 | Forum
Reply | Promotion to the Premier League is tough.But is survival effectively impossible?
at 08:05 31 Dec 2024
Fair point, 5 teams that 10-15 years ago no one would have predicted, so it can be done.
Of those five, think three of them having benefited by yo-yoing, Brighton and Brentford seem to have utilised data driven systems to hold their own, which gives some hope.
One worrying aspect, I’m struggling to see how any of those sides benefited via players coming through their youth system. Maybe there’s been the odd one here and there but not in any significant quantity.
No one expects a Francis, Clement, Gillard, Busby style renaissance these days but the hoovering up of youth talent by the big clubs suggests we may be barking up the wrong tree with our belief over too many years that this is the way forward. |
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Reply | T Richards…..
at 19:10 30 Dec 2024
Was this in the days when the DOF wasn’t responsible for signings? |
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Reply | Injuries
at 11:09 30 Dec 2024
Yes, needs looking into.
Number of things mentioned above and I also wonder if having to stand up to make a legitimate tackle these days has also something to do with it.
Standing tackles are more risky in terms or jarring on impact, which result in more muscle injuries. It’s peculiar but you used to see players coming back from breaks quicker than muscle and hamstring injuries today.
Undoubtedly, the schedule has most to do with it. They must barely spend any significant time on the training ground and gym when they’re playing every 3-4 days. Madness. |
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Reply | January Fixtures
at 10:41 30 Dec 2024
Whatever you do, don’t look at the March fixtures. |
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Reply | Budgies vs Rs Match Thread
at 14:47 29 Dec 2024
Expected Norwich to score 4 and they easily could have done, so it’s admirable that we got a point.
Nardi was superb as ever, patched up defence very good, but that last 35 mins and the performance of our midfield thereon was very poor.
As an attacking force we are virtually non existent.
Enjoyed the game but we are a tough watch. |
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Reply | Budgies vs Rs Match Thread
at 10:56 29 Dec 2024
Struggling for a plan myself today as the wife insists she wants her Sunday dinner (in the fckin dining room) no later than at half time.
Pork and roast spuds I can get on pre kick off, stuffing is going to present my first issue 5-10 mins into game. Carrots and left over Brussels a bit of a panic around 30 -35 mins and carving, dishing it up and consuming, all in a 15 minute interval is going to involve significant time management.
I’m hoping Field and Nardi don’t try on their sit down antics. If I get this wrong I’ll be lucky to be alive for the second half. |
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Reply | Budgies vs Rs Match Thread
at 19:06 28 Dec 2024
Worried pre Christmas might have been a dead cat bounce.
On the plus side, reckon only slightly north of 40 points will keep a team up this year. |
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Reply | Two thoughts/queries re Swansea
at 11:46 28 Dec 2024
We’re better for Chair being out there second half and to an extent, Frey. But there’s no doubt Swansea dropped a gear or two, that could have been a mauling if they’d kept at it.
We surprised Norwich with Kolli, not intentionally it should be said, perhaps a change of formation might be needed Sunday to have any chance of getting a point. |
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Reply | Injuries
at 14:19 27 Dec 2024
Instead of 92 clubs, 100 clubs, do 5 divisions of 20.
You’d do it over a 2 year period. 2 up 4 down for Champs and league one would sort those 2 leagues, league two 2 up/2 down and at end of second season, the bottom half of league 2 and top 8 in national become a 5th division. There’s not a lot to choose between the bottom half of league two and national league so not an undue proposition.
In terms of the Prem stumping up lost income for the 3 home matches lost, after deducting costs of staging games it wouldn’t amount to more than £1m per club over the 3 lost games at Championship level, less than half that down the scale. As such, about £50m total at max, or £2.5m per premier league club. They’re already looking at something in that region over the present arrangement so whilst theyre dragging their heels, at some point something will be done.
This three games a week malarkey is not doing the lower leagues any favours, be it quality or content, they just can’t carry the squad numbers needed to cover injuries. |
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Reply | Injuries
at 08:28 27 Dec 2024
I do believe all Divisions should be of no more than 20 teams.
That could easily be done be incorporating the top 8 teams from the National League and have 5 leagues of 20.
We have this ludicrous situation of international breaks that see too many games crushed into the first six weeks and the middle three months of winter which decimates squads and results in the sub standard football we often witness.
By definition that should result in more time on the training ground preferably overseen by fitness experts. Didn’t we have a retired Olympic runner overseeing our squad in the 70’s heydays?
The loss of 3 home games income could easily be accommodated if the Premier League were forced into compensating the situation for the good of the game, something that still hasn’t been resolved. |
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Reply | QPR v Ride A White Swansea Match Thread
at 15:48 26 Dec 2024
I seem to recall a time when there were suggestions Steve Cook doesn’t offer enough encouragement to the younger players around him.
Wonder if they’re watching this? |
| | stevec
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 4510 | | Comment Votes: | 11 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 4521 |
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