egg

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BBD through the middle would have been a better option by a mile. Ditto Paul. Feels crazy to be writing that.

They got a "striker" but sadly it was Downs. If he was million quid from forest green or similar it wouldn't be so bad, but we paid proper money for him. I agree though that we're playing him to justify the decision to buy him. I genuinely can't remember seeing a player with such a bad touch. That he's a lazy sod adds insult to injury.

I don't think we can recall him. It's a season long loan with an option to buy. It's the last bit that makes it even more annoying for me - they may buy him, but may not, making it difficult for us to plan. If it was an obligation it would have been easier to go out and replace him with a new number one.

I don't mind how he comes across to the cameras, but you have to wonder how positive he is with the players. For me, our biggest issue is confidence, and decent managers transmit and give that to the players. Last night showed that he can coach a team, but how he is with the management of the players I don't know.

The club were never going to have Baz, McCarthy, and an upgrade, all under contract, all while having Ramsdale coming back after his loan. The error they made was letting Ramsdale go. That's a decision that hasn't worked for him or us, but once he'd gone, there was never a chance of having a new number one with Ramsdale due back.

I'm not sure that McCarthy earned a league recall from that performance. If only one of THB or Stephens gets the chop, it must be THB.

Yep. He really surprised me. There were loads of positives to take from that, but he looked and sounded utterly forlorn. I'm not sure what message the players will got from that, or from him.

Confidence is the issue throughout the team. A win is desperately needed.

Indeed, but he doesn't play like one.

Very pleasing was that. Much better performance all round. The back 3 is, it pains me to say it, is the way to go. I like the RB and Quarshie was decent on the whole. Charles is a class act, and whatever Downes has been eating this week, keep on eating it. Hopefully that gives Still and the players some confidence.

He belongs in non league. I've never seen a worse first touch from a professional footballer. Appalling.

That touch again from Downs. Shockingly bad.

Yep. Only got a few inches off the deck. Poor.

The back 4 has been worse, and people have been calling for Stephens and THB to be replaced and they have been. We'll get smashed whatever team we put out, and I'd rather we tried a different combo at the back in a game that doesn't matter. It's midfield that bothers me more.

The details of her appeals are irrelevant. The US process has been followed. As a result she has overstayed her welcome. Her age and circumstances are irrelevant. People either respect legal systems or due process or we don't. I do.

As chancellor?

I wish I shared the faith. I think back to the Tories cleaning up in the north and think that anything is possible, sadly.

I'll comment just on smashing the gangs. Essentially, that's a big part of the Reform policy. Stopping people coming here is impossible. Reform are no more able than anyone to prevent people landing on our shores, and being able to return them to France or anywhere else. We'll end up with a government elected on one issue that won't be able to deliver on that issue, and who'll mess up everything else. Reform people can't say that all governments break promises, then proceed to elect Reform on an undeliverable promise. It's madness.

Donny addressing the UN general assembly today. Netanyahu saying yesterday that he'll give his response to the recognition decisions shortly. Gut feeling is that Donny will scorn us and France etc, explain that it'll lead to reciprocal action from Israel, which they'll take as a green light to annex the west bank (badged as reclaiming their sovereign land or some such). It won't end there. I still think Turkey will get drawn in causing all sorts of fall out.

SoG, the old girl has been processed, had her appeals, and lost. It's no more complicated than that. Forget the emotions of her age and family status, that's just pulling at your heart strings. If she was 52 you'd think differently, but the principle would be the same. Anyways, you agree that the immigration service is allowed to to do what they're doing, so I'm unsure what you're actually arguing now.

Promises from politicians are rarely more than a hopeful intention. At the end of the day, people have got to be pretty daft if they can't see that we're screwed and need to increase our revenue. People have also got to be pretty daft if they vote for a 5 year government based on one solitary issue. Many aspects of our lives are influences or impacted by government decision and policy, whereas immigration rarely impacts our lives (well unless the lack of immigrant workers means we can't access services, or we let it wind us up). I just find it mental that we'll end up with a government based in one issue, who in reality won't be able to close down the channel, French beaches, or send people back anyway.

My politics are lib dem, and although this bloke seems thoroughly likeable, he's far away from being a credible leader. Politics shouldn't be a popularity contest of the leaders, but, it's gone that way, and he's not doing anything to sway voters towards the lib dems.

I can't believe anyone is arguing that our squad isn't capable of being turned into a very good team at this level. To answer your first question, yes, it's the managers fault that we're not maximising our potential. Sure, he's stuck with Baz, and doesn't have a battering ram CF at his disposal, but Still's job is to make a team out of what he's got. Decent ingredients, poor chef.

He's a carthorse, but it's mind-blowing that we've spent good money replacing him with the inferior Downs. If the choice was either, it'd be Onuachu, but the correct answer is to play tactics to suit the players we've got.