Yorkie

Team Zaius.

I've got a pair if needs be but my rucksack is usually at its seems so if anyone else can bring some that would be ideal.

Would be mad to bin him off purely on the basis of last night. Those games aren't real; England didn't win a single game during the last one yet still got to the Euros final. After peaking with Euro 2020(1), I feel extremely ambivalent about England atm. Newcastle becoming a proper club again, the trudge of Southgate's final throes, Bellingham, Palmer... just meh.

Sounds good to me. Will have to be very organised, starting as close to bang on ten as possible, with prompt turnarounds between the games. Dave free to timekeep and whistle, @LFEE?

Generally agree but the availability of being able to take a breather (i.e. having a sub) does appeal to some, hence the suggestion that we only go 8s if we do the 'everyone plays everyone'/short games format.

I don't think it would be too cramped. 7s is perfect but 8s isn't awful. I think we actually did it the first time we did Reds v Blues at this venue.

Yeah, that's the con with four games; you've got one team hanging around for 40 minutes or so, which isn't ideal.

Could do it that way with four fixtures, sure.

Just watching it. Pretty good but why would you get those two on and then not shut the fuck up for a minute?

I think it depends what we do fixtures-wise. If every team plays everyone, do 8v8. In this scenario we'll have to be extremely organised to fit all games in and they'd probably have to be ~13 minutes, factoring-in turnarounds. 🔴 vs 🔵 ⚪️ vs 🔲 🔴 vs ⚪️ 🔵 vs 🔲 🔴 vs 🔲 ⚪️ vs 🔵 If every team plays twice, go 7s with a sub. In this scenario we could afford ourselves some breathing room and the games can be 20 minutes. 🔴 vs ⚪️ 🔵 vs 🔲 🔴 vs 🔲 🔵 vs ⚪️ Happy to open that for debate. Personal vote would be the latter because longer games is better and it's less admin. Though there's pros and cons for either.

Poo Smellingham.

Squads in the opening post, folks.

Is being 'new' really a valid excuse if you're falling for TBG's craic?

My assumption was that the full collar is somehow an irritation to a professional athlete - but what they've got is clearly more annoying. The players are forever fiddling with it cos it doesn't fully flap down, meaning it's always half way between being up and down. Obviously looks ridiculous too.

The collar is the worst bit of design I've ever seen on a football shirt in my life.

Have found it very challenging to get my head around all of this, but can we assume that the interest-free loan reveal will provoke a 'back to the drawing board' re-hash of PSR rules? Surely, with so many teams suddenly liable to massive PSR implications, there's going to be some hastily-organised amendments?

See ya!

They're rancid. One of my favourite bits from the game was when they forgot to boo him at one point in the second half because they were to busy chastising their own players. By the time they'd remembered to boo him he'd already released the ball.

wouldn't recommend it. Bottom line for me is that I cba to go after them too much given it was a much improved away performance and another step in the right direction. The trajectory is broadly upwards imo.

We created plenty of chances yesterday.

Agreed. Not the first time he's made a good contribution from the bench this season; he a good option to have when legs are tiring.

I hate the phrase "bottled it" when it's unfairly applied but, with the best will in the world, I'm struggling to find a better way of putting it in this case. Took courage to step up of course but he's first on pens so the duty was his. He was blowing like he'd ran a marathon before he'd even put the ball on the spot; clearly had built it up way too much for him to be an effective taker.

Signing low-risk, cheap, young talents for the future is a 'waste of fucking time' is it? Lament the fact we didn't sign a striker ready for first time football if you want (and want to pretend we're able to shift Wilson and/or PSR doesn't exist), but Osula has very little to do with it.

I haven't heard what he's said but the moment definitely got the better of him.

The wayward punt is obviously annoying, but delaying the ball forward in that scenario ensures that it's the last one of the game (i.e. you're not gonna have to defend a counter).