Ghost of Clough

I remember Steve Claridge was doing the highlights punditry on the telly. The main TV man was saying although Madley got the main decision badly wrong, perhaps he was influenced by Chris Martin's "repeated fouling" earlier in the game? Madley had blown up something ridiculous like 5 or 6 times against Martin in the first half. Claridge went through all of those decisions and kept saying "it's not a foul, it's not a foul". Referees like Atwell are clearly incompetent, but I've never seen one go into a game with such an agenda as Madley did for that match. Should have been banned.

Updates in bold (above) plus new injuries below based on DET

Josh Vickers - Missed the last few games with a thigh injury. Back next month
James Collins - Awaiting results from a scan. Could be fit for Stevenage or could be out of the season
Ryan Nyambe - Knee injury but may be back for Stevenage
Conor Hourihane - Has a knock but should be fine for Stevenage
Corey Blackett-Taylor- Has a knock but should be fine for Stevenage
 
Available for Stevenage: Wildsmith, Loach, Nelson, Bradley, Cashin, Ward, Wilson, Sibley, Adams, Bird, Thompson, Smith, Fornah, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen
Doubts: Nyambe, Elder, Hourihane, Blackett-Taylor, Collins

"No end of chances"? Taking this season as an example, his chances at CM/AM were:
14 minutes as a sub when returning from injury and helped see out a 1-0 win. Injured for thr next 2 games.
2 months until his next 'chance'. A last minute sub when winning 3-1.
3 weeks later, he starts and gets 71 minutes. Starts the next game, gets an assist and is subbed at half time (we were losing 2-1 and eventually lost 3-1). Unused sub in the next game. The following game, he came on for the last 10 minutes when losing 2-0 to Crewe, then assists our 93rd minute equaliser.
Over 3 weeks until his next 'chance' at AM - a 95th minute sub. A start in the next league game (2 weeks later) and scores. Subbed off at half time in the next game (0-0, game finishes 1-1). 24 minutes off the bench in the next game.
6 weeks until his next game at AM. Subbed off at half time against Bradford (score was 0-0, we lost 1-0).
A couple of games later he gets another start at AM, followed by 27 mins off the bench a few days later.
3 weeks until he gets another chance. This time 13 mins to see out a 3-0 win. 9 mins a few days later and scores the only goal in a 1-0 win.
 
Maybe if he was given a consistent run of games in his favoured position we would get some consistency from him? Even so, he's averaged 1 goal contribution every 88 mins when playing central. The problem is he's played at LB or on the wing 75% of the time.

"No end of chances"? Taking this season as an example, his chances at CM/AM were:
14 minutes as a sub when returning from injury and helped see out a 1-0 win. Injured for thr next 2 games.
2 months until his next 'chance'. A last minute sub when winning 3-1.
3 weeks later, he starts and gets 71 minutes. Starts the next game, gets an assist and is subbed at half time (we were losing 2-1 and eventually lost 3-1). Unused sub in the next game. The following game, he came on for the last 10 minutes when losing 2-0 to Crewe, then assists our 93rd minute equaliser.
Over 3 weeks until his next 'chance' at AM - a 95th minute sub. A start in the next league game (2 weeks later) and scores. Subbed off at half time in the next game (0-0, game finishes 1-1). 24 minutes off the bench in the next game.
6 weeks until his next game at AM. Subbed off at half time against Bradford (score was 0-0, we lost 1-0).
A couple of games later he gets another start at AM, followed by 27 mins off the bench a few days later.
3 weeks until he gets another chance. This time 13 mins to see out a 3-0 win. 9 mins a few days later and scores the only goal in a 1-0 win.
 
Maybe if he was given a consistent run of games in his favoured position we would get some consistency from him? Even so, he's averaged 1 goal contribution every 88 mins when playing central. The problem is he's played at LB or on the wing 75% of the time.

