Sheltons Army

The biggest change we need for me is to take away the idea that being asked to go to the monitor indicates to the referee on pitch that he’s made an error In my view it’s an aide that should be used to help the onfield change or confirm his decision and actually used in a ‘neutral way, Using the West Ham incident as an example I think the referee / VAR / and monitor should be used as follows Goal Scored , Chelsea players complaining of foul on Mendy (Who is led out being read his last rites) Ref to VAR ‘Can you double check what happened to Mendy’ VAR ‘Yes , the West Ham player does make slight contact with Mendy ‘ Ref ‘Yes , I thought it was minor , a game contact’ VAR ‘slight contact toe to shoulder’ Ref ‘Yes, as I saw it , I’m giving the goal’ or Goal Scored , Chelsea players complaining of foul on Mendy (Who is led out being read his last rites) Ref to VAR ‘Can you double check what happened to Mendy’ VAR ‘The West Ham player made contact with him after the ball’ Ref ‘I didn’t see the contact , you are sure he made contact’ VAR ‘Yes he made contact’ Ref ‘ I’m going to have a look on the monitor , I’ll make a decision from that’ > Ref goes to monitor and HE makes the decision What it shouldn’t be IMHO is VAR sending the referee to the monitor with an inference that he’s made an error, the monitor should be accepted as simply part of good process It was good to see Michael Oliver sent to monitor yesterday , and stay with his original decision - I think he’s the first one to do so , isn’t he Maybe it will help others to not be pressurised by the current process and merely use the monitor as an additional aide , when required.

If he’s still in a job then ......? Personally I actually think he would thrive and develop to another level at a Man City - And I do think he’s a player Pep would like He has a very good all round game but I think it’s quite important that he goes to a possession based side , where his attributes can shine , and City’s play would suit him perfectly IMHO Would he get a game there ? Different q and certainly wouldn’t be easy , but I don’t think he’d look out of place and he’s only going to get better

Rewatching the highlights from yesterday , a few times ! :laugh: , besides the 3 points and description of the performance from those who were there / watched ..... wow....some of the individual moments...even in the highlights were an absolute joy First goal , Scott .....’Gascogne esque’ as he waltzed out of a press with a swagger , and sent us forward Weimann’s cross for Tommy Conway was mouthwatering ....... ‘Here....have yourself a goal lad’ Like most , I love a diving header... and Conway lines himself up , sets himself . Then explodes through the ball.. superb technique, and so easy to put that wide or hit the keeper Second goal...wow Tommy Conways control and lay off , superb Weimanns through ball (If KDB does that they drool on Match Of Day Wells finish Just a few examples of what I’d say were ‘wow’ moments and two goals that aren’t easy to better We have some excellent talents who are ‘at it’ and in form and definitely a time to indulge and savour Im off to watch the goals a couple more times ! * You could also Add the ugly stuff of tackles , and blocks (I think Alex Scott threw himself at the ball 3 times at edge of box in one Blackburn attack) I also watched a VLog from a Blackburn fan filmed from behind their goal .It was a rubbish VLog but what you could see was our good shape , how we worked as a unit / team , not as individuals , covering each other , changing shape as the play evolved

I absolutely love Pearson , my sort of ‘boss’ , I can remember being delighted at his appointment , and surprised we got him to some degree He was absolutely what we needed But looking at yourselves and the Premier League I’m not sure a return would ‘fit’ either As we know he’s perfectly capable , but probably not what The Foxes need right now Im not sure the media scrutiny of the Premier League would sit well these days for one thing ! Appreciate the Leicester fans who retain an interest in NP and as such us , and their warm words about Pearson

Not VAR , Goal line technology The West Ham disallowed goal yesterday was absolutely laughable I don’t think VAR (technology) is the problem , it’s some of those making decisions

Agree with you Billy , he’s ‘upped a gear’ and what I was suggesting He wasn’t lazy or disruptive , and all the indicators are he’s been great with TC & Co But he’s realised , under NP , if he wanted a shirt he had to take his chance when it came - He said do himself Hes ‘ramped it up’ and done exactly that

Not really important Dave , but not sure if we are referring to the same piece / interview I recall him talking about half turn etc and that interview ,but he’s been specifically asked recently ( Can’t recall whether I/v was a post match one or a RB piece for Sound of City or similar )about playing RWB and explained he played there a handful of times at Oxford. but was a position he was learning ive tried to see how many times he played there for Oxford but failed - any idea from your data sources ?

True , and , absolutely !

