[Slick_Footwork]

It's hard to have a go at Pulis after he came in last season and did a really good job in rejuvenating a squad that was completely in the doldrums and in my opinion, looked a dead cert for relegation.

However... The problem is that his business in the transfer market doesn't look like it's pushed us on at all.

Chester, McManaman, McLean cost the best part of £15million and are not deemed good enough for a start. Worrying for the midfielders when they're being kept out by the likes of Gardner.

We're really not big enough to be spending that sort of money on squad players.

Rondon I can understand not starting, because he's just come in, unfortunately I don't think it matters who we have up top when the 'supply' is nothing more than 60 yard punts. We're desperate for a couple of midfielders with some athleticism who can actually get closer to the forwards from open play, unfortunately we've already blown a big budget on players who appear to be no better than the dross we already have at the club.

Overall, it's a point on the board, away from home. So that's something.

But there's little else to take from this performance and frankly it looks like we're still 4-5 players short. I expect Saido will go to United or City on deadline day, which will leave us even weaker than we are now.

Worrying times and hopefully we just need a few games to 'bed in'. But my gut feeling is that none of the midfielders who started today really have a 'second gear' to improve on that. Think all we can hope for is grind out performances with the odd chance coming from a corner.