Waghorny

The Johnson Clarke-Harris announcement at 10:59 is gonna hit like crack...

The Johnson Clarke-Harris announcement at 10:59 is gonna hit like crack...

The Johnson Clarke-Harris announcement at 10:59 is gonna hit like crack...

Am I crazy for being genuinely annoyed if we get rid of Fornah? Hopefully, it's all nonsense and he's going nowhere, but if he does go, I'd be so frustrated.

I don't think the budget will change much, but I think we'll be changing tact from high earners on a free (to fit in with the 'business plan'), to lower earners that cost a transfer fee...

I don't think the budget will change much, but I think we'll be changing tact from high earners on a free (to fit in with the 'business plan'), to lower earners that cost a transfer fee...

I don't think the budget will change much, but I think we'll be changing tact from high earners on a free (to fit in with the 'business plan'), to lower earners that cost a transfer fee...

I don't think the budget will change much, but I think we'll be changing tact from high earners on a free (to fit in with the 'business plan'), to lower earners that cost a transfer fee...

I suspect it’s probably got something to do with them not having recently come out of administration and being subject to an EFL approved business plan for a two year period….
You can be sick of hearing about it, but that doesn’t change the reality of our situation. Regardless of our size and revenues, we did go into administration with large debts, we came out of administration and had to settle some debts, and we were required to submit a business plan to the EFL for approval which we then have to adhere to.
I’m all for the conversations about misuse of what funds we do have given the hit and miss success so far of our summer recruitment, we seemingly could and should have gone for other free agents as an example, perhaps those with a better age profile and more resale value. Though I still standby the fact the age profile isn’t as a bad as some make it out to be it’s a realistic argument to say we could have tried signing Knibbs or Smith (went to Reading) instead of Waghorn and Washington for example.
BUT regardless of the conversation around how we’ve used the restricted funding available to the club, I have accepted that those funds do remain restricted due to recent events that simply cannot be denied. 

TV

 
31Vickers - 6 - average
2Wilson - 6 - average
5Bradley - 6 - average
35Nelson - 6 - average 
6Cashin - 5 - dropped off these past two games
20Elder - 7.5 - bright spark, one of only two who seemed to want to play, growing into the team
4Hourihane - 4 - criminal he wasn't hooked earlier
23Ward - 6 - average
8Bird - 4 - criminal he wasn't hooked earlier
7Barkhuizen - 4.5 - showed energy but track your man
27Blackett-Taylor - 6 - average
16Thompson - 7 - other one who wanted to play, Warne should go on trial in the Hague for taking him off before Bird and Hourihane
17Sibley - 5 - no impact
11Méndez-Laing - 5 - tired
9Collins - 6 - stuck between giving a 5 or 6, but when those around you arent putting in the effort, what's a lone striker supposed to do?
19John-Jules - 5 - no impact

Ok, I’ll kick it off……………available on a free! 😯
 
 

I have literally signed back into my account for the first time in 5 years or so to tell you this is wrong, thus emphasizing how ridiculous the rest of this post is. 

St Ives town are based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, which you might have realised had you not been so desperate to slag him off.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Ives_Town_F.C.

His last season in League 1 was 2021/22 season, so a couple of seasons ago where he scored 11 in 35 which is respectable enough (Collins scored 11 in 42 last season) for someone we signed on a free.

If he was a goal machine he would either be playing at a higher level or command a fee that we are currently unable to afford. Besides goals, he has a good work rate and has contributed to the teams success (when fit) in other ways that Opta and x.G don't/can't quantify. 

A decent chunk of our fan base (and I guess football fans in general) have such a reductive view on attacking players' attributes which rarely extends past their ability to score or create goals. This is rightly the best metric when comparing the best players in the world, which I will concede Washington is not, but he brings other qualities to the team which are of value and contribute to our success - along with chipping in with the odd goal here and there. 
So far this season he has registered 3 goals and 2 assists in 13 league games (497 mins) which equates roughly to a goal contribution every 100 minutes, which I will gladly accept for someone we signed for nothing. 

Dare I say, in the mad rush to apportion blame for everything, Burton's second goal was an absolute belter. When our cross went into their area Hugill was on the edge of his own box and was about the furthest forward Burton player. We had at least three players directly between him and the half way line.
If you look at the Burton player who comes away with the ball - he's facing and running towards (broadly) the west stand. As soon as he gets it Hugill is off in another direction - more towards the centre spot. 
Elder, as the last man, is following the trajectory of the man with the ball and looking to cover that area, not realising at that stage that Hugill is running on his blind side and approaching his territory. As the ball is being played, he has to change direction, change his body shape, and try to get across to the ball. Plenty of times he might have managed that, but for two things. 
Firstly it was an outstanding ball from the Burton player to Hugill, absolutely pinpoint and virtually the only spot he could have put it to allow Hugill a straight run on goal. Secondly, look at Hugill's first touch, it was sublime. Any element of close control, stopping it, scuffing it and Elder is on him, but his first touch takes it out of his feet and directly towards goal, giving him the run on Elder. Also, he started that run from the edge of his area as soon as possession was turned over. Brilliant play. 
Yes we can ask questions about Elder (I thought he had a decent game tbf), and maybe Hourihane's positioning and movement if we want, but I just thought it was an outstanding bit of play by Burton. Good finish too.
  

