sweeping action of the tackle as opposed to a more cynical hack. It was shin high and late. Refs seem to just apply the letter of the law these days.

Not when you're obviously not going to make the ball, at 100mph and over the top, no.

It's just a stupid, stupid tackle. By the letter of the law it's a red, but it's an annoying combination of unnecessary and actually quite soft. The same tackle could be made 100 times and I doubt you'd injure a player with it once.

Thick tackle to make, gives the ref a decision to make. But does the ref go red if the Oxford players don't surround him like that? Not convinced.

Remember Nick Pope playing a blinder against us at Turf Moor a few years back

Good move. Attacking side at a lower level. If it doesn't work there, it probably isn't going to. Important season for him.

Was being sang at 2-0 though. Feels slightly harsh but he was and is shit, to be fair.

I give a shit but I'd still be a terrible full back for us

This is exactly the mentality which placed us in the mess we find ourselves in. If we can recover funds for one of the many bang average players we have, we should jump at the chance. I don't care about cover. Worst case a young lad gets an opportunity. Looks like the club has adopted that mindset and it's several years too late. Get rid while we can, scout replacements, and sign them when we can. It's the only way we'll properly reset and turn this tanker around. The alternative is letting them go for pennies or nothing and having less money to replace them with. Cash. The fvck. In. On pretty much anyone. And go again. I give the club a lot of flack, but I'm pleasantly surprised with this newfound ability to flog bang average to poor footballers for multiple millions of pounds. Granted, it needs to be followed up by eventually actually signing decent players. If it's just an asset strip, I'm obviously less impressed. But if it means a few signings this window and more in following windows? That's fine. The removal of the scenario involving the slow and painful regression that we were quite obviously going to observe while entertaining that playing squad? All for it.

I honestly, genuinely don't think it's possible that the lack of James Justin makes any side weaker.

Nice lad. Poor footballer. Good business. Next.

Can't really pass, take a man on, or cross. Half decent finish on him but he'll never be a winger good enough for us, unless we get relegated again. Which, tbf...

It's nothing to do with fvcking losing games 😂 It's the attitude, the lack of effort and the absence of professional pride. And to some extent, yes, the mistakes. Mistakes happen, and that's fine. But our brain dead playing squad seem to have this fantastic ability to string together brain farts into double figures in the space of a few minutes. It all adds up to a playing squad that doesn't care. Professional footballers don't make that many mistakes when they're concentrating.

Maybe Leeds looked into his injury to make a judgement on the severity, saw his heavy touch which led to it, and thought better of it.

I'm sorry, Abdul, but you're wrong here. Yes the atmosphere is toxic, and no it doesn't help. But it is entirely to be expected when this crop of players continually turn in low effort, disorganized and shambolic performances. Yes it's only the second game of the season, but it's the same crop of players that have been guilty of this for some time. The fans rightly would at least expect competence against what is inferior opposition. That doesn't mean we have to win every week, and every now and again we may even play poorly. However, it is so evident that a lack of effort and low professional standards are to blame here. The body language throughout the team tells you everything. They're not up for it, and no set of fans is going to get behind their team when that's the case. Look inward ffs. You're professional athletes. Do better.

Nah I'm sorry. I would usually agree with this line of thinking. But it's not a case of fans jumping on the first mistake, the second mistake or even the third. When there's an evident lack of effort and mistakes piling up, it gets to a point that head loss occurs. And then yes, every mistake is jumped on. Wouldn't take much to get the fans on board. Start strong, work hard, and the odd mistake will always be tolerated. Start slow, saunter about and look like a calamity all over the field, and yeah, it's going to get ugly. Which no, probably doesn't help, but I can't blame the fans for it and it's easily avoided.

Very smart footballer. Knew that it would start to look like match fixing if he misplaced any more passes, so went down injured for 5 minutes to kill our momentum instead. In all seriousness, it's hilarious that the injury came from yet another heavy touch of his. Hats off to the lad for inventing new ways to kill our momentum. We win that game today without that stoppage. Incredibly annoying.