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16 Mar 2026 11:45:02
Out of the last six or seven managers we have signed I only wanted one and he was a complete disaster. We now have the same fans and a few posters who wanted Poch and EM sacked now wanting LR sacked. The club is NOT going to make every fan happy with players or managers it signs.
It is also NOT going to make every fan happy about players it sells or managers it sacks. Fans' personal preferences on comings and goings are not taken into consideration when these decisions are made. Just support the "club" and stop dishing out personal insults.
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16 Mar 2026 13:18:48
Tom
Have I missed something here? I have not seen personal insults recently.
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16 Mar 2026 14:13:09 Bill, that is not the main point of my post, but yes, you have missed some personal abuse.
16 Mar 2026 09:23:04
I have a feeling one of the 3 English teams who are 3 goals down will qualify for the round of 8. City 3 down at home to Real Madrid, Spursy 3 behind at home to Atl. Madrid and us 3 behind at home to PSG. Worth a little wager.
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16 Mar 2026 11:15:51
If any Greenaway, and it's a big if, my money would be on Man City.
15 Mar 2026 19:48:53
Hi guys, haven't posted in a while.
If I'm honest, I'm not sure what to make of us this season, I always want to give managers time to build something, but unfortunately I feel that he's out of his depth.
He spends most of his time saying the same stuff and like a robot.
It won't be long before it gets toxic and the fans really turn.
I don't really see the project the owners set out to convince these players to join.
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15 Mar 2026 20:33:59
The home fans at The Bridge can hardly be more mute than they were yesterday.
As always, it depends on results. A few wins, and us fickle fans will be back onside. A few losses, and it will probably become toxic ish.
Whatever, I just can't see the decision makers changing direction anytime soon.
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15 Mar 2026 20:59:03
SteveCfc, when punters were calling for Maresca to be sacked, I pointed out that the grass is not always greener, and, as a club, we should do all we can to smooth things over until the end of the season and have a full review. I know a fair few who agreed with me as well. Sadly, that didn't happen and the club brought in Liam, who, as you rightly say, is so far out of his depth. We all know how this is going to end, and it will now impact next season as well, as the SD who made this foolish appointment won't want to back down and admit his mistake just yet.
Maresca would have found a way to win a pot and get top 4, in my opinion, but we could still have then parted company in the summer and brought in a high-level coach capable of delivering sustained success with this incredibly talented young group of players. But now, due to the terrible mismanagement of the situation, this will likely drift on until well into next season.
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15 Mar 2026 21:28:24
I also didn't want to see Maresca go, but again, I cannot understand how people are only blaming Rosonier. Delap, Lavia, and Hato as subs when we were chasing a win against the opposition is horrendous squad depth.
We're so badly balanced, it's unreal, and, still, 4 years in, have not dealt with the glaring issues in the squad. It did not help that we made zero lateral moves in the summer, only sideways moves with no improvements.
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15 Mar 2026 22:10:51
In my opinion Lavia and Hato will go on to have fantastic careers, hopefully at Chelsea.
Delap certainly wasn't one of my choices (mine was Sesko), but sadly the lad has had far too many injuries and suspensions for me to judge him as a player. When I have seen him, he occasionally looks very good, but I will give him time and games before I make a decision on his abilities.
Like a lot of teams at the moment, we have injuries, and yesterday we had an important suspension. These things happen to all teams.
We do have the CF from Strasbourg joining in the summer. I do think we will sell Badiashile and Tosin, and this should leave a gap for another CH.
I assume Josh will sadly go out on loan. I would personally rather see him playing instead of Gusto.
I would sign Costa and make him our No1 for years to come, but I have a feeling Jorgensen will leave, and the No1 spot will be between Sanchez and Penders.
Of course, as usual, I'm just guessing, but I just believe the books will be balanced in this coming summer window.
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16 Mar 2026 09:02:12
Tom
I fear you are right.
Both Sanchez and Jorgensen should go, and we get a top GK, Costa as you say, with Penders still learning his trade as a no.2.
I will add Fofana to your list of CB's to be sold. Josh should stay, with Gusto sold.
I also think Lavia (injuries) should go.
Gittens and Garnacho to be sold, with potentially Neto going to Barca, and EF to RM or PSG.
Delap and Guiu (no trust from the coaches) should also be sold.