That Hourihane strike… 😮‍💨 
Also, who’s that fella in the number 8 shirt challenging for the header, that takes out their defenders and causes the chaos for Wilson to attempt a volley before Hourihane smashes it home, is it…. Could it possibly be…. Max “hE doES NuFfink” Bird?! 🤔 😉 
 

Think it would be unfair to give him +/- an average

31Vickers - 4.5 - below average, would love to hear Warne's reasons for dropping Wildsmith, didnt command any presence, punching balls away that should be caught, and generally not communicating with the two CBs
2Wilson - 8 - Man of the Match, constant threat up front despite playing in defence, didnt stop for the full 90+
35Nelson - 7 - Solid, no fault for the two goals
6Cashin - 7 - Solid, no fault for the two goals
20Elder - 5 - felt sorry for him with his mistake as thought he'd played okay up until that point, but you cannot do that
17Sibley - 6 - average
11Méndez-Laing - 7 - fantastic assist for the goal, but tired throughout
8Bird - 7 - grew into the game
4Hourihane - 7 - somewhat quiet game, but always a threat, he's the man you want on the edge of the box
7Barkhuizen - 7 - was going to give an average of 6, but he got a goal and an assist, he's the man that's in the right place at the right time, and sometimes that's all you need
5Bradley - 6 - average
19John-Jules - 5.5 - really like the bloke and there are some touches and ideas of magic, but in my opinion, looked a little lost playing an unfamiliar? role (on the wing / behind the 9)
16Thompson - 7 - just what you need when chasing a game, a proper ratty performance, ran his socks off and did what he could
9Collins - 7.5 - work rate, as always, was top, took his goal well, on another day he gets a few more

31Vickers - 4.5 - below average, would love to hear Warne's reasons for dropping Wildsmith, didnt command any presence, punching balls away that should be caught, and generally not communicating with the two CBs
2Wilson - 8 - Man of the Match, constant threat up front despite playing in defence, didnt stop for the full 90+
35Nelson - 7 - Solid, no fault for the two goals
6Cashin - 7 - Solid, no fault for the two goals
20Elder - 5 - felt sorry for him with his mistake as thought he'd played okay up until that point, but you cannot do that
17Sibley - 6 - average
11Méndez-Laing - 7 - fantastic assist for the goal, but tired throughout
8Bird - 7 - grew into the game
4Hourihane - 7 - somewhat quiet game, but always a threat, he's the man you want on the edge of the box
7Barkhuizen - 7 - was going to give an average of 6, but he got a goal and an assist, he's the man that's in the right place at the right time, and sometimes that's all you need
5Bradley - 6 - average
19John-Jules - 5.5 - really like the bloke and there are some touches and ideas of magic, but in my opinion, looked a little lost playing an unfamiliar? role (on the wing / behind the 9)
16Thompson - 7 - just what you need when chasing a game, a proper ratty performance, ran his socks off and did what he could
9Collins - 7.5 - work rate, as always, was top, took his goal well, on another day he gets a few more

Not defending Warne tonight, but we definitely played with a back 4 until after Hourihane scored….didn't we?! 

Wildsmith
Nelson   Cashin   Forsyth
Wilson   Bird   Hourihane   Sibley   Elder
Collins   Mendez-Laing
 
Subs: Bradley, Ward, DRobinson, Thompson, Barkhuizen, John-Jules, DBrown

Keep Fozzy, get rid of Collins

Yes. Came off the bench at half time vs Wigan for his first league app of the season on Boxing Day 2019, then started all but 1 game through to the end of the season, playing the full 90 in 15 of the 21 (never less than 81 minutes). He also played in every cup game except the replay against Northampton.
His performances in that half season were so good he was voted the Player's Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.

There's a striker in league one banging them in - very experienced at a much higher level

has started 17 league games and has 10 league goals this season

according to some 'fans' is one of the worst strikers we've had at the club,

scored 12 goals last season to assist with McGoldrick

yep he's still good enough, not out of contract in a couple of weeks, and yes we already have him - James Collins

.........

There's a striker in league one banging them in - very experienced at a much higher level

has started 17 league games and has 10 league goals this season

according to some 'fans' is one of the worst strikers we've had at the club,

scored 12 goals last season to assist with McGoldrick

yep he's still good enough, not out of contract in a couple of weeks, and yes we already have him - James Collins

.........

There's a striker in league one banging them in - very experienced at a much higher level

has started 17 league games and has 10 league goals this season

according to some 'fans' is one of the worst strikers we've had at the club,

scored 12 goals last season to assist with McGoldrick

yep he's still good enough, not out of contract in a couple of weeks, and yes we already have him - James Collins

.........

There's a striker in league one banging them in - very experienced at a much higher level

has started 17 league games and has 10 league goals this season

according to some 'fans' is one of the worst strikers we've had at the club,

scored 12 goals last season to assist with McGoldrick

yep he's still good enough, not out of contract in a couple of weeks, and yes we already have him - James Collins

.........