Holmes_and_Watson

No Adams on top of having no Stu or Has a while back, weakens that starting XI. Either a 3 or Stephens ahead of Bree (is Manning injured?). AA central since Mara was pants, but needs Brooks to step up. Some concerns there. We have enough talent in the side, and they've all had plenty of game time. Deep breath and COYR!

I thought he might be. Even the commentator said that some in the club didn't think he'd have lasted this long, after a poor start. I think that's the end of any parachute payments for them. Wagner's deliverable was promotion, it seems. They continued with passing it put from the back, without any of the movement, work rate, creativity or passing angles needed last night, and recently. They relied heavily on Sargent and always have a disaster waiting to happen in defence. They are still lumbered with a number of first framers for a couple of more years too.

Chocolate

Moon

All this is a traumatising reminder of when I got my eyes swapped out for late '80s monitors in my cyberpunk phase. 🙂

Grates

What is the normal attrition rate of a club? How is that impacted through relegation? What is the impact of new ownership on attrition? How many normally depart when the new owner is looking to operate a multi club model? Has the requirements of managerial / senior staff changes had a ripple effect in other areas? Are the departing staff going onto better things, indicating that we've been hiring really well, but bigger clubs (see also the relegation above) are cherry picking ( as we no doubt do from elsewhere)? Just some question that might give it a bit of perspective.

Too big too fail? There are over 100 charges and they will be fighting every one of them, and no doubt using any influence they can to avoid punishment. I've not listened to it yet, but the Beeb had a programme tonight about sportswashing of Newcastle and Man City, and the influence they may have on a number of areas, not just football.

That was a lovely tribute to someone who sounds like he was a great bloke. One who had impeccable taste in football clubs too. 🙂 Despite the difficult times, your post makes him shine through. Thanks so much for telling us about him.

I can't see me avoiding that coming up at the next team meeting.

Rainbow lanyards are very handy for finding your pass in your bag. Or for not forgetting it, if you've left it out.

I felt my responses were really well balanced and fair. Oh rats, I'm doing this, aren't I? 🙂

It'll be interesting to find the first person who thinks this imaginary Long effort doesn't go over the bar. 🙂

The last person caught practicing epicaricacy over a football match in our village was burned at the stake.

The deeper passes work a lot better under Baz than Alex. Even then it has limits. I've seen Baz take care of silly passes (where they're lazily expecting too much of him), as well as others where he has had to hoof it (usually prolonged pressing). He's even had a go on at least one occasion. Alex needs that extra moment, either to control it or think about the pass. It's a bigger risk and they must instruct the defence to have different positioning and triggers to clear it. Super when it draws in other teams and we ping it past them. Not happening so much of late for various reasons.

None. Fourth official stops him coming on wearing unapproved Blue Suede Shoes.

Since Chelsea pretty much have an industry around ... tries to avoid phrases like children farming... recruiting and developing young footballers into successful careers, there's clearly advantages of being there than anywhere else. Their budget, resources and category status provide a lot of structure for young careers, to get a solid technical grounding. The competitiveness of the peer environment will help many. It's not for everyone. Players develop differently, physically and emotionally. Some will find the peer pressure or environment toxic. Others get more game time developing in other clubs, and thrive on those pathways. Chelsea would be great to have as part of development, but knowing you'd want to move into first team football rather than stall there, or get loaned out where it might not suit. I can't see anything wrong with having emotional support for young players, in the form of councillors. At a difficult time of life, in a pressurised environment, it's good to have a way of dealing with that, and also for the club to teach players to eliminate negative behaviours. Coaches who... tries to avoid phrases like bollock youngsters... shout or rant at young players, should not be in those positions, not at that level. The world has moved past such things, and there's far better ways to get successful outcomes than resorting to that.