Summary: with your two included, Tom, that is an entire team that should or might go, which highlights why we are not at the races for any trophy at this point in time.
Then you have to question why LR was not given a temporary role until the end of the season, and appoint a more qualified coach, with LR going back to Strasbourg.
Lastly, the SD's. How they are still in situ is beyond me, but hopefully common sense prevails with the club's review at the end of the season, although if the SD's are doing the review, they are hardly going to sack themselves.
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16 Mar 2026 09:28:06
Revolving doors there, Bill.
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16 Mar 2026 10:43:35
I think the home fans are probably tired of watching the tedious sideways passing and lack of shots on target, week in, week out, Tom.
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16 Mar 2026 11:19:35
They are, Greenaway, but I cannot see us competing with those guys around, and that includes the SD's and LR.
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16 Mar 2026 11:22:24
CFC, as I said in a post recently, Premiership football has become boring.
The majority of teams now come to the Bridge, drop deep, play a narrow back four, and try to hit on the counterattack. All very legitimate tactics, but it's so dull and predictable to watch.
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16 Mar 2026 11:27:15
Bi, I haven't said Sanchez will go. In fact, I think he will stay, and it will be between him and Penders for the No1 spot. Unfortunately, we will not sign Costa.
In my opinion it would be borderline lunacy to sell Lavia and Gittens.
Also, and I repeat, the end of season review doesn't mean anyone will be sacked. A change of recruitment policy might well be sufficient.
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16 Mar 2026 11:44:31
Bill, I totally agree with you about Liam. A caretaker role would have made sense, but to give him a 6 year contract was pure stupidity. With regard to the sporting directors, we don't really know who has been successful and who hasn't. I presume Paul Winstanley brought in Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Marc Cucurella, so you could argue he has been a success.
On the other hand, I imagine Lawrence Stewart, having been in France at Monaco, brought in Disasi and Badiashille, who have not worked out.
15 Mar 2026 16:19:35
Congratulations to the women's team winning the League Cup.
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15 Mar 2026 17:05:50
Well said, Bill. The Doris's delivered today.
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15 Mar 2026 18:04:31
Absolutely brilliant ladies.
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15 Mar 2026 21:02:48
They played v well indeed, and thoroughly deserved the win... So, congratulations and thanks again to Chelsea Women for winning yet more silverware and giving us something to cheer.
15 Mar 2026 14:44:29
When the manager says you're the best player in the world in your position, then plays you in another position where you're not the best, and plays someone in your position who's not as good as you, it's not a good look.
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15 Mar 2026 15:31:36
Says more to me about the lack of depth in midfield. Andre Santos was starting to look fatigued, Lavia not match fit. Who else we got?
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15 Mar 2026 16:41:49
Santos fatigued? He has hardly played much to be fatigued. Drop Enzo back in there from the start, which he ended up doing. Even play Josh in there, which he has talked about but not yet done. Start Lavia and share minutes with Santos. A few options, I think. Reece is a world class right back. Play him there, please.
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15 Mar 2026 16:51:57
Mentally fatigued. First season in the EPL, it is nothing like what he has played before. The pressure at a club like Chelsea, compared to Strasbourg, is nothing like he has dealt with before. Fernandez and Caicedo do not work as a pair; Fernandez's lack of mobility and recovery pace gets found out and leaves Caicedo isolated.
Lavia looks way off the pace, in the form he has shown so far. He was starting a lot of games.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather see James at rb, but I believe the lack of depth is the main factor for him starting in midfield.
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15 Mar 2026 17:08:47
All fair points, J, but I prefer to be as strong as possible in each position and not compromise one position to plug another, hence weakening 2 positions. What would you do against PSG?
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15 Mar 2026 17:30:28
Greenaway, I agree with you. I am bored hearing about professional footballers going on about fatigue. Mental fatigue? Just as well he's not a brain surgeon. Try being an average Joe, worrying about paying the bills and providing for your family.
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15 Mar 2026 18:07:15
They just have different pressures. I respect those pressures, and I think they deserve to be paid well.
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15 Mar 2026 18:21:21
Many, many years ago I had to book a comedian for a company bash. We had made a good profit, and the then directors decided to book a so-called "top" comedian who could develop a one-night act about the company and the individuals that worked in it.
The overwhelming recommendation from various sources was Bob Monkhouse. Luckily, he was available for this one-night stand, but the amount of money he wanted was completely off the charts.
