spyinthesky

I remember Lawrie McMenemy getting booed when he first took over from Ted Bates due to a run of poor results!!

I dont blame the Manager for making changes for an non event team for us. That said, the performances of all the players apart from McCarthy and KWP left an awful lot to be desired. Its OK for the Manager to say the team is tired but what's the difference between us and the rest of the teams in the League who have had a similar amount of games to play. There is no urgency in our play even when chasing the game at the end. The bubble has truly been burst both on and off the field.

Back to my usual negative thoughts after feeling positive that we would comfortably dispatch Blackburn and Cardiff. Reflecting on the last time we were in the Play Offs under George Burley. Lost 1-0 at SMS to Derby, beat them at their place then lost on penalties, a result I was unaware of until I woke up about 2am and switched on the TV in my hospital bed after recovering from a 4 hour operation. We then went into free fall and ended up wallowing in League One until being rescued by dear old Markus. I fear a repetition when Sports Republic either lose interest in us or we suffer another financial meltdown. Whatever the outcome, I dont see us ever being a force in the Premiership in my lifetime and suspect my end days will see the team return to the level I started watching them ie Third Division South (nowadays League One)

I was relatively optimistic that the appointment of Colin Calderwood as First Team Coach last October would make us more defensively astute bearing in mind he was a decent defender in his day. The team certainly doesnt look that strong defensively at the moment but, of course, that may well be down to Russball and the fact that RM's style of play has resulted in a shed load of goals being conceded at his previous clubs.

Leicester fans were critical of their Manager for playing tippy tappy football and missing loads of chances. They were far more direct than us on Tuesday whilst we went more direct with Baz Ball missing yet got slaughtered.

Awful performance but really puts into perspective that if we, by some fluke, manage to get through the play offs, unless Russell Martin can pull a rabbit out of the hat and adept the teams style of play and the owners manage to find the cash and the scouting ability to rebuild the team, the performance at Leicester will become the blueprint for next season in the Prem. Worryingly, as other posters have pointed out, Sports Republic have said that there is little money available for transfers next season in the Championship so, at best, we can anticipate mid table obscurity and at worst flirting with relegation and a double loss to that lot down the road.

Will a Security Box be built at the away end to replicate the one in the corner at the Northam?

Spurs was the only one I have been to. All fine but think the steps were built specifically for railed standing/seating so that may have helped.

Couple of interesting views on the recent total eclipse of the sun. One that is had been planned by 'globalists' to affect world events, a sign from God that we all have to repent our sins and that it would promote disastrous earthquakes, the end of the world etc etc . Heaven knows what the conspiracists will make of the forthcoming cicadas invasion in Louisiana.

Just imagine GM is your Financial Adviser and asks you to invest in a company where the CEO is a former career politician who has never run a major company. The founder and chairman, the real driving force behind the company, has a record of multiple bankruptcies in sectors ranging from airlines to casinos and is facing several criminal charges. The founder's son is one of the four main directors. The founder himself is facing a cash crunch that means he may have to dump his large stake in the company after six months. And, of course, the founder will be spending the next few months looking to take up another position. Think back to Feb 2022 when Trump's previous incarnation Digital World Acquisition plunged from $84 to $25 and the new company, The Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) which is a merger with a SPAC, is likely to go the same way. To be fair DJT has been able to muster 1 million monthly active users per annum (as per Mr Trump's figures, so assume less than half of that) which is what Twitter get in a day. There is the suggestion that there is a planned TV and News service but both require patience and organisational skill nether of which is dear old Donald's forte. As GM has mentioned there are possible upside if the Orange One wins the election (God forbid) but that could mean he will be too busy playing golf to set up a media empire but who knows. I just wonder if his fans in the UK, eg Farage, Truss and co are piling in to help their bestest friend in the good old USA??

I am not a scientist but from a personal perspective I can attest to my own observations that our climate is different now than when I was a lad. Warmer and wetter winters and warmer and wetter summers. I am sure there are plenty of examples of this happening around the world. One interesting aspect of all this in the 'developed' world is that statistics show that the birthrate in 'developed' countries is running below the average 2.1 reproduction rate to ensure we have enough workers and tax revenue, to keep us all looked after in our dotage. However in Africa, where climate change is likely to cause drought and a lot of other issues, the birth rate is over double 2.1. Africa is heading towards a combined population that will surpass China and India who both seem to be on a downward trend in the population stakes.

