ajthefox

He's wrong if he thinks we haven't been managed badly at all but i think the wider point being made is that part of what we did was take risks to try and obtain more European football and ergo money. Of course, that doesn't mean we didn't pay a number of players X grand more a week than we should've. But you have to spend more to get into Europe and to stay there, and all it takes is one poor season (by that I don't mean relegation but say lower mid-table) for that to come crashing down. Once you lose that extra income and still have the players on European football wages it gets a lot more difficult. We have been badly run and the system works against smaller clubs.

Ultimately Top is responsible and the buck should stop with him, but the blame is obviously shared. Poor signings, poor decisions on wages/financial management, poor on pitch management, poor individual performances - they all contributed to where we find ourselves and many decisions that might've been made could've saved us varying degrees of hurt. Top, Rudkin, Whelan, Brendan, some of the players - they all deserve part of the blame.

I'm not so convinced Enzo will leave whether we go up or not - won't be a great look abandoning ship either way imo. I think this is bluster. How many clubs are going to want to take a chance on someone supposedly that stubborn? Someone probably will but its unlikely to be anywhere as favourable (squad wise) as it was starting here.

I think you're probably right re Britishness in general, but to me it seems a bit odd to be taking the Union Jack to events where Wales, Scotland and NI are our competitors.

What do you mean getting organised and stuck in? I can't speak for anyone but from what I've read on here, Union FS' experience with the club is like banging their heads against a wall. There definitely needs to be a dialogue between leagues/clubs and fans, but how often do the power structures take note of anything fans say out of the goodness of their own hearts? They only act when there is money at stake. I'm aware commercial revenues are not centered around fans buying crap in the shop and STs, but if say 90% of City fans agreed to a boycott of the club next season including no paid for TV services, don't you think it would have an immediate impact? If the stadium was empty, would that not be a PR disaster for the club and a huge talking point? Don't you think a big body of fans boycotting games would have more effect then a big group of fans holding a banner inside the ground chomping on pukka pies drinking piss beer? Commercial income from fans doesn't have a huge impact in the grand scheme of things, but it definitely is notable and counts towards all these PSR calcs that have surfaced lately. We all need to take action, I won't argue with that. But pouring hundreds and thousands of pounds into following the club year on year, paying Sky and BT and moaning at the same time about the game is a little bit self-defeating, don't you think? I completely understand why people do of course and I don't judge anyone who does, but it is a form of tacit approval for them to keep doing what they are doing. Edited just to add that ultimately these issues are systemic and we as fans individually are not to blame - we are exploited because we love something. That is why I think saying no is more important.

Interesting article on the cause of our housing crisis... https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/19/end-of-landlords-surprisingly-simple-solution-to-uk-housing-crisis

If everyone stop going, stopped buying shitty kits, and stopped paying Sky overnight and committed to it, things would change. Obviously it needs collaboration for that change to happen in a way that suits fans, but if we don't vote with our feet/money, clubs will continue to exploit us because why wouldn't they? If they do what they want and people moan but all the money keeps coming in, why will they change? Clubs only care when they see something hit their finances.

In the middle half of the pitch I think we've been OK with the ball but at either end it's been poor. No real threat or cutting edge and Chelsea have cut through us so easily. Defending for both of their goals and the Sterling miss were awful. So simple. We're lucky it's only 2 at the moment.

I went to see my sister when she lived in Vancouver in 2016. We drove to Banff and camped there for a few days before heading back - think it was about 10 hours drive each way but we took turns with her mates and it is a pretty drive most of the way. Past half way ish it's as good as any drive in the UK. Wish we'd had more time there, the area surrounding Banff is the most beautiful I've ever been to. There isn't much in Banff itself so depending on how into nature and walks they are a few days around Banff may be enough. Vancouver is up there as one of my favourite cities; beaches, an enormous park/forest, continuous waterfront and everything you want from a modern city, I reckon there's plenty to keep the kids entertained! Can't recommend it enough - any Qs let me know.

I'll say what I said when I first saw this... News: Wind powered boat - who'd have thunk it!

I disagree, I think that is the softest claim of the 3. There's barely any contact at all. Vardy has thrown himself down twice.

Big goal for Arsenal that, thought they'd thrown it away after a really strong first half. Forgot how overly theatrical the PL is - so much moaning and surrounding the ref.

No way were getting close to the record now unfortunately.

Thought the penos were similar, both soft but I don't think either set of fans can really complain about them. What annoyed me was the guy blocking the quick free kick towards the end and the ref trying to insert himself into every situation in stoppage time.

Not our best but saying that was abject or shit is not being objective. We made some silly mistakes and were missing that cutting edge in the final third but Hull seem a decent enough side and we've come back twice. Just a shame we couldn't get that winner.

Feels worse than it did last season at the moment.

There's an absolute boatload of comments in the post match thread saying we need to be better. Also, what are you suggesting fans should be doing to tackle this squad's soft underbelly?

I think half the reason the refs not given that is because of where the ball is. His touch is poor, the ball is too far ahead of him and I think he knows he's fluffed the chance to get a shot away. Contact is minimal and he flies forward. Common to see stuff like that given but that doesn't mean it's right, he's trying to buy a pen.

I go in occasionally. Fresh fruit and veg choice/quality is poor, but they've got the best nut selection of any of the major supermarkets AND they have salt & vinegar hula hoops as well. Worth popping in on that basis alone.

Trying to get nice a little side hustle going eh

On our bench without a League Cup Winners Medal?

Err...

After my second half when I was running regularly I started getting this discomfort in my knee. Felt like it was twisted, was affecting my running and was very noticeable when I was commuting on my bike. Went to the physio and it turned out it was a combination of very tight IT bands and overpronation (ankle rotation inwards) - IT bands pulling my knee out, ankle pulling it in. Essentially I wasn't doing enough warming up/down or strengthening and conditioning work. Can't say I recall having IT band syndrome, but as a general aid I would second the recommendation for a foam roller, it makes a surprisingly big difference. I play field hockey which is very heavy on the quads and hammys and use mine pre-warm up and during the week if I can. It's often noticable immediately afterwards. Outside, just below the knee.

What numbers are those? Were they all complete turd apart from Kroos and the keeper?

Does it say why it was reduced?