jono

Wash, what little we have seen of him, is one of those bustling forward players that unsettle defences struggling to maintain shape. Assuming he can be fit and strong you wouldn’t want to be harried by him in the last 15 minutes of a game.

This is the thing ! It’s tough choices and pragmatism. We will need a new striker with real teeth, pace or some special ability but maybe Collo has another season in him as a back up ? He’s been a stalwart trooper and delivered in spades. He doesn’t frighten opponents, can’t beat a man, but he has a deftness that some don’t see, excellent positional sense and knows where the posts are. So tough for the recruitment and contract people and for the players themselves.

It’s finding gems like Wilson. I am happy for us to keep some old stagers, Barks still has some pace, Collo may end up being a back up striker and Fozzy can stand in anywhere for another season. That said we need legs, skill, hunger, youth but importantly it’s the character that PW so rightly wants. I wonder how it will pan out, can we get another great loanee ? So much is possible now, Derby has to be a draw with scenes like yesterday. 🐏 I am going to enjoy the transfer gossip over the next few weeks. It’s an adventure now, rather than the desperation it has seemed like for the last I don’t know how long

I think you’ve been incredibly straight in saying so. None of us have a monopoly on “the right call” I wanted Tommo to start yesterday as I felt he’d deserved it, then maybe give Max the last 20 to say good bye. Rather glad the manager didn’t agree !

I don’t want to start a squabble at such a happy time but “crap and going nowhere” illustrates this misplaced demand for instant success. It’s something that rarely happens. I’d say, that at that time we looked lacklustre, disjointed, not working in harmony or being better than the sum of our parts (which is what a team game needs) Warne was new at the time, had inherited players and little room to buy. He needed time to build that group in to team. He needed to Instill his culture and methods. That took time. He succeeded. That is why I get so narky when the knives come out after a couple of bad results. I am going to say the same next season when we are 15th in the table just had a bore draw at home against a lower ranked side. Patience.

I’ll second that. Could hear “Untited United” way into the second half. They also didn’t look like a bottom side, they played some neat football. I hope they bounce back.

Exactly. The illuminated signage and warnings were presumably something to satisfy the league / authorities. Fascinating to see stewards posing for photos with fans . Not sure there will be the threatened “bans” and police action 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

I think Sibs has developed tremendously over the last half of this season.

I trust his abilities. We may not be play off contenders next season but given half decent recruiting we won’t be struggling. PW and his team know what they are doing. A small upgrade in first touch/natural ball skills, signing Ebou and a scary striker and we won’t be pushovers. I don’t agree with the criticism of his football style. It was designed and shaped by the necessity to get out of this league. This league isn’t pretty, the football often isn’t perfect either. We are somewhere else now. I am looking forward to the next chapter.?

In regards to the thread title. I would like to add at this juncture that I am not really that bothered 🤪

I love this team. A mix of our own boys who first kicked a ball with us when they really were just boys. Then through adversity and effort became men. Then the old stagers in the sunset of careers, along with a charging bull who said our field was his home, Then a loan player with infectious grit, humour and energy. An aging, bloody minded unfashionable striker who did what he was supposed to do silencing his critics. They became a team over 18 months with reserves of fortitude reinforced by a manager who understands character and what makes good people. Well that was alright wasn’t it ! Thank you Max, wonderful parting gift (pssst you can change your mind if you want ) Did you see Collo in the first half asking the east stand what the Bolton score was ? Sibs played a blinder, NML’s touch is pretty ropey sometimes but Inam so glad he’s one of ours. Bradley came good with that knock down. Ebou ! What can you say ? Engine room, guts, effectiveness - sign him up. Wilson with a haircut like a 1950’s schoolboy had their RB on toast, with sprinkles and Worcester sauce. When are we building Nelson a new column ? Oh and why did we let their No 33 own the edge of the box on every corner ? Meh … who cares right now ! What a lovely day COYR … see you all in the transfer thread then 🤣

That sounds jolly helpful what a splendid lady. Does she do that often one wonders. Just hope she knows how to tie the knot without popping them. Mrs Jono has promised me bacon and sausages for breakfast on Saturday morning. (and fried egg, toast, tomatoes and mushrooms ) AND says I don’t have to clean the grill pan before I leave for the match

We need Ballions .. lots of Ballions 🐏 And Cashin is worth 30 million at least And Collions will get a hat trick And Will Hughes is coming back And DC is a hero who needs a Statchoo next to Cluff COYR B More B4 ❤️

Beat me to it 🤣 I was just scrolling down ready to post 2 more nah nights I’ll settle for this picture of Cashin heading in our 3rd

Love me or leave me Make your choice but believe me We love you Ebou Ebou Ebouuuuuu Dont you see can’t you feel it ? we love you Ebou Ebou Ebouuuuu By that band with those girls in funny trousers, what were they called ? A Baaaa or something

That is such a brilliant teal talk. I hadn’t realised he had that side to his character. We are going to do this AND carry it forward to next season. I think it kind of explains how, after poor performances, we have bounced back so often and so well, rather than withered as so many “form” teams do. can’t wait for Saturday 🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏😎

