TheBrownBottle

Timeline: - ‘we’re going to build a super-duper training ground, with cyborg coaches capable of handling 300 different training drills and who never need to sleep, a training pitch made of 13G artificial grass because we’re throwing billions at it and we’re able to skip generations, a fully heated Olympic-size swimming pool with a wave machine for shits and giggles, and a Michelin-star restaurant in the canteen’ - ‘we’ve revised the plans to be a best-in-class PL training facility and academy to be the best it can be’ - ‘we’ve looked at the numbers, and we reckon that West Denton leisure centre would be decent with an expensive refurb, and the youth team can help in the kitchen’ - *disappears off the agenda without comment*

The concern for me is that the lad is shrinking visibly in front of us at present - I feel desperately sorry for him, but that also tells me he doesn’t have anything like an ‘elite’ mentality. He looks like he wants the ground to open and swallow him. I’d be exactly the same - because I also wouldn’t have want it takes mentally to become a top level footballer.

100% agreed. Some of the lads around me used to take the piss when I’d constantly defend Robert. Standard homophobic ‘joking’ accusations etc. All because the lad wasn’t running around enough for them - despite his output.

Yeah, I think his foot is ahead of Pope too - I’m not at all convinced that his positioning made any difference or that he was interfering with play

I’m normally furiously against the idea of playing reserves in a cup tie, but I would be tempted for the second leg. Our fixture list is horrific, and the chances of a 2+ victory margin in the return leg are practically zero.

Then that’s a bizarre call. It’s only parts of your body which are legal to play the ball which can be ruled off.

I thought we played well tbf. They are still a good side in and got the rub of the green you sometimes need.

Same as last summer, then

Then it needs coaching out of him - his game or not. It’s poor play.

Even if he isn’t an out-and-out CF you shoot from there. If Botman found himself there I’d expect him to hit the fucking thing.

Jesus wept, our CFs aren’t being clinical tonight

Your arm can’t be offside

Holy shit

I’d be furious if this was ruled out for us

Game over in all likelihood

Bollocks

Bastard woodwork

Osula isn’t capable of it from what I’ve seen. I don’t think it is just as easy as saying ‘we’ll stick a cheaper, weaker option in and he’ll hold the line’. I don’t think that finding our shooting boots of late is an accident. I also think it’s worth remembering who the opposition are here.

The conspiracy theory definitely works better if the ‘Big Six’ were voting members of the Football League.

He’s playing off the shoulder of the defender, which is helping push the entire side forward. We drop far too deep with Woltemade at CF. Teams are still worried about Wissa getting in behind them.

Agreed - we look a lot better as a team with Wissa up top. Just need him to stop snatching at chances.

Forgive me folks, I’ve never started a thread before. With the news re KK, I’m curious to see where everyone would sit re best managers you’ve seen the club have. I was alive for Arthur Cox and Jack Charlton but have no memory of them. I think the only rules I’d set are: 1) you need to have seen them in action 2) they’re permanent managers Here are mine - admins feel free to shut me down if this isn’t a worthwhile topic3 #1 - KK (emotive and where we were when he picked us up and where he left us) #2 - Howe (many things point to him as #1, I just can’t quite bring him there. In short form, Howe should have a statue, KK should have a stand) #3 - Robson (did a tremendous job, should’ve ultimately been removed a few months earlier than he was) #4 - Benitez (obviously a genuine elite manager, shafted by the fat cunt) #5 - Hughton (just love the man, given the bullshit he had to deal with - was also spot-on politically ) #6 - Jim Smith (built a side that was capable of promotion, fell at the last hurdle, all went wrong after that) #7 Willie McFaul (isn’t going to worry ‘greatest managers lists’, but loved the club and was dealt a shit hand) #8 Glenn Roeder (hardly a managerial great; but loved the club and did a canny enough job when he was there) #9 Alan Pardew (I know some would put him lower, but given the circumstances hardly did the worst of jobs. Seems like to talk about us in an alright fashion, unlike some of the cunts who’ll follow) #10 Ossie Ardiles (‘Ossie’s babes’ were fun to watch even if they were shit, and a hard man to hate) #11 Kenny Dalglish (football was awful; played his own son; defended the indefensable with Shepherd/Hall. Still; there were good signings and a cup final) #12 Ruud Gullit (obvious cunt; did sign a couple of useful players; did reach a cup final) #13 Steve McClaren (I always hated the oleaginous cunt, but even with that he inherited a shit team rather than destroying a good one) #14 Steve Bruce (plastic Geordie, my father (who used to work with his at Parsons) told me he his own dad couldn’t be arsed with him when he was at Man Utd; enough said) #15 Graeme Souness (do I need justification?)

Tbf that is fucking funny like

Fucking hell, I haven’t seen owt like that since the back pass rule was introduced in 1992

Not for me, it’s the FA Cup. This club is one of those clubs - along with Spurs - where the FA Cup is what we’re built on. I’ve spent two and a half decades watching the oldest (and greatest) football tournament in the world being shat on - I don’t want us to be party to it. It’s not that don’t get where you’re coming from - I just can’t countenance it