Seventyseven

I still can’t get my head around how we won the league, then an FA Cup whilst Forest were struggling in the championship, and now we are miles behind them.

He’s certainly a legend of the game, but isn’t particularly young in terms of management and has done nothing. Those reading into anything during his 4 games at Man Utd are mad. Totally different managing a side full time to a few games picking the team (far more talented than ours). It’s certainly a gamble. There were plenty trying to pretend Cooper was great when we got him, seeing the same again. I’m on the fence with this.

Better than ours.

Meh. the penalty we got was never a pen, he tripped over himself 😀 but should have had one before that, although so should they. that was pretty rubbish, again.

He’s not going to be out for 12 months though. He won’t be fully fit but they won’t be paying if he’s technically available. Best case we will probably get about 5m euros which is just over 4m. Which isn’t really a great amount of money.

I’m not convinced you ever really recover from an injury like that.

Said the same about the Tonbridge, probably the best away I’ve ever had too. I started watching Harborough about 2 and half seasons ago. We would scrape 200 on a Saturday game. It’s been building nicely and averaged over 300 last season. 477 present last Saturday (with no away following) is very good growth, almost double from when I first started going. Just shy of 300 midweek was also reasonable (from where we were). im glad people are backing them at Reading and it will lead to more coming, unrealistic to expect hundreds more on the home gates but if we can start to get over 500 on a regular basis over the next couple of years I think that will be quite something.

Reading have a league game on the Tuesday that isn’t moving. They will likely play some fringe players in this. Probably will still be too strong, but you never know.

Ryan Inman has gone, he’s been on a dual at Rushden anyway. Simply wasn’t good enough. Kai needs game time, only been a bit part player this year and hasn’t done anything when has been given a chance. Tendai going is a bit sad but also not unsurprising. Top scorer in the league last season but again has struggled this year. 4th choice striker so again will want to play. Cracking signing for anyone in Step 4 but the gap between Step 4 and 3 is pretty big. Bigger than I thought it would be. In FA Cup related news we’ve sold out the first batch of 2000 tickets over two evenings and have requested more.

The club isn’t going to crash. The youth section will being in a couple of hundred grand a year, Brooke House also pay to use the site plus others like Villa/FDS. It’s always busy and always taking money. It’s thriving.

Extended highlights on the Sunday evening and selected for overseas coverage (according to Reading?!). But have not seen any mention of money on offer.

That’s a big negative. Yes we wanted on it on TV but had a feeling it wouldn’t be due to Readings low crowds and issues. But nothing is dampening this, Harborough Town in the FA Cup second round is immense and we can’t wait to go to a side in the prem not too long ago. Around 500 went to Tonbridge (with tremendous backing) and reckon we could double that for this one.

Nope, due at the game tomorrow as a spectator. Currently on a two game ban.

I liked him a lot when on loan at Harborough. To be playing at step 3 and 4 as a teenager is hard work, especially for a classy player like him. Seems a really nice lad too and I’ve seen him a few times watching Harborough when Kettering not playing. ill be surprised if he doesn’t get a full time pro contract somewhere within the next year or so.

One of my best days at a football match ever. Absolutely superb day, 500 Harborough fans making a right noise and demolishing a team a league above. Hopefully get one of the bigger teams now, but if not then I’m backing this team.

Cooper signed his brother at Forest. 0 goals in 13 games.

When Cooper joined we had the happy clappers trying to make out he was good as he gave a good press interview. And as I said at the time he is very polished at talking to the media, but don’t be fooled. He did a great job at getting forest up but was bloody lucky at keeping them up, they were terrible and I’m still at a loss how we finished behind them. A large amount of their fans kept him in the job as he was seen as a hero for ending 23 years outside the top flight, I get that to an extent but the club could see he wasn’t up to it. He had many shortcomings, that he doesn’t seem to have learnt from. Poor tactics, poor game management and poor subs. He was also very stubborn and played his favourites. Balde was signed on loan and couldn’t get a game ahead of Worrall or McKenna, he went to Sevilla where he’s been superb and linked with big money move to Liverpool. Same with Santos from Chelsea. He didn’t get anything out of Hudson-Odoi or Chris Wood who are thriving under Nuno. Just two away wins in 1 and a half seasons. The happy clapper Forest fans who wanted Cooper to stay can now see the difference in class they have with their manager, and we picked up the cast off. All very disappointing.

Absolutely spot on. No one watching these games can disagree with any of that. Those in rose tinted specs thought we were in good form after a couple of wins. The realists knew how lucky we were. Hey we will need luck from time to time but you can’t rely on it.

Said when he joined that he was very media savvy. He clearly spends time in this area, a very modern manager in this respect.

They did look very good and it shows what can be done with good recruitment. their defence cost £22M, Elanga 15m, Hudson-Odoi £3m. Anderson 15m (but of FFP navigating there with Newcastle but looks a bargain). I could go on but it’s annoying me. I think some are overdoing it on the first half. I mean it was better than the second by a mile. Aside from the goal their keeper didn’t make a save and they could have had 3 really. Yates said after the game that Nuno brought their wingers in more second half to give less room, that’s all it took yet Cooper had no answer.

Because a half decent manager can counter it, and then ours has no answer.

It’s been coming. That could have been 6 or 7. They were so much better than us, mikes ahead. the wins v Bournemouth and Southampton were needed and welcome but papered over the cracks, we were lucky. cooper isn’t up to this, he’s a championship manager. Cooper Out.

Initially thought that, but on reflection a very winnable game. Harborough have beat the top side in their league, beat 4th twice (including the cup) by putting 8 past them. And took points off 2nd and 3rd away. There isn’t that many ‘glamour’ ties so perhaps this is better than Barrow or similar away as stand a much better chance of getting through.

I’d always be wary of a random owner coming in a splashing cash on a non league outfit they’ve had no previous interest in. But fans are often blind to the obvious when doing well. We will see where it ends up. Short term promotion is likely (major error if not) but medium to long term it wouldn’t be surprising to see problems emerge. Time will tell.

We’ve seen this before quite a few times, can see where the Kettering project is heading.