Holmes_and_Watson

Spontaneous

That's how quick it was. Too fast for our eyes to follow. 🙂

Ignite

I went with 14th last season. Overall, I'm more optimistic for this season. More strength in depth has been added. The new faces will all be pushing strongly for, or getting first team minutes. Hopefully, we'll have another striker on the way. I'm less concerned about the inexperience of the new signings, than I am about Ralph's tactics. The playbook got found out, and the back up went badly wrong. When RalphBall did work, it was great to watch. My concern is that the new approach won't enable us to reach those levels, while still conceding enough to lose games. But trusting Ralph as he's got a lot out of an underinvested side for good spells. Exhaustive research of seconds looking at each team means I'm going with 13th. Nearly went 12th but caught myself before getting carried away. 🙂

Champion

There definitely something in the Airdrie. 🙂

Match

With he title edit and your further edit, the next one will be reasons to be cheerful part 3 🙂

We Don't need Another Tella, as sung by well known Saints fan, Tina Turner. We don't need another Tella We need to know the way to goal All we want is life above The relegation zone 🙂

A trend that will have to change to twice in [insert time period based on optimism] at some point. Why not this season? 🙂 sorry, what... Young players to settle in... hopeless form for closing period of last season... No goals in that there team...sorry...my wifi must be on the blink... can't read your posts...🙂

Article on women playing for England in the early '70s. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-62384197

Evil

Conte will have no answer to RalphBall v2.0. Battling 1-0 away win. If I can't be optimistic on the first game of the season, then when? 🙂

"I feel physically sick when I talk about the trial and what happened," said Mrs Vardy. I imagine that with therapy and support for her PTSD she'll somehow manage to milk it for all it's worth in articles, books, TV series and films. 🙄

Tough for us to pick a rival around us in the table. When RalphBall works we're towards the top end. When it doesn't, we're towards the bottom. Nearly everyone gets a shot at being around us in the table. 🙂

Let's hope our association with them doesn't result in us "helping with enquiries" like Leicester and Rangers. 🙂

Glad that no-one need ever know that he paid for kits. Oh...

Olympic

Pyramid

Jewel

Funereal black is not a good look for anyone with a bit of hope for the season ahead. The date in the black, gives it a headstone feel. Having "we march on" under it, just makes me think of shambling zombie movies. Mess. 🙂

I know we were a bit invisible on the pitch at the end of the season, but I didn't think it would be reflected in the badge. 🙂

You know it would breakdown into an unco-ordinated mess, with most of them trying to take the conga sideways and back, as Ralph's automatisms have taught them.🙂 More ponytails and varnish would be fine, though.

Some random merits from this tournament... - Tackling. Challenges can be strong, but fair. The ref is not going to give every player falling down under a tackle a free kick. Remember that Jack Stephens challenge on Fernandes that led to our goal? Remember the mewling about it? Wouldn't happen here. - Fake Injuries. There's a bit of faking to gain an advantage, but it's not on the same planet. Generally, if the player is down, it's because they're hurt. There are instances of players still playing for fouls, but they're taking a chance when they do. And if they feel hard done by... - Dissent. Basically none of it. Saw a little bit of it creeping into the latter stages, but generally it's not on. Even that little bit only goes so far, before the yellow card comes out. No endless mewling. No surrounding the ref at every.single.decision. No constant hold up to usher players away after decisions. You could see the players wanting to complain, but thinking better of it. - Throw ins. I didn't see too many delays as a team waited to take a throw in, only to hand it to their team mate. Again, a little more in later stages. - Ball in Play. All of the above leads to the ball remaining in play longer and with fewer stoppages. I feel lke I've watched a full game of football between two competitive teams. The I wonder why I don't feel that way when watching other matches... In answer to the topic header - health (physical and mental) - equality - more football to enjoy - community Personally:- - The big stadium matches have looked great. But I also really like the atmosphere in the smaller grounds with stands often that bit closer to the pitch. - The difference in physicality presents tactical differences, which I'm really enjoying watching. Not to mention that there are very modern tactics being employed with players who are only getting better year on year, and that's been really interesting to watch too. - Linked to the random points above, but I enjoy the competiveness. Less faking injury, no dissent, strong challenges, more ball in play lends itself to more action. - Despite some seemingly one sided scorelines, in nearly every match at this tournament, both sides had chances to shape the game at various stages. That's possibly something that should be enjoyed now, before some countries just get too far ahead. - Probably like a lot of folk, the growth in football for women means I have relatives getting involved, and that's pretty easy to connect with them over.

Poor kid. They need to be giving him awkward, unlikely chances like he got here. 🙂