shurlock

They're like torvill and dean with the foreplay

They'll work out a way to monetise streaming so that clubs capture more of the value that's being created. Look at other sports: the NFL has pioneered some pretty handy services and add-ons e.g. GamePass that make the viewer want to pay for a live subscription rather than watch some knock-off stream.

Aren't the proceeds from tv sponsorship deals contributing to the club?

But you're comparing apples and oranges. The streaming thread has been up since August and covers the entire season - a postmatch deals with only one game and only one aspect of it to boot (i.e. not the build-up etc)

Maybe the overlords of the mongboard are earning their (naan) bread, ensuring that related topics over the course of the season are staying on one thread rather than splintering off into loads of sub-threads. Sure if you add up all the prematch and postmatch threads, they dwarf every other thread on here - plastic-inspired or not. And what about billy ****e?

How close do you think this crop is that group which was and continues to be the gold standard.

How many of that 11 do you think will actually make it pro? Not just for us or prem but across all four divisions? History suggests that not many make the grade.

To be fair, poch has ditched the smoke-and-mirrrors b*****ks that Nige deployed. Was pretty honest during the summer to the point of admitting our interest in Wanyama, Banega etc

Especially when they were so hilarious the first time.

Exactly -not to mention the brick wall partition. And whoever spat at the skate - cheap shot.

And who's suggesting that?

They play 4-6-0

We've generally struggled to create much away from home full stop. The ability to hit home teams on the counter or support an otherwise isolated front man suggests that pace is more not less important. Don't think we've yet struck the right balance yet and certainly don't think we can carry over how we set up at home away. Indeed for a team that has ironically scored so many goals from crosses (like it or not), it's a challenge, not some mongboard obsession and nothing to do with 4-4-2.

Why? Away from home, would let our fullbacks concentrate on the job of defending instead of expecting them also to be our main source of pace/width. Which they struggle to provide when they're having to soak up pressure and keep things tight.

Would say that still leaves a bit space

Oh right there's nothing in between De Ridder/Antonio and Ronaldo/Bale.

Would say that encouraging Clyne and Shaw to push up as far as they do suggests that it is an important part of the system. Shame it doesn't work particularly away from home.

Seems like the idea of pace and skill is still a tad complex for some to grasp.

Pats looked like genuine challengers to the Broncos until Gronk went down, so Cinci is arguably the only genuine threat in the AFC. The Chiefs have had softish schedule -the NFC East is the gift that keeps on giving- and look vulnerable against the pass, even with a full strength D; while this season's Texans, Ravens and Colts is hardly vintage. Been impressed by McCoy at the Chargers but the playoffs have perhaps come a season too early. Cant see anyone getting past the Seahawks in the NFC especially if they have home advantage throughout the playoffs. The Colts showed how to beat the Broncos -aggressive man coverage- and if there's any team that can replicate that gameplan, its the Seahawks.

Interesting - on this view, do you think some of the players with whom we've been linked (Rennes/St. Etienne) would cut it for us and in the Prem?

Are you watching him play or extrapolating things from the truly dreadful team he's in?

To avoid the crowd, you can either walk up to East Ham (usually guaranteed a seat) or down to Plaistow (might be packed but at least you avoid the queues).

Perhaps but there's nothing like beating them on terms that they would understand and accept.

Truth hurts sunshine.

That 2-2 still stings as does the fact that our first XI hasn't beat them since 2005.