coalman

When you believe it's started.

That's a relief. Was worried we were going to break up the Bazunu, THB, Wood, Stephens, Manning, Downes axis there for a moment.

I remain hopeful, despite all the evidence Sport Republic have furnished over the last 4 years. Some of the saves on his YouTube highlights reel are ludicrous.

You'd hope that - except we spent a lot of money bring both Angus Gunn and Gavin Bazunu from Man City so history says otherwise. Had a quick look at the English speaking Bayern forum and they seemed annoyed he was out on loan not playing when they wanted him to be pushing Manuel Neuer for the number one spot so that's, at least positive. Though would indicate a loan is all we're going to get out of it.

Still can't believe they got rid of Poch after he'd just managed to unfuck Todd Boehly's insane transfer strategy and get them playing well.

He's got all the ingredients of a classic Sport Republic signing. Hasn't been able to get in any team recently. Possible attitude problems and a loan player we can bench for the season after social media fanfare in the grand tradition of Gronbaek. And, while we're all hoping he's the real deal let's not forget we brought in George Long as 3rd keeper. Someone who at no point in their career who would be able to pressure Baz or McCarthy for the starting spot.

And in the universe you're from where goalkeeper performance is determined by points per game you may be onto something. However in this universe....

That's a strategy, not a plan. A plan includes the mechanisms to determine whether it's working over a variety of time horizons. All along they've said "it's a long term plan" without ever saying what success looks like at 6 months, a year etc. Which is about the same as saying "fuck off and stop questioning us".

He played 8 times all season. Admittedly that did include the playoffs. The thing which really coincided with our form increasing was Stephens getting injured. That was at the start of our record unbeaten run. The Stephens came back and we nearly blew our shot at the playoffs.

Another backup keeper that can't get in his loan side? Sign him up. That's a proper SR find.

Millwall worked out how to neutralise us pretty comfortably last time. Will be a good test of whether Eckert can adapt.

I really don't have faith in them 😉. Nor do I disagree with you. I'd rather have my cover further up the pitch though. Playing three centre backs doesn't appear to make us harder to score against.

People who have a ten year plan are usually just trying to distract you from the fact they have no one year plan.

That's got the potential of there being a lot of noise before we fail to pay the asking price then sign George Long on a permanent and extend Baz / McCarthy.

No it doesn't. But at least we'd be playing football further away from our goal and might stop more crosses from coming in.

Playing three mediocre centre backs isn't a replacement for two competent ones. And leaves us woefully light in midfield. Net result we get overrun and peppered with crosses. Which our centre backs aren't good with. Extra bonus is it's easy to shut down our out ball.

We don't have a manager problem. We have a culture problem.

Why would we want to get a few "always"?

I really like the idea of forcing the reserve keeper on for ten minutes. I also think that VAR should step in if players go down holding their face when clearly nothing came near it. Automatic red card. Anyone crowding the referee gets an automatic yellow unless they are the captain. With keepers taking goal kicks there should be a countdown clock the same as when they pick the ball up. 90% of the bullshit would stop overnight if FIFA grew a pair. Instead of wasting their time sucking up to Trump with the Bellend D'Or award.

I'd say that it would make more sense for THB to be in the box full time given that setup. Saw him stop, decide not to cross and go back so many times. Manning was also superfluous most of the time given Scienza's excellence down the left. Archer and Armstrong are never winning headers against that number of defenders.

It's also painful watching THB get to the edge of their penalty area. Stop. Agonise for a bit. Then turn and play it backwards. He should either be in the box trying to get his head on the ball when we have a man advantage or we should put on someone capable of unpicking their defence on. And I can't remember Downes playing a progressive pass all game. As soon as they went to five at the back our crosses into Armstrong on his own or Archer who was apparently on the pitch were easily mopped up by their centre backs. While Coventry stopped offering threat at that point, so did we bar Scienza who looked lively every time he got the ball.

So much this. Worse than that it's clear where the ball is going next before it even reaches the player. You see other teams starting to press where the next pass is going before the ball arrives, is controlled painfully slowly and then inched towards its destination. We're just putting players under pressure in the wrong bits of the pitch. At no point does it look like we'll pass past the players we're supposedly drawing into our trap.

I love the way Scienza doesn't mince his words.

C'mon Baz

It's lucky we've got THB and Downes to recycle the ball for us.