| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason 09:13 - Sep 23 with 3118 views | DJR |
Whenever there is adverse reaction on TWTD, I always like to ask myself "What would Stuart Watson say?"
Well here's his measured response after the Blackburn game.
"I've seen some comments along the lines of 'this performance proves that the 5-0 win against Sheffield United papered over the cracks'. The glass-half empty brigade now suggest that some kind deflections and the Blades being in disarray made that a gift of a result.
Personally, I don't buy into that at all. Everything wasn't broken during a frustrating four-game winless start when the squad was still very much in a state of flux. And everything wasn't suddenly rosy after a confidence-shot side were ruthlessly put to bed late on at Portman Road. The truth, as so often is the case, is somewhere in between.
What more did this game at Ewood Park tell us? In truth, I don't think an awful lot. How can you make any real judgement on a game affected so much, from start to premature finish, by the weather?
In the first half, when the conditions were testing but playable, Town were far from free-flowing but still able to test the keeper three times. They stood up to a series of long throws and corners too. On another day, it would have been set up nicely for the subs to make a difference against tiring legs and the 'classic away day display' headlines to be written.
I'll come onto the second half events shortly. Ultimately though, Ipswich are what they are right now; a relegated club with a talented group of players for the level collectively finding their feet, both on and off the pitch, under a bit of pressure."
As I've said before, I can't imagine there are many (if any) local journalists who come close to Stu. We are lucky to have him.
EDIT: I didn't mean to slight Phil. I was referring to journalists who work in the "printed" media.
[Post edited 23 Sep 11:51]
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:03 - Sep 23 with 592 views | WeWereZombies |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
I think so too, I had considered whether it was just another poster's comedy creation using AI or ChatGPT but the spelling is too inconsistent and the odd selection of words at times smacks of a post that hasn't been proof read before the 'Add reply' button is pressed. For that reason I don't think this pachyderm turned equus is a nodger but is a real person who is not coping with anger (about Town not winning every game ?) very well. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:04 - Sep 23 with 595 views | DJR |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:47 - Sep 23 by Smoresy |
Phil's very good too lol! With Brenner on BBC comms as well we're quite spoilt in that area perhaps, though I'll admit to not subscribing to the EADT and not listening to Radio Suffolk.
I agree with his measured response, which leaves very open the direction of travel from here. Will we continue to look like a talented group of players, collectively finding their feet, for many games to come or will we make quick strides forward? The latter feels essential to mounting a top two challenge but maybe there's more time available than recently seen, with the relegated sides struggling to impose themselves like in previous seasons. |
Absolutely on your first paragraph. Who could improve on Phil, Brenner and Stu when it comes to local coverage? And Graham Mac and Mick Mills on Radio Suffolk deserve a shout-out too.
I always listen to Final Whistle on the way back from a game, winding it back to the beginning on BBC Sounds. [Post edited 23 Sep 11:09]
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:05 - Sep 23 with 577 views | baxterbasics |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 09:31 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
Wow, I mean he’s right, you can’t judge four games. But you can judge 44!!
Another who seems to have revised last season, and £150 million spent, multiple seasoned internationals signed, to a figment of imaginations.
All because it doesn’t fit his own emotional investment. In something which long since stopped being form or a blip.
I’m sure this group will come together, but the flaws will remain.., and apologists like Stuart are doing serious harm to the club long term.
When we needed agency, accountability and scrutiny, they provided parroting, inertia and looked the other way.
We spent £200 million, in that context even if we do well at this level, it’s really poor, anything. It elite, the recruitment has no context to our shame or leadership traits, and we lack a basic desire to compete.
There were two teams, playing in the same conditions, one wanted to win more the other.
That’s not a free pass. It’s damning. It’s instructive. Guess what. In our remaining 40 games many will be oamhed through a UK winter with the wrong type of rain.
It’s instructive of a group who are the opposite to 23/24.
