And Its Smith

10 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

Let's try: "the squad he inherited is rubbish. The squad he inherited is rubbish. The squad he inherited is rubbish." Your go ....

Is the squad that bad?  Go through each player and they are either very good youngsters or seasoned pros that have in the past show a lot better than they are producing now.  Drop most of our players into top half of the table teams and they will look a lot better.  Whether we like it or not, players need to be (a) motivated, (b) organised and (c) working to a plan.   The responsibility for all of those things come down to the manager.  
 

The jury has to still be out on Pearson as we need to be completely sure that a manager isn’t up to it before we get rid of them. I am sure this season will fade out like last season but he has then got to start next season showing signs of improvement, even if that is just a more solid defence 

1 hour ago, Son of Fred said:

If you want something to look forwards to,,go book a holiday - we need,,all of us to be stronger than that...

The position we're in is down to rank bad leadership from the top over many years & was never something that could begin to be addressed short term.

 

I’ve not said it should be sorted short term but I don’t think it’s mad to expect some little bits of progress. He knows the problem but so far there’s no sign he can make even a modicum of difference to it.  

31 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

I appreciate the signings haven’t been breathtaking. But who’s to say what influence the likes of King and James have had on Scott and the rest of the youngsters. 

It’s still too early doors to be calling for Nige’s head in my opinion. Especially when you consider where we’re at as a club in terms of how tolerant we are when allowing a manager to build. 

Nige is proven. We haven’t had a proven manager since Coppell. There have been some green shoots, but you’ve gotta take the rough with the smooth. 

Admittedly last night was abhorrent, but the sooner we get used to the fact we’re going to have performances like that while we’re in transition, the better. 

I would give Pearson until Xmas. If barely anything has changed then get rid. If we are defending better and able to string 7 passes together then continue to see if he can progress further.  Massive summer for him transfer wise.  Atkinson is going to need to start looking like a £1.4m centre back soon 

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Not a fact….you been reading Rich Forrester.  C’mon Dave, you’re better than that!

I’m not!  We won the xG though Fevs…every cloud!

Barnsley haven’t scored from a set piece this season before tonight.  The coaching isn’t working 

2 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

Careful AIS - you can get into all sorts of bother in this modern world by assuming someone’s sex/gender ...

only a man would post something so stupid so it’s a safe assumption 

We won on xG !

2 minutes ago, Magger1 said:

Disgraceful no passion no will to win , no understanding doesn’t even look like a team GUTLESS BUNCH OF MONEY GRABBING BAR STEWARDS 

Silly man 

8 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

But the very nature of the youngsters is that they’re inconsistent. We shouldn’t be surprised. 

Tonight was a very inexperienced team. The more inexperienced performers you have, the more likely you are to be inconsistent. Scott doesn’t clear a ball, 1-0. Cundy doesn’t follow his man, 2-0. Not a lot Nige can do about that. Unless they’re training air kicks?

That is a completely fair point. We do though have 6 experienced pros in that team.  Our defence this season has been worse than anyone could have imagined and it shows no real sign of improving at all. It’s very hard to feel positive right now when Massengo is off, Scott maybe as well.  Pearson cannot improve the defence or our ability to pass the ball and his signing record is average at best so far.  

16 minutes ago, kelbcfc said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat here for one minute waiting for a video to upload! Refreshed page twice!!

Just now, Fordy62 said:

We all agreed we’d be happy if we avoided relegation. We all agreed we’d be even happier if we could do so and blood some youngsters.

When did things change?

When it was clear there was no sign of progress.  Finishing 16th and blooding youngsters is good when there are signs of progress so we have something to look forward too next season. What is there to look forward too now?  Pearson has proven he cannot get his team to defend and cannot produce more than one good performance in a row 

Kalas wasn’t the problem then!!

24 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Think it’s at AG today???

No Soady?  Travelling with first team, or injured?

He’s been decent recently from what I’ve seen so wouldn’t surprise me to see him on the bench tomorrow. 

Good luck everyone! It’s the hope on day one that kills you!

Tomorrow looks a very hard one. Thankfully most of these are covered by guarantees of free bets afterwards by paddy power and sky bet!  

1:30 mighty potter 13/2
2:10 Magic Daze 16/1
2:50 Tea Clipper 11/1
3:30 Teahupoo 10/1
4:10 Queens Brook 4/1
4:50 The Tide Turns 7/1

4 hours ago, The dastardly red said:

Anyone know any good bookie offers that can be exploited?

Paddy power for new customers is very good 

2 hours ago, Alex_BCFC said:

In West Indies for cricket at moment but get back Friday just in time for Gold Cup day…any tips?

 Very jealous you are over there! My friend flies out tomorrow for the second test 

Will be looking at races the night before as will know the definite list of runners but Tornado Flyer looks a good 12/1 shot.  

2 hours ago, Gillies Downs Leeds said:

2.50 on Tuesday - Lost in Translation is a speculative bet at around the 20/1 mark. 3rd in the Gold Cup in 2020 and this will be his first ever run in a handicap. Not overly consistent now but 20/1 is too big a price in my opinion.

Gericault Roque has my interest in that one. LIT is a good bet though at 20s I agree 

Resurrecting this thread ahead of the best week of the year.  Anyone got any longer odd fancies ?   Anyone going ?   

41 minutes ago, elhombrecito said:

At that point he'd realised how far he'd run, and backtracked a little. Dack would need to be blind not to realise he was there, so definitely should have been retaken. But that ref was an idiot so not shocked he did nothing about it.

Don’t think Dack complained though so don’t think he did see him 

15 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Seeing as Klose appeared to be running in to the penalty area almost in parallel with Dack I fail to see how he wasn’t making a material impact.

It looked to be the softest of penalties to me but one that definitely should have been re-taken.

He’s being Dack when the ball is struck. Dack can’t see him 

18 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

286 in two sessions. Could be interesting at least. 

Windies 20-1 to win so bookies not all convinced they will go for it.  Hope they do as will make for a great last few hours 

Just now, Port Said Red said:

Leach got the ball to turn in the first couple of overs and then it stopped, maybe a bit of wear and tear might help. But using the spinners could also mean a 5-6 run rate, we are running at 5 over the last 20 overs so it's not impossible. Getting to a 300 lead would take probably 20 overs out of the game, the n the change of innings may leave 65 to get 300?

Captains always bat on for too long in my opinion which is understandable really so I am sure they will set them closer to 300 than 250 

3 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

Can you declare on this featherbed? Set a target of 300 in 60 overs maybe? 

 

270 would be enough. They can’t get that in 2 sessions surely. I’d give them 5 overs before lunch if we get enough.  Highly likely a draw but it might start turning 

England going for it!