[Salopbaggie]

I personally would worry in Pulis got the sack, given the squad we have now...

Now, I don't like his style of play and his signings have been hit and miss.

But the question is, realistically, would other managers do better with this dross squad?

He's pretty much overachieved in the last 2 years keeping us up comfortably with a pretty poor squad of players. Remember that we were flirting with relegation under the previous 3 managers...

Personally I think he needs to be backed with at least 4 good signings and then if the football remains dross, he can go and someone can come in and work with a decent squad. I think sacking him now and getting someone in to work with this rubbish we have now could be suicidal.

As far as the match goes, it was basically a Championship affair. 2 low quality teams playing boring, low grade football. The big difference is that Middlesborough got all of their business done early, where as we have lost several key players and in turn, have had to play with kids.

On the plus side, Sam Field looked tidy in possession and passed well; but he's hardly going to be the spark we need in midfield.

Would any other managers do differently?  

That is a difficult question to answer as we do not really know what other players in the squad could have done if they had been given the opportunity.

Certainly Gamboa looks like a great "potentially" right winger who could follow his adversary back and do the business.  SP looks an all out and out LB, but when he gets blamed for tackles that can easily be put down to eagerness and ring rust, who knows?  Chester one of the top CB in the country sold for a small profit when we are desperate for long term CB's.  Evans a superb CB played at LB, etc. etc. etc.  Yes there are a multitude of way things could be different with our current squad,  I'll give you Lambert :-)

How many signings are you going to allow this guy before it becomes apparent that it does not matter who he has, give him Messi, Bale and Renaldo and we will have three new defenders who will "try hard to get forward" and "the team will have played well and could have expected more from the game.

As for Middlesborough getting their business done early:  That is what you are supposed to do as an established Premiership club (which the Boro are not yet).  Have your targets identified and as soon as, if not before, then dive in on the opening day of the window and sort your targets.  Not be left with three days to go and need 5 players!!!!!!

Love Slick not a rant at you bud, just a general one.