jukeboxromeo

Just got back, urgh. Needed a few pick-me-up pints after the match, but they don't seem to have helped because I'm still in a pit of desperation and despair. For what it's worth, despite it being a totally sh*t game, I think we were just about in control of the match the first hour without bothering Tim Krul at all. Our midfield pairing of NRC and Muamba shackled the duel threat of Cabaye and Tiote in the centre well, and there wasn't much going on with the wingers despite us having the worst full-backs in the league with Boyata and Robinson. Petrov did okay, but the strikers (in particular N'Gog) offered absolutely nothing - Willicini certainly proved that last year's result was a fluke. Two substitutions changed the match: HBA on for Best, and Eagles on for Muamba. Now, I appreciate OC was going for a win, but taking off your defensive midfielder who was integral to snuffing out the opponents' biggest threat (imo) is tantamount to tactical suicide. And it showed within 5 minutes - Eagles lost the ball, it was crossed in and HBA was left UNMARKED to put it in the corner. Fast-forward 60 seconds, and as I feared, Obertan finally got beyond Robinson (who really is a pub player these days), Ba got the better of Cahill whose mind was already in South West London and made it 2. The problem is that 5 years ago, we actually had a solid spine to the team, and that showed with resilient play even if it was unattractive, pragmatic football. Going a goal down wouldn't faze us. Now, we have a soft centre, and as soon as the first goal went in, I knew that was it. Heads were down and we just rolled over. Given your second half performance and our lack of one, you were the deserved winners - good luck for the rest of the season. As for us, it's a case of 'what might have been'. If you're not winning home games, you're going to go down - simple as. The way I see it, we're probably going to get somewhere around 30 points this season, which is inevitable relegation. It's hard to know where to proceed from here. I can't see Coyle going any time soon - there were hardly any dissenting voices at the Reebok despite the "getting sacked in the morning" chant by you lot; just a resigned acceptance to our fate - but we have 12-14 players out of contract in the summer. On today's showing, I wouldn't offer any of them a new contract, and just rebuild with the youngsters.

I know you guys have been slating Obertan loads in this thread, but the prospect of his pace up against Paul Robinson terrifies me.

We're actually not that great on set pieces. Davies is unlikely to play anyway.

No way we'll keep a clean sheet, like. Oh, he actually said 1-1. Fair prediction.

Yeah, most of those are old/deadwood so the majority of them will presumably be released whether we get relegated or not. How has Zat Knight been? Does he still do that "look and point at something in the distance in order to appear authoritative" thing when he's a bit confused by the game unfolding around him? NRC does that, too. NRC also has the added bonus of being the least technically adept footballer in the northern hemisphere. Zat Knight has been a word that rhymes with his surname. Not a delight. Yep, still does that. I've been impressed with NRC, he looks like Messi compared to his defensive midfield partner, Fabrice Muamba.

It was. Bo Hansen wasn't much good between the sticks. Jaaskelainen, Whitlow, Johnson, Bergsson, Charlton, Barness, Warhurst, Southall, Gardner, Holdsworth, Hansen. Look at the state of that team! I'm amazed we stayed up.

Yeah, most of those are old/deadwood so the majority of them will presumably be released whether we get relegated or not.

I remember a 4-0 loss when Jussi got sent off and our right-winger had to go in net. Might have been this one.

I'm not really sure. Left-back and centre-back almost certainly, possibly another striker too. We need to get rid of a lot of deadwood though, and I can't see that happening next month.

In the summer. We've probably lost 3-4M by not selling him in August, but it's better than letting him go for nothing. At least it's early in the transfer window too, so we have time to get a replacement in and not panic buy at 11.59pm on deadline day.

He'll do well with better players around him. For the price being suggested (7M), it's an astute signing.

Chelsea in talks with Bolton regarding Gary Cahill. Still likely to play on Boxing Day.

Your last win was in 2007. Allardyce's first game.

Shocking team, yet I'm still convinced we'll come away with nowt. Defence is pretty bad, yeah, midfield and attack are alright.

Jussi Steinsson-Knight-Cahill-Robinson Muamba M Davies Reo-Coker Petrov Klasnic N'Gog Tough game, this. That Cabaye-Tiote partnership really worries me. If Perch plays I'll be a lot more confident. Edit: Wheater is available, but doubt he'll start. N'Gog may not be fit.

It's obviously a big win, but if we don't win against you lot and Wolves in the next week then it doesn't really matter.

Haha, this is so frustrating.

This is the best I've seen Petrov play for ages. Ooh, game on now.

The fans won't know how to react if Blackburn come back to win this.

It's not the first time Holden has done that either.

That was superb by NRC

Hasn't even started training yet. Probably March. Neither team can keep the ball.

Both teams' defences are absolutely shocking. I fear Blackburn's midfield might over-run us.

Come on you useless b*stards!

He's been alright actually.