It cost me a 1/- (5p in new money) to go into The Dell as a nipper and probably anything between a 1d and 3d for a four page programme. If I was feeling flush I could buy a 1d On The Ball ticket to win the match ball (if it got kicked out of the ground, the game stopped whils it was retrieved - no multi balls in those days!! Mind you we lived in a hole on the road and ate scraps that fell off the back of coal lorry. Those were the days.

I thought Downes was our man of the match. Nothing against Smallbone but he had far less of an impact. And as for Mara (again)???????????????????

Just a thought about the Coventry penalty. Presumably it would have been ruled out if the ball had gone in the net ie a double touch? I guess we got away with one when Arma did exactly the same at the Northam end a few games back and the goal was given.

Didnt it hit Che's arm on the way in? Also if Baz had attempted to wave the ball away like the Coventry's 'keeper did for our second goal, he would have been slaughtered on here.

How much did we pay for him????

I am really surprised about MLT as every time I have met him he seems sensible and reasonable. However anyone who feels it Ok to share a platform with Katie Hopkins needs their bumps feeling.

Christophe, What's with the Union Jacks and the cross of St George flags?

I agree with those on here who reckon Martin is too stubborn and refuses to re-assess his Russball type of play. Unfortunately this scenario reflects what Swansea fans said when Martin came to us. I cant see us winning promotion through the play offs and we will have a weaker side next season unless there are some inspired signings, which are likely to be loans as the Board has already mentioned there is little spare cash to delve into the market place. Russell Martin will continue to be employed as the club cannot afford to pay another expensive compensation package for a sacked Manager. Next season the club is likely to be around mid table withe the possibility of another venture into the Play Offs or, at worst, a flirtation with relegation. If Martin is able to get the team to do the double over Pompey as he did with Swansea over Cardiff, at least he will get some kudos.

Yup, all seems to be going to plan for The Donald and his family on the Truth Social Share offer. He is now looking to sue a couple of his business partners for not doing what he told them to do. All great fun!!

Agree with you. It was a very good advert for the Championship. If Bednerak's header had gone in we would have won and deservedly so. Not sure what the constant criticism of Bazunu is all about. The only thing I think he did wrong was wallop the ball forward in the last minute which went directly to their keeper who then recycled forward. Just goes to show that direct football beats obsession with possession.

Throughout the season I have noticed that Ryan Manning seems to play as a third centre back when opponents play down our left hand side thereby leaving lots of room. On Friday this affliction seems to have been passed onto KWP and Boro's left back had acres of room on his side of the pitch. I imagine this must be a tactic that the Manager has inspired and perhaps is a consequence of only playing Downes and Smallbone in midfield. Interested in any views on this. It is such a shame that the tactic still remains to spend so much time faffing around with the ball in our own half rather than get the ball forward.

...and Middlesborough had 11 players out with the likes of midfielder Johnnie Howson playing at the back..

Your hero Donald took his casinos public in 1996 and the company ended up bleeding cash before going bust and delisting in 2004. Although the deal provides Trump will a decent amount of cash it co-incides with a cash crunch from his civil trials. Although Trump cant technically sell his shares for at least 6 months, the Board of Directors, which includes his eldest son, could vote to allow his Dad to sell shares earlier than this. This is likely to create a very significant downward pressure on the share price. Meanwhile Truth Social made only $3.4m in sales in the first 9 months of 2023 and a net loss of $49m during the same period. It also faces huge pressure from Meta, Facebook and X. Still, I guess, this is nothing to deter his ardent supporters, like yourself, who continue to pile in. For many of us, of a more prudent disposition, this seems to reflect the 2021 meme-stock craze and who would be foolish to discount the many failed businesses the world's most 'successfully successful business man of all time' has been involved in.

Has anyone been listening to the BBC Radio series about 'The Orange Ones' purchase of a golf course in Aberdeenshire? Sums him up nicely.