malcolm waldron

Thanks - and I genuinely appreciate the Shakespeare reference! Always good to have a some literary culture on here. I think my original 'oftentimes' reference was around English language words that fell out of favour 300-400 years ago still surviving in US English - and now being picked up again through mass US exposure on social media. Anyway, Tonda is forsooth an upgrade on Will Still.

Thanks for sharing that - interesting reading. Is the author American though? 'Oftentimes' isn't a term I recognise?

I also think high and to the right was also a weak spot for him. Everton at home and Ipswich away being obvious examples...

I can't remember the new eligibility rules (someone on here will know I'm sure) but hasn't he already appeared in earlier cup games? IIRC he has an assist for that Matsuki wonder goal and I'm pretty sure he smashed through a group of defenders to head in the winner at the far post against Northampton? Followed by ripping his shirt off, jumping into the away end bellowing '...ave it'....with his face contorted with rage. I'm sure all this happened and unfortunately there's no way of checking if it did or did not, but assuming my memory is correct - then those appearances sadly mean he won't get to play against the Gunners.

I was surprised with how physical Norwich were from the outset last night. Our old friend Jack Stacey I thought would target Edozie early on - I thought he deserved a booking in the opening minutes and it's a shame we didnt target that side far more after he finally got the yellow card. As for their no. 20 - I've only seen it once in real time but it looked like he smashed his shoulder into Jander's face right at the start of the 2nd half? I doubt I'll see footage of that in the highlights but that to me was a second yellow and then they're playing a whole half with 10. And then it's a different game completely.

I don't know a lot about Bournemouth but I've got a recollection that the 'strike' he went on wasn't that straightforward? Didn't Eddie Howe want him to play in that Covid summer series of games but he was out of contract (and they wouldn't extend it) - and therefore he was one injury away from a real problem career wise? There also seems to be a suggestion from a few people on here that Adam A was a problem behind the scenes. Is this just gossip/rumour or do we actually know of any truth behind these views. Sometimes one person can start a rumour and it can then become a fact very quickly.

I get your point but didn't we realise that the Baz experiment should have been consigned to the bin in May 2023? I guess that's what you're saying in your last comment above. I can't remember what Spors said back in August at the fans forum - was he asked about it and said GK not a priority, or words to that effect? Perhaps I'm making it up. I certainly remember Russ being very supportive in summer '23 and thinking - really??!

Agree with your comments - and I'm still frustrated that for a team with the ambition of getting back to the Premier League, we've ended up with two strikers who can work in the preferred formation but by the look of it can't be relied upon to play much (Larin may prove that wrong but he looked pretty unfit on Saturday) and one that can't and who has no confidence. How did we end up in this mess?

Special recognition to the fans who went last night and who go up and down the country watching the team. Last night you got your payback for all those wasted and expensive weekends - and there have been many of those over the years. Hope you all enjoyed it. One of the things that struck me during Nov/Dec was Leicester and Birmingham (I think?) fans complaining about the long trip down to St Marys. Try living down here and going to away games!

Hopefully Everton will pay £40M for him this summer too then...

Oh no - I didn't realise that as I assumed Sky or ITV (again) would be up for showing a derby game on a quiet January midday on a Sunday. Anyone know if any of the pubs in town are showing it?

This one's got all the makings of a small fish in a big pond.....

While I get the point you're making, I've just been reminded that Sinclair Armstrong looked a handful for QPR against us at home in 23/34 and then again in a game earlier this season (Bristol C - there'll all blurring into a negative mess). I don't know how much he cost but I'm guessing quite a bit less than Damian Downs. Then again if you'd told me we were signing Sinclair in June 25 I'd have thought surely we can do better than that.....

The lack of physicality is a key part in our current malaise for me. As someone said above, we were promised by Spors that this would be addressed last summer and without checking weren't Quarshie and Downs two of the first signings? So taller and (in one case) more physical players - but both of them wholly unready for the jobs they needed to do starting in August. Apart from the CBs looking at the team yesterday everyone (bar Azaz) isn't tall compared to the opposition, especially in midfield), nor physical (Azaz despite his height isn't that too) and so another black mark against our recruitment.

Agreed with this very much. I thought he stood out for being the only player looking busy (until Felllows and Robinson came on), and trying to pass the ball forwards. Let's hope that that intent is not coached our of him.

But great to have him in the locker room for the second semester.

I agree. There are some real learning points there that can hopefully be addressed for the upcoming games and into 2026. I can only echo what others have said around the subs. We said the same thing on Saturday with the side we ended up with against B'ham looking a bit of a mess. Similar to last night and I thought bringing on Fraser was a brave call - especially as they were so dangerous down the flanks - was Mikey Johnston on at that stage? Don't think he was. The passing around at the back in the second half particularly was a concern - and there was a contrast between the Wood-Quarshie-Manning passes vs to the right. Quarshie and Wood take a split second longer than ideal to control the ball which then invites pressure. Manning's return passes to Quarshie were not often great, but JQ's receiving body position is often a mess, leading to rushed/poor passing and coughing the ball up in dangerous areas. Anyway - the first half was excellent and there's some things to work on.

Very pleased that he saved it (at an important stage of the match), but that only goes to show how far my expectations have fallen over the last 3 years.

I agree with much of what you've said - and let's face it we should have the advantage of this squad at least for this season, hence a lot of the frustration with the poor performances under WS. I've only seen the 45 mins of Williams against Sheff W where I felt he was largely trying to keep himself out of trouble, so wouldn't to comment too much. Maybe you've seen more of him? But overall we should look forward to the busy schedule coming up with some confidence - that would be helped with a better target man option up front. I wonder if we'll think about upgrading there (a bit like Billy Sharp coming in to give a different option back in Jan 2012).

Not sure what anyone else thinks but I'd really like to see a bench with Romeu sat on it...

Agree with all of that - but I'd love to know what was really going on behind the scenes from pre-season through to the Preston game. The signs were there when we got very lucky against Wrexham and then it got gradually worse from there. The players look transformed - THB is starting to look like the 23/24 loan player we had, finally we've got Azaz and Fellows starting, and the players look like they are enjoying it and playing for each other. The embrace between Leo and THB at the end of the match said a lot to me about team spirit. What a great feeling this morning.

😀 But he's cup-tied though isn't he........?

You've let yourself down there I'm afraid. Surely you meant against the ball, or maybe even out of possession.....?

Don't be ridiculous - he wouldn't appoint someone from Penge.......🙄

He looks low on height to me too.