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Reply | Tomorrow's referee
at 11:37 5 Jan 2025
Let’s hope Mr Davies warms up properly, with Gavin Ward in the building as the 4th official. |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 22:41 4 Jan 2025
I’m not L Block. But if we won all our games in Jan, which isn’t impossible, we’ve be very comfortably mid table. At that point, people would start dreaming. That’s all.
I’m more worried we lose to Luton, Hull, and Plymouth and we are suddenly bottom 3 again! |
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Reply | Rest of the Championship thread
at 22:01 4 Jan 2025
Never predict…but it is reasonable to say that this month is our season.
IF we have a very good month, we will be looking up not down. We’ll have a lovely run in to May with faint hopes of sneaking a play off spot.
If we have a very bad month, we will be in the thick of a relegation battle. |
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Reply | NZ travel thoughts & ideas
at 14:27 4 Jan 2025
There’s so much to see and do. Very short list from me:
NZ
Obvs Auckland
Fox Glacier
Lake Wanaka
Queenstown
Aus
Brunch/coffee in Melbourne
Manly in Sydney for an afternoon/evening
I thought the Great Barrier Reef was a thrill and would recommend. Does depend on the weather a lot though
Whitsundays - again, lovely in the right weather
Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley region
Blue Mountains
Both the last two are doable from Sydney. You’ll need an overnight stay for Hunter Valley, especially if you want to indulge, which is the whole point. You can do some good wine tours.
Avoid Gold Coast. It is not worth it.
If there is some form of sport on at the MCG in Melbourne, do it. If it’s a big match and full the atmosphere will be great. Sydney cricket ground is lovely.
Both Sydney and Melbourne have a ton of craft beer breweries that are quite good and, of course, some great parks and museums to spend afternoons in.
You’ll have a great time. 8 weeks should be enough time to see loads. |
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Reply | Sorry Paal
at 15:27 2 Jan 2025
To be very clear, I’m not blaming Paal for the goal entirely. It obviously begins with Ashby bombing on with no protection and Smyth losing it.
All I am saying is Paal should be much tighter. He’s backed off 5 yards deeper than the other defenders when the striker takes the shot, is 5 yards off the shooter when he should have been rushing to close down. He would have blocked the shot or forced the forward to beat him on his outside which would have closed the angle down. I’ve re-watched it several times and I think Paal plays the situation badly.
The thread was about Paal. I don’t think he is playing well. I think he is going through the motions. Absolutely no issues with people who disagree, but I’ve been a ST holder for 30 odd years and I just don’t rate him very highly. I think there’s ample evidence to support my opinion. He has a decent touch and technique. I just don’t like his attitude. I don’t think he’s brave on the ball, and I don’t think he’s giving 100%. Players like that bug me.
Is he the best left back we have? Yes. That is because he is the only left back. It’s a bit silly to be in this situation. A left back in Jan would be behind a forward only in priority for me.
Whatever happens with all the young European fellas brought in, going into the season with 2 strikers and 1 left back was pretty shambolic. We get to rectify this month. Failure to do so will be inexplicable. |
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Reply | Champ Survival
at 15:19 2 Jan 2025
Heart:
Cardiff, Luton, Preston (or Stoke!)
Head:
Plymouth, Oxford, Cardiff |
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Reply | The Formation v Watford
at 22:40 1 Jan 2025
Exactly. It’s an asymmetrical 4141 / 433 hybrid. Field sits higher than Varane but not as high as Morgan. That’s why you’re seeing Field get in the box and scoring. He isn’t sitting. Varane is. However, Morgan is the one asked to support the number 9, when we go long by getting close to him or running off him.
We played this shape earlier in the season too, but it was Field holding, and Madsen and Andersen in front of him. It was disastrous because both are dreadful off the ball and don’t have the legs to get near the oppo. Now we have legs to get about the pitch and press properly.
It makes the world of difference.
The team earlier in the season had too many “ballers” who simply weren’t physical and didn’t work hard enough off the ball (when we had it or the oppo had it!). With the midfield we have now, this changes and we’re a much better side.
Frey also makes this shape work better than the other forwards because he makes it stick which allows that midfield to get further up the pitch. This helps us retain the ball but also press more effectively if it breaks for the oppo. |
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Reply | Sorry Paal
at 20:48 1 Jan 2025
But Paal did not shut him down, Gaz. Watch the goal again. He’s 5 yards from him. If he closes quickly the deflection doesn’t go in.
Of course it’s opinions. So is yours that I’m being harsh. |
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Reply | Sorry Paal
at 18:09 1 Jan 2025
I disagree, Gaz. Sorry. Doesn’t stop crosses, often out of position and the definition of “not brave” on the ball…always playing back inside or lumping it up hopefully. Stood way too far off for the deflected goal. Get tighter and it doesn’t go in, it gets blocked. |
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Reply | Watford antics
at 18:07 1 Jan 2025
Yeah, Frey makes such a big difference to the team when he plays. Seriously physical, never going to get bullied, lays the law down on occasion and the best finisher at the club by some distance,
He’s not mobile, and he’s working back to full fitness, but the ball sticks allowing us to get out, and at the very least he makes it very hard for oppo defenders to send the ball back for the oppo to attack again.
Makes a huge difference to our overall performances.
Luton up next. Hopefully he can give their centre halves another mauling. |
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Reply | Ronnie Edwards
at 09:40 1 Jan 2025
I stand corrected, by myself, he has played a season in the Champ for Peterborough. They were relegated, but he was their player of the season apparently. He then had two seasons in League One. So some experience. But he is only 21!!
I wonder if there is a view to a permanent signing with this one. Loaning. 21 yr old centre half to replace you 34yr old, vastly experienced captain isn’t like for like. |
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Reply | Ronnie Edwards
at 19:52 31 Dec 2024
The data speaks. That is probably our main data source so likely we’ll sign him. Good job it wasn’t in place 20 years ago. Richard Paquette would have been given a 10 year deal. |
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Reply | Ronnie Edwards
at 19:47 31 Dec 2024
The guy could be class, I have no idea, but this team needs more Championship experience and game management nous, especially with Cook out. We should be looking to bring an experienced head, IMO. Another signing with no Champ experience doesn’t scream “learning our lesson”. |
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Reply | Sorry Paal
at 18:52 31 Dec 2024
He might be the best we have, Gazza, but I don’t think he’s good enough to be anything other than. Bottom 1/3rd Champ player. A braver, bolder full back who works harder to get back into shape when we turn the ball over at left back would improve us significantly. Currently Dunne is a far superior full back for us both in defence and in adding to our attacks. |
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Reply | Sorry Paal
at 14:09 31 Dec 2024
I’m not a particular fan of Paal. I think he’s overrated by many. He doesn’t stop crosses enough and is often caught too high and central. He’s not awful. He’s 5/10 - 6/10 most weeks and rarely higher.
More importantly though, my personal view is that he is going through the motions this season and coasting through games, not really concentrating, and not really playing with the required intensity. Having been shipped about, and seemingly not getting a new contract, I think he’s playing like a player who a) doesn’t really care where the club ends up next season, and b) doesn’t want to get injured. |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 6813 | | Comment Votes: | 43 | | Prediction League: | 11 | | TOTAL: | 6867 |
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