McLeish out Chants / banners / protests

[Hookeysmith]

I dont want to see us ever play the surrender football like we did against Manure, Spurs, Citeh and Liverpool. If he has worked that out then he deserves a chance.

I tend to agree with this - tonight is his most important game for me.If he reverts to type and plays to stop them rather than having a go like against Arsenal then that should spell the end for him and we accept he was the wrong man for our club. But if we see that he has learnt where he was going wrong and we carry on with the same positive attitude then good for him. We know that we will not be so dominant away from home but we cannot concede flair for a rear guard minded performance. If we were our usual pathetic self against Arsenal then he was doomed. What it did ashow was that with a bit more bravery and better team selection balance he could be a decent manager - he forgets he has some decent tools at his disposal so there are no excuses   

[Legion]

The tumbling bear is playing tonight.

[Chris Smith]

Games against Stoke ate horrible, they have been under every manager so why should tonight be any different? To use this as some sort of defining moment of his management is ridiculous.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's a very important game.

He's built up a lot of antipathy with his (perceived) negative tactics. Against Arsenal, he made people think twice. He can now build on that, he's got the chance.

If he reverts to type, then I don't think he's ever going to get another chance to win people over.

We're also, and it sounds a bit incidental, in need of some points pretty soon.

[Witton Warrior]

It's a very important game.

He's built up a lot of antipathy with his (perceived) negative tactics. Against Arsenal, he made people think twice. He can now build on that, he's got the chance.

If he reverts to type, then I don't think he's ever going to get another chance to win people over.

We're also, and it sounds a bit incidental, in need of some points pretty soon.

Have to agree with this.
The Stoke game is showing some more endeavour.
Solid at the back for 2/3 of the game with some positive play

[jonc73]

I don't think it was ridiculous to see this notoriously difficult game with some importance.  As it turned out it was a good solid performance, add Bent to this and I'm sure we will climb the table

[Jimmy Smash]

Stoke was a toughie and we did okay. Given our December fixtures we needed this... if not a win then at least a draw. A point here wad a result as far as I'm concerned.

[markus209]

Somebody had what I think was a McLeish out banner today. It had a load of z's at the bottom and said something like "we used to be roaring." I couldn't really make it out that well though as I was standing a few rows behind them. Someone else who went to the Stoke game might be able to say what it said exactly though.

[Dave Clark Five]

Somebody had what I think was a McLeish out banner today. It had a load of z's at the bottom and said something like "we used to be roaring." I couldn't really make it out that well though as I was standing a few rows behind them. Someone else who went to the Stoke game might be able to say what it said exactly though.

I didn't see it but I heard a few twats trying to sing an anti-McLeish song . More importantly, McLeish was clapped both sides of half time and at the end.

[markus209]

Somebody had what I think was a McLeish out banner today. It had a load of z's at the bottom and said something like "we used to be roaring." I couldn't really make it out that well though as I was standing a few rows behind them. Someone else who went to the Stoke game might be able to say what it said exactly though.

I didn't see it but I heard a few twats trying to sing an anti-McLeish song . More importantly, McLeish was clapped both sides of half time and at the end.

Yes, they were the same twats with the bedsheet who tried to start the anti-McLeish song. They brought it out before kick off and after the final whistle when McLeish was going down the tunnel

[villan1975]

I don't think it was ridiculous to see this notoriously difficult game with some importance.  As it turned out it was a good solid performance, add Bent to this and I'm sure we will climb the table

As much as it was a good solid performance tonight and against Arsenal
I struggle to see where Bent fits in.Still feel Bents main strength is running onto
cultured balls through the middle of which I still see very little.

[Risso]

What's that now, 5 games out of the last 7 where we haven't scored?  Piss poor.

[Dave Clark Five]

Well done McLeish for pulling the team together again.

[Mazrim]

It's easy to see where Bent fits in. The ball Sorensen spilled, the balls fizzing across goal, etc. That's where he fits in.
Bent would have helped us take the points in this game. We should have taken the points in this game.

I was disappointed in the lack of further substitutions as a few tweaks cold have brought some reward. Especially in the final thrid.
I would have liked to have seen Bannan, Ireland or Gradner come on in that regard.

Regardless, some encouraging signs. We were the better team at a difficult place to go. Stoke really are loathesome.
Every ball is contested with some crude form of greco roman wrestling that they seem to get away with.
So I'm pleased we stood up to them and showed some balls. A pity we couldnt have fashioned a goal though... again.

[jonc73]

Also on the Bent subject NZogbia and Albrigton are starting to show they can perform, which has been a massive boost for all concerned over the last few games. Bent also missed some sitters recently.If Bent hits a bit of form (which his past career shows he probably will sooner or later) then I am quite optimistic for the rest of the season.

After the Liverpool game I thought 2 things could happen 1) we might get an absolute thrashing by someone, AM would  have found it an impossible task, or 2) the team started to dig in and show signs of improvement. It looks like no 2 to me so let's see how we go against Chelsea