They genuinely thrived in adversity, welcomed it, embraced the challenge.
This group, one or three of them pull out of tackles and don’t fancy it when it’s tough, at its worst, and I’m sorry, but that what this league is, if you can’t do that, you can’t be successful.
And that’s on McKenna 100% - selecting footballers, playing across the back in those conditions.
They won a red card with a 30 yard straight ball !!
We were trying to play through Jens.., who can’t do this Nast half as well as Nunez can.
Piss poor revisionism from Stuart and all the media, including in here.
It’s way off what journalism should be.., it’s index my job and my career to that of Mark Ashton and prey.
It doesn’t work…, Sheff Utd was the outlier and we didn’t even play well then - poor first half. Quality da ed the day.
When 44 games are dismissed and 3 or 4 are clung on to for deer life, YOU are the problem.
That’s not support. Go and join a cult and worship that. |
I don't believe I've ever called for a poster to be banned before.
But am coming mighty close. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:07 - Sep 23 with 569 views | Guthrum |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
Stylistically wrong for Elephant. His beefs were slightly different, aiming at the ownership (and passing of the era where the likes of the Cobbolds could run a football club) rather than Ashton, recruitment and "elite". His language was less rambling and exclamation-strewn.
Plus Elephant would sometimes post sensible stuff on General threads. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:21 - Sep 23 with 519 views | Steve_M |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
No, Elephant could write properly. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:28 - Sep 23 with 477 views | nrb1985 |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 09:31 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
Wow, I mean he’s right, you can’t judge four games. But you can judge 44!!
Another who seems to have revised last season, and £150 million spent, multiple seasoned internationals signed, to a figment of imaginations.
All because it doesn’t fit his own emotional investment. In something which long since stopped being form or a blip.
I’m sure this group will come together, but the flaws will remain.., and apologists like Stuart are doing serious harm to the club long term.
When we needed agency, accountability and scrutiny, they provided parroting, inertia and looked the other way.
We spent £200 million, in that context even if we do well at this level, it’s really poor, anything. It elite, the recruitment has no context to our shame or leadership traits, and we lack a basic desire to compete.
There were two teams, playing in the same conditions, one wanted to win more the other.
That’s not a free pass. It’s damning. It’s instructive. Guess what. In our remaining 40 games many will be oamhed through a UK winter with the wrong type of rain.
It’s instructive of a group who are the opposite to 23/24.
They genuinely thrived in adversity, welcomed it, embraced the challenge.
This group, one or three of them pull out of tackles and don’t fancy it when it’s tough, at its worst, and I’m sorry, but that what this league is, if you can’t do that, you can’t be successful.
And that’s on McKenna 100% - selecting footballers, playing across the back in those conditions.
They won a red card with a 30 yard straight ball !!
We were trying to play through Jens.., who can’t do this Nast half as well as Nunez can.
Piss poor revisionism from Stuart and all the media, including in here.
It’s way off what journalism should be.., it’s index my job and my career to that of Mark Ashton and prey.
It doesn’t work…, Sheff Utd was the outlier and we didn’t even play well then - poor first half. Quality da ed the day.
When 44 games are dismissed and 3 or 4 are clung on to for deer life, YOU are the problem.
That’s not support. Go and join a cult and worship that. |
For the life of me I cannot work out your angle posting on here. What do you get out of it?
I mean, we all get a bit of a laugh at the random musings of a mad man. But it must take you 15-20 minutes to write out these ramblings.
I can't fathom why anybody would spend their time doing that to post on an internet forum where almost unanimously people thinks you're berk?!
This is simply not a good use of your time! [Post edited 23 Sep 11:46]
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:36 - Sep 23 with 434 views | BasingstokeBlue |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:04 - Sep 23 by DJR |
Absolutely on your first paragraph. Who could improve on Phil, Brenner and Stu when it comes to local coverage? And Graham Mac and Mick Mills on Radio Suffolk deserve a shout-out too.
