1960maaan

Don't give up your day job mate

Damn , that's ruined it. Now I'll have to think up another outfit for our next beer outing

Bit of controversy coming out of Belgium concerning match fixing of the game between Genk and Westerlo . The 1-1 draw was handy as both sides needed just a draw for their own reasons. Genk needed a point to qualify for the next round of games, while Westerlo were in need of a point to make sure they were clear of relegation . Now some of the older viewers on here may remember our game with Coventry , well it was that with bells on. While a late equaliser signalled the end of any attacking intent from either side , still echos of our 2-2 , they went further. There seemed to be two opposition players just passing to each other. I would say while we played out with no intention of harming each other, that passing between opposition players makes it feel much worse. Story below. Belgian football has been hit with a controversial 'fix' scandal as Genk and Westerlo played out a 1-1 draw. Controversy has hit Belgian football with a reported 'fixed' game on the final day of the league season in a match between Genk and Westerlo. The scandal resulted in players being banned and one member of staff even losing his job. Both sides went into the Belgian Pro League encounter in need of a point. This would see Westerlo avoid relegation and remain in the division, while Genk needed a draw to secure a place in the Championship round. The home side took the lead in the match through a Ravil Tagir goal in the 80th minute before being pegged back only six minutes later. Bryan Heynen's strike in the 86th minute seemingly put an end to the game as both sides appeared to stop playing. Several bizarre moments in the closing exchanges didn't seem to add up as players shook hands before the game was even over when they should have been trying to find a winning goal in theory. The Belgian FA have stepped in and issued fines to all 21 players who were on the pitch at the time, with Genk having been reduced to 10 men earlier in the match. The captains of both sides have also been handed suspensions. Westerlo have taken drastic action in the aftermath of the game as they announced the sacking of their manager, Rik De Mil. The club statement read: Despite considering long-term collaboration, we found it necessary to make this decision. The club regrets having to take this measure but cannot accept that its values and norms would be questioned. We thank Rik for his performance and dedication, and wish him every success in the future. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office shared some harsh words as it was claimed (Per Sporza): "The last five minutes of Westerlo-Genk were a mockery of fair play. This is not only against the rules of the game, it is also manifestly unfair compared to other teams that were still in the running for a Champions' Play-off ticket. The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office classifies this as blatant cheating." Footage has emerged online of Genk's Joris Kayembe and Nicolas Madsen of Westerlo passing the ball back and forth. According to the Mirror, the duo have been handed larger fines and two-match bans. Genk's manager, Wouter Vrancken, could be seen laughing on the touchline during the game and has since stated he doesn't feel he or his side had done anything wrong. Vrancken said, per the Daily Mail: "The boys played for the Champions' play-offs. At that moment, we were on the field with 9.5 players. (Christopher) Baah got red and (Bryan) Heynen could barely walk. Then you didn't have to take any risks." It is yet to be seen if further fines will be handed out or more suspensions will be given to players or staff, but Genk and Westerlo could both have to pay up to £8500 in the wake of the baffling encounter.

According to Transfermarkt and the BBC he played against Maidenhead and been involved in all their games. TBH I wouldn't be too upset on form , what concerns me more is the number of bookings he's picked up. Saw the Ebbsfleet game and he played pretty well . In 43 games he's scored 18 and 3 assists , maybe 3 sounds low but 18 from MF is good.

Kieran makes it easy for this thread . Not massively surprising , but for fans massively disappointing for the Club to be ran this way.

124 years and we're still mentioning Southampton

I don't think any of us are that old

Just seen this on Twitter , AKA X .

He said he has the attributes of a modern day FB , he wants to be a good footballer. He said he thinks he can play CB, but want to be seen as an all round footballer. You can hear it here.... https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/haydon-roberts-qpr-press-conference-february-2024/

Next year ? Is that next season you mean ?

