Harry

Bengals had a huge choice. Protect Burrow with THE standout Tackle, or give him the WR he asked for from college. Getting Chase gives us a very good receiving corps. Skipping on Sewell was always gonna hand an absolute steal to someone, so Detroit are probably made-up over that. But there are 7 very good OL prospects still left and we pick number 6 tonight. So I think we did the right thing getting Chase and we’ll still get a very good lineman too.

I’ve fully acknowledged on here a number of times that I got it wrong on Cotterill and I’ve also said I really enjoyed his time here and am grateful to him for what he delivered. You’ll note however, from the quotes you found above, that I was right on one thing - I clearly said he’d do a good job in the short-term ? It was actually very interesting that Cotterill’s style, everywhere he’d previously managed, wasn’t pretty. It was a surprise to me and I’m sure many others that he adopted a totally different philosophy whilst here. So yes, I got it wrong, but only because he changed his philosophy entirely. Not many expected that. As for LJ. As I’ve said, judge him at the end of the season. Playoffs was a minimum expectation and he’s achieved that. I’m just pointing out that he’s had a huge defensive injury crisis to contend with. Surely you can acknowledge that?

Sounds excellent ?

I don’t personally dislike Cotterill. I didn’t want him as manager when appointed (if I recall, I was in the majority with that view). I appreciate what he did for us and will always look upon him with good memories. McFadzean is a midfielder who can play a bit of left back. LJ HAS been playing him left back but he’s been shit so he’s brought Hume in instead. Even if you want to include McFadzean, there are still only 3 fit defenders, which was actually 2 at times a few weeks ago. So inevitably players are going to be played out of position.

My bad. Sorry yes, McFadzean had been available and has had to fill in at left back, despite spending most of his career as a left mid. Playing out of position due to necessity. He’s been benched because he’s not very good there and he’s brought in a youngster instead, Hume. I know you don’t like LJ Noggers, and that’s fine, but it simply cannot be denied that the defensive injuries he’s had this season are horrendous.

Just to add. It hadn’t struck me last week when there was the thread on the main forum, but I then realised that One Team In Keynsham was the founding member of the OTIB Strava Runners Club. Hats off to the man and may he rest in peace. ?️

I’m having a very frustrating year. Started Jan well, got a foot injury, couldn’t run for 2 months. Started to ease back in, including some 5 a side, and then tweaked my calf. Another 2 weeks off so far. Hoping for a better May!

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/portsmouth-sunderland-hull-city-free-5346086 The Bristol Post have published an in-depth article about all of the players out of contract at League 1 clubs this summer. This struck me as a complete waste of time. Shouldn’t they be looking at the players at the bottom end League 2 clubs and Conference? Is this reporter just as deluded as the fans? Why would anyone be leaving these L1 teams to drop down a division (and several levels of class) to play for Jaily Barfton and his ensemble of amateurs.

He actually was for quite a while. He returned only recently, likely not 100% fit, and is their only centre back available for selection. I know we’ve had our injury problems, but imagine if Mariappa had been our only fit centre half for about 20 games!! That’s the size of the challenge they’ve had. Luke O’Nien has been playing at CB and actually making a decent job of it. He’s a midfielder who’s filled at RB for a while and is now being relied upon as a CB. They’ve had Max Power (a CM known for his goalscoring) playing at right back. Their defence has been the equivalent of us playing a back 4 of Paterson - Mariappa - Nagy - Pring. Been a bit of a struggle to say the least.

Here is a list of Sunderland’s defenders : Conor McLauglin, Tom Flanagan, Jordan Willis, Bailey Wright, Dion Sanderson, Arbenit Xhemajli, Callum McFadzean, Jake Vokins, Denver Hume. Here is a list of Sunderland’s defenders who aren’t injured : Bailey Wright, Denver Hume. I think this might have quite a considerable impact on Sunderland’s current form.

Another thing he was wrong on then .... By the way, I gave Ashton the name of Ivan Toney as a recommendation in 2012 when he was at Northampton. He was wrong not to look at him then, just as he was wrong not to last year.