I always listen to Final Whistle on the way back from a game, winding it back to the beginning on BBC Sounds. [Post edited 23 Sep 11:09]
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Same here, listening to Final Whistle as we walk away from Portman Road after the match! |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:36 - Sep 23 with 433 views | Smoresy |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
As mentioned above, Elephant spewed negative bile but he did so in a digestible format, for those so inclined. I try to be accommodating of everyone's writing style and appreciate the diversity in the main. When I read through a thread I scan the content mainly, sometimes without flicking my eyes across to usernames, and very often I know the poster behind the words without needing to check (a damning admission that I need to get out more if there ever was one 😂).
Darkhorse's longer posts are a tad too rich for even my stomach though. I can tell I'm reading one within the first two lines and move on sharpish, no rudeness intended (constructive criticism hopefully). Something that caught me off guard was when I saw him advertising a spare ticket for a recent away game. Perhaps it was a strategic ploy to throw people off the scent as to true allegiances: the alternative would be almost mind-blowing! | | | |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:41 - Sep 23 with 405 views | Herbivore |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:33 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
I’ve made my mind up over Mark Ashtons 35 year career, not 1 game.
Which is more ‘balanced’?
McKenna is a great coach, adjusted for age etc, it’s looking like he’s far from a great manager, but with the resources, he wouldn’t need to be to have a great season.
I’ve never said we can’t be relatively successful, and there’s huge talent in the group.
I’ve said for a long while, this isn’t elite, this isn’t progress, this isn’t a strategy and vision for long term success.
And all I get back is drivel. Personal attacks avoiding all the points, revisionism pretending last year didn’t happen or like you and Stuart, 1 game is instructive, 44 games are NOT.
You can’t make it make sense, because it’s devoid of logic, it’s pure emotion form people who indexed their self esteem not to the club, but to two employees.
The club was more important. The consequences too severe.
It’s £200 million - consequences. Once the parachute money is gone let me know how you service the liabilities, no wonder we have so many loans.., no money, no squad if we aren’t promoted.., and all you care about is ego, validation, not dating what you think in case it’s not popular.
I’ll be candid. It’s sad. The club needs voices, leadership, direction, not apathy, pretending 44 games don’t count and second to a really poor Plymouth - as measured over the subsequent 2 seasons, in the third division, is as good as it gets.
We’re better than that.
It’s like some of you want Morecambe every week just for the ‘win’
Have some ambition.
One question fascinates me.., can McKenna ever justify his champions league contract, during its length?
Tell how that’s possible. Or how we ever put the club in that position, after ONE fantastic, generational season in the EFL.
It’s the lack of difficult decision making and vacuum of leadership we’ve exhibited under Mark, and what typified his entire 35 years in the game.
Good.., but miles off elite.
It would have been REALLY hard to let McKenna go, but there’s a reason nobody else would pay him that, because as he proved, he’s not anywhere near that level. Maybe one day.., maybe not.., but a huge risk ., and it has already failed.
It looks every inch that Sam, Mass, Chaplin, Burgess deserved more credit than they ever got - McKenna, probably a little less.
You can coach systems, tactics, even quality to a degree.., you can’t coach desire, will to win.
That’s what we lack - we aren’t losing games through lack of ability, or even tactics, it’s through not having the will to win.., and players that have it, like Nunez - get splinters in conditions like a swimming pool, in favour of pure footballer Jens.
Even Pep and Arteta have completely moved away form that style, far more diverse, direct, flexible.
We have a double pivot.
If it doesn’t work.., more double pivot.., if that fails.., a bit more of the double pivot.
Sorry. We’ve been worked out.., McKenna has one style.., and Sam who could take the ball with 5 Rottweilers at his heels, and retain possession, isn’t here to make it work.
Some of our successs was in spite of McKenna not because off.., sorry that makes you feel bad, personally I think the clubs future is FAR more importnst than how you and Stuart and Phil for that matter feel.
