Malky was culpable tonight!!!

Yep. Malky's tactics are poor and I was calling for him when he was at Watford. We can get it right but its time to stop the long ball, time for a centre back that can pass the ball, I'm surprised Blake hasn't had a proper go. I'd have liked to have seen Bellamy-Velikonja-Mason across the line with Whitts pushed way up. We would have destroyed them tonight with that IMO. But there we go. A wins a win, we'll see how it goes.

Before anybody want's to point out that this is the first game of the season or point the fact that there were a few debutants or even our build up was disrupted by the mid-week internationals, that is complete bollocks.

We were shite today and for the first time really I place much of the blame on Malky's shoulders. Firstly tacticly, 4-5-1 @ home, what is that about? I am fully aware that 4-4-2 is increasingly becoming dated and you risk losing the midfield battle but f**k it, I'd rather have a go than just be hard to beat.

o I have no idea what use/advantage Turner's long diagonal balls provide, just gifts possesion to the opposition it seems.

o Whittingham is not effective as a deeplying playmaker, I lost count of the ammount of times he was stood next to the CB's tonight. He's our most talented player but it's wasted playing so deep, get Jordon Mutch to play there (who I though was one of the very few positives on display tonight).

o As for Cowie's role, can somebody please explain to me what purpose it serves having a 'winger' drifting into CM all the time. I can't fault Cowie's commitment and endevour but he is so clearly not a wide player.

o Finally, the most frustrating part of all is we have so many players who are good on the ball and are technically gifted in their own right, so why have we straight away decided to play long balls to Helguson?

As much as I blame the above players for not performing, I also blame Malky, clearly these are his tactical decisions because most of the above problems existed last season (just swapped Miller for Helguson).

I am a huge Malky fan but am pissed of tonight, its great to win football matches but I want to be entertained. Is that too much to ask!?!?!

I was going to write something like this. I agree 100% and you've saved me the bother

I cannot believe that Conway was on the bench. I feel really sorry for the lad. He's worked like hell to recover from his injury and was fantastic against Newcastle and yet he's dropped for someone who is a makeshift winger at best. I love Cowie and his work rate was top notch last season. But he isn't a winger.

If Malky wants to play 4-5-1 then that is more than fine with me. Used properly as a 4-2-3-1 it's devastating with the right players. I think we have those players and when they are fit and in form (Conway) they shouldn't be left out.

I always also a bit annoyed by his lack of imagination with the subs. I can't believe Helguson got a full game. He was working hard but was just dominated by the centre-halfs. Velikonja would add another dimension and is certainly mobile enough to latch onto those big Turner diags.

I am so delighted that we have got off to a win and Canton Stand was rocking with "We are top of the league".

Is the drum coming back? I really felt it was missed tonight.

1-0 TO THE SHEEPSHAGGERS!!!!!