Anyway, I got the directors' approval to pay him this huge fee, but boy, did he work for it.
Researching the company wasn't difficult, but finding out about staff members, and remembering it, made me realise what goes into being a professional entertainer.
Needless to say, his delivery was perfect, and it was appreciated by every staff member who attended.
I have had no problems paying top dollar to be entertained. The wages these people get has never bothered me. They have a talent, and the majority deserve to be paid well for it.
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{Ed001's Note - he was a good friend of my uncle, an absolutely top class comic.}
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15 Mar 2026 18:40:07
Not too many brain surgeons at 21 years of age.
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15 Mar 2026 18:41:10
The PSG game's gone. I'd throw the towel in and worry about the next EPL match.
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15 Mar 2026 18:48:21
One thing I would say is, in the WCC final, we were at our best with Gusto on the pitch, effectively playing as a right winger, from his right back position. But it's obviously a completely different scenario.
Chasing a 3 goal deficit against this PSG team will likely result in breakaway goals, something we're vulnerable against at the best of times.
Maybe starting with a back three would make some sense.
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15 Mar 2026 18:51:38
Ed, I had the pleasure of meeting him again many years later in a bar near his Barbados holiday home. He was a good drinking companion as well as a very nice bloke.
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{Ed001's Note - he was also very helpful to my uncle, he was basically his mentor when he was starting out. He gained nothing from it either, just helped him get a start and was always there to give advice etc. Every time he was interviewed he would put my uncle's name out as the best young comedian he had seen as well, which helped a lot. And he made sure when he did the Audience With.... show that my uncle was one that asked a question.}
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15 Mar 2026 19:10:20
I just don't begrudge professionals of any walk of life. Some of them have short periods of success, but they try to be the best they can be and deserve their rewards.
Good luck to them!!
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15 Mar 2026 21:07:27
Nice info on Bob Monkhouse Tom and Ed001. Ed001 can"t help asking - but you don't need to answer of course ot with his name - but did your uncle become a well known comedian?
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{Ed001's Note - I suppose it depends on what you mean by well known. He did well enough to be neighbours with Michael Owen and Gary Speed, the Speeds were his best friends. He is also a historian and was an advisor on Anthropoid, so swung himself a named extra role in it by way of payment. He and his wife have a showbiz agency now.}
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15 Mar 2026 22:05:19
I'd say that makes your uncle both successful and very interesting Ed!
Oh and much hope your parents got safely home
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{Ed001's Note - they got home fine mate thanks.}
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15 Mar 2026 22:29:11
Glad to hear this and well done.
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{Ed001's Note - not as glad as I was to get peace Hahaha.}
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16 Mar 2026 09:25:59
Nice one Ed001!
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{Ed001's Note - lucky they did get out as the airport is shut down again after another drone hit.}
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16 Mar 2026 11:04:06
J, what about Doogie Howser.MD😀The point I was making was that to become a top class athlete you need strong mentality as well as talent.
Tom, I don't begrudge footballers or anyone else earning top dollars.
I am indifferent to the issue, whether they deserve it is a matter of opinion but I don't want to hear any whining about how hard life is.
Ed001, I agree entirely about Bob Monkhouse, top class comedian; in my top three.
15 Mar 2026 05:13:31
A crowd of us football supporters met up for few beers last week. We all support the usual London teams, the Gooners, the Spuds, the Happy Hammers and the CWC's. The usual banter ensues with the biggest p@ss takes all being aimed at the deluded Spuds supporters. We did manage to all agree on one thing, Premiership football has become boring. Yes, even the Gooners who are very happy watching their team win the premiership are in most games bored senseless. I'm all about the result but I have long since realised I will really only really enjoy our football for a few games a season, I also have to admit that our beloved game has become predictable and dull. There is no player at my club who constantly gets me out of my seat and when I watch other teams play on TV no player from any team gives me that OMG feeling.
Some will say it's over coaching or maybe just a phase football is going through, maybe it's a bit of everything. I am pretty sure that the governing bodies are not going to demand that players stop being coach or managers must stop applying tactics, so for the time being, we have what we have and it's generally as dull as dishwater. Something needs to change. Maybe more points for an away win, was one suggestion made on my lads booze fest. I'm not a fan of playing rule changes but I do think that some decisions need to made.
