SouthernSmoggie

If only the EFL started giving points for 'putting the pressure on' while losing.

Awful game. Two very average sides.

That's a pen.

Our off the ball intensity. We have too many players who are passengers out of position and only come alive when we are attacking. How many times do we concede long shots and goals from runs through the centre because nobody puts their body on the line or takes a yellow card. There's no desire to stop attacks and win the ball back. So many sloppy, individual errors. Lack of warriors and leaders who want clean sheets as much as strikers want goals. Howson a prime example there. If an under 12 player dangled their foot like that on the edge of the area they'd get a bollocking. Pathet

I've said it for ages but he is rarely far from the scene of the crime. Not saying he doesn't have his qualities because he clearly does... But easily the softest touch in a team full of them.

Howson with his trademark pussyfoot challenge

Is Dieng not fit? Or is Glover first choice until he loses it now?

Could do with a result tonight, otherwise this season will start to take a very early slide towards mid-table obscurity. Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect us to get play offs. But thought we'd be lingering towards the end with a mathematical possibility at least. I've gone for Clarke as think his left footed passes could get Engel on his bike a bit quicker. Greenwood up top as he doesn't do enough in midfield. Would rather Forss as striker but he works hard on the right at least and there's nobody else. Dieng Ayling - RVB - Clarke - Engel Hackne

Seconded - add another authentication factor to log in. There should be an option to add '2FA' or 'MFA' in your email settings. Slight pain but worth it, as even if they managed to compromise your password, they'd have real trouble with the second step (an SMS text code to your phone, or a time-sensitive code generated by the Microsoft authenticator app). Not sure how to slow down the attempts, it's probably a bot making repeated attempts. You could turn the notifications off as having 2FA should be enough to know they won't get in, but I'd rather know personally. Might also be wort

It's hard to compare. Gibson and Ayala were far better protected by the midfield than any of our current centre backs ever will be.

I don't think it's down to personel in defence either. The biggest issue is we're powder puff in central midfield - players waltz through our centre time and time again. It's not that our players don't care or try, I just feel they're far more interested in attacking than defending. A lot of our players are passengers out of possession then come alive when we're on the front foot. We were bad at defending and conceded weak goals last year too, our goals conceded was really bad for a side in 4th. The difference is we don't smash 3 or 4 goals in at the other end anymore.

I've had that attitude to this season since pretty much the beginning tbh. I gave us <5% chance of promotion after our Summer transfer window, early performances, injuries, and seeing the strength of other sides. Likewise never felt for a minute we'd go down, even when results were awful. Not been getting too carried away when we win or too down when we lose. Just each game as it comes with the expectation that we could be pretty good or total dog dirt - been quite nice and stress free! Having said that, I'm hoping next season will be another exciting one where every point matter

Miles on. That's an outrageous decision.

Feel like I've seen this exact game so many times before in the last few years. Go two or three goals down in the first half, usually quick fire to poor defending. Come out better in the second but miss chances and ultimately huff and puff to a defeat.

Azaz has a great touch. He'll come good in that number ten spot with a proper striker ahead of him.

That had to go in.

Our defence was pretty bad last year too. Probably gone from a 5/10 to a 3/10. The killer is our attack has gone from a 9/10 to a 5/10. Last season we'd be 2-2 or 3-2 up and all probably enjoying this.

Any team with a decent off the ball shape and press cause us massive problems. All they need to do is frustrate us and we're bound to gift a couple of chances at the back. Powderpuff central midfield and accident-prone defenders. Forwards who only come alive when we're attacking and are happy to be passengers when the going gets tough.

We're so soft. Too many who are only up for it when we're on the ball and attacking. Opposition know their press will be rewarded with gifted opportunities. Must put a spring in your step as an opposition attacker.

Hard to think of a season where our line up has been so unsettled.

One of the goals of the new way of doing things is that (in theory) it shouldn't be such a system shock to replace the coach. We would (again in theory) hire someone who largely shares Carrick's philosophy and style, rather than lurching from say Monk to Pulis. You'd hope they even have their eye on a handful of coaches who would fit the bill just in case. Agree with others that this Summer is very important. I think Carrick would accept this as a transition season and agree that this January wasn't the right time to invest what little we have. But the guy is a serial winner, he's not he

Needs to do the business then. Doubt Premier League or other top division clubs are queuing up for McGree - what's he actually done to warrant that? Don't get me wrong, I rate him. But he's 25 and has hardly set the league alight. He's not a young English prospect like Rogers, nor has he put in an immense season like Akpom did. Riley needs to stay fit and give us a stormer of a season on the pitch and then we can talk about 'moving up.'

Some people honestly take any excuse to sh*t on the club. Azaz was widely regarded as a coup. We got decent money for Rogers. The same people moaning about Crooks probably moan he's slow and not good enough to play no 10 for us. We all want a striker. I'm happy we're keeping our powder dry and waiting for the right player in the summer. This is probably the strongest top four there's ever been in this league, it's not the right time for hail Marys. I'm not saying the club is perfect, I've been the first to complain many times before. But I really don't know what people realistically

Hard when he's constantly injured

Hate to say it, but I do think his lack of pace will stop him becoming a top end championship striker. Players need to be all round athletes these days, you don't see many as slow as him make it. He's a decent enough finisher in the box but that's not enough these days.