Thanks, and Aye, but what I am saying is we didn’t really have the natural ball winner and the 2 weren’t really suited to rough a tumble league 1. So what was he to do ? Then add in that his mission is to get us out of this league, he had a proven system. I think he was a touch obsessive early season, was desperately wanting to make wingers in to wing backs and play 3 at the back. The new players that could do that got injured, the remaining flank players were somewhat aging in the leg department or not very adept in the defensive component of their game. At that point he’d barely been in the job for a year. When we had that good run mid season it was when he switched to 4 at the back because of the players he had left. It showed me he could change his spots .. he still hankered after his preferred system, true ! but was pragmatic enough to accept he couldn’t have it. …. The ball winner you mentioned, arrived in the form of Adams. At least that’s how I see it I suppose it’s easy after the event to be sage and analytical. Just hope we can have a party on Saturday and for me he has a clear run without threat for at least half a season, as long as we are mid table”ish” on an improving curve; I am saying what I said 7 or 8 months ago. Patience before pitchforks

I am not sure I agree with this angle. We certainly have better players than many; but the best ? I think that is debatable. Look at the midfield. The arrival of Adams has made a huge difference but prior to that I reckon or midfield was average. Bird is wonderfully talented but in this league often got out muscled and his skill wasn’t always enough for him to win those battles … so better or just good ? Hourihan 6 years ago, yes a better player, but our Hourihan ? The one who gets caught napping against athletic sides ? A good player but “better” than the rest ? The only areas where I think we had demonstrably better players was defence and out wide. We Haven’t got the better strikers and we hadn’t (until Adams) got the best midfield. Warne had “better” wide players and made best use of them to support our lack, for much of the season, of a dynamic striker. This leads to a form of football that by necessity involves getting the ball in to danger areas via the wings and making good use of set pieces. All to create the greater number of chances to address those areas where we didn’t have “the best” players. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see one touch midfield interchanges crafting chances with slick passing ; but too many of our players didn’t demonstrate enough of those skills either due to ability, age, or the type of opponent / type of football played in this league.

That’s fine and a valid opinion but pray tell, how do you suggest that gets changed ? It certainly won’t be by appointing a”young dynamic manager” who will change our whole culture; such is his or her genius … psst .. you have to find said applicant ? There isn’t a shop that sells them. Then there’s zero guarantee your choice will actually work. 3 losses and the faithful will be calling for his head, especially if we are playing sidey backwards and urrrrm not scoring goals. It’s money .. we haven’t got cash to splash, few outside the PL have so like Warne or not we have to develop in stages in a methodical way. It certainly won’t happen next year or with your next Amazon purchase including free delivery and returns. So I wonder what you are going to do ?

It might surprise you to know that most of us know we have certain aging players in the autumn of their careers. You don’t need to be a genius to realise that going up a league will mean we need reinforcements and replacements. Are you after another medal for stating the obvious. ? Your posts seem to have particular themes .. this is one of them : State the obvious like it is some revelation that the rest of us have never even considered. So condescending. Pssst quite a few of us have been around a while, played the game and watched it at many levels over a lifetime Alex Ferguson once said .. The first rule of intelligence is to remember the other guy isn’t stupid.

Love this post 🤣😊. Brilliant BUT .. They will never recant. The first loss and it will be “I told you so” and the usual list of PW’s failings along with their reminder to all of us that they said it last season. 2 losses on the bounce and they will be wetting themselves with glee 😢

It’ll be nun of those ! It’ll be an alter nating game with a lot of crosses, we might even go behind until our prayers are answered and there is a resurrection I’ll get my coat

How are we going to feel if: I started writing a list of possible outcomes got halfway through the alphabet and gave up 3 points please then we can have a party next week. One of the better things about this team is that for the first time in a while we have had scorers from every position, makes you think. I’ve said I’d like a Casin header to seal it, but there’s a bit of would like to see Sibs christen his improving form. Tommo would be good too. Hope it can be “one of our own”

I have the radio on, so I can shout at it. Then if we are losing badly the black dog descends and the radio is turned off. Then all the mental gymnastics kick in. If I leave it switched off the boys will surprise me, or alternatively I have to keep listening cos they need me, or If I keep listening I’ll jinx them. So I go and cut grass .. but then slip back to BBc sport on an iPad just to check of its “safe to come out” Away games for half fans is torture !

I have such mixed feelings. I can see the view of those who just don’t like our current style, yet what is fundamentally wrong with using wingers and getting the ball in the box ? It’s simplistic but it’s not kick and rush and I would challenge anyone who suggests it is. We have some intelligent players. Then dial in that this is L1 with the level touch, consistency and quality defined by that league - which when lacking (which it is sometimes) makes silky tick tac midfield interchanges a bit of a lottery. Warne has adopted a style that best suits the skill set and consistency of the squad we have. The optimist in me thinks with a step up in quality there is nothing to say PW won’t change his preferences. We won’t know until A .. we’ve seen what’s available in new players, B if we can afford them and C if they want to come. For me he must have at least half a season to prove himself. And … can we honestly criticise him if the funds / players / opportunities are not there for him to adjust his current working model. ? The football hasn’t been electric but it has been entertaining, puzzling, awkward, frustrating and occasionally exciting…in equal measure. The clicheed suggestions from certain quarters that it’s crude or “Warne ball” are limp, inaccurate and unfair. We need some youth, we need improved touch and skill quality and a striker that scares people. The rest is fate but it’s 50 years since we could puff our chests out and really justify it on the field of play against all comers. That isn’t PW’s fault.