eddielewis

Yeah I agree from the clubs standpoint maybe it's worth just a quick call to the PGMOL or FA to double check is he impartial enough but it's not worth us getting into some proxy war via the media for it and creating a sideshow from what looks to be a really good match this weekend. I'd hate for this to boil up so much that the players get effected and distracted by this. It's worth mentioning we actually have a positive record of 10 games (5 wins 4 Losses 1 Draw) with him reffing most recently the FA cup 2nd round win vs West Brom last season. That's the only time he's officiated us since 2016.

Also people who regularly use public transport in this country are shown to be happier and more active/healthier/weigh less than those who frequently drive. A sick or sicker population of which we are since the pandemic is total lead weight around our country. A more mobile society through public transport would increase our productivity which is the key ignored statistic (by both main political parties) of which we have desperately been lagging behind neighbouring countries since the 60's! The common link is that car use since the 60's skyrocketed like also in neighbouring countries but they did not completely forget that public transport and social mobilisation is key.

Although fans views are much needed on all matters relating to their experience on a matchday I'm not quite sure this survey will lead to anything but merely a box ticking exercise by the DFT/RDG. Surely the rail industry knows that a lot of the same viewpoints that will be expressed on this survey are not solely defined by just football fans but by regular commuters, day trippers, concert/event goers and the concerns will be primarily cost, capacity, timetable, rail experience. Even if there were 2000 survey responses asking for more special trains there will be a cat in hells chance it will come to fruition. The rail strikes recently have really showed as a country how very little we know of the structure of our railways other than our own rider experience. Like many of our public services it is totally demoralised and on it's knees due to corporate greed, outsourcing, political ball kicking/inexperience and in general a total lack of long term planning. Specifically for attending football matches via train we are million miles away from the likes of Germany who usually include local matchday travel with your ticket or Switzerland where football clubs actually have dedicated supporter rolling stock.

Update after tonight's fixtures still second by goal difference.

This is the set up but Bradley instead of Nyambe. Probably need him in there to nullify their lanky striker Cosgrove. Having Hourihane in midfield frees Bird to just drive at them. When and if Gayle comes on switch to a 4-2-3-1 with Bird or Sibley sitting just off him. His movement should drag defenders away giving either the space to shoot.

He's still not signed?

Hopefully that goal has given Warne food for thought. Warne acknowledged that his attacking set up didn't work after the game so maybe we see him more involved. I'd like to see him playing on the top of a diamond behind NML and Barks and encourage his ability to shoot.

Updated predicted table after yesterday's results. We stay the same however Bolton's draw has knocked them down by 7 points.

Should get this chant going at pride park 🤣

This is his last stand out performance 2 goals and led the line for Stoke vs Sunderland. It's imperative that with his movement to drag defenders away we must play someone like Bird just behind him, making late runs as Laurent does for that first goal. Isolate him like we sometimes do with Collins and he will be as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Elder has had a poor game today. Poor with his positioning, always late with overlaps and most frustratingly poor with his passing especially for how much ball time wing backs have in Warnes system.

Not so much him starting over Elder at LB but him not in the XI at all is a bit surprising. I would had him in the midfield for a bit more drive/bite and he's more adaptable to change should the system not be working early on i.e. Shrewsbury

Looking like this? Wildsmith Nelson Bradley Cashin Nyambe Elder Adams Bird Wilson NML Barks

If Collins is out i'd like for us to go with a similar set up to Real Madrid currently where they play without a true no 9 with Bird in the Bellingham role. It allows us to free Bird a little bit more. Have him drive at them like he did for his goal against exeter. It's going to be a scrap today. Wildsmith Wilson Nelson Cashin Elder Adams Hourihane Sibley Bird NML Barks Also no Cruz Allen playing for the Under 18's right now so could be on the bench. Has been a stand out recently for them. His goal recently against Man Utd was a cracker.

For further evidence here is a Collins training photo posted a week ago. It seems from earlier photos as well from December he is typically a shorts wearer which would immediately discredit todays photo but the way the right sleeve goes over the glove hiding the number is the same alongside the boots. We need Poirot on the case.

Current Predicted table according to footballwebpages.co.uk Interesting how they have us not losing another game from now on in but still missing out on the Top 2. They have got us drawing 5 more away games and only winning 1 more.

Agree it's a little early for it but there are players out there we should be targeting in either division. Davis Keilor-Dunn (Mansfield) Dan Kemp (MK Dons) are options to replace Bird. Both are little bit more natural at playing as a No 10 than a No 8 in Warnes current 3 man midfield system but if we can get Ebou on a permanent then it should be balanced enough.

Great Win! If we consider both tonight and Saturday that's maintaining the 2 points per game average we need to keep in order stay in the top two.

Interesting how Exeter's recent wins they have not had the majority of the possession 39% vs Bristol Rovers and even 36% vs Wigan but their more recent loss also against Bristol Rovers they did have 59%. Just looking at that alone you will probably think they going to want to bed in and try and hit us on the counter. I suspect it will be a very similar affair to Lincoln. Let's just hope we take our chances.

Bolton 1-1

Posh scored another 3-2

Interesting how that 3 is positioned is it just a simple swap with Nyambe at LCB or does everyone shift one across with Nyambe at RCB?

This is what is worrying that with this introduction of the Blue card it will eventually result in the match clock being stopped as a way of making it work. Largely the problems we have seen with discipline in (professional) football has been due to the lack of communication and discipline from referees and a obsession towards a sterilisation of the game fuelled in part by the gambling industry. These half baked ideas only add to the whinging stress that is putting people off the game in my view. Referees are now hooked up to a constant group chat with 4 people in their ear whilst trying to keep up with athletes at full pace. It's so prone to more error than before and due to this referee's are constantly unsure of decisions and in the top leagues so reliant on VAR to make their minds up. You can see that some refs take more priority communicating to their assistants than the players. The biggest bug bare with VAR is why refs wait on hold with customer services trying to listen in to VAR for 2 or so minutes before they are then asked to view the monitor. Infuriating! The talk we have not seen is why we need to 'clean' up the game and where this need has come from? I understood the need for goal line technology which has been a success. I understood the need for offside technology to some degree as long as the rule is clear but for everything else it's odd. I do question if there is a connection between the need to 'clean' up the game with the rise in specific betting markets in football.

One thing which is quite odd in my eyes alongside all of the above points is that football is played to a clock that's continuous and time is added on to relieve stoppages. If a player was to receive a blue card when does the 10 minutes start? From exactly the moment the card is given or when the player has left the field? If it's the former a player who has been given the card could waste some of that time just complaining to the ref for a minute or so like we see when a player has received a contentious red. If it's the latter that's still more stoppage time to be added. God forbid how much time is wasted if these cards are reviewable by VAR! Another aspect how does the sin bin end? As we see when a player leaves the field due to an cut to the head or needs treatment it's up to the referee's discretion of when that player returns to the field of play. If a players 10 minutes is up and the referee is refusing the player to come back on until the next break in play and it ends up in the opposition scoring that would cause huge controversy.