Badger

Quite simple. Pay up or fuck off. Palace have probably got more money to splash.

At least until Liverpool or Utd have a couple of injuries and make a late August bid.

This assumes that a)both stay fit, and b)both repeat the form from Jan-May from last season. Towards the end of last season my hope was that we’d start this with Larin and Stewart plus another CF possibly to be eased in over the season. This would remain the hope if Stewart stays, and more important if he doesn’t (in which case he needs to be ready from the outset). In CF ideally I’d like to think we’re looking at one of similar stature to Stewart in height, a proper CF not a shortarse like Dobbin no matter how good he is elsewhere. Whether this is Azon, Lankshear (permanent or possibly on loan) or another remains to be seen.

Add these to the list: classic. Remember MLT, and Pahars in this Memories of Ricky Lambert

The best blue kits in my view have been the navy blue efforts (blue/sky Rank Xerox, or navy blue with yellow in L1). Both were designed as football shirts not a psychedelic mish mash.

Whoever accepted this design must be a complete moron. Shocking if true.

it is predominantly royal blue - should never happen. Design is hideous. All in all, an absolute abortion of a shirt. But I wouldn’t put it past them to go for something ‘different’

And lumbered himself with a poor squad including injury prone players, or those returning from injury.

Is that view based on his scoring record at Ipswich?

Perhaps they’ll take it to the final, and the Spanish can wave one about Gibraltar 🇬🇮 back at them.

Agree with you about Venables, always gets the media praise from the media chums, but overrated beyond achievement as far as England are concerned. Wasn’t aware of the lack of substitutions. Believe me I wasn’t making a case out for him by mentioning 1996. In truth we were distinctly average playing at home, the Netherlands game aside. But the point I was making is that for the SF we did have a go ( Gascoigne a few inches from connecting stands out) rather than last nights effort.

Not making a defence of his tactics or substitutions last night but there is some truth in this, as unpalatable as it seems. The England team have been ‘also rans’ for decades.

Fair points, but to go out in a whimper and without a fight is the galling thing. Losing a SF in 1990 or 96 where the team have gone toe to toe with quality opposition is different to the performance tonight in which we just retreated into our shell after scoring.

There’s a recording in the song ‘footballs coming home’ of Jimmy Hill saying “and we’ll go on getting bad results “. I think he said this after another poor exit from a tournament and was criticised and ridiculed for it at the time, but he’s been proven right. In the late 1970’s the French reorganised their game, the Germans have done something similar in the past, possibly more than once. How many trophies have they won since ? We reorganised didn’t we with the centre somewhere ? but have won fuck all. In that time we’ve gone through some world class players in the80’s, “the golden generation”, two Euro finals and a WC SF with Southgate, and tonight. But just don’t have the nous ,organisation, or nerve to see it through.

Might hinge on any release clause or agreement to let the player know of offers that the club agrees on signing them.

Not a ringing endorsement is it ? But several seem to think he might do okay and be better in his second season

Seen this on YouTube: seems to get on the end of a few knock downs here. Think we should also be looking for the bloke to provide those chances

Id have thought Dobbin was the Archer replacement. Lankshear: can’t see that happening. If Spurs let him go on loan they’ll want assurances that he’ll be playing regularly. Doubt we’d give that promise or commitment with Larin and Azon here.

Perhaps we’re also trying to give Adam some nightmares, with Azaz and Azon in the same side. Dave Merrington might not be pleased if he were still on Solent.

Pleased with the type of the forward we’re looking at here, 6’plus, with some pedigree although has to be said not proven. For the money though I think we could have attracted a CF with a bit more of a record (perhaps at this level), and potential to improve. The Millwall pair of Coburn and Ivanovic (before his injury) for example. But as said, Spors record of signings (Downs aside) is good so let’s hope this bloke if he signs is more of a Larin.

On what grounds could we seek an emergency loan if Peretz was injured ? I don’t think the “our second choice is shit” would constitute an emergency as far as the league are concerned.

Hope you’re wrong in that as Scienza and Fellows (in my book and I know not universally accepted) are two of our most creative players. Give Fellows a good No 9 for the season is my main ask. This has nothing to do with dubbin, embrocation or old football boots that has now hijacked the thread btw

Sound a bit like my rugby boots at school. Perhaps I was fortunate that by the late 60’s the continental - as you call it - football boot was prominent. Amused by your Dad’s description. I can only imagine what he or mine might say if you’d come home with some poncey pink ones that are now the rage.

Agree with you about squad depth, and a later post suggesting three contenders on wings. Need to be well stocked in MF as well as that really is Tonda’s engine room. But you can’t list the requirement for good players, then one of the first names is Long. Another questionable one for me is Quarshie, and no one knows if Roerslev is up to it. CF and second choice GK are the critical ones for me, before any others leave and need to be replaced

Thanks. No real need for it now, and with the advent of plastic and other materials used for footballs didn’t use it after an early leather football I had was replaced. But I’m sure news if it’s availability will be welcome news for any leather fetishests on here. I never associated embrocation (ralgex, deep heat, or whatever) with playing football, but was commonplace when playing rugby. And yes, had a pair of boots once similar to what you’ve described. Tell it to kids now, and they won’t believe you.