Anag Ram

Adams gets no help from referees. His robust approach means he gets free kicks given against him when all he’s done is outmuscle his opponent. When he gets kicked it’s like ‘well you’re tough, you can take it’.

1Wildsmith 6 2Wilson 7.5 35Nelson 8 6Cashin 8 17Sibley 6.5 23Ward 6.5 10Waghorn 5 32Adams 8 12Smith 6.5 4Hourihane 5 27Blackett-Taylor 6.5 16Thompson 6 11Méndez-Laing 5.5 22Fornah 6 14Washington 5 9Collins 6 ATG

I went to the game yesterday anxious about our lack of goalscoring options. The team looked bold on paper with ostensibly four forwards even though Ward was being used as a right sided midfielder. I didn’t think the formation worked that well in the first half. Washington and NML struggled to make an impact and Ward looked ill at ease trying to decide whether to tuck in or move wide. The goal was a beauty and I hope will be the first of many for Ebou. He’s had so many shots blocked in recent weeks but this one was unstoppable. I fully expected us then to get two or three more. Blackpool looked really poor. However, the stop start nature of the second half was in their favour and we sat back. They gained confidence and kept possession well. I thought Kane Wilson was excellent in the second half and his trickery got the momentum back and we managed the last ten minutes well. This team doesn’t quite gel as the sum of its parts suggests it should, but it has a lot of spirit and that’s commendable. The defensive seven, from Wildsmith to Smith and Adam’s would be the envy of the division. Bravo team. You showed guts and determination. Rest up and prepare for an even tougher match on Tuesday.

I’ve read a few times that Washington looked lively. I thought he looked lazy. He and NML regularly failed to close down defenders and created very little. Even when Wash got the dream chance, he fluffed it. I thought he was our weakest player. Everyone else deserved 7 or higher except perhaps NML who still looks like he’s struggling for fitness.

A few have been drafted into the squad!

Enjoying Un Amore on Sky. Italian with subtitles but beautiful so far. Story of two teenagers who meet briefly and fall in love but due to circumstances agree to correspond only by letter from there on. many years later, they meet. A love story in two eras. Really tender and life affirming.

I hope that’s not a euphemism. If it is, you should get some ointment.

Just hoping we’ll have a fit squad. We might then give your boys a decent game. Congrats on your recent form. May the best team win!

About time!

If this is of interest, I’d strongly recommend Once upon a time in Northern Ireland which the BBC ran a while back. Real life footage of the troubles, supported by commentary from those involved. Really emotive stuff.

I’m not for one second suggesting that I was anything other than a bog standard village footballer but I played all of my football at left back, despite being right footed. Over time, you adapt and I could cross the ball, shoot or take free kicks with either foot. No excuses for those who play for a living.

Passenger is quite entertaining on ITV and ITVX. Northern folk going missing in the woods with some dark mysterious presence. Great lines in it.

No. Thanks for the recommendation.

Camels are the only animals that can drink sea water without adverse effects.

He’s dangerous enough in that sense. I love his desire but he’s a bit like an old Labrador now. Tongue out, enjoying his run, but getting nowhere quickly. If the ball comes his way in the box and he has time, he will give it a whack but those chances that came his way at the start of the season are fairly rare.

That does look as dangerous as we can make it, allowing for injuries. I would probably reverse Ward and Wilson as I think Kane works better from deep positions and is the better defender. Having Collins and NML back soon does give me some comfort.

League One is a tough old slog. 46 games, most of which are likely to be very physical. With our budget we can afford either older players whose best days are behind them or bright prospects with a flaw (often injury-related). No surprise then that some drop out due to injury. I think NML perhaps came back too soon after his foot injury. Collins has done well to last as long as he has without injury. The two Ws haven’t really featured much at all and have only briefly shown any spark. We aren’t the only team with injuries. Bolton, for example, have a load too. It’s that type of league.

We didn’t get past the first episode. Interesting scenario ruined by unlikely characters and a lack of subtlety. We didn’t believe in it enough to continue.

Both Ward and Wilson deserve to play but they don’t seem to play well together. Not sure if it would work with Wilson behind Ward but it hasn’t worked the other way around. Ward’s set pieces are definitely goal threats and heaven knows we need those.

Should be a great atmosphere again on Friday. Hope PW and DC can offer a big bonus to anyone who scores a goal.

Push pineapple, shake the tree! Sorry, I’ll let others give a sensible answer.

Clowes might be working on getting additional financial backing. We could have a bright young striker ‘sponsored by Asda’

I thought Fapetu showed promise. I’d rather have him than have Waghorn lolloping around like a fat angry bee 🐝 We need a bit more dynamism. Weston is good but might struggle physically. It’s a gamble, but then so is playing older strikers who are not fully fit.

Perhaps he’s been on holiday. A Fornah-cation.

Bradley’s better performances were as part of a three man central defence against weaker opposition. Against anyone with strength he will struggle. He’s fine tidying up behind two proper defenders but he gets exposed when one on one.