Badger

Will probably depend who the manager is.

Throw in some bizarre substitutions as well yesterday, taking off our most capable player at HT. Jack Stephens caused me to scratch my head at the time, but on reflection can be less effective than Archer ?

I'd like to describe yesterday's performance as shocking. Except that it wasn't, it's exactly what we've come to expect, pathetic and all over the place in defence, and pitiful up front offering little threat against poor opposition who with the right line up were there for the taking. Plus yesterday we had the extra feature of Ramsdale doing a 'bazunu' impression for their first goal.

This is not unheard of. In the 1970’s Alex Stepney took a couple of penalties for Man Utd and at one point was their joint top scorer. He was replaced on duties when they signed Jim McCalliog. McCalliog scored a penalty against us at The Dell in a 1-1 relegation scrap after Easter 1974. He signed for us the next season. Stepney played against us in 1976. No penalty shoot outs then so didn’t have to worry about him taking one.

Not sure that is harsh on Rideout as I think he was - in his time with us - regarded as a bit of a workhorse and a supporting role. Mind you that was in a front four with Wallace, Shearer, and MLT. At the time many thought he lacked the goals, although certainly worked well with the other three and was skilful.

Thanks for posting the link to this. A good listen. Didn’t learn too much. Not surprisingly both skirted some of the key questions, although the way he navigated round the question of Rohl leaves you thinking there is something in it. At least he didn’t make lavish commitments over Juric etc.

THB has looked up, to the task during shoot outs I thought.

Perhaps that makes him a terrible manager in itself.

Think it was the lawyer, a KC, acting for Reform he said told him that (which is even more surprising that they might have said it, or that he revealed them saying it.)

Short back and sides ? Didn't see it.

Which begs the obvious question ...

What happened to the 1970's sponge and cold water from a bucket? That seemed to be the answer for everything (sprains, twists, broken legs ... ) Alternatively get him in the treatment room half an hour before kick off for a 'fitness test', spray some ralgex on his bollocks that would get him up and running around. Of course if the silly sod is still living on a diet of raw chicken there's not a lot we can do.

What’s the record for most managers in a single season?

Amazed Derby made it to six games left. Am going to the Spurs match so looking forward to seeing our heroic efforts (last stand ?) and going at the match all guns blazing …

Did shareholders or anyone else see Lowe as a “messiah” ? Not my recollection.

Why ? The bloke was clearly out of his depth and had no clue, or it seems intention of making changes in how we set up. This was clear to every man and their dog by the Bournemouth game at the very latest.

Isn’t BBD only an option for them though ? I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back with us however Sheff Utd do.

Got to admire/laugh at the wit and imagination of these loveable rogue scallies haven’t you? Was he in a shell suit and curly perm as well by any chance ?

I think the 8-0 v Sunderland was. Yes, jug eared cunt doesn’t really like us, but feeling is mutual

Red card for taking to the field with his hair in a bun, top knot or whatever it’s called.

It’s often said that we’d be better off with a couple of £30-40m starters than several £15m prospects who we hope to ‘grow’ and I agree with it to a point. But there are still players available within ‘our’ preferred price bracket (to compliment the ‘starter’ signings, not instead of). How much did Bournemouth pay for the Hungarian LB, or Semenyo (rather than Sulemana) , and Huijsen, all now linked with £50m bids ? Bowen cost West Ham c£20m. You mention Bottman. Lille signed him for less than we paid for Salisu the same summer ffs. Criminal waste. The players are out there but time after time we regularly make poor selections and recruitment, irrespective of the price.

One thing that appears to have gone unnoticed is how he played the ball out after his little transgression of the rules. Presumably thinking he’d got away with his arm control of the ball he then played it back into a key danger area. That for me was as ‘knobheaded’ as trying to control the ball with his arm.

If he can get down quickly to his left then perhaps there’s a GK in the making.

By a ‘banker’ I assume you mean a ‘nailed on’ or guaranteed success. That’s an easy claim to make in hindsight, and possibly unfair on our recruitment team at the time given our finances. Villa signed Watkins as I recall on the wish of Dean Smith who’d managed him at Brentford, so they certainly had a better insight into the player, but their records were quite similar. 2020. Watkins (age 24)joined Villa, his record at Brentford was 45 goals in 132 matches 2021 Armstrong (age 24) joined Saints. Blackburn record 41 in 130 From Wikipedia. Not dissimilar track records, although Villa clearly thought he had the potential to justify £28m. At the time most pundits thought they’d overpaid for him. Not sure how we’d have felt taking a punt on an untried player for that money. Had we signed Watkins no telling how his career might have developed (or regressed). Rather than Ralph, Jones, Selles he’s been coached by Smith, Gerrard (okay not great there) and now Emery. Had he come to us he might now be at Stoke .

This trend pre-dates the current owners. Elyonoussi, Hoedt, Carillo, Diallo, etc stand out in our long list of failures. Nothing new.