Holmes_and_Watson

Night

Happy Birthday to you Sorry Saints made you feel blue But let me offer a congratulation And hope we pull out of relegation

This week I has been mostly drinking... ...very little, as I was worried about having a "chat" with folk on SaintsWeb. 🙂 I was at a local game today, so didn't get past a couple of pints of Tennants Light (which I don't mind).

That's the pace of it in real time. The replay shows it going off his Lego head, through Stephens legs and low and to the left past Bazunu. 🙂

Lots of interesting points in those 2 posts Gio.

I'd not underestimate the surge in Gloucester Saint's popularity. 🙂 Is this an approval one, where all of them can get negative ratings, rather than having to pick one over the other? Because, unless the Lettuce is making a political comeback, I've no idea either. 🙂

"How can they be on the front foot, when they're attached to poles?! It does my nut in! Aaargh!" - Nathan reveals he hates table football more than ping pong.

Thanks. Labour worked well in advance of the election to give themselves the best possible start. And there's been a lot of activity. And each part, or all of that, is up for discussion. Political history is tainted with bribery and corruption. Any random copy of Private Eye has examples of revolving doors between political and industry appointments, cronyism, cover ups and generally wasting taxpayers money to chums. I agree that in other industries you'd be bounced for any number of things politicians across the board have a sense of entitlement towards. Over and above what's in their Rulebook of dodginess. From other posts, it shouldn't be some comparison with other wretched people or parties. Any of that is up for discussion too. Personally, I doubt my opinion changes regardless of who it is. Just the level of disappointment, when they turn out to be no better. The football one seems like a good plan. Long supporting PM still gets to watch his team, is safer doing so, disrupts crowds less and it's cheaper for us apparently too. Except that it's being used as a distraction from all the other things, and importantly the PL are front and centre in opposing the powers of a football regulator. Of course, the PM couldn't possibly be involved, and I'm sure everyone who is works in an integrity proof silo. Elsewhere donors got positions or access to no 10. Since none of them are passing the sniff test on cronies, access and donations, it becomes hard to trust them on anything. Preventable and setting up needless barriers, with all the work ahead. To have looked to start so strongly, only to be tripped up by this level of avoidable integrity issues is disheartening. Like early season hopes going wrong, it gats more of a reaction from me. Perhaps, in parallel with the Lord's reforms, they could have a close look at their own structures and finances. Instead of being dragged into reluctantly making concessions to integrity.

It's just the Pitcher and Piano. You're thinking ahead to when things get a little heated, when mentioning the piano wire. 🙂

Thanks for the review Christophe. I felt a little bad posting right after it, as I think it's fair to allow a little cool down time. So, me going right in and being a bit critical of VA wasn't the kindest. On your points, VA made a habit of not just having players fall over, but stay there like there was a medical emergency, when clearly they were at it. The added on time was directly the result of VA taking ages with subs, delays from some hard tackles and their own time wasting. Silly pen to give away. Should have been a win, but that choice to change the intensity to slow the game down, just allowed the visitors to get into it. A few spells of some higher tempo control would have put an end to that. Even so, VA had enough decent chances to put the game to rest in the second half. Far from a disaster. Some game management lessons learned.

Ramsdale KWP THB Bedders Taylor Downes Les Lallana AA BBD Cornet Bench: Dibling, Aribo, Stewart, Suga, Wood, McCarthy, Archer, Fraser, Fernandes Lots to offer from an attacking bench, as this is a game we really need to be winning. Also, because there's not a massive difference between bench and some of the starters. Positions to fight for there. I can see this as a draw. But hopefully, Ipswich will push up allowing us to put one away. The subs will be very important.

