ClaphamFox

Andy King is marginal favourite at 5/2. Russell Martin is second favourite at 4/1 and he's only as low as that because he's available and has been linked with us in the past. There's nothing in it, but that's not stopping some of our fans from reacting to any mention of his name by checking out the fastest way to get to Beachy Head on AA Route Planner.

He can’t play against them.

Why are people losing their heads over Russell Martin? He’s still at 4/1—the odds haven’t moved for days. King is still 5/2. Nobody has a clue.

We’re probably trying to get someone to take it on an interim basis to the end of the season and everyone we approach is telling us to do one.

If we manage to get through the game without a red card we’ll get at least a point and possibly three.

I’m drinking in Oxford this evening and one member of the group is a massive Villa fan. When I asked him what he thought about Smith he spent five minutes going on about what a fantastic manager he is. His description of Gerrard was “beyond clueless”.

A bit strong—he was only expressing his opinion.

You mean that same top of the league side that we should have beaten at home and should also have been 3-0 up at half-time away a few weeks ago? With better finishing we'd have done the double over Coventry. And yes, we were generally dog shit under Cifuentes. But he has gone and there was a clear improvement last week—we'd have won that game without Okolo's brain fart and would probably have at least drawn if Ayew hadn't chosen the occasion to miss the first penalty of his career (having previously scored all 17 he'd attempted). Plus, we have signed four new players, at least two of whom I think will start today, with the others probably featuring from the bench. I understand, based on our peformances this season, why there is pessimism about today. I'm just puzzled by this incredibly stubborn refusal among some people to even admit the possibility that Marti's departure and the arrival of fresh blood might result in a better outcome on the pitch.

Four of Birmingham’s last five home league games have ended 1-1. They don’t lose often at home but they’re not exactly imperious either. We’ll get at least a point today.

Can you dodge a bullet from a gun that didn't even exist at the time?

Did they give their sisters the night off then?

What you're describing is a very plausible scenario, but not a best case one. Yes, Jordan James will be sorely missed but he will likely be back for our last 10-11 games. And Winks' return to the fold will help to cushion that blow if he continues to play as he did last Saturday. I've seen a few people lump the Oxford and Charlton games together, but I see them as quite different from each other. The Oxford performance was the last pathetic gasp of Cifuentes' ignominious reign and a well-deserved loss, but I thought there was a genuine improvement against Charlton. If Okoli hadn't have got himself sent off I think we would have won—in fact even with ten men I think we'd have got something from the game if Ayew had stuck his penalty in. It looked to me like the players were responding to King very differently to how they had been responding to Cifuentes, which raises the possibility that whoever takes charge for the rest of the season—whether that's King or somebody else—might get more out of them than Marti did. Then there are the new players. Obviously there is no guarantee that any of them will work out, but I'm personally quite excited to see what impact Lascelles can have in defence, and how Mukasa and Richards will improve our speed and movement in attack. In other words, there are a number of variables at play that, if they go well for us, could easily see us put a better run together and ease past the relegation zone. Your prediction that we'll continue to play as badly and nothing will improve is not unreasonable, but a better outcome is very possible.

How did you figure out that a continuation of our poor form this season is the ‘best case scenario’?

A fair few Leeds fans have made that point online

Our squad is lopsided and has glaring weaknesses in certain positions, but it is not one of the worst three squads in the Championship. I think will improve now Cifuentes has gone and we’ve got some new faces in, and finish around mid-table. Then a genuine rebuild will begin in the summer.

What did the FA have to do with it?

Why? What figures are you basing this on?

I wasn’t disputing it. How could I dispute something that was by definition true as we’re already in February? I was highlighting how the media has been reporting alarmist nonsense based on guesswork for weeks.

Sure, but if you want an apology shouldn’t you be speaking to them?

While Marti was in charge. He isn’t any more.

For what? 😂

I genuinely think we’ll win on Saturday.

Only 15 points off the play-offs. Let’s go! 💪

I suspect the rumours of 10 points were being put about by the club to ensure exactly this reaction.