VBM

I hate them.

When I think of this fixture I just think of them getting a lucky winner and their dickhead glory hunting arse clown fans spilling out on to the pitch to hug the players and high five the ref. 

We need to win this one for my sanity. 

Qualified for the Champions League in my first season. 

End of the season Matt Cash comes to see me, he is very annoyed that I have been playing him in the right back position, with a role of complete wing back. He wants to play full back. I tell him no. He slams in a transfer request and moves to Rangers for £35m. 

So yeah realism as good as ever. 

So this one is happening as well then?

Get a DM and this will be the best window I can remember.

1 minute ago, MCU said:

Is there a way we can play both him and Buendia? Both suited as CAM's aren't they...

Given Gerrard plays with two number 10s I'd say he fits right in

9. Emiliano Martinez, £47,000 a week

10. Keinan Davis, £45,000 a week

One of the very best goal keepers in world football, signed for £20m is on £2k per week more than lets just say not one of the best strikers at the club, signed from Biggleswade? 

I'll file this list under crazy bull shit that I see on the interweb. 

Well so far so good. 

We look more organised, much better shape when defending and tonight against a  very good team there were signs of us starting to have a bit of fluidity going forward. Hopefully we can maintain this because against weaker opposition we'll give someone a spanking soon. 

Cutler staying on apparently  - according to the Villa View.

Good first decision from Steve

1 minute ago, WallisFrizz said:

I’m really hoping he moves with Gerrard as I could see him being offered the Rangers job, he seems that well thought of.

He seems the key to it all from the reports so far. 

I have never felt so conflicted. He had to go really, but I am just so sad he couldn't be the one take us that little bit further.

Normally when  a manager leaves because of poor results, I really glad to see the back of them, but this time I'm just gutted.

Thanks for everything Dean!

29 minutes ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

 

And what we've discovered about JT it won't be him either.

 

What did we discover about JT?

8 minutes ago, romavillan said:

Yep, Daniel was a great player but no relation AFAIK

Daniel was Uruguayan

Well this is a massive game all of a sudden. 

I can't imagine this will be a dull 0-0 either. 

I think we'll struggle here, we are not in great form, but the issue is West Ham are playing very well indeed at present.

I can't imagine we go 3 at the back again, if we do , then it wont be pretty. 

This is the worst I have seen us play since the last 10 minutes last week. Shocking stuff

WTF am I watching here?

Leathered it

Utterly unforgiveable that. 

Concede 3 goals in the last 10 minutes at home?

6 hours ago, peterw said:

At any level - but specifically youth - stand outs aren't necessarily the be all of a scouts mission. Yes, the ability to do the basics are a necessity and those that do things better than most will get noticed. but for a scout - and a coach - there are more important factors. Ability beats all but it has to remembered that ability at a younger age group tends to be evened out as a player develops physically, and a great 8 yra-old finds themselves just one of a number of good players when they're 12. Same for an 18 year-old when they become physically mature.

What a coach/scout is looking for more than anything after the intial ability is decision-making. Mistakes can happen and are accepted, as long as it was a mistake trying to do the right thing, from an over hit pass to a teammate not seeing what could have been a good ball so a mistake followed (pass intercepted, caught in possession etc). At an early age you can work and develop half decent players if they have shown they are decision-makers better than their age group. From reading a game, to knowing when to make that pass, to (stand up Ashley Westwood) knowing were teammates should be standing or which space needs covering (a good old point does the trick); and so on. 

 

Decision-makers also tend to be winners. They won't panic at 0-1 or 0-2 as they will keep their heads whilst trying to get back into a game. From that you can see leaders. It doesn't need to be captain material but those that will not accept defeat during a game and will keep pushing to get back into the game. It's as much, if not more, mental based at the younger age group. Yes, you have talent but have you got quite simply, a football brain. Many great young players don't and fall by the wayside. Many okay/average/decent players have it, and coaches/scouts will pick up those they think has a chance to be developed into a pro. They don't all make it, and most won't, which is where the elite players come from. because they do. They hone all the skills looked for in a player.

I know a guy - who captained England school boys as it was then, was at Arsenal all through the Youth academy. When we were at secondary school it was like he was worth 3 players, he was just so much better than everyone else. 

He didn't make it. Now, he went on to have a "good" career as in played county level non league until his late thirties  - was paid to play all this time etc. He said pretty much exactly this about his trajectory,  at a certain point he stopped progressing, others just kept on improving, their decision making got better his didn't. 

1 hour ago, TheStagMan said:

That's the spirit!

I wish it wasn't the case, but sadly I feel it in my water. 

So we are going to lose this one, sorry to say. I knew we would lose to Watford and we are losing this tomorrow 0-2. 

Afterwards we will blame injuries and a disrupted pre-season. 

What a load of shit

1 minute ago, Mazrim said:

Gives us the cover we need, saves money for other targets, knows the club and will slot in nicely. I don't see a downside.

Agreed, can't see him getting in ahead of Mings or Konsa but he is here to replace Engels not either of those two. Plus he appears to have an affinity with the club and a good song. So just a series of wins really.