MarcusX

Out of interest why did we have BC82 instead of a badge on the shirt?

I was genuinely looking forward to reading some feedback on his time at Bath City 

As ex-Chippenham I don't want Bath to go up, but would be good for him to have a promotion on his "CV" at an early age

On 15/04/2024 at 20:32, DolmanGaz said:

I wish Southgate would at least try in one friendly palmer, saka and foden behind Kane with Bellingham next to rice. Lose a bit dropping Bellingham back but gain so much more with palmer on the field instead of another DM...

I could be wrong, but I don't think there's been an occasion they've all been fit - certainly not since Palmer has burst on the scene.

I don't think we do lose much dropping Bellingham back because he's also a brilliant ball carrier. And any argument debating that should also acknowledge that Rice has been playing higher for Arsenal quite often with Jorginho sitting deeper so you could argue we lose a bit with Rice by playing him CDM.

On 15/04/2024 at 21:02, Bris Red said:

Agreed he is such a talent.

In forward areas we are as strong as any nation in the world at the monent especially with the depth of talent we have. 

It's defensively i worry and on tonights showing Pickford is not a goalkeeper that should fill us with any confidence going into a major tournament..

Probably a good job we don't judge players on one game then. I think it's mad the criticism Pickford gets (albeit I didn't see Monday's game) He's never let England down at a major tournament and don't forget he's probably the hero of Euro 2020 (21) if Saka puts his penalty in. 2 saves in a major final penalty shoot out!

As for this season he has the second highest clean sheets this season in the Prem and second or third for save percentage too I think. Everton have conceded the 4th lowest goals this season.

There's no better option than Pickford at the minute, and he's the least of our concerns in that back 5.

I think on current form and injuries our front 6 should be the following :

Rice Bellingham (not necessarily a flat 2)

Saka Foden Palmer

Kane

But, to counter the point about players playing out of position they need to be given the freedom they clearly had against Belgium to inter-change. Foden and Bellingham seemed to be given free roles and we need to do that and trust their ability.

Defence is questionable at the moment, needs to be decided closer to time and hope we have no further injuries. Think left back is the main concern

Probably one of the best away games I’ve been to, up there with palace away in the playoffs.

How refreshing it was to go somewhere needing a win and doing it so comprehensively?

12 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

So you don't think we could have beaten Huddersfield x2 +4 points

QPR x2 +5 points

Cardiff x2 +6 points

Without adequate investment? Beating just those 3 teams twice would now see us sitting comfortably in the play offs. 

I can list many other other games where we could and should have got more than we got. 

Whilst I think we should have signed 1-2 more in the summer, we have enough to have done better than we've got. 

Blaming it on 'investment' is just you doubling down. 

 

That’s not how football works, win one of those and everything else changes afterwards. It’s not as simple as you’ve made it.

On 11/04/2024 at 06:22, ExiledAjax said:

At FT as well.

Almost out of the play offs but not quite. The maximum we can now get is 69 (nice), and Norwich in 6th have 68.

and now mathematically confirmed to be in this league next season, play offs officially out of reach

To be honest I don’t even know what is and isn’t hand ball any more, it’s become ridiculous especially as a player. You just have to ask for everything and hope for the best.

It’s hit his arm and blocked the cross, I guess that’s handball these days.

I do secretly take amusement from the idea of people leaving early and missing key moments in games.

Ive seen enough games to know something could always happen, so I always stay. It’s usually 2-3 hours home for me from any game I go to so the 5 minutes isn’t going to save me much anyway.

That said, it was a dead rubber for us. Not like the point means much, can understand why people wouldn’t care.

7 minutes ago, The Humble Realist said:

Shock...we get a last minute penalty 3 mins over the initial 5 mins added on and we think the ref was great !!

She was fine , would be interesting to see the handball back again to know if she got the that right. She gave quite a lot, but she was consistent for both teams 

Well the first 2 minutes of added time was wasted by a Huddersfield injury, so it was justified to play beyond the 5.

28 minutes ago, Bobbie said:

Since when does getting the ball kicked in your stomach warrant stopping the game and the ball being returned to you from the opposition for you to to restart the game unopposed?? ******* joke  

Must have missed this (I fell asleep near the end, woke up for the penalty ) but did it hit her? If so, that’s the rule now if the ball hits the ref. It should be a drop ball to the team that was in possession.

