David Kelly

That was exactly when I watched Chef and it fit the bill perfectly.

We've got lots of good young players who can do a variety of jobs (Stokes, Butler, Bairstow, Ali) but we do seem to be lacking really good specialist openers, keepers & spinners. I think we need to give an opener and a spinner at least a couple of series in a row to try and give them a chance to get into test cricket. Rashid has looked well short compared to Pakistan's spinners but that's not really a fair comparisson so I'd do what we should have done years ago and stick with him. It's surely time to go with Hayles now as an opener. I'm not 100% convinced with him but I don't think Ali was the right move for him or the team. Not sure which keeper to go with. Butler has looked a quality player in the past and he maybe just needs a rest. But Bairstow probably deserves a chance too.

When their level was so low to begin with, dramatic improvement doesn't exactly take much though does it?

Your really think someone at the club would be the best to advise anyone on dealing with social or any other media? They'd have him charge to accept friend requests and then pay a percentage of what he takes back to the club!

Been I right struggle this evening session. Glad they decided to give away their first wicket.

Makes Taylor's fitness record look good!

The cheese board

There was a load of bullshit about him being Ashley's first signing for more than £10 since we'd been relegated but I don't think it was ever near that much.

I think proper wingers would probably do him better but yeah I basically agree.

The only real clear chance he had was when he hit the post as far as I can remember. I think he will score goals but he needs better service than the over or under hit crosses we manage most of the time.

I play in goal myself so I agree with what you say about positioning. The best keepers aren't the ones who make the best last ditch saves (same as the best defenders aren't the ones who make all the last ditch tackles or clearences off the line). I appreciate Butland ability but I still don't think he made a save that I woudln't have expected him to make. Mark Hughes (who's a cunt I can't stand but on this occassion I agree with him) said basically the same as me.

I watched the second hald on the telly. We just didn't go back out to the stand.

Thought it was a shite game. I managed to get a corporate seat so didn't bother going out for the second half and just got pissed in the free bar instead. We were the better team but Butland didn't have to make any outstanding saves just reasonably good ones. I think the first goal is a massive thing for us now and if we get it on Saturday I think we'll win. If not, I can't see us coming back.

FYP

If Tiote can rediscover his form I don't think he'll be a massive miss as Anita has done much better this season. It possibly could also allow Sissoko to play in the middle where he's always been more effective. Mind you if he keeps playing like he has the last couple of games I'd be happy for him to stay where he is.

Well then it needs to be done in more detail than a just the points gained in the same fixtures last year.

According to Carver he got himself sent off because he was a bottler.

The whole thing is bollocks anyway really. Many teams fluctuate quite a bit from one season to another (like we did either side of finishing fifth for example) so how we did against them in the past is irrelevant. Add to that, the difficulty of the run a teams on, form, injuries etc and it makes comparission (at least on a basic way such as this) pointless.

I knew there'd be someone a lot more helpful than me along any mninute to provide some decent information. Might listen to that this afternoon actually.

We've not played the teams that were relegated this season though so how would that work?

It seems a ridiculous length of time but you do have to consider that under Carver we barely every got anyone in the box to get fouled!

For me, despite the poor points return, I've enjoyed this season a lot more than last. I suppose that's what it comes down to in the end.

I'm assuming we didn't play those games in a run though? Having such a run of games in a row surely must make a difference? Obviously we have to be concerned, there's a reasonable chance we could still be in the bottom three come the begining of November but there has been positives which I don't think there was for 90% of last season. Panic stations will be certainly be reached if Troopers points preditiction of the next four games proves close to being accurate.

I've got no idea how any of our matches will go these days. I do actually like what McClaren seems to be doing, we are playing better stuff than we have in years but obviously results haven't followed yet. But we're through the tough run of games now so we need to start a positive run. Of course it would help if we could finish a game with 11 men on the pitch and being awarded a penalty for a change wouldn't hurt!