TDarwall

Best 7 aside player in the world......

Expensive when you add the flights & accommodation though Dave...

I 1st genuinely thought we'd get promoted in that league 1 season when we best Bournemouth away. They had a big lump of a forward (Fletcher?) who always bullied our defence. McCombe didn't give him a sniff all game. A brilliant signing.

Hull??

Met him on train coming back from London, back when he played for us. I was plastered, he was with his girlfriend so I naturally assumed he'd want a chat. He was really nice, friendly & didn't once mention the fact I was a drunken nause. Massive part of our success back then, part of me thinks we beat Hull in the final if he wasn't unwell.

I'm a no at this stage - just not seen enough from him. I often complain that we don't seem as athletic/dynamic as other teams, with only Pring, Knight & Sykes being strong in that area. Twine is another who is neither quick nor powerful. I do wonder if he is one of those that looks great at the lower leagues where its easier go find space but just doesn't have ebought about him to have a massive impact at this level.

Happy to not see Zak & Rob for next 3 games & lose all 3, rather than risk exacerbating injuries. Imagine we'd lost those 2, 7 games ago. Tanner & Roberts did admirably yesterday but will by far tougher at Carrow Rd.

On balance I think there's slightly more chance of me appearing in our 1st match day squad come August.

Yes we thought that odd too. Personally I'd be starting Mehmeti as without he we are very predictable & pedestrian. Unless we are v confident of getting Twine (& i wouldn't be spending big on him on the evidence so far) I'd play AM & not Twine.

Hopefully, the 2024 version of Mehmeti is the real him, he can progress from here & go on to become a consistently creative performer.

1). Rob Dickie 2). Dick Robbie 3). Bob Dickie 4). Richard Robbie 5). The centre half we signed from QPR. Can't see past the big man. However, I wonder if this time next year my top 2 will be Hayden Roberts & Robert Haydon's - think he's really going to shine in 24/25.

If you don't want to be ridiculed, best advice is to avoid making ridiculous statements. It was pointed out to you at length at the time that it was not "in our own hands". You just wanted to frame it that way because you knew you could complain when it didn't happen.

You can't knock the current run of results. Blackburn looked like a team that relaxed (or were tired) after a run of high pressure games- but you can only beat whats in front of you. I've said for a while that Anis has been written off too early & for me he's been out best attacking outlet for a couple of months now - all hail the Albanian Prince!

The fact is for some people Manning has a mountain to climb & whatever he says will be picked to death. A few weeks back folk were bemoaning a more passionate manager like Cotts. However if you looked at this forum after Cotts early games in charge, when things weren't great, there was little praise for his post match interviews & mocking him for sounding deranged! I very rarely listen to pre/post match pressers but I do find it odd if someone really dislikes someone's communication style why they invest so much time listening to it just to say how rubbish it is. I come back to the same thing, if Manning gets us promoted next season with about 40 dull as dishwater 1-0 wins, he'll be able to conduct his press activity through the mediums of modern dance & mime & will largely be lauded as a genius. 2 rules of football, 1) results are everything, 2) never forget rule #1.

There was talk a few weeks back of a specific target he'd been set to keep his job. Its perfectly reasonable to throw philosophy out of the window until ones achieved that target cos of you get the boot you can't apply your philosophy anyway. However once you've achieved that target it clearly makes more sense to plan for medium term. I'm never a fan of setting such specific targets though as arguably it encourages the wrong behaviours.

An iron & a putter is sufficient....

Irrespective of the manager its hardly surprising that games where we've had a strong bench had yielded better results than those where we've had a bunch of kids sat there to make it look busy. I don't think a bloated squad is helpful but super skinny isn't exactly working for us either as it only works of the core of the 1st team squad have fantastic availability. I think Twine noted @Silvio Dante saying our best bet of signing him was an underwhelming loan! When fit, he's been ok (& results are better with him in the team) but I don't think anyone would be betting the farm on him. Saying that, it's peak City that having got someone who can score a free kick we don't win any within range when he's on the pitch!

I can see the logic: we bought Joe Williams & he gets majorly crocked. We do the same with McCrorie. However, at least with Murphy we know what's wrong with him before we buy him, so we're already prepared & not expecting to see him feature. #smartrecruitment

You can get freak results but in the things even out & you get the results your performances deserve. As things stand we are far better defending than attacking. In the remaining games I'd happily see you trade some points if it leads to us finding a way to be more potent going forward. Not that I think this would happen, but if we achieved "success" (top 6 next season) but were dull as ditch water, would people accept that?

I always thought today would be tricky. After a hammering, most teams put a shift in the following week (unless they're absolute dross at the bottom of the table).

You've only gone & said it!!

Shout - Tears For Fears

I would think Williams will be up there with Nahki as our highest earner so it really depends on what he wants ££ wise & what he can get elsewhere. I'd like to keep him if we can. James being that bit older makes it tricky, but losing pace isn't an issue. For a combo of factors I'd be amazed if we kept both, but think James slightly higher chance.

I think Saturday could be the proverbial punch on the nose. You'd think Sunderland will be desperate to atone for the Blackburn game

Sadly, its the way debate often happens online. Essentially the extremists are the same as each other & are all guilty of what they accuse the other side of (just framing the argument from the opposite perspective). I think everyone wants the best for the club, but for a small but vocal minority, if that can't happen, then being proved right is the next best thing.