skolfoxes

I can't say I've looked that deeply into it no, I'm just a fan offering my 2 cents on the internet. I don't see how we can't be desperate, we've got several players making in excess of 10x the average L1 wages, and my understanding is that parachute payments are already committed to paying off the Macquarie loans, if that's the case I can't see how we're not struggling financially. Of course that doesn't mean that you need to accept the first offer, but it's early and Arsenal (or whoever is interested) won't need to get this done particularly quickly. I'm sure the offer is still on the table and the terms might change slightly, but they'll know we're in a pickle financially and their offers will reflect that, maybe we get a lower fee but more of it upfront. I'd love to be wrong and for it to get to over £10M with a sell on clause, but I just can't see it. It won't be obscene by the usual standards we are used to, but I'd be willing to bet by League 1 standards it will be.

We have no bargaining power, I don't know how people can't see that. Talk of 10M+ with a hefty sell on fee just isn't going to happen. We're desperate. We need money through the door more than other teams need our players at this point, and currently we have less than a handful of somewhat desirable assets. In the case of Monga we probably need to get rid before his professional contract kicks in and he's suddenly on an obscene amount each week. It's sh1t, it hurts, but it's the reality of being a team with players on PL wages playing in L1.

All feels very Pep and Man City, doing what they did was their best chance to get a result. Go toe to two with England and you'd have put 3 past them comfortably. Missing a couple of technical players capable of operating more in tight spaces, understand not taking Palmer and/or Foden after the season's they had for their clubs, but they'd have been more useful than Madueke against a team set up as Ghana did.

Tee'd off around 4:30 yesterday, first 12 holes were brutal! Breeze kicked up around 7:00 and it turned into a rather pleasant evening.

Yeah it should have been, but we played scared and it definitely felt like it set the tone. With only +1 GD to play with it definitely affected the feeling around the next 2 games. To be fair, and I am aware this does sound a bit like I'm coping, but people forget that McTominay hit the post and McGinn spooned a great chance wide in the first game, on another day one of those goes in and we're in a decent spot. But that's the way football goes sometimes. Haha sorry, that may have been a bit strong! Probably still grumpy from last nights result The fans are just there for a good time, we know we're not great, getting out of the group by hook or by crook is a result, we don't know when we'll be back! If it's the same again I'll nearly be retired next time, which is a terrifying thought. And you're right, the Mexicans and South Americans are where the real party is at. We can drink Tennants for days but whack out the tequila and the party would be over pretty quickly! As someone born in Scotland, but grew up in England from a pretty young age I've always wanted to see England do well (unless they're playing Scotland), and seeing as it looks like we won't be winning the whole thing I hope you guys do.

Not sure I'd call it over analysis, but we can agree to disagree on that one. After Haiti people absolutely got caught up in the fact it was our first World Cup win in 36 years, but you'll find no arguments from me that the performance wasn't good enough. Losing to Brazil and Morocco was no surprise, although the manor in which we conceded 3 of the 4 goals felt pretty self inflicted, 'only' beating Haiti 1-0 is what will likely cost us, although they showed last night again that they're no pushovers.

Copium? Most of what I have seen is people saying we've not been good enough and key players haven't turned up. Highlighting the fact the most of the defense, bar Robertson, are journeymen SPL/EFL pro's, and bit part players for their clubs, is a fact. You could say it's an excuse, but it's also a pretty valid point as to one of the reasons we struggle. Not sure why so many England fans get so butthurt whenever there's any analysis when it comes to Scotland. Of course we're not held to the same standards as England, it's our first World Cup in nigh on 30 years, and we've been largely crap in that time.

This is the crux of it really, Brazil and Morocco are likely to comfortably beat teams better than us in the next round, it's the timid showing against Haiti that's going to cost us. It's just all felt very meek, which is the biggest disappointment.

Seems to want an eternity on the ball, keeps getting his pocket picked. The gulf between our best and worst players is so vast, we can’t afford for any of our best players to be off it.

Bitterly disappointed in McTominay so far, been way off it in all 3 games

In what world is it not a foul? He sticks his foot in as Hendry goes to play it, doesn’t get the ball, and trips him up. It’s fortunate, but it is a foul.

I know they want to let the game flow a bit more, and not every bit of contact automatically means foul, but that's about as stonewall a penalty as you'll see. Wrong side, out of control, high and nowhere near the ball. To have not even looked at it is genuinely unbelievable. If it had been the other way round, there would be riots in the streets and it would be headline news for a couple of days.

I know the English have been trying their best to be like the Scots in Boston the last few days, but you don’t have to play like us as well.