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15 Mar 2026 09:22:03
Tom
There are far too many Pep's love children following his tactics for things to change.
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15 Mar 2026 09:45:29
I do think a good rule change would be a 0-0 draw, gaining neither team a point. No one wants to watch a 0-0, and it is a barrier to more people getting into the game.
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15 Mar 2026 10:04:01
Use the clear daylight offside. It would get players running in behind. Teams struggle with timings and being offside.
This would create more goals, speed up VAR, and stop players from holding their runs, being afraid to be offside.
14 Mar 2026 22:48:27
Still shaking my head at the goal we conceded today.
The distance between Fofana and Chalobah, and absolute cavernous space for them to play through, especially with an absent midfield. Then Fofana just allows Gordon to run past him, making no attempt to get back and influence the play. It was everything that's bad about our CB play, it's the reason our CB's get rotated so often, which, in turn, is the reason we have zero defensive consistency. Our attacking play was boring a predictable, our defensive play leaves a lot to be desired.
Additionally, look at that bench and our options, it's not great - void of depth in quality.
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15 Mar 2026 12:33:59
Spot on, J. Constant rotation and/or injuries to CBs hasn't helped, but neither has lack of someone who can really command and control the backline and read the game like a Silva or Terry. Fofana has skill, but you would never accuse him of being a calm head.
14 Mar 2026 20:40:10
This mess unfolding under Liam is the worst I have seen since AVB. The poor bloke is so out of his depth I think most of the players and crowd feel sorry for him. Maresca had his faults but he delivered 2 trophies, got us top 4 and departed having delivered a semi-final and had us competing across the board.
Heads need to roll for pushing him out and appointing Liam. Our season now rests with the FA Cup.
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14 Mar 2026 22:08:15
Why would anyone feel sorry for any manager?
I do not believe LR is out of his depth, and I also think the owners will keep him on for the start of next season.
Greenaway, I'm not sure you will find many supporters who believe EM was pushed out.
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14 Mar 2026 22:12:45
Honestly, Greenaway, if you think we even have a chance to win the FA Cup, I'm afraid you are living in dreamland.
LR has only been here 5 minutes and has to work with poor GK's and idiotic CB's and that is down solely to our SD's.
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14 Mar 2026 22:12:46
Greenaway, I don't think Maresca would have taken us to a higher level. However, if he had kept tight-lipped and improved our standing, he may have had more influence on signings in the summer. I don't recall anyone on this site jumping for joy when LR was appointed.
We all know how this will end. The idea that LR having a pre-season will turn things around is laughable. Unless the strategy is changed, it is more of the same. The owners and their lackies are ruining this club.
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14 Mar 2026 22:20:53
Greenaway, the problem for CFC is that Maresca did a fair bit worse on average in EPL games when he was in charge this season than LR has done to date.
As it is, discipline has been v poor under both of them, and Caicedo is one yellow away from a two-match suspension, to add to our problems here.
As I have said before, the blame for us struggling so much in terms of Champions League qualification lies equally between owners, SDs, managers and players.
Some of the players this evening were well below their best - notably Palmer, who missed several chances - and most looked tired. I would blame LR to the extent that he should probably have made more or earlier substitutions, or perhaps made more changes in the starting line-up, given the gruelling night in Paris. Howe did this with Newcastle, who had an extra day to rest and after a home rather than away fixture.
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14 Mar 2026 22:36:05
Newcastle had quite a few normal first team players out for that game. They came with a plan and are taking home three points.
The first half performance was pitiful. All huff and puff, and zero ideas.
Palmer is nowhere near the player he was last season, and James was poor, but neither were as bad as Gusto and Fofana.
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14 Mar 2026 22:37:00
Bill, you used to call Maresca, Leicester Maresca, you wanted him sacked during pre-season. That was a bit of banter, and very welcome on here. I don't rate Liam, and unless he proves me wrong, I will call him out for being inept. A bit of banter. Jbs, you are a stats man/woman, and well done, but what does it prove? Tom, you are the heart and soul of this site, mate, and without you the page goes, so I always back you and support your view.
Jimbo, you are probably right, mate, and the top comment to my post, which was made with much pain after that Liam horror show tonight.
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15 Mar 2026 09:27:13
Greenaway, a good follow up post about some of us, other posters, all well taken, and yes it's all banter and opinions.
