trousers

Apologies for trotting out the forum's most annoying question but do forgive me... Source? 😁

I'm in two minds as far as Armstrong is concerned. On balance, I think I'd rather have him in our squad than in one of our rivals'. On that basis alone, it's a "stick" rather than a twist from me.

Yep, if there are players in the team that aren't pulling their weight (as per most of the team last season) then the captain should be giving them an on-the-pitch bollocking. I don't recall seeing any such admonishing from Stephens last season....?

Wasn't he played out of his best position whilst there though? (Supposedly) #context

The likes of Donley is exactly the sort of loan signing we should be targetting though, IMO. i.e. A highly rated player on the cusp of breaking through into a top* premier league club's 1st team. (*MLG note: yes, I know that Spurs weren't a "top" premier league team last season, but they can be considered a top PL team over a sustained period of time)

https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/transfer-news/tottenham-rebuff-offers-two-young-31934876 " Jamie Donley, who took League One by storm with Leyton Orient last season with 19 goal involvements in 48 matches as well as a remarkable strike from the halfway line that forced a Stefan Ortega own goal in the FA Cup tie against Manchester City and had Pep Guardiola praising the versatile 20-year-old. football.london understands that Spurs are currently rebuffing loan advances for Donley, who has four years left on his contract and can play in midfield or attack, and will reassess his situation later in the summer after Frank has worked with him on the training pitches in pre-season."

Was once dubbed "the new Harry Kane"... https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/who-is-jamie-donley-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-tottenham-striker-at-the-centre-of-an-international-battle-between-northern-ireland-and-england/40949191.html Excuse my curiosity but are you asking about him because of some intel you've heard about him possibly being scouted by ourselves? Just seems a bit of a random player to mention otherwise... cheers!

Yeah, good points 👍

I agree that it's often difficult to separate sentimentality and practicality, but I think it's possible, and indeed logical, to express both. Yes, Jack has been a loyal servant and I too applaud his "give it all" attitude. But, alongside that, we ought to be able to secure the services of better Centre Backs for the starting 11, given our financial clout in this division and the stated goal of the owner to get re-promoted at the first attempt (cue the "Who would you buy then?" mantra....) My concern with Stephens isn't that we've given him a contract extension, per se, but that it seems he is to retain the captaincy. To me, you give the captaincy to someone who, barring injury or suspension, is pretty much guaranteed to start every game... the likes of Downes, for example. If the club management believe that Stephens is a such a player then that rings alarm bells to me. So, nothing against Stephens as a bloke, but one shouldn't let sentimentality get in the way of logic and practicality. IMHO of course.

Forgot one... Have met the band 'Enter Shikari', courtesy of being good friends with the lead guitarist's father

Ah, ok, perhaps my memory playing tricks on me then... How many games did he start,, out of interest? (and how many of those non-defeats were draws Vs wins?) Cheers 👍🏻

F*** knows.... I'm just off to my local Devonian village pub for quiz night and a gallon of something cold and amber... Enjoy your sweltering train journey... Mind the tracks don't melt... 😁

Is that the same Championship where we played better when Stephens was out injured and/or suspended...?

Just to clarify, are you using the word 'club' because you know that we're going to go back to the Kelvin Davis days of having a 'club captain' (as a ceremonial role) and a different on-field captain (although it could, of course, still be the same person from time to time)? If that's the case, then I'm not too fussed that we've given Jack the 'club captain' role. My concern was that we could've been repeating the Russell Martin mistake of naming a mediocre player as on-field captain that then adversely influences the matchday team selection.

If he does, I wonder what new signing they'll try and hide it behind this time...?

The jugs look appealing

Scottish band Runrig - several encounters Chris de Burgh - on a plane to Malta Nick van Eede, Cutting Crew (of "I just Died in Your Arms Tonight" fame) - back stage in Worthing a couple of years ago Paul Brady - back stage at Danish festival Bryan Adams - back stage at Tanzbrunnen, Cologne (had a good chat with his tour manager) Eddie Jordan - keyboard player with Fiction Factory (1980s one hit wonders with '(Feels Like) Heaven') Doesn't get much more Rock 'n' Roll than that!

Someone at the club needs to have a word in Thomas Tuchels shell-like... ".... 'ere.... Tom me ol' mucka.... wontcha have a Dicky Bird with Rambo when you get a mo and tell 'im he stands more chance of getting back into the England squad playing in a top Championship team than he does playing for the Black f***ing Cats at the arse end of Premier League"

I need beer!

Lovely looking paddock

Not fur long...

Fair point 👍🏻

A fair point but surely you don't give a "back up" player the captaincy? The ceremonial role of "club captain" maybe, but our on-field captain should be someone who is pretty much guaranteed to start every game. I've no problems with retaining Jack as a good character to have in the squad but having him retain the captaincy raises concerns about shoehorning him into the starting 11....

Saved me having to type out my thoughts.... Spot on...

Welcome to the club Damion. Obviously too soon to tell whether we've signed another Mara or another Mané. As always, time will tell...