Whitey Grandad

But was he? Was he kicking a dead ball or was he picking up possession from a short pass by McCarthy? I don’t know the answer myself but I didn’t notice anything unusual at the time bearing in mind the new goal kick ruling. Edit: I’ve just recovered my recording of MOTD and I see what you mean about Lyanco.

If McCarthy tells everybody that he’s ok to carry on then what can any manager do?

Come and sit in the Kingsland and you wouldn’t hear any.

He’s 40 now.

That may have been for dissent.

If he’s free then he can sign tomorrow.

I don’t think he would have run back to the line if he did not know about McCarthy’s injury. Still a silly thing to do though.

Last season was a freak. No crowds involved.

Did Lyanco take the goal kick or was there a short pass to him first?

I include Puel in that list, you may not be surprised to know. Adkins, Pochettino and Koeman were a class above.

I thought most of them had died through heart failure?

With the latest law changes it is quite common for the goalkeeper to play the ball short to a defender within the penalty area who then plays the ball further. It is then not so obvious that the keeper is carrying an injury. I must admit that I had not noticed anything unusual about McCarthy not kicking the ball downfield. There’s an analysis of the Law change here and an explanation of the implications for teams that operate a high press. https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-the-new-goal-kick-rule-change-a-primer

As was KWP. He checked but McCarthy sent him away just before JWP decided that he ought to blockade the goal line too.

A hamstring injury could keep McCarthy out until February in which case we might as well look for a permanent signing now. Apparently Forster has ‘a muscle injury’. Maybe he has been using his tongue too much?

Agreed. It was panic football in the last few minutes which is where the game management should step in. Engineer a stoppage for any reason and have a team talk to calm things down.

I agree, and we have had a succession of poor ones before him, but that does not mean that we could not find better. Whether this is the best time for a change is another matter.

As Alf Ramsey said to Rodney Marsh "I'll be watching you for the first 45 minutes and if you don't work harder I'll pull you off at half time," to which Marsh replied: "Crikey, Alf, at Manchester City all we get is an orange and a cup of tea."

Awfully decent of us, wouldn’t you say?

Because everyone there was vaccinated. I guess you must have missed this bit ”Around 120 colleagues, all vaccinated against Corona” Or maybe you didn’t actually read any of it?

He didn’t even need to try to pass it. He was not under pressure and could have taken it forward a few more yards.

If he is now going to be out for several weeks he should never have stayed on the pitch. How much worse did he make it by insisting on not going off?

We had one substitute left at the end. That would have helped to break up their rhythm.

Yep. As soon as the ball is cleared race to the edge of the area and put them all offside.

Which one? There are so many.

Hamstrings are normally 6 to 8 weeks, aren’t they?