Mick

I keep dipping in and out of the mackem game as it's painful to watch, it's just like watching us unfortunately. They have the same flaws as us and are relying on one or two players, they have so many players behing the ball they offer very little going forward. 0-2, ha ha ha ha ha.

He slagged Ben Arfa off in the press, I don't know what, if anything was said face to face.

Hah.

I can't see him starting, he might get on to the bench.

He's done it here with Ben Arfa and Ranger.

It would be good if he did, at this stage I don't care who does it.

Please, don't.

That’s definitely closer to the truth.

Not quite, I probably am a moron though because I've been putting myself through so much crap following football for more decades than a 25 year old has lived through.

I hope that he's made the improvements that were asked of him, if he hasn't then he'll think he no longer has to. I'm not too bothered about his past, his future performance is more important. I’m guessing that this is his last chance and with a bit of luck he’ll know that and will stick in. On the other hand, he acts like a kid and is just as likely to revert to type. I think for him to turn everything around would mean a total life change and him ditching his hangers on.

No way, we've spent most of my life in a transitional period. It's easier to do when you're in your 20's or 30's and have gone through the Keegan and Robson years which reduce the number of transitional periods as a percentage of what you've watched.

He looks to be a bit more robust since his last operation, he just needs to regain his match fitness and some self-belief. Re-gaining match fitness will take time because of the amount of time he’s had off. Every injury will have been harder to get over than the last because his fitness levels have not had time to return and he will be starting from a lower level. I hope we stick with him because he could be a very good footballer once he gets up to speed.

Aye, our only problems are due to injuries and suspensions, christ.

I agree that we did exceptionally well last season, being brilliant was a step too far and not true.

I agree with both points, we always hope things turn out well and more often than not we end up feeling as if we've been kicked in the balls.

What have you seen to make you think he can turn things around? It can't be his CV because he's never turned a major slump around in his entire career.

Last season wasn't brilliant, our league position was and a few games were but it was also poor at times, especially early in the season.

I agree, he needs games to get over his injury problems. He's probably OK physically but he looks to be mentally fragile at the minute.

I’m genuinely starting to feel sorry for him, he’s lost the plot.

He does get praise, its just that its not always over the top.

OK, name them.

It's amazing that a manager can get so much credit when things go right but seems to be blameless to some when things go the other way.

He needs to go back to the reserves.

The whole of the 2nd half was garbage, it was the longest 48 minutes of my life.

I laugh louder every time it hits her, its brilliant.