The Fat Controller

15 hours ago, Davefevs said:

@GrahamC has kinda answered it.  It’s a fair question, whether nibbling or not.

As per my post @ 10:52 yesterday on this thread:

you have to look at the nature of each injury too

In some respects the simple answer to your question, yes it is.

In an ideal world you’d be able to do a bit more rest / rotate / keep fresh.  As it stands we haven’t lost many players to muscle / fatigue type injuries this season, but we might over the coming weeks.  As fans we know players like Matty James might be a player who’d find it invaluable to get a one game rest, based on his 2 seasons here.  It’s hard to do that though.

Most fans wanted 2 more players, a combo of 2 of either a CB, a CM and a CM…maybe GK.  I think 2 players would make a big difference.  I still can’t get my head around why we couldn’t create some room in the wage budget (set in March).  Nor did I buy the explanation PA gave on SOTC re Scott, and that’s not a dig at PA either.

Out interest what was Kingy’s injury last night….hamstring?

Yes, Graham's post and yours from Wednesday sum it up. 

There is definitely balance to be had, and there has to compromise too. I think some of that comes in the form of versatility, which I know is not to everyone's liking. Having a CB capable of playing in midfield come in eases the pressure on players we are having to flog and also offers some financial balance. I appreciate finding players like that of the requisite quality is not easy. 

In an ideal world, yes, another GK for example to genuinely challenge MOL. I am pleased with Pearson's use of the academy and if we have genuine quality coming through then we do not want to block the pathway. It seems we are beyond sensible use of these youngsters at the moment, so again, a balance to be had. 

31 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Not necessarily directly but it isn’t that wise to try & rely on the same 16 to 18 players, is it?

We knew before a ball was kicked that Atkinson was out long term & McCrorie would be missing until January at the earliest.

Once Kalas moved on we effectively tried to get through the first half of the season with just 3 centre halves & 1 fit right back, presumably largely on the basis of Vyner & Dickie’s historically good availability records.

It hasn’t worked.

Yes, that's all fair comment. 

I do think it's a fine balancing act as we don't want to return to the days of a bloated squad and signing players with no idea of what to do with them. 

I think we are probably only a couple light. We have been horribly exposed by the number, seriousness and timing of injuries. 

3 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

 

Okay, I'll nibble.... Is a restrictive playing budget responsible for the number of concurrent injuries we have?

1 minute ago, tin said:

Initial thought was Max must do better for the goal, but I haven’t seen it back. 

It doesn't get any better viewing

2 minutes ago, petehinton said:

I think that was fine tbh. We’ve had chances. Even with one or two more senior players fit to start, this would be a different game. Issue is the squad is so depleted we can’t do too much to change this. 

Agree. I don't think it's been as bad as is made out. 

Retaining composure seems to be the difference - Conway free header, Max, Bell's delivery quality. 

Just now, Superjack said:

I don't think we would miss Zak Knight.

I, for one, will never forget Zak Knight. 

1 minute ago, The turtle said:

Well you've just learnt what kind of person you are....

 

Are you a results based person?

Or

Are you performance based?

 

Personally the score is funny. And a bit of a joke

Well, being that I'm at work and I can't watch online...

I am a results based person and I couldn't give a shit if it ain't pretty 

We're getting a bit bare bones, aren't we. 

Yes

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

My calculations say we could’ve kept Scott and still been way inside FFP.

But presumably there would then be another £25m that SL would have to dig out from his pocket?

I think it's very easy to spend other people's money. 

He's two different players. 

I like the midfielder. 

The defender is a liability.

2 minutes ago, Harvey86 said:

I actually thought Sykes tracked back better in the first half than Bell did 2nd half (watching from the Dolman). Thought Cornick was good, but needs someone closer to him to pick up the ball when he flicks on/ it bundles off his shin. Like the look of Yeboah, but wish we could keep him as a last ten substitute for energy rather than pinning our hopes on him that early in the game

Bell does seem to fade in games. Is that a fitness or concentration thing? Like Wells, I think he does a decent amount of pressing. Puts in the yards.  

Agree on Cornick. Yeboah just seems to want that fraction longer on the ball, we I guess comes with experience of that pace/intensity of this level of football. 

Seemed pretty clear to me that Sykes was hooked for lack of tracking back off the ball. 

He was fine going forward but wasn't offering Tanner much support. 

M32 slow crawl from Hambrook

Honestly my perception is mostly influenced by each clubs performance through my childhood. It's a weird metric for sure. 

It means sides like Crawley and Stevenage and Burton are absolute no marks in my head whereas the likes of Leeds and Villa and Norwich will always seem like relatively big clubs even when they've dropped down the divisions. 

Still can't wrap my head around Bournemouth being in the top division. 

Any excuse to spend the day somewhere other than Stoke

2 hours ago, elhombrecito said:

Had this from a friend, looks like most people can't get in (and yes I'm aware I'm pretty much talking to myself now  )

Petition to make this a permanent feature. 

All the best contributors are here. 

41 minutes ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

The ball`s holding up nicely in the corners. Several times it`s looked like running out and we`ve got a cross in.

Has LJ been out there measuring it?

16 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

Why are we inviting Plymouth onto us, dicking around at the back, idotic.

Infuriating, isn't it. We never seem to learn. Sometimes the ball just needs to go down the line. 

1 hour ago, Roger Red Hat said:

Mine changed to Plymouth on Sunday. Only problem it still hasn't worked at the turnstile!!

Mine hasn't either, but I have been successfully scanning the QR code. 

31 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

If there is a real knock then doesn't there have to be a check ? I think there should be a concussion sub ( like blood sub for Rugby) that could come on and fill in while the check is being done. 
What I would like to see is retrospective bookings when it is obvious the impact is nowhere near the head. 

I'd go further than that and say retrospective bans for clearly feigned head injuries. 

Head injuries have to be taken seriously and that becomes nigh on impossible if they are being faked. 

A little disappointed to not be going in ahead tbh

32 minutes ago, italian dave said:

I have a feeling you should have kept that to yourself

Maybe he's the one selling the spaces 

2 hours ago, One Team said:

The most shocking thing I read there was the price for a bottle of water! Suspending my disbelief for a moment people actually buy food and drink at the ground (there are loads better value and quality places around the ground, especially on North Street) that’s an outrageous price for water. That’s the sort of price you pay at Disney World! Quite literally Mickey Mouse…

 

FYI any licensed premises must provide free tap water on request

3 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

You know something? 

It's the announcement of our blue fourth kit.