No he was talking about playing wingback Stevie I knew zilch about him, when we signed him , and agree with @And Its Smith that the comments about any suitability to play RWB when we signed him were certainly not encouraging He played there a few times for Oxford but certainly a very new position for him

Their opponents today had scored a total of 2 , it might have been 3 , goals in the last 7 games

Many will disagree , but to me the issue all along was Diedhiou and finding how to use him (I felt he was very much over lauded on here and would have moved him on 12-18 months in) as he never formed , or looked like forming any partnership or good interaction with anybody that went through the side during that period If you remember , for a fair time leading to buying Wells Lee had ‘wanted a 9’ (To replace Diedhiou ???) and Ashton was forever on about ‘We need a 9’ Then we got misty eyed over Wells goals that season at QPR , had an opportunity to grab Wells (Probably helped by Burnley wanting Josh I wasn’t too keen, I thought Wells was ‘ok’ but had had a stellar period , remember pondering with others how LJ intended to use Wells as for me Diedhiou had indicated that he was not suitable for a partnership Wells is not a ‘9’ in a traditional sense (in my mind anyway) Hes a ‘second’ striker , working with / off someone else For me , Wells was never going to benefit from a pairing with Famara , he wasn’t a replacement for Famara , and he needed someone suitable with who to work with

Might have added a bit but , I’d refer you to @Beni71s post above !!! ? Interesting that NO name checked Alex Ball recently and his work We have him working almost between or across the U23s and the first team - sounds a good idea to me , help the transition of young players with Ball knowing how to work with them and help , but with an understanding of the first team patterns etc

Not a strange thing to say , I totally agree with you Different players have different attributes , but from what I’ve seen TC incl U23s I’d say his football intelligence is heading Scott’s way , in their different roles In some respects Antoine has some superb attributes but still has some rawness , which is exciting as he still has more to come !

But you commented on it Their eventual destination , timing and fees involved are of course all irrelevant to us as a club If you find it boring , irrelevant to us , or our club , or a reasonable topic for DISCUSSION Maybe just ignore it

I’ve heard a leak of a small part of the telephone conversation between SL and NP after Holden was sacked Steve is swigging a large malt and mumbling ....’Nigel ...it’s such a mess...We’ve got players bloody everywhere and hardly any of them are interested......and my son has just shown me the wage bill....Jesus.......’ Jon is then heard in the background saying ‘Sorry Dad , me Mark and Lee were going to make you some money.....sorry...............while you are talking to that Mr Pearson......... tell him about the new kit

Our Director of Football ????

Going to be slightly controversial (or I expect a reaction) in his recent interview he accepted that he wasn’t in the side but accepted when he did ‘he wasn’t at his best’ I wouldn’t say he was sulking but I wonder whether he was a bit disillusioned , sub consciously ‘not fully at it’ It sounded like he had a change in mind and got his head down to be at his best when he got the next opportunity Just him , himself ? ....conversations with Pearson ?....or maybe seeing youngsters playing in his position and His professional attitude saying....’hey’.....’hang on’......’I can do that’.....maybe just the atmosphere and enjoying playing with these youngsters ?

A scramble / bidding war would be great for us but you do get the feel , and there are wisps if smoke , that it will be Semenyo to Palace , Scott to Spurs You wonder whether talks , discussions will have started and will be an ongoing process to an eventual time / fee / conclusion

Ahh did wonder ?? Yes , he travelled to and fro to Southamptons Academy from Guernsey , for x evenings a week , and weeks and weeks in summer holidays , for a few years IIRC (Think he left ‘around 15 IIRC ) Of course we don’t know what he was like or how he looked at that time but I’d be amazed if looking at him now , that he didn’t show , or at least show signs of his attributes at that point (I know you play / played at decent level) - are you surprised If he was suitable for release , the transformation would have been remarkable in the interim period (Don’t get me wrong , Guernsey clearly have a decent little set up and our coaches will have helped,) This isn’t a lad who they released who goes onto make a career in L2/1 or even the Championship but one who we can all see looks destined to be a very good Premier League player , possibly a real star , and possibly one with International future

If they continue as they are going , especially if we as a side are going well , the interest in them is going to become more intense month by month , certain clubs will be watching them game by game i think our resolve will be severely tested in January for Scott n Semenyo ,and it will be hard to keep them happy and focused however ‘good lads’ they are Even Conway will be of real interest & watch right now

Good , hope so I wouldn’t do it for the reason but it would attract really good PR for the Club , if the ‘Club’ were seen to do something

Take your point and I wouldn’t disagree it’s a change but it’s just part (IMHO) of the evolution in setting , forming and tweaking a team Lots of other elements , the be accquisitions , individual improvement in a number of players and the nurture of and then well timed introduction of TC, just some Martin has done us a bloody decent job when times were at their toughest, and still very much has a part to play (IMHO)

I hope, that when Scott moves on we do ‘something’ as a recognition / gesture of thanks to the set up in Guernsey Some investment in facilities , youth football etc A small piece of any fee would be a great gesture , and the right one IMHO Im sure SL would approve

After years of bull**** , and sound bytes (All they were) about identity and more crucial to me , culture Pearson has / is installing it Ironically he doesn’t use those words or waffle He just does it. and across the whole club