Darth Crooks

Interesting TF pod today. I like listening to it although it has a tendency to soapbox and be a bit self-involved (such is the medium). Still, it gives some decent perspective whilst I don't agree with all of it.

This post brought to you by TENA. Aaaah Shoddyfor-orm, shoddy form for youuuuuu...

Who's saying don't question anything? If he wants to have his learning curve whilst keeping us within distance of the given league leaders and in a promotion place then I'm happy to see what happens. We all know what's wrong, people are embarrassingly resorting to straw man arguments and nth degree suppositions - web twattery 101. At this stage, we should or see what happens with the window and see how he reacts over the next 3 games. I'll be aiming mclaren jibes soon enough if it's just recent same ol same ol but that same ol same ol has also got us here - time to tweak and over to you Rafa.

So surely the choices are either buy a better striker than Gayle or someone willing to sit on the bench. The first option won't happen, given that Gayle is the leading scorer in the league, and the second option is just the same situation as the Murphy transfer. Pretty much. If mitrovic is the backup then fine, if it's someone else then that's fine too. We have players who can cover in gouffran and Perez as well as Murphy and I'm Rafa would push for a replacement if he needed them. The caveat being we'd likely need to review it in depth again if and when we are promoted. So Gayle gets injured, you'd be confident in Murphy or Gouffran up front, given that Perez will play number 10? No not particularly. As you said we'd hopefully be likely looking for genuine competition for Gayle, I just named a few who are potential in terms of depth. If he leaves I'm ambivalent about it. Pretty much all I'm really saying.

We have a squad that for the most part has put us in this league. Every team sees us as a scalp and every manager is going to want to pit themselves against a man who's won things at elite level. We also are in the infancy of a delicate transition from water treaders to something that we can actually buy into and the players are adapting to the same, as is Rafa. As long as the mistakes being made aren't the same Recurrent in 2-3 weeks time then we should always temper this with the previous points. Rafa has apparently repeated a mantra of time needed and unlike previous incumbents it isn't to save their own skin or divert criticism but to have the flexibility to figure out the best plan as he has the capability. I'm curious given what many were saying about not losing a game this season, to how widespread a view that was, because I think given our good league position still and some of our stats that expectations are wildly different. This isn't the premier league but we aren't a stable premier league squad either, we'd probably be able to make up the numbers at this point but we're where we deserve to be and we'll have our moments of pennance. I believe tonight we were largely in control though lacked the killer ability of the likes of shelvey and were genuinely unlucky on occasion without bemoaning luck. Jack colback genuinely fucked us and it is a concern certain players (colback, gouffran) and methods are being deployed but it's all part of this process. I'm yet to be fully convinced that Rafa will get full backing without dredging that up too much but we are still a delicate giant even in a lesser league. A lot of fragile politics and methods that will take time to fortify and improve on.

Hayden is ahead because he has the athleticism to keep up with play. You can reach him to do what colback does (lol) you'll never be able to get colback up to scratch with Hayden's assets with all the coaching in the world.

30% selection/subs 70% Cack Jogback

Yup. Factor in their keeper with some good saves and Nadsack flying in on Betamax heed and Its fucked it up.

Their keeper has had a decent game like.

Yawn. Even more tiresome when a super fan tells you that you can't moan about losing to shit teams. It's a handful of people though not done mass belief.

Yawn.

Cracking 5 from the ginger pirlo here

Meatball marinara please pal. Foot long.

Dynamic warm up

Michael J Fox on camera 2

Bit needless that.

Embarrassed myself there.

So surely the choices are either buy a better striker than Gayle or someone willing to sit on the bench. The first option won't happen, given that Gayle is the leading scorer in the league, and the second option is just the same situation as the Murphy transfer. Pretty much. If mitrovic is the backup then fine, if it's someone else then that's fine too. We have players who can cover in gouffran and Perez as well as Murphy and I'm Rafa would push for a replacement if he needed them. The caveat being we'd likely need to review it in depth again if and when we are promoted.

I'd like to think he'd be replaced. IMO just think if he's not part of the plan it's not worth worrying about him as much as I like him. Precedent would suggest that one striker is the chosen flavour - reinforce that plan how you can.

Ask Rafa

Like the bloke and it's a shame for him in the sense that you just can't, rightly, drop Gayle. He's a vestige of the former way of doing things so if he goes it's no great shakes. All the best and that.

Having colback, Dummett and goof so closely linked has us so benign. Hayden to a lesser extent.

If he gets brought back (disclaimer- he won't) and Rafa takes a punt bravo and if he doesn't and it's because he doesn't fit in with the plan then fair enough too - at least he has one and isn't cutting his to spite his face due to petulant egotism. Can't see him as rafas type and likewise, I love the bloke.

I hope his mums name is Bev

Raffy new year chaps and chapesses