VectisSaint

When did the PL2 change to 7-a-side (see your post for last game as well). Sort it out 😉

He was academy Director at Man City, he joined us as Director of Football Operations. Quite clearly that is a step up Man City or not. I'm still not sure he would want to be back down the hierarchy at Man U, effectively reporting to Ashworth?

It was discussed during Martin's presser earlier, so it is well known.

I have serious doubts that Brooks will be OK for tomorrow anyway. He was clearly badly hurt when he collided with the post, took a long time to recover and hobbled around for a while before he was subbed off. I winced when he slammed into the post, for a few moments (and on the replays) looked like a really serious injury. Hopefully just badly bruised.

I see that Derrick Abu was initiated into the 9-goal defeat club last night when Harrogate were demolished 9-2 by Mansfield. Hauled off after 53 minutes, with Mansfield already 6-0 up. Bit of a shock for the lad after the 1-0 win on his debut. Kazeem Olaigbe managed to avoid the ignominy, not in the squad.

He was clearly injured when he clattered into the post, it wasn't odd at all. Wouldn't be surprised if he is out next game, lucky boy not to have suffered some serious damage.

Passing has been a shambles all night, by most players. That pass from Kamaldeen then was just awful.

Read earlier that we are looking to sign Matias Soule from Juve, and this may be linked to the Alcaraz loan, and therefore a way that Jive could afford it. Have never heard of Soule so no idea what to make of it, but apparently we tried to sign him but he was unwilling to leave his loan club (Frosinone) mid season. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/juventus-set-matias-soule-asking-price-amid-southampton-interest/ Haven't seen this mentioned here yet it was 3 days ago it was posted (Declan Harte?). Sounds a bit far fetched to me.

Thanks. I don't recall seeing anything in the Trophy Cabinet when I did a stadium tour though it was a few years ago (pretty sure after promotion to PL though). Don't recall ever seeing a team presented with a trophy after finishing runners-up, guess it just gets sent to the club with medals after the event.

So less than 50%, think it's best to stick with coming 2nd.

Does winning the play-offs really count as winning something? I think there is a little trophy, but in the end it's really just saying you came 3rd. Runners-up is more prestigious than 3rd. Still find it odd that there is not a trophy for runners-up. In any case being in the playoffs is a lottery anyway, so often the 3rd places team don't end up getting promoted (haven't checked stats to back this up).

How the hell are Huddersfield 4th from bottom. They look very good going forward, playing some really good stuff.

Actually, it's all about Huddersfield. Pressing, pushing forward with purpose, they have been much the better team.

Hardly something to blame on Martin, our medical team must have given it the green light, and really it is something that you cannot predict with any degree of certainty. It is difficult to argue that it has actually caused us any problem, would we have been markedly better off, points-wise, if he had played regularly from when he was recovered from his initial injury?

No problem with it at all, as long as you have the correct information. 9 Championship games to go, not 5.

Nope, currently 21 unbeaten in the Championship. So 9 Championship games to go for your prediction. You can't count Cup games in the unbeaten run in the Championship. To get to your prediction we have to remain unbeaten up to and including Leicester (away) on 16th March (assuming no rearrangements). Its possible but there are some tough games, WBA and Leicester stand out. Our longest ever unbeaten League run stands at 24 (1894/5?), need 4 more league matches unbeaten to set an all-time club record (it was set in the Southern League rather than the Football League). We have already beaten our longest ever unbeaten run (all competitions, league and FA Cup) which was 21, record now stands at 24 and counting, Liverpool is the obvious one that might end the record run, but we also have WBA (A) before that, which will be a real test of how good this team is.

Think that's a bit disingenuous, there wasn't too much wrong with Jones, especially as a backup, Neil Moss as well was OK-ish. Coles was pushed out in December 2005 when Redknapp was fired as part of a big clear out. Shame he went to the Skates afterwards (with Arry) but we shouldn't really hold that against him, worked with James and Begovic, has been with Bristol City and Forest Green since, and spent the last 4 years with the England u18s, still well regarded. Personally I'm pleased to see him back helping out the youngsters.

Sadly, very common on Salisbury Plain and around here where I live also in Wiltshire. I don't think of Wiltshire as northern, though perhaps I should given my origins. 😉

We've been doing this since just before Christmas, long balls either over the top or splitting the defence with low accurate long passes with runners running on. It seemed to start for me when Stephens came back, his long low passes were very noticeable and THB with the ones over the top. It seems to have taken a while for JB to get in on the act but he too is now executing these passes well, hence we are now looking very slick with quick progression from back to front.

Are we sure Fraser is OK. Looks like he was about the only first teamer missing from the squad last night (other than Brooks), was anything said about his absence as he would normally be a shoe in for the bench due to his ability to change a game.

Rested for Liverpool

So Olly has presumably ended his playing career. So no longer a backup for our 3 CBs, perhaps ditching Holgate was not such a good idea 😉

We have already broken the record for number of games unbeaten (league & cup), so a loss in the cup, while bad news, makes no difference. The outstanding record is for league games only (24), we can break that if we remain unbeaten after the Hull game, the tricky one being the Baggies. I only have a concern that a loss in the cup 'might' dent our confidence, Ipswich were maybe affected by their shock loss to Maidstone, going 3 down to PNE is a possible sign that it does get inside your head.

also at MK Dons when Martin was manager. I don't think his joining is a coincidence.

Seems to be finding his feet now. 2 goals albeit against Darmstadt (bottom of Bundesliga).