Merrick's Marvels

Thanks for posting this. Great stuff. Yes, Beasley still manager when this game was played on 14 September 1957 City team was: 1. Anderson 2. Bailey 3. Thresher 4. Peacock 5. White 6. Williams A 7. Hinshelwood 8. Burden 9. Atyeo 10. Etheridge 11. Watkins Lost 1-0. "City were robbed when the officials failed to spot that White's 20th minute 20-yarder bounces down a good foot over the line after hitting the bar". A poor season for City, until the arrival of new manager Peter Doherty at the end of January 1958 (Munich Air Disaster was 6-2-58 for reference) and his immediate signing of Bert Tindill who scored 10 goals in the remaining 14 games of that season. City finished 17th, 5 points clear of relegation. Charlton just missed promotion to the First Division - West Ham 57 points, Blackburn 56, Charlton 55, Liverpool 54. (2 points for a win, kids, only 2 up and no play-offs!!)

Love you Moyesie but eff me you're a negative manager. Someone else will turn all that talent into a proper football team. Mickey mouse competition as well. Either of these teams beat Sevilla or Roma to win the UEFA Cup? Not a chance.

Anyone lucky enough to have had a great teacher/mentor at school/work will always remember them. The young lads we have who make it to the first team will always remember Pearson. Wherever he goes and whatever he achieves, Alex Scott sure will. For once, we have the right man, in the right place, at the right time.

There was one this morning. Add that to reports from the Scottish media that this is a done deal and I reckon we can rest easy on this one ?

Respect! (Ive run out of "flames" - been a busy old day thanks to Joe Bryan) What ya saying 'bout thr blessed Beryl though? ? "Get outta ma club shop!"

It's all getting a bit Carry On, Slarti. Mind you, Carry On Up the Table is a production we'd all enjoy next season: Sid James as Nigel Pearson Babs Windsor as... er...

Ross is still trying to work out how to get down from the roof mate. Tell Tommy he might be a while.

Then that's what ya shoulda wrote mate!

Doing a Bobby Reid ?

Life is full of disappointments. It's how you react to them that counts - in this case, by signing someone even better!

Are there other good players out there?

Of course they take a long time, all transfers do - that's not evidence of stalling though, is it. The McCrorie transfer has been going on for weeks too - we haven't even announced it yet so why don't we all PANIC PANIC he's stalling, stalling I tell you. If Bryan chooses to play for someone else, so what? There's plenty of other good players out there.

No there isn't. Whether he signs or not is a completely different matter. But his season ended on Saturday and the fact he hadn't been announced by the Monday is not evidence of stalling. I have no idea if he's signing but if he doesn't, it won't be the first or last time a footballer negotiates with more than 1 club before deciding which offer to accept. Where is your evidence of "stalling"? The fact he wasn't announced within minutes of the rumour surfacing on Otib? Ridiculous. Within seconds of his season ending on Saturday? Ridiculous.

Fair play fella

So GFFN, a French media source getting their information from the selling club, report the Massengo deal as £8M, while the Bristol Post, getting their information from the buying club, report the deal as £3M. In other news, Scottish sources getting their info from the selling club, report the McCrorie deal as £2M +add ons, while the Post, getting their info from the buying club, report the deal as £1M + add ons. Can you see a pattern here???????

Right. No evidence of "stalling" then!

Where is the evidence that anything has stalled?

Yep, especially as he hasn't been "fiddling" with anyone as far as we know.

Some sort of conference going on - "Defence Simulation Education & Training". Quite appropriate in the week we sign 2 defenders. Seems it's military types, though, not footballers.

Not sure we're allowed on the roof!

Not sure how you drop Vyner, based on last season. Yes, a new season is a fresh start but Vyner's in the box seat for me and any new arrivals have it all to do, barring injury. I do like having 2 tall strong CBs though.... It's all good competition for places, though, that's for sure. Which is exactly what we want. Adding types like Bryan and McCrorie as well, who can play multiple positions, means we increase our strength in depth while still running a smaller squad - which also increases competition. All very positive ? It just needs to happen now!

Cheers

Apologies for being thick but just to clarify - As far as you know, the Joe Bryan deal is done?

Jesus wept. And people wonder why this club has never amounted to even a hill of beans.

Over to you @Mr Popodopolous !