Funnily enough, I am certainly not a believer in stats alone, particularly in judging player potential. But in terms purely of results achieved in EPL games, especially in the same season when comparing results between managers who have the same players to pick from, they are about the only factual guide we have. I don't think there's a huge difference in style of performances; there have been good and bad under both managers, as also with teams chosen and use of subs.
Discipline remains poor.
Anyway, good on you for your last post and again, yes, the point is that we all have our own opinions, and they can be inconsistent or change. And after a wretched result our emotions often dictate immediate reactions... they very often have with me anyway! But I am beginning to try to accept what I thought I knew preseason, that our young squad, with the obvious weaknesses we all knew, was likely to finish anywhere between 3rd and 7th.
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15 Mar 2026 09:32:52
Greenaway,
I think you are good for this site, so I won't go overboard, as it is, as you say, a banter site, and everybody is entitled to their opinions.
I honestly think the chopping and changing (rotation) is hurting us just as much as indiscipline. This is the same both for Maresca and now LR, and I'm wondering if this is a direct order from the SD's.
We will now not make next year's CL, and a proper review, in particular the roles the SD's play. Of all the Gk's and CH's we have bought, none can be described as good, never mind top class.
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15 Mar 2026 11:04:40
Bill, I'm not giving up on CL qualification. Lots of twists and turns will happen over the coming games.
14 Mar 2026 19:39:54
I know we lost, but the worst part of the game was that semi circle team talk with the referee in the middle. We're making ourselves look utterly ridiculous lol.
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14 Mar 2026 20:50:27
Thank you, Liam, for bringing the semi circle team talk to the party. The bloke is beyond clueless. Grass greener? Do me a favour.
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14 Mar 2026 21:27:07
Yet, LR's average points tally in the EPL is still a fair bit higher than EM's.
Possibly, neither is good enough for an EPL challenge, but quite probably neither have had the squad quality and depth in all positions for this. Still, what can we expect, as it's not yet 2030!
Buying good prospects is not the same as buying the finished, proven article.
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14 Mar 2026 21:39:52
The way we play is making us look stupid.
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14 Mar 2026 22:09:33
JBS, I believe your stat is correct.
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15 Mar 2026 09:35:32
Apparently, this was an idea by Reece and not LR, although he should intervene and tell the players to concentrate on what they are good at, getting yellow, red cards and losing.
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15 Mar 2026 09:48:20
Could be the kitman's ideas, it's still ridiculous.
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15 Mar 2026 10:02:57
I honestly can't see what difference it makes about a so called huddle or its location. If we were winning a doubt many supporters would be making a comment.
Mind you, I did think it was funny that the ref got trapped in the huddle yesterday.
The huddle carrying on with a man in yellow stuck in the middle was one of the few things that made me smile yesterday.
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15 Mar 2026 12:15:52
I'm sure ITV will be on Sky's Christmas playbacks.
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15 Mar 2026 14:43:07
Tom, yes people would be talking about it if we lost. Has nothing to do with that. We beat Villa and still thought it was ridiculous.
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15 Mar 2026 15:21:55
Did we do at the Villa game? I certainly can't remember. It's much ado about nothing.
14 Mar 2026 19:36:49
A few things before I sign off from sacrificing my time/sleep for this lot.
Newcastle had nothing to play for and still fought for each other more then we have in at least half of our league games this year.
Cole is still making his way back, however, looks 25% the player he did last year.
We've had two tactical managers this year and neither can do a thing against low blocks.
United had their worst start to a season in a long list of worst starts to recent seasons, Liverpool won the league last year and their supporters are so disillusioned with how bad they're playing that they want the manager gone.
Both are above us. Expect both to be ruthless and heavy spenders in the summer.
There's a lot of clubs that are just a few pieces away from the full puzzle. Ask yourself if you trust those in charge to make the right decisions and whether even when made, players will get time on the pitch ala Estevao for the first 5 months of the season.
Enjoy the rest of the season lads.
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14 Mar 2026 20:23:34
Nice to see you these last couple months, Melbourne. Take care, mate.
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15 Mar 2026 10:20:03
I'll still be about Standard, just won't be waking up at silly hours twice a week.
I do think we're very close to having all the tools needed to be one of the best teams in Europe. I just don't trust those in charge of using the tools currently.
{Ed001's Note - he was a good friend of my uncle, an absolutely top class comic.}