CheddarReds

In general I think the idea that an employee doesn't need motivating from time to time by their employers is barmy, and why should footballers be any different? They're still susceptible to similar feelings towards work and life as any of us would be....

Having said that, it's very rare you'll get players who reach Championship standard of football without having a lot of commitment and determination. Many of us would argue that their wages and the opportunity to do what most of them love for their employment should be enough on it's own too. 

So, as usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle. You can't expect a footballer to have tunnel vision and be 100% motivated all the time, they're human beings not robots. Cristiano Ronaldo is an exception to the norm... but if they always need extra motivation because they consistently lack desire and heart to do the basics for the side that's also a problem. I think NP thinks we've got a couple in the squad that are the latter and this is where it's hard to justify having those types in the squad. 

He's been patient and protected them over the last few weeks when we're giving away cheap goals. Maybe this is simply a different form of motivation which might kick a couple of the squad into action. 

Nige has a difficult job to do but progress is being made. Let's stay patient and acknowledge the bigger picture rather than be so reactive after each game. 

4 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Han Noah only ever made 3 sub appearances in the league for Monaco, 2 CL starts. That seems a very small number to exclude him.

My hunch is that they have overlooked him, maybe thinking someone with over 70 appearances for us is older than 20?

They did specifically state that even only 3 appearance's at Prem level is too many so it wouldn't surprise me if they excluded him even due to those handful of Ligue 1 and CL appearances. But yes you make a good point, it feels like he's been around for a while and should be older than he is!

Can't wait to watch this. Love the Not the Top 20 guys, think they strike a great balance between a personable and entertaining combo but well researched and considered opinions. 

They explained there are some criteria that players have to hit to be included, including:
- no prem loanees
- no players with a handful + prem appearences. 

While they didn't specify anything about foreign top divisions or the Champions League, I'm guessing with HNM making some Champions League and Ligue 1 appearances could be the reason behind his omittance. 

12 hours ago, TomF said:

One look at his Dads twitter account today made me think he doesn’t have the greatest advice on anything. 

After looking at his dad's Twitter I actually felt quite sorry for Zach. 

Thought he had a fairly long contract? Won't have been a cheap option. Some odds on their next manager:

1 hour ago, CheddarReds said:

2-0. Cardiff get battered...

This aged well

2-0. Cardiff get battered...

Man Utd 2-1 and Walsall 8-2 both at home are really memorable ones. Loved the Palace play off semi-final at the Gate too.

28 minutes ago, spudski said:

Interesting comments based on Government figures re increase in heart inflammation cases in the younger generation. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/medical/covid-vaccine-the-worrying-side-effect-that-could-lead-to-severe-heart-failure/ar-AATfvim?ocid=mailsignout&li=AAnZ9Ug

Just your typical Express headline that's been written to scare people and get themselves a click. 

1,226 as a % of 296m is 0.0004. Considering such a low risk, especially as the Gov. state most of the cases are mild, I am happy (as someone who that article states is in the most at risk group of myocarditis from vaccination) that the benefits of the vaccine comprehensively outweigh the risks. 

Anyway, this is the football side of the forum so back to that.

Great just to be playing entertaining football again

34 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Max has only played 5 games this season. It's really too small a sample size yo use xGA v GA reliably. He was also in net for the game against the most potential attacking team that we've seen at our level for decades: Fulham in full flight. That game skews his stats horribly.

Stats might tell us what to discuss, amd are useful to analyse the whole team across the whole season. However given the sample size I'm reticent to use them to "prove" anything regarding Bentley v Max 

Shot for shot potentially they can be useful which was my point but I agree. I'm not advocating the use of them specifically in this scenario, more explaining how, like you have, that many of the goals Max has conceded aren't necessarily down to poor shot stopping ability and that the stat presented on it's own doesn't tell the full story. Same with a small sample of xG.

2 hours ago, Carey 6 said:

23 shots on target since Max has been in goal, we've conceded 14 of them.

this stat doesn't really tell us a lot on it's own though. 

Yesterday we conceded two goals from set pieces from less than 6 yards out. Similarly, Cardiff's first, Mitrovic's headers, Millwall's two goals are all ones where the scorer has had a good opportunity and you can't expect O'Leary to save them. 

This is where looking at the video and xG of the chances the opposition have scored from is useful. A lot of the goals we've conceded Max shouldn't be expected to save. However, watching them back it's obvious as a defensive unit we can't keep giving away soft goals from set pieces and mistakes in and around our box. So I'm not convinced having Bentley in goal changes that statistic much either way. 

It's nice to be looking up the table.

In previous seasons our results against the bottom handful of teams has let us down but this season we've got a great record. Hope it continues.

Luton next which will be a tough one.

Not justifying the bottle throwing, but why the increase in players celebrating in front of S82?

Neither Austin or Collins got a hounding prior to them giving it large in front of the home fans. 

Not a complaint, it's all banter really, (bottles and similar aside) but it seems more common? Just find it a bit weird

1 minute ago, Fordy62 said:

I imagine Nige is probably an incredibly good manager to have develop you if you have the raw attributes. 

Yes. I suppose you could take (most) of what I've said about Semenyo and say it about Pring, for example.

Never understand how fans could boo a key player in the double winning team.

At times we've missed him since he's left. Happy that today wasn't one of those times.

He's always had the raw attributes. Confidence, fitness and nailing down a position has resulted in those attributes being used effectively. Well done to the staff and Semenyo for that.

Scott (18) and Massengo (20) looked like two experienced pros today. 

Well done to two fantastic footballers, great options now and for the future.

I'm about as confident as I can be before a big game (derby, bit of a 6 pointer). 

The cardiff team we played earlier in the season were poor and by all accounts haven't improved much since. Giles is a big loss for them and we've got a good record against those below us this season too.

Fingers crossed. COYR.

10 hours ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

Hi Cheddar,

How do you define NW Europe?

I can only speak for France, but happy to help if I am able.

I was classifying France/ Belgium/ Netherlands/ Germany as North Western Europe. 

Hi all. 

More and more I'm warming to the idea of moving abroad to work and live. Most likely somewhere in north western Europe. 

Has anyone got any experience of moving abroad to a new country? If so, what do you wish you knew before you went?

Is it easier or more difficult than you expected to become comfortable with a new language? 

Has it been complicated with pensions/ savings in the UK? 

Is there any research you wish you did before you selected where you wanted to go?

Most importantly, has it been a good experience?

It'd be great to here some thoughts, ta  

Crypto is interesting. I don't claim to know everything about it. But what I do know makes me want to avoid it. Environmentally it's very bad for the planet, in general it's murky and unregulated and it's value is speculative. Much of those are shared with NFT's as I understand it. With these things amongst others come added risks and complication.

However, it's such a huge market now where so many people hold money that I can't see any result other than some sort of Government intervention. 

There was a bloke walking around with a Plymouth jacket on who at worst got a second glance...

HoW cOuLd hE gET aWaY WitH tHIs?!?! WhAt iS wROnG wITH oUR FaNBaSe?!?!