The U18s finished in a respectable 7th position last season, only 2 points off 4th spot. As far as I'm aware, we haven't recruited from other clubs for our U18 side this season, all progressing from our U16 side. The small improvement this season is from a combination of having a very talented group of 1st year scholars, as well as not needing to fast track too many into the U21 side.
The U21s certainly had a season to forget last year. Results have improved, but even the games we are losing are typically by just 1 goal (we've only lost by 2 or more 3 times, the last was in September). There are a few reasons for the improvement. The 3 main one being:
1. More high potential U18s progressing into the U21s. Last year's 1st year pros were all released in the summer, with only 1 2nd year pro retained (Bardell). This to me highlights the low potential of the U21 squad last season.
2. Solid recruitment - Weston, Gibson-Hammond, Bartley, etc. These signings have helped us maintain a healthier flow of U18s into the U21 side. Jeffcott and Lindsay helped plug gaps too.
3. Perhaps the most important- having good CBs playing at CB. For most of last season and early this one, we had players filling in. Bartley returned from injury in October and gave us a good platform to build from. Bardell is back now too. Early this season we had DRobinson, Radcliffe, and Bradley Johnson filling in. Last season Grewal-Pollard and Clarke were often played there too.

Mbappe fits your criteria.

"No end of chances"? Taking this season as an example, his chances at CM/AM were:
14 minutes as a sub when returning from injury and helped see out a 1-0 win. Injured for thr next 2 games.
2 months until his next 'chance'. A last minute sub when winning 3-1.
3 weeks later, he starts and gets 71 minutes. Starts the next game, gets an assist and is subbed at half time (we were losing 2-1 and eventually lost 3-1). Unused sub in the next game. The following game, he came on for the last 10 minutes when losing 2-0 to Crewe, then assists our 93rd minute equaliser.
Over 3 weeks until his next 'chance' at AM - a 95th minute sub. A start in the next league game (2 weeks later) and scores. Subbed off at half time in the next game (0-0, game finishes 1-1). 24 minutes off the bench in the next game.
6 weeks until his next game at AM. Subbed off at half time against Bradford (score was 0-0, we lost 1-0).
A couple of games later he gets another start at AM, followed by 27 mins off the bench a few days later.
3 weeks until he gets another chance. This time 13 mins to see out a 3-0 win. 9 mins a few days later and scores the only goal in a 1-0 win.
 
Maybe if he was given a consistent run of games in his favoured position we would get some consistency from him? Even so, he's averaged 1 goal contribution every 88 mins when playing central. The problem is he's played at LB or on the wing 75% of the time.

"No end of chances"? Taking this season as an example, his chances at CM/AM were:
14 minutes as a sub when returning from injury and helped see out a 1-0 win. Injured for thr next 2 games.
2 months until his next 'chance'. A last minute sub when winning 3-1.
3 weeks later, he starts and gets 71 minutes. Starts the next game, gets an assist and is subbed at half time (we were losing 2-1 and eventually lost 3-1). Unused sub in the next game. The following game, he came on for the last 10 minutes when losing 2-0 to Crewe, then assists our 93rd minute equaliser.
Over 3 weeks until his next 'chance' at AM - a 95th minute sub. A start in the next league game (2 weeks later) and scores. Subbed off at half time in the next game (0-0, game finishes 1-1). 24 minutes off the bench in the next game.
6 weeks until his next game at AM. Subbed off at half time against Bradford (score was 0-0, we lost 1-0).
A couple of games later he gets another start at AM, followed by 27 mins off the bench a few days later.
3 weeks until he gets another chance. This time 13 mins to see out a 3-0 win. 9 mins a few days later and scores the only goal in a 1-0 win.
 
Maybe if he was given a consistent run of games in his favoured position we would get some consistency from him? Even so, he's averaged 1 goal contribution every 88 mins when playing central. The problem is he's played at LB or on the wing 75% of the time.

"No end of chances"? Taking this season as an example, his chances at CM/AM were:
14 minutes as a sub when returning from injury and helped see out a 1-0 win. Injured for thr next 2 games.
2 months until his next 'chance'. A last minute sub when winning 3-1.
3 weeks later, he starts and gets 71 minutes. Starts the next game, gets an assist and is subbed at half time (we were losing 2-1 and eventually lost 3-1). Unused sub in the next game. The following game, he came on for the last 10 minutes when losing 2-0 to Crewe, then assists our 93rd minute equaliser.
Over 3 weeks until his next 'chance' at AM - a 95th minute sub. A start in the next league game (2 weeks later) and scores. Subbed off at half time in the next game (0-0, game finishes 1-1). 24 minutes off the bench in the next game.
6 weeks until his next game at AM. Subbed off at half time against Bradford (score was 0-0, we lost 1-0).
A couple of games later he gets another start at AM, followed by 27 mins off the bench a few days later.
3 weeks until he gets another chance. This time 13 mins to see out a 3-0 win. 9 mins a few days later and scores the only goal in a 1-0 win.
 
