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Reply | Cold Water Swimming
at 16:44 19 Jan 2025
I asked a retired Doctor friend about this only a few weeks ago. She said that people do this to get a dopamine hit from the sudden rush and exhilaration of the warmish to freezing cold, so they think they feel better and healthier. In reality, it's the dopamine hit released by the body to cope with the impact of the sudden temperature change on it.
And people like to return to their dopamine hits even if it hurts them, don't they?
She also said that while that could help some people (like destress the mind and useful quick, happiness fix), it's only a temporary effect at best and in the main, it's very risky to your health as you could get hypothermia, which is the most likely thing to happen rather than any real health benefits.
Which is doctor talk, so don't do it as it's stupid. |
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Reply | Sam Field
at 16:13 19 Jan 2025
From what I observe, Marti has changed tactics over time, and this has improved some of the players.
Now Varane sits deep to receive the ball as our outlet to beat the press and as playmaker out of our third into the middle.
Field's job has been higher up the pitch in the past to press the oppo as he's so good at tackling and hopefully with the ball in their third. So, he is mostly ahead of Varane. If we are under pressure or there is an oppo breakaway, or as he's tall enough, Field is useful defending as well. What Marti has also added to his game is getting forward into the box, hence his goals against Oxford and Watford.
Morgan then adds even more as he's useful for beating the press as an outlet, dribbling in the last third (unlike Madsen) and making short passes. But Morgan also gets back (unlike Madsen) and puts in a few tackles now and again. These three, when they run (not like Swansea) and press hard, make it very hard for opposing teams to combat.
They are imperfect, as opposing teams find a way through, but then they come to our defensive line where Cook, JCS, and Dunne play. This is tough for the oppo if these three are on their game, which they usually are. Hence, they often, as you have seen, target Paal. Then it all comes down to whether Paal fancies it today or not.
Also, something else Marti demands is that wingers get back to double up on oppo wingers and help out the fullbacks. I often see Marti screaming about that. He wants to force the oppo to play through the middle against Varane, Field, Cook and JCS. Saito on the right seems to be able to do this, but Smyth has the pace to stretch teams ahead of him, and Chair gets more assists and goals on the left, so Saito is struggling sometimes in some games. In others, he's very effective. I think he just needs more mins over time to get used the the champ as something that surprises players is that its so dynamic, tactics will change game by game and that surprises some players.
For example, QPR has started having two players for our corners; this is a new tactic, which I am not sure about yet. But that is new. Just like the first goal against Watford, with a short free-kick into space for Morgan to cross for Frey. Where did that come from? New that from Marti. So, the champ is very dynamic and can surprise players.
It took Frey a long time to come to terms with it, Andersen is now struggling to adapt, or his body has gone, and Madsen has improved but only very little and not enough to get into the team. |
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Reply | Kolli signs new deal!
at 21:29 17 Jan 2025
I like your idea of the smaller clubs getting more money.
The way it could work is based on last season's position. So, the club at 92 who gets relegated could get an EXTRA £2m+ from a Prem club that wins the league. And then it's all based on some algorithm that works out being less than that £2m+ if they are closer in the league.
So, that's what they are worth in the market tribunal price + extra based on how much lower they are in the league. If they are not lower, then it's just the market tribunal price.
This should make clubs like Fulham and Liverpool think twice before stealing players from us (which they have done in the past). Also, as there will be less stealing now clubs more of an incentive to develop their players more.
If, the tracking club is say in Spain, then we will need to work that out too. But this can be done by Champions League positions and other euro competitions providing a score along with league equivalent positions. I am sure some bright stato can work that out.
It won't be perfect, someone like the scum will find loopholes (like buying from a lower affiliate club and then so on), but at least there is a chance that the smaller clubs could get some more dosh for the player. |
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Reply | Kolli signs new deal!
at 15:28 17 Jan 2025
Hoping Kolli scores and the fans can then sign "he's one of our own" which would be accurate for change :P |
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Reply | Half a million a week for 9 years!
at 14:09 17 Jan 2025
Only minus 500 pts, you say?
Quick, we must agree to the league's terms and contract before they realise they should have smashed us for way more. |
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Reply | Kolli signs new deal!
at 14:06 17 Jan 2025
This is why we need Academy 1 status.