It’s time to adult. We’ll win at the weekend, but every result at this level papers over the cracks.
How are Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland getting on spending less than we did??
Let me guess.., wrong type of rain.
It’s pathetic. |
And they all lived happily ever after. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:46 - Sep 23 with 361 views | Illinoisblue |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 09:31 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
Wow, I mean he’s right, you can’t judge four games. But you can judge 44!!
Another who seems to have revised last season, and £150 million spent, multiple seasoned internationals signed, to a figment of imaginations.
All because it doesn’t fit his own emotional investment. In something which long since stopped being form or a blip.
I’m sure this group will come together, but the flaws will remain.., and apologists like Stuart are doing serious harm to the club long term.
When we needed agency, accountability and scrutiny, they provided parroting, inertia and looked the other way.
We spent £200 million, in that context even if we do well at this level, it’s really poor, anything. It elite, the recruitment has no context to our shame or leadership traits, and we lack a basic desire to compete.
There were two teams, playing in the same conditions, one wanted to win more the other.
That’s not a free pass. It’s damning. It’s instructive. Guess what. In our remaining 40 games many will be oamhed through a UK winter with the wrong type of rain.
It’s instructive of a group who are the opposite to 23/24.
They genuinely thrived in adversity, welcomed it, embraced the challenge.
This group, one or three of them pull out of tackles and don’t fancy it when it’s tough, at its worst, and I’m sorry, but that what this league is, if you can’t do that, you can’t be successful.
And that’s on McKenna 100% - selecting footballers, playing across the back in those conditions.
They won a red card with a 30 yard straight ball !!
We were trying to play through Jens.., who can’t do this Nast half as well as Nunez can.
Piss poor revisionism from Stuart and all the media, including in here.
It’s way off what journalism should be.., it’s index my job and my career to that of Mark Ashton and prey.
It doesn’t work…, Sheff Utd was the outlier and we didn’t even play well then - poor first half. Quality da ed the day.
When 44 games are dismissed and 3 or 4 are clung on to for deer life, YOU are the problem.
That’s not support. Go and join a cult and worship that. |
So many typos, angry horse. Do you need a sugar cube or a pat on the head? |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:49 - Sep 23 with 351 views | farkenhell |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
I've thought that, but still waiting for him to mention Franchise FC. That will be the killer moment. | | | |
| Nah, this numpty isn't a patch on Nerdy on 11:49 - Sep 23 with 350 views | Dyland |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
Different M/O too. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:52 - Sep 23 with 336 views | farkenhell |
He's absolutely right. We were the better side in the 1st half on Saturday. We looked like the home team and I can't recall Blackburn creating a single clear chance. The sending off early in the 2nd half changed the game, compounded by the worsening weather conditions.
I'm confident that we'll win a replayed match comfortably. | | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:58 - Sep 23 with 309 views | Vic |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 09:44 - Sep 23 by SouperJim |
Or maybe, just maybe, his view is balanced and reasonable based on what we've seen this season. Rather than a 20 paragraph tiresome rant by one angry fan who has lost all sense of context and already made his mind up. |
Anyone care to precis what Dark Horse said - for some unknown reason  his posts don;t show up for me.
Actually - please don't bother! But I highly recommend the div list for some inveterate criticisers. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 12:06 - Sep 23 with 273 views | DropCliffsNotBombs |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:38 - Sep 23 by FrimleyBlue |
Now It's ironic me of all people saying this
But fken ell. How much longer does this board need to put up with this tripe.
At least my negatives were genuine thoughts but sht ones and with no intent to cause issues.
