Altamullan

Heard a nice story about Sheff Weds, when Jack Charlton was in charge. Rather than the kind of Sports Science, not to mention health and safety, shenanigans you would experience today, Big Jack used to load-up the apprentices on the club bus and take them to act as grouse beaters every year, while he and his pals let loose with their 12 bores! Translation of above: 12 bores = shotguns (or a common gauge of shotgun, to be pedantic). Grouse = game bird (or 'verb' meaning to complain). Grouse beating = walking through undergrowth, with flags or sticks, trying to put birds into flight and drive towards guns (or violent activity involving twatting persistent moaners...). Jack Charlton = tallish Northumbrian associated with football and field sports (shooting, fishing, twatting attacking footballers...). Aim of post = add to theme of fond reflections on Sheffield Wednesday with general humorous comparison of then (ye olde days of footy management) and now.

'Kin hell. Shakespearean. Authentic knowledge of people dripping off every line. He's lived a bit as well; top bloke.

University of smelly-socks...should that be hard knocks? same difference...

We could really be doing with someone who is solid defensively, comfortable on the ball and with passing range to sit in front of the back four tbh. Uncfortunately though those players cost loads more than we are willing to pay. Would have loved Shelvey. He is not a CDM, per se, but an all rounder in Gerrard mode, and surprisingly young. Think we've missed the boat now though.

:lol: old'un, but golden Thinking about it more, what about Tezza's other (ahem...) less well known, ditty? Non, je ne regrette Hibbitt John Tudor, le bien qu'on m'a fait, Supermac ni le Mal, tout ca m'est bien egale... Je me focus du passé Don't bother with translation, just a shameless attempt to promote alternative FT song

:lol: old'un, but golden

yep, can see that one catching-on.

Witty. Suspect wor Flor (Andy Caps to the match?) needs a bit of adoration to do his thing, so to avoid counter productive lip-on (score=get piss taken) we'd need a sense of humour check first.

I'd like to see Janmaat and Thauvin continue on the right and build on their good start. Haidara and Perez on the left: loving Haidara's deep crosses, and Perez has shown he can provide competent cover, and more importantly is willing to track back and do so. Krul, Mbemba and Coloccini are certain. Mitrovic at CF. Which leaves three central 'slots'. Wijnaldum is nailed on. Against Arsene's Arse ( "they don't like it up them Captain Mainwaring") I would like to see 4-1-4-1, with Anita sitting in front of back four (metronome--would it be unkind to slip a 'g' in there?-- and defensive cover). IF it looks like Sissoko is firing on all cylinders, because he will have to put in 100% to make this work, then I would love to see him and Wijnaldum as the centre two of the four. Without possession you have a bank of three across the Middle (Moussa, Vurn and Gini) and Ayo and Florian working back to support full backs/ double-up as necessary. With the ball...oh man, I'd just love to see these guys with a good run of possession. The late runs to edge of box by GW, the surging runs at the box from MS; AP darting in to support Mitrovic/pull defenders away, and Haidara overlapping to cross from left. FT doing his thing, that cut back prior to Perez prior to the disallowed goal was a joy to watch. Even if it all goes to shit, against a very good Arsenal side, I am loving being able to anticipate this game with positivity, rather than dread or apathy.

Good, but I'd still vote for this: With the words: Floor...Floor- reeeeaan, Floor-reeeaan Toe-oh-vahn. (Repeat until hoarse...). Simple but appropriately full of awe, admiration and a touch of Gallic gravitas. Now we just need to team-up at an away match, with additional ingredients: six pints, steely determination, a packet of Tunes and a performance like last night and we are offski! A new chant is launched to echo around the cosmos for ever....

What a debut! Think we're going to really enjoy this legionnaire. Makes me what to learn French to help him feel at home, all I've got at the mo involves a ruler, a window and Marie France's mobylette....

She seems confused whether she's in Ireland or Britain. Yep, soz about that. Bought her a couple of pints in the Irish Centre before the game: confused her with diddle-lee-toon-tunes and Tyneside Irish Blarney...

Thanks for posting man; made my morning

It's a tough call, when/if 20-20 hindsight comes calling. Think it is a trade-off, an opportunity for our core players to play under less pressure (from opponents at least) and increase their ability to find one another and really mesh, nowt like a few goals and even just having that extra couple of seconds on the ball to build confidence. Versus, the development opportunities it is difficult to simulate for those on the cusp (SJP, larger crowd, top,level competition etc.). This stage in the season, with a number of new players, I hope we see a solid core of first choice players; maybe with de Jong and Aaron's getting a runout; and Ivan Toney on the bench. Was supposed to be there tonight, now working; can't remember the last time I felt this twitchy about missing a match. It's like a litmus test of how involved I feel in the club again. Feels nice...twitchy, but nice none the less!

From a private box meanwhile, you can look down at the lowly peasants in Platinum club. I can feel a prawn-butty ' pleb-gate' brewing... ?: "sing in the cheap seats..." ?

http://38.media.tumblr.com/cf0597e10c55e863b9203437898b4af4/tumblr_mf0zp41EJh1qlzc82o1_500.gif :lol:Please nooooo...

:lol: Charlotte's just out of shot...

For week 3, the two most predicable games were Everton Man City, and Palace Villa; in that these provided the most points for us. Albeit with a somewhat modest haul of 115 and 103 respectively; according to my abacus. Three games produced higher points totals than 115 in week 2. That said, the average points total for week 3 was similar to last week, both hovering around 17 (14 for week 1). Greg had a great week (28 pts, I think/TBC); with the added satisfaction of getting his head and heart in line, and being the only one to predict our result down on Trafford Quays. Our 'group guess' (average of our H scores vs. average of our A scores) produced an unremarkable 14 points. Our own game served as the double-up —11 of us nominated this one, none of whom got more than a paltry 2 points. Mark Lawrenson recovered a little of his reputation this week, scoring 24 points by Magpie's rules. His guest, Jack Whitehall, fell by the wayside, much like myself, with a modest 14.

Gameweek 4 Newcastle 2 v Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1 v Sunderland 0 Bournemouth 1 v Leicester 1 Chelsea 2 v Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 3 v West Ham 1 Man City 2 v Watford 0 Stoke 4 v West Brom 2 Spurs 2 v Everton 2 Southampton 3 v Norwich 0 Swansea 2 v Man United 1

I'd love to see that combo. Particularly in possession with Sissoko and Wijnaldum in full flow, moving forward with options like Thauvin and Perez to give and go. Powerful and fluid.

Darlow Janmaat Taylor Mbemba Colback Thauvin Tiote Wijnaldum Aarons Toney Perez

What about Ivan Toney? Bench or start? Too sentimental? He has a good goal record scoring for them, so may be ideal opp to blood him. I'll be surprised if Aarons and Thauvin don't start ( mouthwatering...). Only thought is if they are trying to shift Gouffran, he may feature.

Just asked random French speaker in pub about him (knew nowt/not into footy/ still, any excuse....) she pronounced his name "toe-vah" dawned on me I'd never heard him/other say his name. Does that sound right to those that have?

Nice one!