It means you get more from the tribunal. And if Prem clubs are not sure with Academy 2 status for sure that increases their risk if we are at Academy 1 status. May help to frighten a few off.
But it costs more, you say?
Well, according to recent reports, QPR now says that it's not that much more, so in my view we might as well do it.
Another reason is, let's say, that a new prospect appears, 13-year-old Kevin Gallen, is the latest and greatest out there at his age. Lucky QPR are on to him in a flash, but this means Arsenal, Fulham, and, of course, 500 agents vanking off Chelsea are, too.
If we say, with QPR, you talk to this Gallen player and tell him and his parents that he has a great chance of getting in the first team and then going up into the Prem and England, ala Eze and Sterling. Also, if not, then look at Manning, Bos, even Dieng and Armstrong. There is a career from QPR in the harsh world of football for you. Then back this up with the latest three who have come through (Morgan, Lloyd and Kolli). We even have a Prem class training ground and a full coaching staff, and so on.
But then come in the Chelscum, and they say, "Yeah, but we also have this and more. Also, more money for you, and we have Academy 1, which is needed to give you the best chance possible to develop into the best player you could possibly be".
That's not true, of course, but as we know, Gallen's mum and dad would want that; they would actually be swayed more by the Academy 1 status as the money will come. They will want to give their son the best possible chance and be in a mental state that they did the best for their son they could have possibly done.
Why would you not?
In my biased view, if we have the money to do it, we should definitely get Academy 1 status. It would give us more leeway on tribunals, promote the club as a Prem class in waiting, and endure smarter parents towards us who know Chelsum is all money and no career. But not having it, means some will be swayed by that. Clubs, if they can afford it, need to show that they have all the capability to bring young Gallen all the way through with the highest training and coaching capabilities known in the industry.
It's simple to understand, how many Prem clubs don't have Academy 1 status? |
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Reply | Kolli signs new deal!
at 12:33 17 Jan 2025
Two forwards signed (Llyod & Kolli), which means we are going with these players up front and not loaning a forward in the window.
Can we get an LB in now? This is needed, seeing as they still want to loan Larkeche out. Crazy, I think Larkeche is worth keeping in the squad at least. |
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Reply | Half a million a week for 9 years!
at 12:30 17 Jan 2025
Lets say your about to be relegated due to a points deduction and all your best players are going to be miffed and leave. Exactly what happened to Reading (oh my ribs).
If you have the money, you can tie up all your best young players on long contracts to ensure that if that happens, you have top talent to get you back up the league in a season.
If you are lucky to be in a transfer window when you see this coming, you can also use that money to sign a bucketload of young players. I notice the rumour mill has them buying lots of players in a Jan window when few clubs do that.
This could be especially true as some of your existing old hands, like Walker, have sniffed the stink early and now want out before it all gets messy.
This could be what they are doing; it's just a guess.
It will be interesting to see what the other players like Phoden will do. |
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Reply | Saito, stick or twist?
at 18:56 16 Jan 2025
He has skill and close control so, his dribbling can cause defenders problems. He can also cross a ball.
However, it seems he is only effective on the left and is also not used to defending against much bigger players than himself (which is almost everyone in the champ).
I think he's a useful player, but he's not worth £2m which was being banded about. Remember it took Smyth a season plus to get to where he is now so, players can improve.
If, we get him on the cheap we should take him as back up for Chair. With Demble returning one day, long term we don't need Saito if he is too expensive (sure we can sign in whens out of contract, but he will other suitors too).
If, he is cheap then Marti can develop him, otherwise its not worth it. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 12:10 16 Jan 2025
Southampton would have talked to Charles as well. Asked him how he feels and told him they have some other clubs in the wings for him.
If Charles had said ... "I want to play and this place is fine, let me stay, it's all good" then they would have backed the player and let him stay.
Seeing as he's recalled, he did not say that, which shows that even the players know its a fecked up situation. Rohl will be off as soon as any top offer comes in.
If he goes early, they get a points deduction and loans leave, then they could easily find themselves ni a relation dogfight.
As we have seen with QPR, a few missing players (in our case injuries) and you're in big trouble. |
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Reply | Marti on Coaches voice
at 19:12 15 Jan 2025
Marti likes the big number 9 CF then.
Hence he's happy with Frey, but this does not sound like Celar fits into his system.