Maybe if he was given a consistent run of games in his favoured position we would get some consistency from him? Even so, he's averaged 1 goal contribution every 88 mins when playing central. The problem is he's played at LB or on the wing 75% of the time.

Yes. Too many people wanting to watch Derby and Blackburn U21s instead of Everton and Palace.

No, Thommo and Weston buzzing around Wheeldon. According to the trainee coaches behind me we are playing two number 10s.
I'm not sure what they know, though - one of them has a Forest coat on!

The U18s finished in a respectable 7th position last season, only 2 points off 4th spot. As far as I'm aware, we haven't recruited from other clubs for our U18 side this season, all progressing from our U16 side. The small improvement this season is from a combination of having a very talented group of 1st year scholars, as well as not needing to fast track too many into the U21 side.
The U21s certainly had a season to forget last year. Results have improved, but even the games we are losing are typically by just 1 goal (we've only lost by 2 or more 3 times, the last was in September). There are a few reasons for the improvement. The 3 main one being:
1. More high potential U18s progressing into the U21s. Last year's 1st year pros were all released in the summer, with only 1 2nd year pro retained (Bardell). This to me highlights the low potential of the U21 squad last season.
2. Solid recruitment - Weston, Gibson-Hammond, Bartley, etc. These signings have helped us maintain a healthier flow of U18s into the U21 side. Jeffcott and Lindsay helped plug gaps too.
3. Perhaps the most important- having good CBs playing at CB. For most of last season and early this one, we had players filling in. Bartley returned from injury in October and gave us a good platform to build from. Bardell is back now too. Early this season we had DRobinson, Radcliffe, and Bradley Johnson filling in. Last season Grewal-Pollard and Clarke were often played there too.

Yes. Too many people wanting to watch Derby and Blackburn U21s instead of Everton and Palace.

Yes. Too many people wanting to watch Derby and Blackburn U21s instead of Everton and Palace.

Yes. Too many people wanting to watch Derby and Blackburn U21s instead of Everton and Palace.

He picked up an injury early in the season and just returned to the matchday squad last week (unused sub)

I also don't understand why away fans are still walking down Shaftesbury Street and getting their heads kicked in? The Baseball Ground hasn't been there since 2003 and we stopped playing there in 1997. What exactly are they doing?

Used in just about every role but his preferred one and never given a run except for those 15 games at left back last season. I wish people would refrain from stating the obvious and look for the reasons. Playing a different position every game does not help a young lad develop. That is what has happened to Sibs. If PW isn't intending to give him a job to do and a run of games at it, he'll be better off going somewhere where they'll give him what DCFC hasn't. Possibly his own fault for being "utility".

Perhaps because he contributes more than other midfielders when he actually plays.
Minutes per goal contribution:
Sibley - 176 (even higher when looking at CM/AM only)
Hourihane - 227
Bird - 236
Wingers and forwards being:
Weston - 25
Mendez-Laing - 113
Washington - 130
Waghorn - 134
Collins - 140
Barkhuizen - 148
John-Jules - 188

Probably kaz, trying a waggy trick to resign after his training session 😂 

The U18s finished in a respectable 7th position last season, only 2 points off 4th spot. As far as I'm aware, we haven't recruited from other clubs for our U18 side this season, all progressing from our U16 side. The small improvement this season is from a combination of having a very talented group of 1st year scholars, as well as not needing to fast track too many into the U21 side.
The U21s certainly had a season to forget last year. Results have improved, but even the games we are losing are typically by just 1 goal (we've only lost by 2 or more 3 times, the last was in September). There are a few reasons for the improvement. The 3 main one being:
1. More high potential U18s progressing into the U21s. Last year's 1st year pros were all released in the summer, with only 1 2nd year pro retained (Bardell). This to me highlights the low potential of the U21 squad last season.
2. Solid recruitment - Weston, Gibson-Hammond, Bartley, etc. These signings have helped us maintain a healthier flow of U18s into the U21 side. Jeffcott and Lindsay helped plug gaps too.
3. Perhaps the most important- having good CBs playing at CB. For most of last season and early this one, we had players filling in. Bartley returned from injury in October and gave us a good platform to build from. Bardell is back now too. Early this season we had DRobinson, Radcliffe, and Bradley Johnson filling in. Last season Grewal-Pollard and Clarke were often played there too.