James

I mean that was a stonewall penalty. Two handed shove to the back. What an idiot. Brainless defending.

What an idiot.

Pretty happy with that. Would have liked Fernandes to start, bench is ominous. If Stewart had started in place of Fraser with Arma on the wing I’d be much more confident. Don’t fancy Arma as a lone striker.

The keeper situation reminds me of what we did when we got promoted the first time and signed Boruc. Didn’t come in straight away as we gave Kelvin and Gazzaniga a fair shake but eventually Boruc became obvious choice. If it’s Matt Ryan that comes in then I suspect we will get a similar outcome.

Great summary. Just about sums up how I feel. Weaknesses last time are still weaknesses this season and, if anything, strengths from last time are less strong. We are very likely to have Bree and Stephens as 2/4 in defence and Shea Charles as the lynch pin in midfield. Let’s be honest, none of those three were in our best 11 last time and some of them didn’t even make the subs bench in some games. Up front we definitely have a more diverse group of threats and Archer should really score a shed load if given the right service but at this point in time It’s hard to see who is going to make the chances.

Every keeper makes the occasional howler. Whilst annoying that’s not really the problem, it’s the number of times you sit there and think “should he have done better with that?” - I asked myself that question a lot more than half a dozen times that season. By contrast, I’m having trouble thinking of many (or any) matches where a Bazunu save won us any points.

Exactly. I don’t get how folks can really think we are in the conversation for Top 2 right now. We were a mile off last time and, assuming Dibling and Fernandes leave, we are going into the season with a much weaker first XI. Maybe we’ve got a deeper squad this time round but in terms of pure talent in the first XI we were much better off last time.

I’m curious, do those that disparage the stats which point to Bazunu being a very poor goalkeeper at this level think he looks any good when they watch him? Stats or no stats, I just see a goalkeeper that makes the net look big and lets in a good number of shots I think a better keeper would save. Every time a shot is on target it’s sharp intake of breath time. Almost the entire fan base was overjoyed when Ramsdale signed, to be back to square one this season with a keeper that most of us don’t think is good enough is disappointing.

Any recommendations for Championship focused podcasts other than the Second Tier pod? I listen Ed to that last time we were in the Champ but not sure I can do another season of it..!

Baz is not mid table quality, not even close.

The team today is OK for the Championship. Is it a team that is going to challenge at the top end? Not in my view. Lots of the reaction to this summer is pent up frustration I think. We’ve just endured arguably the worst season in the club’s history and this summer we’d all hoped there would be a big rebuild - Spors told us there would be - as it is we’ve taken a team that was nowhere near good enough for the league we are trying to get back to and look likely to sell or loan all of the players that were in anyway decent. Plenty of time to go yet but there needs to be significant activity. It’s hardly a surprise that supporters aren’t happy or excited at a team with Bazunu, Bree and Stephens as 3 of the back 5 and a forward line that is back to including Ryan Fraser and Adam Armstrong.

I would forego some outfield recruitment if it meant keeping Ramsdale and not having Baz in goal.

I hope to god we are not considering a deal for a number 3. Anyone that can’t immediately displace Baz or McCarthy isn’t worth thinking about.

Agreed but realistically we need a fast start. We’ve got a young and inexperienced manager and a weaker team that’s low on confidence given how bad last season was. We’ve got until September but we know it doesn’t take long for heads to go down amongst this group.

We are on the way to being a much weaker team than the last time we went down. At least last time we actually signed a few decent players, this year we’re on the way to stripping out all the quality and have signed a couple of back ups from the bargain bin.

Don’t like the deal for Ramsdale. Either sell him or keep him. £4m doesn’t give us anything for replacement. Bazunu as number 1 is the stuff of nightmares, can see the howler v Pompey and the “Agent Bazunu” tweets already.

I thought the reporting re Ramsdale was that he wanted to stay but felt he needed to leave as he wants to make the WC squad? Of our “Big 4” players Ramsdale is the one I could see staying. James Trafford made the England squad in the Championship and if Rambo’s options are top end of the Championship here or playing for PL cannon fodder like Leeds or Sunderland then he might prefer to take his chances here. Unfortunately can’t see Fernandes staying when push comes to shove, someone will come in. Likewise THB. Suspect we will lose both towards the end of the window. Dibling who knows - pre Jan last year I’d have said no chance but tailed off last season and our price tag will put a lot of clubs off.

He’s solid in the Championship so fine for him to be a squad player. However, I really don’t get this “leadership” stuff - last season he was banned for lengthy periods mouthing off at the ref and for pulling an opposing player’s hair. Not exactly model behaviour from a so called leader is it?

Why on earth would any of our players consider a move to Leeds? They’ll be back down here in a year.

Dogshit decision from the ref in the build up to that goal.

Great header from Ross, pleased for him. Could be a big asset next season.

Penny for Mr. Dias’ thoughts. Very gratifying to see Pep have a meltdown at full time. Hopefully the death of his dull as dishwater way of playing. Awful performance from City again.

Yet he’s given away two penalties…sure sounds excellent..!

Jack Shoehorn needs to be the first one shown the door. Two penalties…FFS.

ABK our best defender at Chelsea and dropped. Could not make it up.