Smyth comes inside more now and we can see why. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 14:00 15 Jan 2025
Charity Park Rangers mode invoked ... please wait while major embarrassment appears yet again shown repeatedly on TV highlights everywhere. |
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Reply | Marti on Coaches voice
at 13:59 15 Jan 2025
It seems to me that Ball was key to that victory over Blackburn. If he fails, the whole match is lost; he did not. We should never have let Ball go.
A cheap as chips player who can help out at the squad level and even against physical teams. When you think of the money we spunked on Madsen, who won't even run, Ball is a better player as he will run all day. True like a headless chicken, but even Big Dom knocked one in from 20+ years to win a match.
Ball is now at Orient playing Ball. |
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Reply | Ashby.
at 11:16 13 Jan 2025
Defo, they are forcing Santos out.
Santos like Madsen in the RB roll, does not defend, does not attack. Shirt warmer, despite having some crossing skills (which is why they signed him as a RWB).
Ashby did set up some goals for us (Frey, Watford) and also played LB when we needed (see how bad the club handled Larkeche there).
But he makes a lot of mistakes as well. He does try but really he's no better than Kakay and probably at the same cost. He should go to L1 club and play 40 game there and develop before coming back to the champ. I will guess after this season, that is exactly what will happen after two failed loans at Champ clubs.
I shall upset people and say, I bet Morgan can play RB. I know people won't wanna read that, but if Dunne is forced in the middle can we afford to play Ashby at RB, when we have Colback to come in for Morgan?
Needs must and all. |
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Reply | Uncle Albert
at 13:30 10 Jan 2025
Played 21 times for them this season, 3 goals and 2 assists.
So, 5 goals down to him, a 1 in 4 ratio.
Also, he's only played 90 mins once (which is expected as he's old), so, actually, this stat gets even better.
Not bad for an old man. |
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Reply | Rob Edwards sacked by Luton
at 16:31 9 Jan 2025
Let's start the campaign, Beale to Luton.
He may talk a little posh for them, though. |
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Reply | Madsen Mins
at 16:11 9 Jan 2025
Norwich he was defo running more and also more aggressive in the tackle. Much improved, but he has been so far off the pace, that this improvement for the actual match was not even that significant.
It was like a 6 out of 10. What needs to do, is this all the time a little bit more. Which is what Morgan has been doing and then with Madsens skills (and he has them), he will be a great player for us.
He has the skill, massive amounts, now its time to run run run. Lets hope Marti coaches this into him, but I do worry, that after some time, Marti is still reluctant to put him on the pitch and would rather risk an early Colback injury return than pushing Madsen on.
Madsen could be heading into the EDB, Santos forgotten realms, where Richards is King of all.
That says a lot. |
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Reply | Frey
at 13:20 9 Jan 2025
This.
Also this type of player is rare and getting rarer, as a result CB's are not used to playing against this type of player and can get caught out a lot, even if they are big tall players themsleves.
I think someone said on here, that Sir Les was asked why there are not more of these types of players these days and was told by Sir Les everyone in the academies and yoof teams, wants to be a number 10. A Chair or Eze type. Great aspirations for sure, but as we can see with Woods in the Prem a good old fashioned number 9 bouncing off defenders is also very valuable. So, there is way forward for people who don't have the Eze skills to come through too.
Sir Les, Furlong, Hugill, and Helgason were, I believe, not over 6 feet tall, so you do not need to be that tall (but some height, yes), but you do need to put yourself about not just a bit but a lot and in an aggressive manner. This is also part of the game and works.
In the good old days, we would have Les, Falco, Colin Clarke and more do this. Teams, even like the old crazy gang Wimbledon, didn't like it done to them. And if you had the defenders to stop it being done to you, Macca, Maddix, Peacock and today Cook, JCS, Morrison, then you win the game usually.
This modern game is all well and good tippy tappy, but I also like a Paul Furlong charging around like a maniac pressing defenders like a nutter and then doing some nice skills to finish from 30 yards as he sometimes did too. Generally being a proper nuisance to these teams that like to play it out from the back, which is most teams these days.
I bet Paul Furlong wishes he was 20 years younger for many reasons, but one of them being these stupid defenders playing out from the back would have played right into his hands as he would run them into the ground and smash them about a lot, whilst also doing deft finishes to score a tidy goal or two. Where is the Durie vs Macca battles we used to have, just like the good old days! |
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