100% ?? I’ll be grabbing a couple of hours kip early evening and then up at midnight to see the whole thing through. Then maybe a very gentle day at work!

I’ve seen so many variants for the Giants in mock drafts. Seems that OL is a big need, but many experts don’t recommend a double dip as they took a tackle in the 1st round last year - tackles are expensive so double dipping leaves cap problems 4 years down the line! But if Rashawn Slater is there at 11 then I think you take him. He’s the one tackle that kept Chase Young quiet in college. Most mocks have either a CB or WR for the Giants. You’re pretty much guaranteed at least 1 of Chase, Smith, Waddle, Surtain & Horn still there at 11. So you’ll get a good one.

There is a scenario where all 3 of the top WR’s are off the board by the time it reaches 11 for the Giants. Bengals, Dolphins, Lions could potentially all go WR. Unlikely, but could. If any are there for you at 11 I’d think it’d be Waddle.

You’ve built a very good roster in Cleveland, I must say. The Clowney signing will be an interesting one. He’s dropped off in the last couple of years but potentially Garrett & Clowney is a nightmare. I do think you go defence in Round 1. Probably best available player out of DE, DT & LB. As for Sewell, there is so much chatter about us taking Chase instead. Apparently even talk of Burrow asking for him! We have got an improved OL from last year already so we may hold off for Rd 2 where there should still be at least 3 or 4 really good OL prospects left. Agree though - I absolutely love draft day. One of the highlights of my sporting calendar.

Or Belter?

Can’t argue with many of those WTTJ. I agree that Wilson does seem to be a bit overrated by the Jets. Fields and Jones seem to be favoured by others. If there are no trades, then your top 10 looks pretty accurate. I just think there might be someone like Chicago trade up for a QB. I mean, they’ve currently got Andy Dalton starting, and being a Bengal, I know all about his severe limitations. The Bears must surely be looking for a trade up - whether with Atlanta or even Carolina, to get infront of Denver & NE who’ll also be looking for QB’s.

Yep. Jimmy has a 20 point swing on Joey over the same period. Brilliant.

Here’s the league table when Super Joey took over. He’s taken them from 2 points above the relegation zone to 10 points below it. A miraculous 12 point swing in 16 games. Glorious. “But it wasn’t me guv” ?

Confirmed.

Never knew your name was Hero. Nice to meet you.

Yep, Sewell is without doubt the sensible pick. There’s varying arguments that say we’ve improved the OL with Reiff coming in at RT in free agency, and hopefully Jonah staying healthy at LT. But it’s stilI the sensible pick. As for Parsons, yes he looks like he’ll be a star, though I have read about ‘off the field issues’ with him. I’ve seen a lot of mocks with Detroit taking a receiver. So as you say, if we don’t take Chase you’ll have your pick between Chase, Smith & Waddle. Seems Lawrence and Wilson are nailed on as 1 and 2. Just intriguing what San Francisco have traded up to 3 for. Strong rumours of it being for Mac Jones, but lots of other teams aren’t that high on him and see Fields or Lance as the better QB. I can see Jones to SF and then a scramble for trades for Fields. Chicago certainly seems the most obvious although I’ve seen some mocks suggesting New England trading up!! The Falcons at 4 might get some great offers, as I don’t think they’re interested in taking Ryan’s replacement this year. Denver will be hoping one of these drops to them at 9. Should do. But it’ll be 5th choice most likely. Gonna be an interesting night.

Yes. Looking forward to the draft next week. I absolutely love the draft. I’m a Bengal and so all the talk re our pick at No.5 is whether we take the generational Tackle Penei Sewell, or the talented receiver who Burrow threw to at college Ja’Marr Chase. Judging from Bengal forums and Twitter the fan base is really split. For me, I’ll be delighted with either of them, but I can’t see us turning down Sewell. The arguments against Sewell have been that we have a need at both positions and the OT draft class is much deeper than the WR class and we can still get a very good OT in round 2. Can’t wait.

The Vincent’s? Vincent Tabak!

Live scenes from the Colony