It's just that I've seen it lots over the last few months, players making the runs and the man on the ball seeing it but turning back . Even acknowledging the run after they've played a short pass. If we were really front foot, they are exactly the runs/passes we should be doing. All seems a little safe a lot of the time.

No game if you over do it Restart of the Celtic game delayed due to flares .

I want to see a coherent plan for beating that low block that has caused us problems. I would like to see us make more chances for the striker. I want players to look more comfortable and confident in what they are trying to do, it sometimes looks like they are scared to go off plan and second guess themselves. I think we will get points, but I want to see us win and deserve points and to look a team . If we do that he will be here next year, if we lose more boring games against poor sides , maybe not.

TBH I think Conway waited until he was sure he was in the area to go down . WE still didn't get it. Clear tug on the shorts, may have been a little contact but I'm not sure it was a Pen.

I think he's done , but , although he could be a "dead man walking" as we are safe -ish then he will have a job for a while. That gives him a chance to reassess , and maybe , just maybe , he has realised HE has to adapt rather than an entire squad of players. Managers should be able to tweak their ideas into a working system , otherwise they will have a very short career. So perhaps he has just altered his ideas a touch . I said elsewhere , the win means little in terms of "have we cracked it" . We have done well against sides that give us a little room to play or press us (Leeds apart ) . Plymouth being a "local" derby , will be a little different , Huddersfield and Rotherham will be games to see if we go about things differently.

Fair enough Dave, but for me if he just keeps arms out he blocks . As soon as he wraps his arms around RD it changes for me. With a block , it's part and parcel of the game and if you're quick or clever you can get around it. Being grabbed gives Dickie nowhere to go , I see no difference to a shirt pull which is given outside the area for even small tugs . Hope the Ref is in agreement with you tomorrow , and gives us the two we are owed from Friday .

Dickie, eyes on the ball that is coming his way. Choudury never looks at the ball , only one intent. I don't understand fans/supporters who just won't acknowledge an incident as blatant as this. If I see something like this I think, well we got away with one there, you don't get anything extra for denying it.

You don't get a view of the Ref , but usually he would be just outside the area and would surely have a clear line of sight. That's my point. With Dickie being far post it looks like the Ref would have a clear sight. They aren't surrounded by other players. Just a Ref worried about "big Club" and on TV ? I would love Ref's to come out and explain why. Even if they said , sorry I really didn't see it at the time.

That's not blocking , as soon as you have both arms around a player it goes from blocking ( simply stopping the route of a player ) to something more akin to a Rugby tackle.

Watching the Sky highlights, that rugby tackle on Dickie is ridiculous. Made worse by the woman on Co Coms saying 6 of one half a dozen of the other ffs. Defender never once looks for the ball , and where is Dickie supposed to put his arms. He try’s to shake him off, I have a feeling that’s given if it’s Dickie on Vardy.

Yeah , that does seem a bit fickle doesn't it

Does possibly look like that , both at fault but Max facing play can see whats behind Vyner shouldn't play it to him. They all need to sharpen up , there was a safer ball on to Dickie that looked as easy to play.

I thought he may be doing the modern thing of striking across the ball and not quite nailing it. Shocking choice of pass from Max , then Zak did as bad. The ball from OLeary got to Vyner as the challenge came in , he should have put his foot through it. The still below shows Vyner had nowhere to go by the time the ball got to him. TBF it may have looked a better option when Max looked , but the two Leicester players were already on the move and the ball would have to have been much firmer to give Vyner a chance of laying it off. Great save all the same.

One thing that Manning has done is counter other teams threats. He studies teams and does a lot of work watching sides, we know that . Against sides like Leicester , it's easier IMO, they give you room to play, that hasn't been our problem. It's how we beat sides that sit in and how we get those players on the pitch to hurt teams. Today against a good side I thought Tanner would start , better defensively than McCrorie . I don't think Plymouth will sit in, but I think McCrorie may start to give us more going forward. As for Sykes , he would be one of the first names on the team sheet for me. Just coming on he seems to up the energy and work rate.