Coffee_Johnny

This made me smile. Can’t remember age group, perhaps under 10s, but my son’s team were playing their biggest rivals in a semi-final of the county cup. They’d played them two times prior in the league, and previous seasons, and they were always tight games. They spent the whole midweek training session on corners, free kicks and penalties and rehearsed the agreed routine for corners immediately prior to the match as well (overly vocal assistant coach , a local semi-pro central-defender, was on full throttle!). We got a corner early in the first half and the ‘train’/all in line routine went right out the window. The lads like an electrocuted ‘flock of spuggies’ randomly careering around the box. One of our defenders caught a headed clearance sweetly on the volley to score what was possibly his only goal of the season. It was hilarious seeing the coaches/parents going from annoyance to jumping jubilation and said coach shouting (as if planned…) “That’s what I’m talking about!”

No, but in all probably, regularly sucked off. So all is good ?

Give us a couple of weeks ?

Was just going to type exactly the same!

I think it has to remain fun and light and a good learning experience. Even if they often look like the best player on the pitch, and especially if they don’t, so few get into academies and so few, of the few, 16 in a thousand, from memory (Every Boy’s Dream, reference at the end),go on to have a career in the game at any level, it is so important that they don’t put all their ‘self-esteem eggs’ in the pro-footballer basket. Keeping it a positive parent/child experience and helping them learn useful life lessons is really what it should be about. Plus, getting ‘good’ at anything has the potential to help with general confidence. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Every-Boys-Dream-Englands-Footballing/dp/1408112167/ref=asc_df_1408112167/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=311011848126&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8107622974318419296&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046620&hvtargid=pla-561768253622&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

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I prefer to take it all as just poorly articulated pride in their regional capital. One North East!

Hard to say budget wise. In terms. Of real amount potentially available and what has been publicised. Within the FFP possible budget (which I’m clueless about) I suspect we will acquire what we can if really positive options become available to us.

Good on you, JB. Always admired people who put their time into youth coaching (… and parental management!). You’ll live on in manny kids minds as. A potentially really positive influence on their life.

Peak Given and Harper scenario. Though can’t see a Dubs being as committed/accepting as Steve Harper was (I thought he had the potential to have an even better career and think it’s admirable he stayed), if it works out he’s mainly on the bench/doing cup games.

Couldn’t stand the snivelling media coverage.

Read this morning that Samacca is being lined-up as a replacement for Osimhen at Napoli (who seems certain to be off somewhere… please oh please oh please let it be us).

Me too. Thing is, if you believe the rumours getting some commitment to having a regular starting place (and that being centrally as a striker) is what is holding up Etikite signing.

I’d settle for finishing above them. Not as much of a stretch as it sounds. They only accumulated 57 points last season, must be worst haul in a lonnnggg time. We, under Howe (only including the 25 games from December to give a chance of some influence on results) averaged 1.68pts per game. That return would have given 64 points (enough for 5th place, last year) over a whole season.

Congrats to them both. Here’s hoping they pop out a Geordie-Brazilian! Is Mirandinha only suitable as a name for boys?? (Just checked, real first name is Francisco—could work!)

My 13 year old is taking a year off (will still play for school) after flirting with City academy and 8 seasons playing mainly in the most competitive league in Manchester. He’s taken to basketball, have to say I’m not going to miss the two to three times a week taxi job. It has been great for his athleticism and it’s a real ‘social bonus’ being good at football. However, it took him a while to realise that Barca and Real Madrid weren’t going to be competing for his signature. The answer that seems to land best to “Will I be a footballer, Dad?” Was something like: you’ll always be a good footballer as long as you keep playing and trying hard. But it’s unlikely you’ll get paid to play. Off topic I know, but it’s nice to read stuff about this, particularly that mentions Felling!

What a happy Father’s Day ?

Of course he can finish. He had scored lots of goals and some great/important ones. He has also got amazing technique: if you watch some of the old YouTube shooting challenges/fun stuff. I just don’t back him to score as many as a ’striker’ in his bracket should. He’s loved by many City fans, but you can also pick up their frustration with him too. The collective holding of breath and groans as he delays an attack or thinks too long before delivering an ineffective effort. Don’t get me wrong, he would improve our side no doubt. But if we are going for a big name established forward player, on a huge financial package, I would personally be disappointed if it was him.

He is no Andy Cole. (1) Doubt he’ll get anywhere near as many chances in his next team. (2) He continually seems to pause attacking play which may have otherwise produced a shot on goal. Genuinely believe that City will score more without him.

I can see the source is two week’s old, but the fact this is still on Sky Transfer Centre sets my pulse racing. (please sign him!) “Victor Osimhen - Newcastle are ready to make a "monster offer" to Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer with Arsenal conceding his £85m asking price is too much for them to consider (Sunday Express, June 5).”

Usually.

It would be a no/rather not from me. Appreciate I’m in the minority, but his finishing, and drive to finish, is woeful at times. Unlike some City players, Jesus and Zinchenko for example, I think he would look and do significantly worse out of that side/one filled with superstars.

His lass likes the Metro Centre, and she gets Everything She Wants.

A bit static and repetitive?