Badger

Is someone able to access this to cut and paste the article? Bastard paywall

I’d be happy with the creative potential if it was consistent. The luxury player strikes a chord. Very few will stand comparison to MLT but this is similar to the situation with Peter Osgood in Division 2 in the 1970’s. Osgood was more talented than Azaz but the discussion around him was much the same, how he utilised his skills, but just drifted out of games too easily.

Was he outstanding yesterday? We all see things differently but for me he seemed to lose possession a fair bit. A good signing, though room for improvement and consistency

Coventry fans we spoke to before, and more importantly after, the game were a decent bunch. They accepted the defeat quite well and their observations were interesting. Comment from a couple of them was that our midfield was quite dynamic and overran them, Downes especially. Personally I think a draw would probably have been a fair result especially given their chances. Not a fan of the ‘dark arts’ but we’ve been victims of it all too often - including I recall from them at St Mary’s in December- so nice to see someone else on the receiving end.

He has the knack in the box of arriving undetected, which is a trait of a good midfielder, and Japanese. I’m pleased Tonda and his team have channelled Matsuki’s inner ‘Pearl Harbour’ to good effect.

Of the teams involved you'd think Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool will all want a Saturday fixture with possible European ties the next week. Although i suspect the TV companies will just insist on the scheduling so someone - Pep or Arteta- will be bleating about it.

Have the FA had a QF weekend falling on Easter before, and if so was a match scheduled for Good Friday ? As logical as some of the arguments are, I'd imagine the final say on the fixtures and timing will be with the broadcasters. If they've already designated the slots for Saturday and Sunday then that's when the game will be.

Are they not able to segregate a further section of the Chapel to offer another block or so in the corner?

Wouldn’t surprise me if they try and sign him on the cheap as a back up option. Especially if the qualify for Europe (which now looks unlikely). He made a couple of excellent stops v Man Utd the other night, including one that looked similar to the save Pickford made at St James a few days before, and the media went overboard about.

This is what the FA Cup is all about. Chance for a one off scarf and be seen live on TV holding it up at a ridiculous time of day to deprive people of watching something else in their usual routine.

As good as Preretz is, I think this is a stretch. Ramsdale is easily a top PL keeper ( although the ‘Big 6’ want something else or extra) not sure how Peretz would fare.

Definitely. I just want the opportunity to buy a half/half scarf. But difficult knowing which one we’ll get. Perhaps I can pre-order one of each from a dodgy website in China. Get in ahead of the rush. Just in case.

Why are they screwed next season ?

That’s a good find.

Mark Paul looks a shortarse in that photo. Definitely a big ask for him to make it at PL. Of the others, Beattie aside, that was a pretty poor summer recruitment. Hughes was barely interested, Ripley I think had one good game for us, Howells pretty uneventful, Scott Marshall (OG) no further comment needed. Sports Republic would have been proud of that lot.