deep blue

My pet theory, probably complete rubbish, is that you should seize the moment with youngsters and thrust them in at the moment when they're on the up and full of confidence, continue the momentum in their development. On the other hand, if you miss that opportunity and the youngster gets frustrated by it, starts to see no forward path, and loses that momentum then they'll soon reach a point where they start to go stale and their development will start to tail off. If there's any truth to that theory then our recent managers have failed badly and hindered the long-term progress of the club. I certainly feel that Wormleighton should have been given more encouragement. 2 years ago he was looking very good; just think how much better we could have been faring this season with a solid right back. I do wonder whether there would have been a better chance of keeping hold of Nyoni if he could have been more optimistic of being pushed forward here in the way that Liverpool have done. Keeping my eyes closely on the Monga situation now.

I think the midfielder is the most crucial. Get someone, preferably box-to-box, but even just a DM, who has energy and toughness, who can protect our defence better than at present, and that could paper over the cracks in our defenders. I'm assuming finances and the difficulties of the winter window, not to mention our unattractive position at the moment, will limit the number & quality of purchases we can make. But if we could manage a few, clearly we are short of a quality RB, CB and forward too. It's a shame we haven't felt able to give our youth more of a showing. If either of Alves, Cartwright, Evans, even Monga, and any others I'm unaware of, could step up that would help and would be forward-looking to next season too (especially if we end up Championship), but I guess that's too much to hope for.

Apologies. The "Will" didn't register

What about Alvez?

That's what I fear ... they'll come out right up for it and we'll be half asleep.

Muzzy, Pearson, Fuchs; possibly Steve Walsh the transfer guru, Shakespeare, Arthur Rowley.

My worst scenario is seeing Liverpool being 3 or 4 goals up at halftime and bringing on Trey Nyoni to score a 2nd half hattrick to really rub it in. Not looking forward to this game at all. I will be "obliged" to watch it in the company of my Liverpool-supporting, and obviously gloating, son-in-law and 2 grandsons. What an end to my Christmas

People over-worry about FFP. Losing 6 points is nothing compared to the gain you can make with a decent signing.

Everyone on here seems to have missed that we have Cartwright on the bench. He's the obvious replacement for Choudhury or Skipp. Only problem - is it too much of an ask of an academy youngster in such a high intensity game and against such an experienced midfield?

Also, if we need reinforcements in any area of the team we are covered on the bench for all positions. Were Alves to be included over Cartwright then we would have no cover for DM.

You should join our forum permanently. You're sounding just like a Leicester fan in your appreciation of your team, especially during our dark days under Cooper.

Sensational pass.

And next game can beat it ... at W Ham ... easy pickings for him.

It was a cross ... that came from the corner. I've since watched the highlights again and can see clearly that, in fact, there wasn't a foul. It came clean through to their forward who was surprisingly unchallenged.

I think a few players have had a dip in confidence during the latter Rodgers era and then under Cooper. Will be interesting to see improvement in several players under the stewardship of RVN.

It was a clear, intended foul on Hermansen. It would be interesting to examine their goal, too. A messy one from a cross that might well have shown a foul by a W Ham player in the lead-up.

I thought the defence improved second half. Maybe, with a bit better organisation, our defenders aren't quite as bad as we all thought.

He was awful first half - lost his man time after time. To be fair, he improved a lot 2nd half, both in defence and also in getting forward much more.

Not surprised with recent performances and the late KO, but a shame for RVN on his first game.

But I'm looking forwards, not backwrds, to the player Thomas could be if the manager works on reigniting his confidence and playing him in a better-organised defence. I reiterate my point that he is potentially a good passer of the ball, and accurate forward passing of the ball out of defence has been a bad failing in the team this season, one of the reasons why we put ourselves into trouble and don't get enough attacks starting.

On the other hand, the win v W Ham in 2015 was the start of the Great Escape run, and look where that led ...

Isn't Thomas a better bet than Kristianson at LB? Apparently he played less worse than many of the team on Saturday, and is likely to improve with more game time and with an "arms round the shoulder" manager to improve his confidence. Many on here complain about our failure to pass out from the back and construct attacks ... I thought when Thomas was playing well for us back in the day he had a very good passing ability.

I sort of agree, but the explanation might not be down to lack of fitness, or not completely. I think that when a team is disorganised as much as ours is, and when players are lacking confidence in themselves and their teammates, then the will to makes runs when you have no reasonable hope of being found with a pass, to press when you feel you're doing it as a loner, to chase an opponent when you can see others not being marked anyway, etc etc is drained away. If we were organised more cohesively to play as a team then a lot of things will improve, and lifted spirits will automatically put more of a spring in the step of all the players.and a determination in their attitude.

Highlights how poor was our tactic to play with ultra caution against them rather than going for the throat. Had we attacked them and had a good win that might have encouraged Cooper to be more positive and adventurous in subsequent games ... I feel sure that would have put usvin a better situation than we find ourselves in now.

I'd forgotten Hamza's performance in that match, an unexpectedly good performance from a weak team on paper which shows what can be done with reasonable organisation and when the team are up for it. IfvI r.emember rightly, Rodgers praised Hamzacfor that performance and dropped him for the next game