kingfox

It’s always been shitty, but in recent times the shit has intensified. As for Narborough Road itself, all these foreign supermarkets are absolutely killing it, the one that has replaced the shoe shop on Raymond Road, the overflowing rubbish they dumped out a few weeks ago was a disgusting disgrace.

Living in the area, it’s most definitely getting worse. The connection between Raymond Road and Wilberforce Road is an absolute disgrace.

I’d be very pleasantly surprised if we looked abroad for a name, it’s such an extreme rarity for League 1 clubs to go down that route, over the past 5-6 years, Barnsley are about the only club to have done so. The norm for League 1 clubs is recruiting managers who have been around the English leagues, or hiring assistant managers/coaches who are also involved in the English game. Even if we do look overseas, knowing us, it will probably end up being Lee Johnson.

We appointed Maresca on the 16th June, Cooper on the 20th June. I think most of us just have mental scars of how we acted last summer when appointing Cifuentes. If we don’t hear anything in the next few weeks, then it’s time to panic. What I do find bizarre though is that we haven’t even announced Rowett’s departure yet. If it doesn’t end up being Challinor, then I bloody hope we are willing to pay compensation for someone, because apart from Challinor, the current free agent list doesn’t look very appealing.

They are not though are they. Barnsley have gone back to Daniel Stendel, Huddersfield have just given their caretaker the job, Challinor only left Stockport a few days ago. Of free agents available, let’s be honest, who apart from Challinor is an attractive proposition? If we don’t turn to Challinor, then I dread to think who we end up turning too, the realistic names in the free agent market is unfortunately full of underwhelming dregs.

It’s the over excessive tippy-tappy nonsense, that you just know certain managers would bring is what turns me off. You look at certain other statistics with Stockport, 11.0 for PPDA, 1.90 for direct speed, 2nd for direct attacks, those are very respectable numbers that I could get on board with. If Russell Martin or similar came in, you can guarantee we’d rank bottom of the league for direct speed for example.

You look at League 1 last season, the likes of Cardiff and Lincoln attacked it in completely different ways. Cardiff under Barry-Murphy ranked 1st for possession, Lincoln under Skubala ranked 24th. I just don’t want to see a manager that is completely obsessed with possession. 60% + possession in pretty much every game, that is slow and ponderous, with no real purpose of speed and directness. Certain managers like Martin are a massive no-no.

Can’t even remember the last time I watched a football match in full, as for Leicester, I gave up in about March as I just couldn’t stand watching the likes of Ayew in a Leicester shirt. If Leicester appoint a possession obsessive manager, then I doubt that will motivate a broken fanbase. Only way this club gets back on track, is if they return to the Pearson/Ranieri style days, or opt for a style that Bournemouth are producing for example. Certain managers out there will instantly motivate this fanbase, the likes of Russell Martin will not.

The fact they are seemingly trying to persuade Martin, just goes to show how thick our board is. Two seasons of capitulation, where a broken fanbase needs galvanising and motivated, to the point where the club needs to build attendances back up. Russell Martin isn’t the answer to those three things. His style of football has run it’s course at this football club, a large section of the fanbase are bored with it. The club will turn more fans away if it’s Russell. Seeing his face on the back of today’s Leicester Mercury is depressing enough.

You’re really seeing clay court form or clay court specialists coming to the fore in this years tournament. On the Women’s side, it would be no surprise imo if one of Kostyuk, Svitolina, Andreeva or Cirstea won their first slam.

Russell Martin close to being appointed with Lyndon Dykes first signing

With FAA he’ll have a bunch of points to defend as the year progresses, in particular at the US Open. Bublik is far too random to stick around the top 10, you expect a drop off to come. Fritz and De Minaur need to get their act together or they’ll definitely drop out. I expect Shelton and Medvedev to stick around. If they are able to get back to full health, both Musetti and Draper will probably get back in the top 10 mix at some point. Then it just depends which youngsters can propel themselves in the mix, at least you are starting to see a fair few candidates starting to emerge.

Well played Fonseca, what an entertaining match that was. Would be funny if Zverev bottles it from here. Starting to feel like the WTA of 2021/2022 when you had the likes of Kontaveit, Sakkari, Garcia reach the top 10. I just hope with the youngsters emerging, they’ll eventually push the likes of FAA out and you start to see a more solid top 10.

Djokovic vs Fonseca been such a fun watch 🍿

I’d probably be looking at something like this GK - Stolarczyk, Begovic/New GK, Vieites/Bausor RB - Choudhury, Aluko CB - Nelson/New CB, Souttar/New CB, New CB, Gray LB - Thomas, New LB CM - Skipp/New CM, New CM, Braybrooke, Page AM - BDCR, New AM RM - New RM, S.Thomas LM - New LM, Alves ST - New ST, New ST, Evans A couple of other youngsters may get minutes in cup matches, but can’t see them being regular features in the league just yet. Most important things for me is getting our leadership group right, and getting in a few younger signings that will give us good resale value.

OMFG A potential CB pairing of Sean St Ledger and Daniel Amartey is like my wet dream.

I just wouldn’t be surprised if they both get picked off by Championship teams, that’s why I mentioned Keillor-Dunn, if we could get him on loan, he’s probably the best option behind Ballard and Tolaj imo. In terms of incomings, most definitely double figures worth. Five of which will probably be loans, a bunch of freebies, and hopefully a couple of signings under £1 million. 1 GK RB? - Depends how we view Choudhury 2-4 CB’s - Depends if any of Vestergaard, Nelson and Souttar stay 1 LB 2-3 CM’s - Depends if Skipp stays 1 CAM 2-3 WG’s 2 ST

If we can’t afford Tolaj or Ballard, then Marriott and Wareham are the two I’d probably be looking at on permanent deals, but I’m intrigued about Keillor-Dunn’s situation at Wrexham, hasn’t featured much since signing for them, if they are willing to loan him out, then he’s a no-brainer for me. I just can’t see Ross Stewart dropping down to League 1 tbh, far too good for that level. As said above, I think the likes of Wareham, Marriott are more realistic. As for a younger back-up, exactly that, a loan from Premier League or Championship, or you look at leagues like Scotland, Scandinavia or even League 2 for a permanent deal, Josh Stones at York City for example has been getting good reviews.

Mad to think that someone at the club, whether it’s Rudkin, Glover or someone else in scouting who clearly rates Lyndon Dykes. The striker solution is simple, first target should be someone who has history of getting 15+ at this level, then the back-up should be someone in their early 20’s with potential. But no doubt we’ll get linked to numerous 30+ year olds.

That top half starting to look like a clay court tournament in South America. My head is leaning towards those in section four, Cobolli, Tien or Cerundolo(The better brother). Then one of them will probably lose the final in straights to Djokovic or Zverev.

Shelton gone as well, but hardly trustworthy on clay. FAA the top seed left in the top half, but he’s hardly trustworthy on clay either.

Could be a mixture of things, but Sinner has history of going through incidents like this in matches, against Spizzirri at this years Australian Open for example, but on this occasion, he was well and truly fvcked.

Well, they do say redheads burn easier in the sun

We’ve been fortunate to witness some great goalkeepers in our history, but Kasper has certainly been the best in my lifetime. Also echo some of the comments in this thread, it’s no surprise we’ve gone downhill when you fail to replace important characters like Kasper, Big Wes and Fuchs.

Kolo Toure and Ashvir Singh Johal both free agents, bring them home!