SaintsWeb pre-match "chat"

It was a few days ago, but was listening to a fairly short news item on fixture congestion. Going into the CL games they started with Rodri's quotes. They mentioned the expanded FIFA club tournament. So, top club level. So a bit of a surprise when the manager's opinion they quoted was our Russ. Getting mentions in the same chat as the big clubs he hopes to be leading one day. Barcelona calling... 🙂

Delivery

Only if they take table football into the dugout with them. 🙂

I do get the point on the tone whelk. For me it's a combination of the activity. their reaction to the push back and the other things they do combining to really annoy me. Just put on the radio. Someone from labour annoyed about the press talking about clothes. Last week it was "why, the taxpayer should be funding it all" slippery slope into giving away even more perks. This morning they are saying "well, they want to look smart." Both utterly missing the point. While also happily keeping it focused on clothes, rather than another look at all the other funding and gifts they get. A historically appalling bunch for lining their own (now paid for by someone else) pockets, on all sides. Rayner was talking about her working class credentials over the Ibiza trip. I did read one MSM source at the time saying that some of that trip had been paid for. While trying to find that. there's now a New York trip paid for. The push back over Ibiza is that " hard working MPs need to relax too" So relax, and get yourself clothes you like. But do it on your own money. Live to the values to talk about. Don't be just like all the grifters before you.

The intent? Or the Will ?

If it's not on the end of 50 passes, it hardly counts. Are they top of the Series A possession table? That's what counts. 🙂 Well done Che!

He did say that the shoulder injury would clear up in 2 weeks. The Ipswich game is about right using SaintsTime. 🙂

Somewhere in the 15mins I missed, the game changed. Subs, or VA changing shape, happy with the lead and looking to counter, instead inviting pressure? Even then, they had chances to extend the lead. It's not one I'd put at the ref's door. VA tried to shut the game down and failed. Years ago, Saints were trying to kill the game off in the corner. 30 seconds later we were picking it out of our own net. A slightly less poor example of that happened here.

You're just left with the impression that they can't help themselves. The pettiness of it doesn't really help. Any nickel and dime scam is enough. No fee to small to get a scam going. It says a lot on how they'd react in the bigger rip offs. Our interests first? Not a chance. Never mind the Big Book of Legit Scams already in place. Comparing yourself to... The gaping maw of the last lot's selfishness and greed, is not where you should be setting the bar. Nor should it be what they got away with from previous scandals. Having some common sense and decency would be a start.

Keep it down please. I'm working on the Gloucester Saint celebration thread here. 🙂 Good posts folks.

They do lots of different things, so not sure I'd directly compare them. I'd have liked to have had both. Downes better defensively and working through the midfield. JWP linking and with a bit of freedom to move forward, plus the set pieces. Depending on the game, you could add in Les or a Fernandes/Aribo/Dibling depending on how defensive or attacking you want it.

Troughers caught in trough declare that they will no longer trough from one small part of the trough again. Deflect to the tickets, by citing security. Deflect to clothes trotting out ministers who say our pm, partner and anyone else should look good. That it's something we should be paying for, but thankfully don't have to thanks to generous donations. Don't mention the concerts, the holidays, the various freebies, access and office support all provided by donors who I'm sure selflessly want nothing in return. Don't bring in all the others this applies to. Back in the expenses scandal and cash for questions scandal their greed was never in doubt. But no matter how they rig the rules to claim ridiculous things, it's never enough. It applies to all parties. This has been reported about Starmer for quite a while, and they did nothing to stop it continuing. It would have continued had it not reached this level of reporting. Not a shred of self awareness to do the right things. Perhaps they can donate all the clothing to help keep some pensioners warm this winter.

What an odd finish to the game. At 3-2 Valenciennes brought in the array of dark arts. Cynical fouls, time wasting, vanishing ball boys/girls, "injuries". Concarneau had some touches in the penalty area, but the home side kept compact. Before proceeding to nearly give a goal away from a sloppy pass back. Then they had a break of their own, only to blaze over from an excellent chance with the keeper already no where. Giving the ball away from trying to run it into the corner, resulted in more Concarneau attacks. They got the ball into the net, only for it to be offside. Then, after the 7 mins we're up (remember all that time wasting) our SR pals gave away a clumsy penalty. With pretty much the last kick, conceded the equaliser. When I nipped away, earlier in the half. Valenciennes had just missed a good chance for a 4th. I thought it hit the bar, or the keeper put it over from close range. They hit the post too. So. I wonder what turned the game from that first half performance.