Holmes_and_Watson

That wasn't staring. That was hypnosis. "You are capable footballers... you are capable footballers..."

Trick

I can't omplain too much about a back to back win for the first time in ages. We'd done enough to secure the win early in the second half. There wasn't much from either side after that. Certainly not after Leo went off. Our first was a bit fortuitous, but we'd numbers in there to make it happen; our second was a nice first time shot from Azaz, after he took up a good AMC position; and AA was an excellent run, control and finish. Delighted with all of that, even if the total number of efforts was low. I did roll my eyes at the SR lineup again. But it was enough against a demoralised looking Wednesday. Although they had some decent passing moves later on, just lacking a final ball. Baz let another low and to the left, and there was a Stephens muddle. On the plus side there was Leo, AA and Jander. Downs was actually involved in an attack. In fairness he also took up a couple of good positions only for the ball not to reach him. That second win only takes us to 17th. So, that's how grim it was looking. Only 7 from those playoffs!

Well, that's about the only way he's likely to score. 🙂

Fighting talk is on at the moment. Won't be long before they have the Defend the Indefensible round. The winner will be whoever has been getting tips from MLG here.

As someone who doesn't gamble, even I've found the wall to wall gambling ads with their gateway fluffy offers to be relentless at times. Saturating the airwaves. Edit: Something that annoys me ( in a small way) is the look of disappointment every game at my local non League game, when I don't take part in any of the half dozen raffles. I get that they are money spinners for the club, but not of interest for everyone. I get a programme I rarely read, a pie of variable edibility and coffee that saw a coffee bean on the front of the jar once.

Supreme

A frustrating, but fair draw. Great opening few minutes. Lots of controlled passing from side to side looking for an opening. That brought a first chance. Then aggressive tackling got the second chance and a goal. VA had 2 good chances at least to extend their lead. But as the half went on Versaille started to get opportunities of their own. The best of which hit the bar, with Louchet never near it. Second half saw VA happy to sit, with Courtet running about by himself, with no supporting press. The game changed on 65 minutes. I don't know if VA's manager had planned to absorb any pressure for 20 mins. Perhaps that wasn't the plan, and he wanted the team to push out. Perhaps neither. I did see one of the outgoings players with ice on their knee later, so maybe it was an enforced switch. But 10 and 11 were replaced, with our Rento coming on. The home side hadn't been creating much. VA had begun to push forward a little. In fact Courtet had fallen when given a good chance just minutes before the changes. After the switch, VA offered very little. Versailles were given just a little more space with the attacking subs of VA. One of those deflected across the front of goal, with Versaille in space to finish with another deflection. VA were back to their usual disjointed attacks. The closer to the end, the more it looked as though the home side would get all three points. They were the better side by then, and knew how to put a move together. Moulin seems stuck trying to get a tune out of a team he wouldn't have bought himself. It was completely understandable to have made those changes on 65 minutes. His team should be better. In hindsight, he will probably have preferred to have left it as it was and absorbed any pressure for a 1-0 win.

That was great they had some one on hand to take the burden from the public sector and...oh, wait a minute...

Ceiling

I can't think of too many conceded goals, where you can't track errors further up the park. That's not just on players, but on what they've been asked to do, the positions they've been asked to take up, and the recruitment which has left some roles vacant. One aspect of a side without much attacking shape, is that it also limits Louchet's distribution. A team's well practiced movement and shape, gives the keeper options. At the moment his best hope is that Courtet clones himself to take up the 3 roles he's trying to fill in every game. 🙂

Seemingly every radio programme I listen to, getting in comments about Faithfuls and Traitors. Endless variations that never had the novelty value they seem to think. (Probably because everyone enjoyed it, but that's not stopping me being grumpy) While I'm here... Rooney gets a podcast Beeb litter their sports coverage with his opinions. They get a bite, and report on someone's account reaction to the criticism. Beeb report on Rooney's reaction to the response. Beeb delighted at click bait, as football page consumes itself. (I was grumpy about the first 2 lines before. But I'm extra grumpy about the rest now.)

Louchet, for me, has been one of the better players. The team don't create much, inviting pressure on a defence that isn't always good/ structured well enough to stop their opponents. Louchet's had to bail them out in some games. Less a slump than having to sit behind a team who are just where their form suggests they should be in the table.

Agreement

Just glad that the presenter did at least say "pregnant people" before foisting other views on the public. It would have been a lot worse had all the non women pregnant people gone into the heatwave unaware of the risks.

I just put blaming Stephens down to being by force of habit. 🙂

That explains the squad's lack of energy. MLT will have been telling him that the aliens have poisoned the water and the Illuminati have put mind control drugs in the food. We'll not win many games, but will be a key part in the resistance movement. Cheers Matt!

Marmalade

Big decisions to be made. How long should Tonda's stubble be? Which make of pullovers should he get? Which Bundusliga 2 player will we put a bid in for, now that the FM26 database is available?

Yup. This had the stamp of SR all over it.

2 shots on target. 2 goals. We are ruthless finishers. 🙂 The positives are mostly around the goals. Robinson kept his cool after a poor first touch, with AA there to set it up. Leo's goal was class. What a difference having someone willing to take responsibility, who also has some talent. Sadly after the second, and Leo's departure, what started as absorbing any reaction from QPR quickly became an all hands retreat. Even more so from QPR's goal. Baz made the wrong decision. But no points for the defence who didn't track that run right past them. Baz also spilled one, amongst all the thumped clearances with no one up front. I didn't mind the subs. Robinson's goal was followed by a return to his rawness. It was fine to get more height on there with Downs and Aribo. But without AA, a lot fell on Azaz to link up. There was none of that. We had no clue how to break. Downs was often the last out of his own penalty area. I did see one decent control and pass from him. He was also in the centre for a poor pass that went too far in front of him. We looked desperate for most of that half. QPR threw everything at it. So, credit that we held out under it. But we shouldn't have had to be under it. We panicked. Shout out for Downes who was clearly upset that Jander got booked before him, and picked up his obligatory yellow for nothing. Every forward pass beyond half way goes right back from him, without a look forward. Yet he picked out a couple of really good ones from the edge of our box, and was there as part of any RussBall we played. A win for Selles Mk 2. But an absolute ton of work ahead. Hopefully, that's some of the fear out of the way.

SR delivering another new manager splat. All their favourites back in with Stephens and Baz. Downes in presumably due to Charles' injury. Their (presumably data rather than reality driven) 3 CBs and a lone AA, running like a young kid between older kids at a kick about, trying to get the ball back. But hey, no target man, no AMC, 2 CMs who don't get forward, Robinson who is very raw, Fellows put of position. Even then, we did create another sitter. This week, it was Manning's turn to miss it. Unsurprisingly, we look clueless in attack, and struggle to get any bodies up there. A lack of power, presence and pace lacking as always too. Grim stuff.

🙂 Can I be the first to complain that I can't seem to sign Kouame. Silly FM database. 🙂

Better dead than Red! 🙂

Precisely this. You are being a bellend Matthew.