I believe any other drop ball decision is done by the players, the ref cannot tell a team to give a ball back for example when a team kicks the ball out for an injury.

11 minutes ago, formerly known as ivan said:

After not having attended a game since Swansea for my own sanity, performances and results have picked up. Some on here and social media believing Manning is in fact the second coming. So against my best judgement, I decided to have another look myself.

Wow, that was dire! It confirmed everything we already knew. This new and improved Manningball was a flash in the pan. That my friends is the football you have to look forward to next season, which will come as no surprise to many.

Good luck all for next season. I shall look forward to a return to the gate in a year or two.

No one has said that

A lot of issues have stemmed from decision making too. Conway just then could have tried to pass but went into a dead end between 2 defenders, Sykes shooting are just 2 examples since I started typing this comment.

17 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Swansea levels of shit that 45 was. Not a single shot at home in 45 minutes. Wow.

It was from us, the game itself not quite as bad as Huddersfield have at least done something 

9 minutes ago, old_eastender said:

Really poor performance so far, 40 mins gone and nit a single attempt on goal from us.

Can’t even put this down to Huddersfield sitting in can we? They’re having a go.

Willing to give a bit of a pass with so many people out of position, but it’s a little frustrating that just as we look to be clicking we revert to form again.

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

LM suggesting it might be back-3 (RM, GT, HR) in bbc pre-match interview.

Spoken like a true CB

#centrebackunion

Regularly watching the youngsters come through alongside me these days, seen a few horror stories  

17 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Who knows.

Like under Nige, there’s time to expose youngsters and a time not to.  In a makeshift back-line, maybe today isn’t that time.

If it is a back-4, Roberts has to find his feet playing as a pair too, so I can understand why he isn’t starting today.

Not a stick to bear LM with imho.

I agree, could hang him out to dry in that line up. He needs to come in with experience (and stability) alongside him.

29 minutes ago, mozo said:

Manning started strong if you look at the fixtures mate!

It was something like 14 points from the first 8 games.

Or 1 win in 5 wasn’t it? depends how you look at it really

22 hours ago, winsaw said:

Came across this on Facebook, good to see the gate ranked as one of the best grounds for atmosphere in the league, I think sometimes we are a bit to self critical when away fans often say it's not a bad atmosphere

 

 

It’s literally one persons opinion?

I feel like had City not performed tonight, or worse lost then we’d be hearing how we’ve nothing to play for and Blackburn are fighting for survival and it’s understandable to be off the pace for a nothing game.

Well, quite the opposite. We’ve pressed them high and well and forced them into mistakes.

As bad as they’ve been, some of that has been our pressure. Would have been different if we’d sat off and given them time like Swansea game.

I feel like I need to caveat this and own the fact I haven’t been a Manning fan, but this has been very good again and I’d happily watch this all next season if this is what he can deliver.

Shame we didn’t see Mebude, don’t think we needed to bring King on to be honest.

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, there’s a player in there I’m sure of it…

Granted Rovers are sh*t

16 minutes ago, RUSSEL85 said:

Not sure, but you saying that reminds me of Boro 96/97 season. FA Cup and League Cup finalists, lost both then relegated  

Remember more recently Wigan won the FA Cup, beating Man City of all teams and then relegated a few days later.

49 minutes ago, phantom said:

I think people forget he only made 4 appearances for us 

When I heard it the other day I was surprised it was so low, but it wasn’t through any lack of effort or anything on his part. I’m not gonna chastise the club through hindsight, but similarly he didn’t do anything to deserve being booed as far as I recall, unless it was meant ironically or jokingly.

Never mind… seen there’s another thread on last night!

Why we booing Szmodics 

Decent start, crowd sounds good in fairness to them.

35 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I think you may be wrong there. I certainly remember in the 80s City being as bad as anyone for the “You Black *******” chants. Thankfully long since gone but when I started going it was definitely there.

Definitely used to hear the one about wanting to be something rather than a “taff” too.

It was quite bad that Bradford 6-0 away night too (only time I’ve been to Bradford away) but also saw a couple of locals dishing it out too, away from the football.