Ted Bates Statue

Not our club, but Blackburn Rovers. Some might feel there are parallels as in the 2000s post Jack Walker era they enjoyed several top half PL finishes and European campaigns... followed by a takeover in 2010 and 15 years of mostly bad decision, starting with Allardyce's sacking. https://www.brfcs.com/articles/painful-acceptance

I was probably looking forward to doing a mid-season comparison in November, but our form for the last month put paid for that. Points after 26 matches in our previous Championship seasons: 2005-06 31 points (W6 D13 L7) 2006-07 44 points (W12 D8 L6) 2007-08 33 points (W9 D6 L11) 2008-09 23 points (W5 D8 L13) 2012-13 50 points (W15 D5 L6) 2023-24 52 points (W15 D7 L4) 2025-26 33 points (W8 D9 L9) 18 years after the 2007-08 season and once again, we're flying in 15th in the same division on the same points tally, once again having endured a similarly dreadful run of games over the Christmas period. The only difference being last time we did it while beginning to tighten our belts, whereas this time our owners have spent a considerable sum of money to achieve the same feat. I find myself wondering if Nigel Pearson would be interested in returning to management.

Some of them don't even have the sponsor's logo on the front. Truly appalling.

Callum Wilson has just been released by West Ham. He probably CDAJFU but we won't be able to afford his wages. Analysis of West Ham's recruitment of strikers in the Sullivan/Gold era:

Nah that'll be too obvious. He'll give us a glimmer of hope by scoring 2-3 goals over the course of the month, before sadly and unexpectedly injuring himself in the warmup at Fratton Park. Rumours of a loan striker will follow, but nothing will materialise before the transfer deadline, except for the signing of yet another right back.

Both he and SKD posted some good info until the pandemic, glad to know both are still posting 👍

Would be nice if we could keep this to a single thread, as some of our much-missed posters don't always make the roll call. Some names that spring to my mind: The9 David In Sweden Minsk ericb Guided Missile It's times like this that this phrase springs to mind: “At some point in your childhood, you and your friends went outside to play together for the last time and nobody knew it..." Although being honest with ourselves, it would be more accurate to say, “At some point in your terminally online lives, you and your friends internet acquaintances logged in to bicker about the mostly-downward fortunes of an occasionally-mighty South Coast Club for the last time and nobody knew it”

Would it be that bad? He's turned two midtable sides into strong contenders for promotion. Got better results out of Boro than Rasmus' previous favourite manager Carrick

No, but if we had the foresight to clone Jose Fonte around the time he joined us, his mini-me would be on the verge of breaking through to the first team right about now.

Thankfully, we only have one game against a side in the bottom three in January. So I have full confidence that we'll be absolutely fine.

Good idea, also while we're at it could some of us please also volunteer themselves to infiltrate one of the scouting team, coaching team, first team squad and board of directors so that we can get a better understanding of wtf is going on

To be fair, we gave everyone a head-start in the league by deciding not to attack or defend under Will Still. Since Tonda took over, we've scored 22 and they've scored 16. In terms of goals against, we've conceded 11 and they've let 10 in. On that basis, I reckon we'll outscore them to the win. 2-1 to us... I write this without keeping a straight face 😆