It’s all about personal preference.  Mall wants a team that is “hard to beat, and creates a few chances”.  I prefer a team that creates loads of chances, and defends in depth/numbers.  But this is the beginning of a new era.  That had the Dillometer going back over different eras.  In that respect, who remembers the team with the forward line of Baxter, Luke, Dixon, Sewell, Lockey?… and whether or not it was successful?….. Bear in mind, any answer will inevitably give away the age of the responder!!!

Any manager is only worth the money at his disposal, and the contacts that he or she has.  Knowledge of “the game” doesn’t matter, because there is very little to know - the pre and after-match assessments are largely cliche-driven waffle.  The appointee has to be able to see what’s happening on the pitch & therefore spot what has to change.  They all fail as often as they succeed.  The key clue is that you won’t see Pep playing with Carragher and Neville’s computer!  Appoint the applicant who in the interview doesn’t mention the following cliches…. “Character, workrate, winning fouls, physicality”, but does say he wants his team to score more than the opponents!….  And I hope SC retains his interest and ambition….

So much belief in coaches and managers.  If there is “learning” in football, they would all reach the point at which they are deemed to “know” the game.  However, they all get sacked, so does that mean they had forgotten what they “learned”?!  Players motivate themselves and other players, not managers.  All any club needs is a manager with contacts and the money to lure them, then tell the team to outnumber the opposition in as many situations as they can.  Screaming and hollering are irrelevant…

Yes, leaving Barrett on the bench is always a mistake, imho, but there may be a niggle or something we don’t know.  I’m often narked by him replacing a forward or attacking midfielder with another.  That changes nothing.  If you’re not winning when you need to, surely the manager should ADD a player not swap like for like….

Still no attendance figure?  Was it starting to be embarrassing?  Couldn’t make it yesterday, but what I’ve seen, the players aren’t good enough, apart from the forwards from last season, but even they aren’t firing.   No slipperiness in midfield probably contributes to the forwards’ dip in form.  Giving Fatadjo only half a game deprives us of the most mobile player in the squad.  Very worrying, as the crowd could drop alarmingly if better players can’t be obtained.  Again - what was the attendance, please?…..

Thank you, B & G!  And no umbrage towards others!  I didn’t suggest closing Academies.  Obviously young players can improve, but I believe there is too much talk from pundits, etc, about tactics and developments.  I was only quoting Jimmy Greave, who I happen to believe!  And, while I’m at it, whatever is Joe Cole on about now about today’s finished lunchtime game?!!

No, not scoring for fun, but if it’s the best you have it’s the best chance you have!  Equal with their No. 11, Josh was the best player on the pitch.  But we do need a regular scorer, and more creative ability in every position, particularly midfield.  I don’t think Gold O will set the NL alight, so keep tabs on him.  He did score goals in the end…