So who's that elusive no.10?

How hard is it to understand??

If we put those 11 players out on the pitch in a league game it'd struggle.

If we had an injury, for example lets say Bennett, then Reynolds proved that he is capable at left back.

He'd be surrounded by better, more experienced players so should find it easier to settle in than in a side cobbled together at the last minute.

Same goes for all of them really apart from the young lad who looked completely lost, albeit understandably.

The back 4 I'll give you, not so worried about that area. D Jones, Nyoni, Uchechi, Coke not good enough at all on that showing. Couldn't string 2 passes together between them.

rivelinowl

I'm glad someone can see past the result and look at the performance of the players and team.

D Jones was frustating & in the main poor with his use of the ball. The most frightening aspect of his game is how often he gets caught ball watching!

Uchechi started brightly then disappeared out of the game.

I thought Coke did really well, he's only had 2 days training yet got through 120mins & I don't understand the passing criticism directed at him at all. He was on the ball & lot & in the main passed it well albeit simple.

Nyoni, again he had a few iffy moments, a few poor moments but for a young lad on his debut I thought he looked competent. He put himself about & looked to get the ball & take responsibility. He really did tire towards the end & started to struggle but again, that is understandable imo.

Madine was useless too - gave the ball away 2 or 3 times when we were in a good position. If he can't hold on to it and lay it off when up front on his own then he ain't doing his job. Doesn't look interested to me but I guess his facial expression don't matter..

We still need 3 quality players adding to the side if you ask me. Maybe O'Grady and Lines will be 2 of them but I can't see it and I worry if many of the midfield and strikers we played last night end up in the first team regularly.

People forget we were crap last season and yet have lost players who got us 13, 9 and 5 goals respectively. Yes, the defence looks better and mroe sold but to me, that just means we won't be getted battered at the likes of Orient 4-0 but at the same time we might still be losing more games 1-0 'cos we won't be good enough to score.

I don't think anyone is ignoring the performance at all.

Perhaps, take a step back and consider the fact that Megson didn't think we would actually go through against Blackpool, hence the starting line up.

The league is most important this season, lets face it.

I am really pleased to see some younger players get a run out.

How the hell do you expect them to improve or develop an understanding of the game at a higher level than they've been used to without blooding them. What better opportunity than the Carling Cup in round 1 against a side that we were unlikely to beat?

Come on, think a bit wider than you are currently please. This was encouraging as a result even if the game was complete dirge to watch.

Positives are;

1. Fitness levels in the first week of the season
2. Young players getting first team experience
3. Depth in the squad allowing regulars to have a break from a badly timetabled midweek match (we need them more aginst Bournemouth) - plus giving Megson an idea of the opirtos he can develop if two or three younger players can learn and develop at this level.


Just saying that's all.

opirtos - options ^^^^^

Well said Shibby

What a surprise, Owl on Owl hate crimes, someone will be tekkin their shoes off in a minute!

Last night was dire to watch but what did we really expect? We knew the weaker team would be fielded, players looked good for 20 mins then went missing. The same can be said of Blackpool also though when you look at it, they had so many opportunities to win it and squandered all of them...Blackpool are the ones who should be moaning about how pants they were as after that horrible display they ended up losing!

2 clean sheets from 2 games
No first team injuries
through to the next round

those are just a couple of positives, but Indeed I agree the game itself was pretty bad U9706!!

give U9706 a break too guys you're calling them arguementative etc but there's at least 3 of you going at him!...

attack attack attack - not the philosophy on display last night.

I would put U9706 in the heart of defence with trueblue and i-monster up front.

baggsie in goals.