egg

Sure, Saudi Arabia is an awful country . How we interact and trade with them and Qatar, whilst treating Iran and others as the scum of the earth is one of life's great mysteries, but its a conversation for the lounge not this thread. Despite my political views, I'd still turn up and support the club if they'd bought us. I think virtually all fans would.

If we're all being honest,when push comes to shove, we'd be OK with us being owned by anyone who'd help us compete. Sure, it might not sit right, but when you've got Ronaldo up front rather than Che Adams, Mahrez on the wing rather than Elyonoussi, Laporte at CB rather than Jack Stephens, I don't believe your average football fan is gonna boycott the club because of how Saudi Arabia practice Sharia Law.

Chain

I'd be surprised if that's a surprise to any fan who's watched him play. Never a PL level player in a million years, and I'm not altogether surprised he's struggling in league 1. Terrible touch and turn, and if you haven't sorted that by the time you're 22, it's not looking good.

Yep, social interaction usually leads to social education. Barber, daily? Every month max I suspect. That just leaves the barmaid, and between here and the UI, I doubt there's much time for the pub.

I get all that, but giving these lads loan's away just weakens the group even more, meaning they have to take the best lads from the u18's weakening them, etc. U23 football is great for technical development, but not the hustle and bustle of competition. Players need that exposure, and for me it's better that they stay here and get a balance of coaching, u23 football, and as much competitive football as possible. Sure, winning is important, but these kids are here to develop first and foremost.

Let's see who gets more than that from this lot shall we. 6 from your striker is fine if others score.

Nonsense. Austin had a different team behind him chipping in. What that team did is irrelevant, its not the team available to us now.

I'm struggling for the RB pick for mine, the one area where we haven't been as blessed as others. Shilton Clyne Wright VVD Shaw Case Williams D Wallace MLT Mane Shearer Bench : too many to choose from.

I won't get into a wider discussion, but the issue in this thread and on others is the belief by a few that stats somehow trump what people see on a football pitch, and like it or not, knowledge of the game is pertinent to that. Sure, stats tell part of the story, but an insistence on judging a player on stats alone, isn't helpful to meaningful discussion.

What the team did or didn't do when Austin was here is irrelevant. The issue is where else are the goals going to come from this season? Our midfield don't look chipping in from open play, JWP isn't getting the free kicks or pens to tuck away, and our 10's don't look a threat either. We're better at containing other teams this season, but at the expense of an attacking threat, and without Ings. The question is academic though as I'm not sure what the op expects us to do with no money or transfer window.

Didn't notice this as I was skimming past all the nonsense. Congratulations, a lack of sleep is more than made up for by the good stuff.

Agreed. These lads need proper competitive football, under lights on cold autumn / winter nights. Who cares if they win, they're learning their trade and are playing to develop and gain experience.

Ha!! It's a fair cop!

Cheers, nice response. As you say, we see it differently but other than touch and turn, the one fundamental that separates a good player from a very good player, is the speed of mind and how quickly they move the ball on. JWP takes far too long for a top level player. Systems or managers don't determine that, it's raw ability. He's a decent player though, and his stamina and fitness are undeniable - on that front few can touch him. For me though, I don't see him as international class, and I understand why Southgate preferred to pack his squad with full backs than take him, and why others are picked ahead of him. Where we definitely agree is that his dead ball delivery is superb, and that he wouldn't have bottled a pen at the Euros...but you've got to be good enough to be on the pitch to be able to take one!

Charles

Are you serious?! You're expecting me to find a website to say that Phillips is a better player than JWP?! Behave. You stattos who don't understand the game get on my tits. Phillips is the better player.

Try watching them both play Phillips has a better range of passing in open play, better movement, quicker speed of releasing the ball, better tackling, better aerial ability, he's faster, he reads the game better. Pretty much everything is better bar his dead ball delivery. I like JWP, but let's not kid ourselves he's the better player of the two, and making an assessment on one game is laughable.

I'm staggered that anyone seriously thinks JWP is a better player than Phillips. Sure, his dead balls are on another level, but Phillips is a better footballer. That said, I'm delighted JWP has been called up.

Cheers. On the plus side, Smallbone is back. Interesting if this is correct and we're playing 3 at the back.

Six

Cheers, good constrictive response. On the last point, what we describe this bloke as doesn't really matter - he's a vile piece of shit and the important thing is that lessons are learned to reduce the prospect of anything like this happening again.

Cheers, I've not read that and I keep meaning to take a look. His overspending was outrageous though, I was privy to some facts and figures from back then. The overspend on staplewood was outrageous, enough to buy a PL player even now. We'd have never survived of he'd stayed. That all said, his balls and spending got us back up the leagues and gave me some of my best years as a fan.

Yep. People never think to ask why he was let go.

What do you say should be the advice given a lone woman if approached by a lone copper? I ask that with appreciation that lone women should have absolute faith in our police, but alas there'll always be bad apples, so what should Dick have said instead? I won't get into funding or May - this is about Cresida Dick.