If he's heart set on going to one of the traditional 'Big 6' then Arsenal probably the best place for him, in the past couple of years alone they've introduced and given meaningful gametime to Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri and Dowman, all a similar age to Monga. I know Nwaneri looks like he could be on his way out, but they seem less interested in playing the homegrown and sell for pure profit PSR game that teams like Man City and Chelsea do. Although not sure how his commitment to us affects his eligibility to be homegrown from a PSR perspective. I wouldn't expect to see much of him this season, maybe a few cup appearances, but there's clearly a willingness to play these guys if they're good enough, which I have no doubt Monga will prove to be. If Trossard and Martinelli are potentially on their way out as well, and Saka is good for missing time through injury each season, there may be opportunities pick up some minutes, although I'm sure they'll go out and get someone proven. Sucks that we're in this position, but the club have no-one but themselves to blame. We as fans are well within our rights to be angry with them, and let them know about it, but we have to start making sensible decisions and unfortunately if we can get close to £10M for Monga in our current position we need to do it.

Went to Fenway Park last year for a Red Sox game, they literally have cans of beer in fridges and you pick up what you want, walk to front of the line, and put everything down on the counter. The machine on the counter somehow knows what you've got without needing to scan and all the attendant did was open the can for you, when it comes up to pay it asks for a tip (with 10%, 15% and 20% suggestions) and they're standing over your shoulder. Being an absolute pussy I clicked 15% tip, went back to the seat and my mate who lives there was like 'nah you don't have to tip them' so didn't from then on and no one batted an eyelid. I think it's different in bars where it's often the same person serving you each time and if you don't tip they'll just pretty much ignore you.

I went there a couple of years ago, and it wasn’t until about 3 days before when my wife informed me I wouldn’t need any euros that I learned it wasn’t part of Portugal, and hadn’t been since the 70’s.

Absolute belter of a tournament. Back when the biggest controversy was that the ball moved too much for the goalkeepers and people were scoring too many bangers! Was in Cologne on the year 9 German trip during the tournament, I'm still not over the teachers sending us to bed at half time of the Germany - Italy semi final as that was the curfew. There was a fan park right behind our hostel and as a football mad 14 year old it was excruciating being able to hear the crowd and have no idea what was going on.

To be fair in the NFL it only tends to be the 'star' players that get announced onto the field, or the starters on either offence or defence, they don't do all 53 players! But agree, for football it's total nonsense. They have done it for the F1 and the drivers all look like they want to ground to swallow them up.

I don't live in Boston, but have a friend that does and went on a bit of a lads long weekend last year. Don't know where you are staying but we stayed in Seaport which I think is a pretty recently developed area, there was plenty of bars/restaurants from memory but from what I'm led to believe it's not particularly 'authentic' Boston. Had a night in the South End, which on a Friday was pretty lively, mixed crowd, seemed to be plenty of places to eat and drink with most seemingly having screens. Also did an evening in the North End, this seemed to be more laid back with lots of Italian restaurants and then cocktail and wine bars. Probably not what you are looing for. Would recommend trying to get over to Fenway, if you can get to a Red Sox game do it, even if you're not into baseball. Quite a cool place to spend an afternoon/evening, even if the Red Sox are atrocious at home at the moment. Bit of a younger crowd, but a load of sports bars as I am sure you can imagine. I'm sure someone who knows Boston better than me will chime in, but thought I'd give you my 2 pennies worth. Enjoy, I thought it was a great city!

Officially, no. If you are off the green and can't mark your ball, be it an inch or 10 yards, and use a putter, and then once on the green take 2 putts to get it in the hole, it's technically a 2 putt. However, if I was a foot off the green and took 3 to get down with the putter I would class that as a 3 putt.

I had a putt basically come to a stop about 6 inches above the hole and ended up having to hole a 10 footer up the hill for a par! Greens are quick but not particularly true which makes for a difficult combo, especially when you leave yourself a 3/4 footer when you’ve inevitably raced the first putt past. Hopefully once we get a bit more growth the irrigation system will come into its own, as you say at the moment not sure I see the difference. Had a harsh lip out for a 2 on 15 which stings even more now I’ve learnt that a 2 was worth £70 odd yesterday.

That’s good going, it was tough up at Longcliffe yesterday! Pin on 7 was in an evil spot and the greens are very slippery at the moment.

Tepper is an absolute lunatic, he was once fined for throwing a drink over a fan during a Panthers game! He's also been accused of meddling and interfering with sporting decisions, although I think he's dialed that back a bit, and that could actually make a decent change from Tops hands off approach. He'd have fcucked Rudkin off years ago I suppose. He also allegedly had a set of brass balls on his desk back in the day, which I suppose makes a nice change from Top who doesn't seem to have any!

Beale says don’t come unless you bring your sister

Queen Vic at the moment, but going round Ian Beale’s for afters and a few lines at full time if you fancy it?