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Comment | Twice in a week – Report
at 16:10:57
Great report and a remarkable comeback. Felt Colback played a big role in holding it together when we were trailing. How Frey managed to hold off defenders whilst controlling the back behind him is quite something in his making of the equaliser, followed by a sublime volley. Entertaining stuff. |
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Comment | Sluggish start for Hatters on Championship return - Oppo profile
at 10:32:37
With the minimum number of days between these fixtures, I would expect 2 reserve teams out for this match! I had a lot of respect for Luton last season and I agree Lutonexiles comment on key injuries, as I think they would have just survived, which would have been a monumental achievement and an irritation to the Premier League. |
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Comment | Plymouth see red; QPR suffer déjà vu – Report
at 21:01:21
Great write up, Clive. Definitely points dropped here and we couldn't have had a kinder referee. I felt there was a relaxation following the early goal, which allowed Plymouth to settle and play. The equaliser was out of the blue and unstoppable but again after the sending off, there seemed to be an expectation that we would win. I did feel we looked the most dangerous coming through the middle and wonder if Dembele should have stayed there. Still numerous missed chances. Celar worries me ... he may be different once he has scored. |
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Comment | Boinging Baggies deliver Rangers reality check – Report
at 00:19:05
Hmmm, disappointing. One thing that Marti seems to have done well so far is preparing the team for a game. On this occasion, they looked half baked. Celar seems to have had a tough debut, anonymous but was he getting any service?
Felt West Brom were coasting in the end and yet overall we made quite a few chances, just not able to take them. Needs to be more clinical. Hopefully this was a one off. |
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Comment | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 22:26:54
Clive, absolutely fabulous write up as always. As I have repeatedly said, your write ups and insights into the team we all support are thoroughly absorbing and for those who cannot make so many games keeps us close to the club. Thanks to you and your team for the Previews, Reports and End of Term reports. Totally indebted to you.
I cannot quite fathom what will happen next season after the remarkable change from that Watford opener to the Leeds home game. Can we hang on to Marti, let alone the likes of Illy, Anderson, Dunne? Has Cook got another season? Has Willock got over his injuries. And when it comes to persistent injuries, how do we know when Taylor-Richards has finally gone - when he was never present in the first place?
All said, a very exciting prospect for next season. Play-offs perhaps - or do I need the summer off too? |
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Comment | The season that was - Preview
at 20:52:28
Surely Dykes to score (23 away games and waiting) in a 1-1 draw.
Great read as always, especially the delightful reference Taylor-Richards. |
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Comment | Watch me rise up and leave, all the ashes you made out of me – Report
at 15:47:43
Clive, I think it was prophetic in your preview with references to all the great performances against least in the past. From my experience, I seem to remember more memorable games v Leeds than any other team. And this was yet another.
From the off, the team were alert and hungry. Once with the ball, in the back or going forward, few wasted passes. And even when the tempo dropped off a bit (as to be expected), they defended well. Up front, more set pieces again.
An outstanding performance, always the more satisfying when playing a very decent opposition. My personal high spot was the Andersen goal .... a real throwback to the Bowles making space, accelerating into space and shooting left footed into the corner. If no one has offered, I'll pay for his shower plughole to be kept clean!
Thanks for keeping going through such grim times, how lovely to post a report so positive. |
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Comment | Managers matter(?) – Preview
at 21:31:44
Clive, the only reason I want a cup run any season is so I get more than the '48 previewd and match reports '. Another great read. Thanks as always. Can we hang on to Marti, is the burning question? |
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Comment | Anatomy of a fall – Report
at 11:42:55
Begovic was not fouled but chose to go round a static forward, who simply stood his ground. Should have stayed goal side. Not picking on him, as I think he has been excellent of late, but it was a goalkeeping error in my books. |
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Comment | The QPR is strong in this one – Report
at 12:03:02
Great and accurate report on the night. Clearly disappointing that there was an opportunity missed here. I think the Smyth substitution should have been earlier and he certainly seemed to unlock things, after Chair and Willock had been well policed by Plymouth.
But what we do know is that Taylor Richards has feigned injuries for so long to support the club, as his presence lacked vision, awareness of what was around him and fitness. Looked to me like the 'keep me up' genius you bring on for half time entertainment. At least Cifuentes has found this out without us losing.
