Sheaf Saint

2-0 to Ipswich right on HT. Any faint hopes we had of second place have now evaporated.

I do. I saw nothing whatsoever during his time with us to suggest he's anything else. The team looked completely unfit and disorganised, he had no idea how to use our two best attacking players Scienza and Azaz and frequently just dropped them completely, and his entire tactical vision seemed to be: winning = throw on more defenders to protect the lead; losing = chuck on loads of attackers and go 3-2-5 in a desperate attempt to score. I've seen teams better managed in my local park on a Sunday morning.

If you want a souvenir you'll just have to buy a half and half scarf instead 😉

"The greatest and most beautiful arch in the world"... It looms like the tackiest load of shite you could ever imagine 😂

I know the feeling only too well. I've remained extremely cautious during our recent run, even as the team have consistently proven my fears of messing up to be unfounded. So I'm really hoping that by finally predicting a comfortable win today, I haven't cursed us to end the run.

Booking fees for anything are (and always have been) just a bullshit way of making tickets look a bit cheaper than they actually are.

So my only hope of getting tickets for me, my bro and my nephew altogether is if they buy the discounted memberships and I add them as my friends/family, and just hope it doesn't sell out before it goes to members with no purchase history. Have I read that right?

WTF was that all about? He so obviously doesn't have the attributes to be a winger. It's no wonder he looked so out of his depth for us. The old proverb about judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree springs to mind.

Don't think so. I looked yesterday and they were quoting between 28 Apr and 05 May for delivery.

Last train back to Sheffield is 21:35. which would be fine if it's decided in normal time.

That's a very shit KO time. If it goes to ET and penalties then it'll be cutting it fine to get back to St Pancras in time for the last train back home 😕

And while I'm at it... Split-save tickets that specify a different station to travel through from the one that you're changing at, leading to total confusion about what time your connecting train is actually due to depart.

Northern Rail using trains with no luggage space on their service between Manchester Piccadilly and the airport. Because why would anyone travelling to and from an airport need to take luggage with them?

Yep, and shit-housing was their standard MO back then as well. Bunch of dirty cloggers whose entire game plan was to kick lumps out of our best players.

Yet he's not even made the shortlist for the EFL POTS 🫤 For pure entertainment value, Leo shades it. But there are so many other good candidates. Azaz has drifted in and out of games, but his overall contribution and goal involvements can't be understated. Downes is now the beating heart of this side and is in with a good shout. But I think it has to be Peretz, really. Just a ridiculous upgrade on what we had.

How on Earth do both Scienza and Azaz get overlooked for that shortlist? They both have more goal involvements (14 and 18 respectively) than Hackney (12).

We didn't really. It was conditional on getting us promoted and was pre-agreed. It's fair to say that many of us had our doubts even during that unbeaten run that RM's philosophy would work against PL teams, and so it proved. It was naive in the extreme. I don't have such doubts with Tonda because he's proven himself to be very astute and adaptable, and has already masterminded more wins against PL opposition this season than Martin did in 2024.

I can't be bothered to go back and look for the posts, but there was some extreme bedwetting from a few posters. Admittedly he didn't have the greatest track record or pedigree, but it goes to show the importance of having the right profile of player in that position.

He's very intelligent with his headers. So often you see players get a great header chance and they just hit it straight at the keeper. But that one last night that hit the bar, and his late equaliser at WBA recently, show he puts a lot of thought and skill into them.

His finish last night was reminiscent of Shlong's in the semi final at Anfield. Great goal.

Really no point in trying to suggest a preferred lineup, because whatever Tonda picks I have no doubt it will be the right call, and we have such strength in depth that we can rotate pretty much anyone in and still be really competitive. I went to Pride Park for our 1-1 in September, and it was an absolute travesty of a game. LND getting crocked early and totally ruining our game plan, Manning failing to stop the cross for their equaliser by being too busy arguing with the lino, Macca keeping us in it with two or three crucial saves. The general cynicism and gallows humour in the away end reflected all this - especially when DD came on to do another of his abject impressions of being a footballer. We've come and awful long way since then and look a completely different team. With their main big striker out and BBD unavailable, I confidently predict another comfortable win. 2-0 Saints and the teams above us will be shitting themselves.

We need Delia to come out and do one of her drunken half time pep talks.

Oh. That means I'll be in the position of really wanting the Skates to win. Just the thought of that makes me feel dirty.

I'm so glad we treated the cup game on Saturday as a meaningless distraction and prioritised tonight's game instead.

Just wow. Even when they put us under pressure and we rode our luck with the efforts off the post, I had no doubt that our quality would shine through. Hull next in our sights.