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A draw if we’re lucky. Not feeling particularly optimistic and won’t until I see a return to the more positive forward play we saw after January. Would love to see Stephens dropped for Wood and Manning dropped for Welington. Would love to see Scienza back on the left. Would like to see Fellows start on the right to help get us out of defence. Fuck me, just play your best players Tonda!

Late to the table and didn’t get to see the game unfortunately due to other commitments, but I called it right - didn’t think we’d win that. Why? Historical data on season starts said so. Plus the pre-season games didn’t increase in quality to high enough level and the performances were meh. Whoever put together the pre-season programme needs sacking IMO. Despite the squad ending last season on a high somehow that impetus was lost over the summer. The squad has been weakened once again rather than improved and the weakest players are still plying their shit trade - Stephens, Manning, Edozie, BBD. Having Stephens and Manning in defence invites the pass, pass, pass, lose the ball bollox that loses us games. Having said all that, there’s a long way to go and there’s every opportunity to improve. But Spors needs to act fast to sort the big holes left by Stewart and Charles.

Yeah. They said he was at his best when he gets on the ball in central areas behind a focal point who can hold it up / lay it off

Good opportunity to put things right next Saturday as we lost to stoke at home last year.

IMO it’s Azaz starting for Dobbin and Leo out on the left. Everything else the same, I don’t think there’re really too many options in CM other than putting Matsuki back there and playing Fellows right.

Stephens needs to sit this one out.

Of course it was a mistake. Dobbin was a disaster on the wing. Leo just left the midfield exposed particularly Bragg because of the huge gap between him and Downes/Bragg plus he was continually clattered and risked serious injury. When Azaz plays there we look compact because he understands the need to mainly stay in touch with the two midfielders. Leo should have played on the left with Dobbin assigned for the Azaz role until the part way through the second half.

We haven't got. hope in hell of making the top 2 and I honestly think that if if the playoffs hadn't been expanded we wouldn't make them. If we do get in it'll be in 8th place. We got a point at Watford last season, this year we got nothing so that's us 5pts down on last season already.

I thought he showed some neat touches and beat the opposition a couple of times. Definitely think he's better off in the middle. Didn't the PNE fans say that? Will come good I reckon.

I said that, sad. Hope he picks up as he settles.

Obviously we have aspirations to be among the top 2 or to win the Play Off final. It's a tough ask and the season is long. However, we will give ourselves zero chance if we make 2 massive mistakes in games like we did today. Teams challenging for promotion do not gift 2 chances from such basic errors. Unfortunately, if we persist with Jack Stephens those errors will come regularly, it's nothing new because we've seen it countless times and there is nothing to suggest his basic mistakes won't keep on happening. (I get that Manning was also at fault big time for the second goal but Stephens covering run was woeful) Wood finished last season as a strong partner for THB yet Stephens walks straight back in to the side today. Wood may or may not be good enough - if he's not we'll need to sign a centre back to partner THB assuming he stays. If THB goes we need to sign two CBs. Stephens is ok as 3rd choice with limited game time - as a starter he is a liability we cannot afford. Today wasn't all his fault but he is the weakest link and Tonda needs to fix that.

Temu Redmond...... 👀

No sadoldgit was spot on. The Dobbin/Azaz thing was partly due to Azaz not being fit to start, it wasn't a mistake. Also Scienza being clattered time and again in the first few minutes meant we have no idea whether it would work or not, Scienza might as well have been taken off, they really took him out of the game. The huge hole would have been covered by Jander/Charles.

Wingers on the wing, a 10 as a 10, Jander straight in if possible, and Stephens on the bench to think about today’s performance.

Imagine if THB leaves and we fail to recruit another CB….. Captain Jack Crap and Wood as our starting line-up 🤐 Aside from that the whole back four were utter DS today, I worry about Bree he didn't look half the player of last season. Our right wing was non existent, I can't remember a single run to the byeline. Fellows has his faults but at least he give us a semblance of a right wing. Flynn was outstanding, surely with his drive and passion he should be captain. Let's hope Jander will be fit for the next match

What’s he done to prove he’s any better? I personally think THB and Wood are our best pair but Stephens seems to be loved by every manager

Yeah, ram their words down their throats by having a team that can beat them rather than one that gift wraps a win for them.

Our record against Stoke is awful so a heavy loss and calls for Tonda to go

Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Downes, Jander (if we can get a half out of him); Fellows, Azaz, Scienza; Larin Dobbin for Azaz after an hour to get close to Larin as he tires to make the most of the fresh legs

I don't think Quarshie has had enough time to show he's deadwood yet. A run in the side instead of the stellar Stephens may prove the point.

First home game. Reset after today and get going next Saturday. Definitely need to ensure that defensively, Saints don't mess about and just boot it out or just upfield.

Certainly handled teams like this in the second half of last season. Have you forgotten that? Watford capitalised on two mistakes, Saints were bad in the first half. But improved in the second. Let's see what happens versus Stoke.

May as well get started now, how are we feeling 😂

I think the difficulty is there are already players for this position. Azaz is the starter. Matsuki has done well, is a AM by nature but we have this weird habit of playing him wide when he doesn’t have as much pace. Bringing Dobbin into the mix is a good option, but clearly he hasn’t been brought in as a starter. We’ve got multiple players for the RW, AM and LW positions now - ability is questionable for all of them though, very weak on the right hand side and left/centre heavy.

Think archer would have been the better choice today out wide .