But this sht over and over again is beyond ridiculous. |
Can only think Phil is keeping them around a little while longer as a means to unite the board again in contempt for this bellend. |  | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 12:14 - Sep 23 with 245 views | leitrimblue |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
Im pretty sure it's Paul Cook.. |  | | |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 12:15 - Sep 23 with 243 views | leitrimblue |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:46 - Sep 23 by Illinoisblue |
So many typos, angry horse. Do you need a sugar cube or a pat on the head? |
Ketamin fix? | | | |
| Agreed on 12:15 - Sep 23 with 243 views | Dyland |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 11:04 - Sep 23 by DJR |
Absolutely on your first paragraph. Who could improve on Phil, Brenner and Stu when it comes to local coverage? And Graham Mac and Mick Mills on Radio Suffolk deserve a shout-out too.
I always listen to Final Whistle on the way back from a game, winding it back to the beginning on BBC Sounds. [Post edited 23 Sep 11:09]
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And I love Micky Mills obviously (content rather than delivery), but he does sometimes have the odd brain fart. A hundred times better than dear old Mathie who is 99% brain fart who sometimes has the odd insight :)
We're lucky indeed, though sure plenty of other clubs have excellent local journos. During Covid years I remember being impressed by some of the oppo commentary and how balanced and informed they were. Of course there were unlistenable biased ones but I believe there are quite a few Brenner types out there too. | |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 12:16 - Sep 23 with 234 views | Trequartista |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 10:48 - Sep 23 by SitfcB |
He’s definitely Elephant in the room isn’t he? |
i would say not. elephant/nerdy/pundit had a different more wordy writing style. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 12:18 - Sep 23 with 206 views | Trequartista |
| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 09:31 - Sep 23 by darkhorse28 |
Wow, I mean he’s right, you can’t judge four games. But you can judge 44!!
Another who seems to have revised last season, and £150 million spent, multiple seasoned internationals signed, to a figment of imaginations.
All because it doesn’t fit his own emotional investment. In something which long since stopped being form or a blip.
I’m sure this group will come together, but the flaws will remain.., and apologists like Stuart are doing serious harm to the club long term.
When we needed agency, accountability and scrutiny, they provided parroting, inertia and looked the other way.
We spent £200 million, in that context even if we do well at this level, it’s really poor, anything. It elite, the recruitment has no context to our shame or leadership traits, and we lack a basic desire to compete.
There were two teams, playing in the same conditions, one wanted to win more the other.
That’s not a free pass. It’s damning. It’s instructive. Guess what. In our remaining 40 games many will be oamhed through a UK winter with the wrong type of rain.
It’s instructive of a group who are the opposite to 23/24.
They genuinely thrived in adversity, welcomed it, embraced the challenge.
This group, one or three of them pull out of tackles and don’t fancy it when it’s tough, at its worst, and I’m sorry, but that what this league is, if you can’t do that, you can’t be successful.
And that’s on McKenna 100% - selecting footballers, playing across the back in those conditions.
They won a red card with a 30 yard straight ball !!
We were trying to play through Jens.., who can’t do this Nast half as well as Nunez can.
Piss poor revisionism from Stuart and all the media, including in here.
It’s way off what journalism should be.., it’s index my job and my career to that of Mark Ashton and prey.
It doesn’t work…, Sheff Utd was the outlier and we didn’t even play well then - poor first half. Quality da ed the day.
When 44 games are dismissed and 3 or 4 are clung on to for deer life, YOU are the problem.
That’s not support. Go and join a cult and worship that. |
This is similar to betting on a 1000/1 horse. You're almost certainly wrong, imho, but if you're right, you're going cash in on the replies! | |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 13:19 - Sep 23 with 128 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
I agree, and I like Stuart, but it does seem like those lot are leaned on quite heavily by the club these days. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 13:45 - Sep 23 with 74 views | J2BLUE |
All pretty obvious stuff but the fact it needs to be said at all is disappointing.
Some Town fans seemed to find it easier under Evans. No hopes, no expectation. |  |
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| Stuart Watson: the voice of reason on 13:49 - Sep 23 with 52 views | ericclacton |
That is how I think, I think. |  | | |
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