Less for balance, and more because it annoyed me. Catching up with a few mates (soon to be replaced by fictitious ones who agree with me). I know a couple of them watch whatever late night US shows are around. They bang on about Trump this, Trump that for a few minutes. Any suggestion that Democrats have their own problems is wrong because Trump more of this, Trump more of that. There are no bad or extreme democrats. I asked, bearing in mind I don't disagree about him as a person, why would people vote Republican. I'm told in various ways that they are all like the caractitures their shows promote. All of them. Because it must be that, and nothing at all to do with the side they support. Not interested in this not matching the experience of a lot of Americans. No interest in any broader issues. No interest in solutions. No amount of information is moving their convictions. Whether it's from Americans I know (and that's across a range of views, some that do match theirs) or other sources. Trump trials and Trump bleach injections are just such easy hits. Why bother with wider concerns? I was going to say it's become the norm for people to demonise a whole other side, that don't agree with their views and the sources feeding those views. But it's always been like that. Social media and access to narrow 24 hour media channels on both sides, just makes it more obvious.

We need players who run and work hard, who are versatile and selfless. That's what's been required under the bright spells of a few recent managers. It's why AA, Che, Downes are key. It's why Aribo, Smallbone and Stephens are playing. Mara looked a little disheartened having to put in the work, knowing there was no personal reward in it, in those moments. That impacts other bits of his game. I recall Alcaraz looking frustrated at all the things outside his natural game, he was having to do as well. In the end, those players who can't adapt to it, are the ones who will be moving on. Hopefully, the recruitment team are learning a few things about personalities too.

Was waiting at the back post, to tap in a cross ball that never came. Nice control, pass and move into space in the second half for a return ball that didn't get to him. Che-like drop back into midfield, creating the space that led to a chance for others. Clearly prefers to remain higher up and central. Wants to receive it far more than go out and work at getting it back for the team. That led to those moments, where he was off the press and general lack of work rate and intensity. There were moments when we did get it into his preferred area, only to find he'd vacated it moments before, taking himself out of the attack. He is capable of getting a goal. But there's a fair bit of our build up play that would have to change, to get him enough chances. Che and Stewart offer lots more. AA and Aribo offer more too, but are needed elsewhere. That would leave Sule as an option. When AA was offside a couple of times against WBA, I was thinking they'd not be that high up knowing Sule was on the park.

He has. The club we're desperate to remove him from the wage bill. Basically not playing him. Yet, when we were up against relegation, they brought him in (Baz was shot well before that, and could have been replaced at any time) Same again this season. Not going to be getting a game. Yet, when Baz gets injured, the club bring him in over Lumley, who was on the bench. Yes, Martin's style suits Baz's distribution. But Baz would have played regardless of that. It's not just due to Alex's ability as a goalkeeper, that he's not picked. Alex is not assured at getting lots of quick passes around his goal. But we do get a lot of improvements in other areas.

I remember that from AA. We needed some intensity from Mara. At least enough to support AA. Plus dropping back to allow us to create passing options. Mara does know he should be doing it. He's just choosing not to/ not sharp enough to influence the game. Conundrum indeed. Manning is limited if no one around him gives any space for a pass. He's also at fault when another player has it. We then lose the ball and he has to race back. The third centre back should cover. But THB is not his best in a 3 and Stephens is possibly too far up, and was responsible for giving it away. It would be nice if we could take the best of the 4-3-3, get a comfy lead, then switch to the 3 at the back, since 4-3-3 has proven to be a bit pants at not conceding.

No doubt Manning looks poorer as his starting positions to support, and tuck in in the other formation, mean he's always having to run back, then get into a defensive position and then make a difference. That said, he is beaten quite a bit even on the shorter runs back as well. Agree that Bree is the better defender, in part for exactly the reasons you say. Our problem in getting the ball out from midfield into attacking positions, worse since Stu and Baz went out (arguably as Stephens came in), means Manning's not adding as much in an attacking sense either. However, if RM is planning a home switch to 4-3-3 to blow WBA away in the first half, then I'd go with Manning. The more help our midfield gets the better. If it means he looks as if he's caught out defensively, while we still get attacks then I'd be happy with that. Can get a nice lead and then switch to Bree. I'd also worry about conceding ground to Fellows with a more defensive player on that side, as it may create spaces for Fellows to exploit.

You don't hear cromulent used much either.

Red or Grey? 🙂