We are still a weak team with a better manager, at least we didn't lose and the real test will be in the next few games as to whether we are going make a fist of it for the rest of the season.
Disappointed but more hopeful than a few weeks back. |
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Comment | Are you having fun yet? - Preview
at 14:11:25
I think Barton was the worst QPR signing ever. Of all people, signed by Warnock and later contributed to Warnock's sacking.
There are plenty of close runners in the 'topping up their pension' category but Barton was all round vile. IF only he was even as good as he thought he was.
I hope for a draw today and a win Wednesday. A bit of optimism for a change! |
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Comment | Light at the end of a two-year tunnel - Report
at 10:40:26
Great report and a superb second half. The improvement in all departments is really something to embrace. Begovic commanding the penalty area, the back line, the midfield movement and up front. Chair having options but being less predictable is another example. This is a good coaching team at work, notably as none of them are 'their' players.
We can't expect everything too soon and other teams will win above (except Wayne Rooney's Birmingham) but there is some cause for optimism here. Especially using subs so freely, as this will bring on players.
Early days, of course!
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Comment | A Ben Pearson own goal – Report
at 12:21:44
A very memorable night for so many things!
With all the highs and lows, timing of the equaliser, a goal from the 10-men, Chair's strike against the post, a corner that didn't even get to the first defender. Bleak.
And yet, Dykes redeeming himself and Larkeche's incredible persistence and fight that deserved a goal. And even Willock with a trademark finish.
We all know that this is a long old season, with the obvious spectre of relegation but there is certainly improvement in style of play and understanding on the pitch. Cifuentes substitutions paid off. Interesting listening to him in the post match interview.
Stay up, I don't know but a team with a manager and some interesting players in development does actually bode well. But of course, Huddersfield win away!
Thanks Clive, great seeing you and great report as always. |
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Comment | Right man. Right time? – Column
at 20:14:54
Many thanks for an illuminating piece.
I have to say, I would have had Warnock back here given his history with the club (the second occasion being more pertinent to our current plight) and his recent work as an escapologist with Rotherham and Huddersfield. For me, it would have allowed the club to focus removing the toxicity and bringing together the whole back room staff, whilst Warnock deals with the day to day.
However, it looks an interesting appointment with Cifuentes. Presumably he is an intern, given our financials. He looks like a manager suiting our existing players but will he be able to get into the club where it is failing and somehow overcome the internal politics that has plagued so many recent managers. I would be surprised if he can turn all this around, along with the 6 points deficit for starters. So assuming the worst, will he be there for the following season or take the first decent offer (or doing a Beal, as it might be otherwise known).
Sorry to say, whatever Cifuentes delivers it will be better than GA, which is a real shame, as he was a great player for the club. |
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Comment | The window that was, and wasn’t – Preview
at 12:12:23
Most definitely not boring. Thanks for another excellent preview in difficult times. Always a great read.
Oakskull defines boring with his repeated assassination of Lumley back a while - 6 posts about him being shitty-everything. Don't want to know where your head is |
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Comment | South of the river – Awaydays
at 12:05:51
This is going to be a long season. Already coping better thanks to this superb narrative. Great prologue too. Hard to believe just how much has changed so quickly from this time last year! Very different starting point, best of luck to GA (unless he pisses off after 10 weeks) |
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Comment | Whicker’s World; Dieng departs; Love Island smoking area — Austria Part One
at 15:55:11
Thanks for another outstanding report and insight into the state of our club. Another fantastic read, even if grim. I guess the only thing left to see is are we going to go down fighting (and not the meaning as with the Chinese national team), which is the only thing that GA can possibly instil into this team. This has to be the bleakest pre-season I can recall.
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Comment | Ferdinand departs, where to now driver? Column
at 15:22:09
Another highly insightful piece, thanks.
Do Brighton have some template that we could use? It is obvious we need to start all over, analysing every aspect of the club top to bottom and what is the plan. And in doing this, it probably means staying in the Championship is not likely next season.
Ainsworth did a great job with Wycombe but I cannot see this style working successfully for us, short of avoiding relegation and nothing else. It is not building for the future.
Last season was wholly depressing, this season does not bode well.
Thanks again Clive for all your work here, it is the only thing associated with our club that is of any quality! |
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