when_you're_smiling

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Second half Millwall have been much the better side. Even passing it better.

It’s a proper ‘patience’ match this. They tired a fair bit so hopefully will tire even more in the second half and more gaps will open.

He’s got his own gym at home hasn’t he? Think he puts that down to his longevity. His willingness to play though just makes the absence all the more puzzling and worrying.

If you want another laugh, I was listening to The Cricketer podcast last week where Peter Moores was the guest and he described Notts as ‘a talent factory’.

Fair play Ben Mike. A double wicket maiden and his batting exploits means he’s probably picked us up an extra five bonus points. Probably five more than he helped Yorkshire get all last season. Wasn’t overly sure if having him back would be a good thing but hopefully he’s set for a good season.

We were 83-1 when I switched off, and hadn’t been too troubled to that point, so would say under par. Yorks did get a bit of movement off the pitch though. Obviously a lot of sides won the toss and bowled today, but there wasn’t as many wickets across the country as you might expect, possibly because they’re using the kookaburra ball this round.

BBC Sounds

Listening to the Talking Foxes podcast, Wright definitely isn’t playing and Walker is likely injured due to a side strain picked up in the warm up game. Scott Currie probably in for him I’m guessing. Ahmed is pretty much nailed on to play, not just from any directive from the ECB, but apparently because he’s going on a pilgrimage to Mecca before linking up with England. The batting looks great, Division One standard arguably. The bowling still looks weak without Wright. Anyone know when Hull’s back?

I actually want Leeds and Ipswich to win today to be honest. Clutching at straws but hoping it might wake our players up a bit.

I bet you still score before we do again.

I feel a bit sorry for the wide players. It’s not coincidence they’re both out of form. Sides have worked out how to stop Enzo’s system, which relied so heavily on the wide players in the first half of the season. That’s leading to a drop in their confidence. So many times now they either picked up the ball with their back to goal, surrounded by two or three and/or with the lone striker miles away with three or four players between them. It all boils down to the need for a Plan B.

Obviously can’t speak for everyone, but for me, the footballing eyes of this country was looking at us to see what our response was, and then that’s what they responded with. Two weeks to put the form behind them, maybe come up with a plan B and work on things - and that’s what their answer was on where they stand with the title race.

I’ve a horrible feeling we’re not going to get that points record.

Said this in another thread, but they picked four keepers in the squad who had a played a combined one game between them this season and that was one of them playing in a League Cup game in August. I guess they hedged their bets and thought Ward looked the most ready.

Long term, yeah, but as the article points out, the feeling was a top five side in European competitions had the number of bodies and wages it needed to be such a side. ‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’.

Yeah, that’s fair. But also his job to raise morale, which I’m not sure moaning about lack of money/players was ever going to do.

Reading this which sums up a lot of my conflicting feelings, it’s still ridiculous that basically we get punished by footballing authorities for spending too much because we spent £30m without selling a major player one summer. Also a good reminder that Rodgers had no clue, nor seemingly really wanted to know, what FFP involved.

We’re also not the reason for too much money in the game.

Not saying you’re not right, but do you know of other examples where embargoes have been placed before they’ve proven the charges?

On the Guardian podcast earlier they were saying Wales have called up four goalkeepers, but only one of them has played a first team game this season, and that was one game in the League Cup in August.

March 1 apparently. According to Kieran Maguire on the When You’re Smiling podcast, basically because we told the EFL they couldn’t have our accounts because we were a Prem club, the Prem then said ‘well that must mean you were a Prem club then and should have put you accounts in for our December deadline’. it’s worth a listen. Maguire on for first 10ish minutes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hl4zg5 Edit - also, if that is the case, when and with who did Leeds and Southampton file their accounts?

I wonder if this is the ‘unlawful’ thing they’re on-about. We’re being done for rules that we didn’t vote for or were even in place when we agreed to be a part of that year’s competition.