Channons Windmill

We’re going to see plenty more games like that this season, especially if voluntarily go down to ten men in the first half. The tactic against us is clearly to sit a bank of four in front of a back five to make us play continuous pretty triangles. Wait for us to lose possession and hit us on the break - thinking of Bazunu’s excellent one on one stop when he suddenly appeared twenty feet wide and Downes incredible track back near the end after Manning’s woeful pass. If we can’t get through a tightly compressed back nine then we’re really going to struggle to score….and always be under pressure from quick counters.

Can we sign out of contract players in between transfer windows? If so, the line-up I’d go with would Shilton-Golac-Dennis-Wright-Nicholl-Williams-Holmes….

Don’t forget that Everton have their FFP hearing from 25th October - apparently if they lose we that then Saints (plus Leeds, Leicester and Burnley) will be taking legal action against them. I can’t see, under those circumstances, that there would any situation where we would cut Everton a deal especially as there is the very real possibility they could go into administration…

Or Rees-Mogg in his top hat, give us some height..?

I surprised myself by how much I’ve enjoyed the last couple of England games but do wonder if we could find a goalkeeper taller than 5’8”? She was clearly beaten for height for the goals conceded against Colombia and Australia….

I always thought Shilton was a little overrated but, blimey, he was good at shouting and keeping his defence in position. And blaming them for every goal conceded…

I’ll miss his proper black boots.

Exactly - which was my point. He clearly did exactly as he was told to do and it was effective.

The 9 minutes was particularly interesting to watch as he highlighted just how much positive influence RM has already had on the the team. Their instructions were obviously crystal clear and understood - witness Aribo’s contribution; he was clearly told to stay in a specific area to spread the play and then to hold the ball, making only short passes to a team mate. If nothing else, we will be hard to score against this year solely because the opposition won’t get the ball.

I’ve always wondered whether there was a degree of Man City involvement in his move to Girona, after all they’re both part of CFG. Perhaps linked to our acquisitions last summer (and this)?

Dale Vince is a shrewd guy - look at his village team punching way above their weight. He also saw how the energy industry was going many years ago and now we’ll probably see more women in men’s football - he just knows how to use these things to the advantage of FGR.

When I last worked in football (albeit a number of years ago now) the season ended 30th June and the new one started the following day - which is why the transfer window opened that day. Contracts were always tied in around that which is why a lot of transfers were recorded on 1st July, especially with free agents.

Terry Gennoe always struck me as a great keeper who briefly shone very brightly and then promptly disappeared - think he went to Blackburn for ages after us. I don’t remember being particularly responsible against Forest, more that we were completely overwhelmed after half time...

A few ‘characters’ as well - I was so lucky to have been a STH (family centre) through that period from 1975-76 - feel it was an age when smaller clubs could still reach for the top..

I’d be surprised if Monk worked at managerial level again in football though I shouldn’t really be surprised by anything anymore….

Why does Allardyce appear on any list? He’s mostly retired now and his wife wouldn’t let him work further than an hour from home anyway….

He was a great player whose career was stymied by terrible injuries at key moments - not quite good enough for West Ham in the Prem but outstanding at Yeovil in League One, so I guess he found his level with Forest in the Championship as he lacked a yard of pace to make it at a higher level. Met him a few times when he was in Somerset and he always seemed a really nice guy so I hope wherever he ends up it works out for him. Think he was just a victim of the Mad Nath 'era'....

It's also important to remember that this 'social media influencer' role he's landed with is now probably his sole/main source of income..... I hear from a source within the game that he's potentially in an interesting financial position..

Lawrie knew my late Dad (I think he arranged insurance for some of the players) around forty years ago and every time I've spoken to him since he remembered him. He invited me over for Sunday lunch when I bumped into him again at SoccerEx in Manchester a number of years ago, wished I'd taken up the offer. Will always be a hero to me...

There's a small station car park (which I've always used) though it is in the middle of a large residential area - I see there's a also a (new?) big car park next to Altrincham station which might be better as I'm sure more than a few will have the same plan.

Yes, Altrincham (or Navigation Road)! Get the tram in... I work in Manchester several times a month and haven't driven into the City for probably a couple of decades now...

Is the booing a Saints thing, or wider? I remember Alan Ball used to get booed a lot and Lawrie used to get very cross about the 'boo-boys'.. hasn't ever really made much sense to me

Well Wikipedia doesn't record a date of death for him, so he might be available but probably the wrong side of 150 now....

According to Wikipedia, between Sept 1955 and May 1991, we had three managers covering 1682 games... Since then we have had thirty managers (incl. caretakers) covering 1368 games.. I know football has changed a lot over this period, but it would be interesting to compare this against other, more balanced, clubs..

Didn't that shirt first appear for the Charity Shield? I remember the replica shirt I had also said 'FA Cup Winners 1976' so obviously from 1976/77 - which was a slightly disappointing season