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Reply | Jobe Bellingham - Eintracht Frankfurt
at 23:59 28 May 2025
That's a bit harsh because before the red card happened, we should have scored another 2 goals, Chaplin came very close to scoring one of the goals of the season shortly after Hirst scored. That would have made it 3-0. |
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Reply | Delap can't head the ball
at 16:47 11 May 2025
1) I wasn't talking about headers from yesterday, but throughout the season. I wasn't concise enough about that, but all season I have been extremely frustrated with our crossing attempts and attempts on target aerially. It really does irk me when Hirst connects with a header in the box and scores whilst Delap struggles with it, and it makes me question why we are trying to aerially cross the ball rather than drill it into the area whenever Delap is lurking.
2) I'm not worried about injury records because we've had an awful time with injuries this season anyway.
3) None of Delap's 12 goals have come from headers this season, and he has started, and played, the majority of minutes this season compared to Hirst, who has 5 goals (3 PL, 2 FA Cup), 3 of which that have come from a header. It's a reasonable comparison to make. |
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Reply | Delap can't head the ball
at 14:15 11 May 2025
It's the first thing I compare Delap and Hirst on - Hirst can, and does, score headers. I haven't seen Delap head the ball accurately for 97% of his headed attempts. I may be remembering wrong but there may have been one that led to a good save, and another that hit the crossbar. I can't remember much else in terms of his aerial threat in the opposition's box. |
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Reply | Who’s making the Playoffs/dropping to L1 from the Championship then?
at 03:40 29 Apr 2025
Playoffs:
Bristol City - PNE
This has all the makings of a 1-0 to PNE but I think that match will end up being very narrow. Bristol City are good at home and PNE look hopeless, losing to the lesser teams in the division. The two teams who were always destined to be mid table for the rest of their life suddenly have something to play for come the final day, playoffs, and survival. Despite Bristol's good home form, I have a feeling this game ends 1-1.
Bristol City: 68 points, 4 GD
Sheff U - Blackburn
I've got Blackburn to win 1-0 against Sheff U who are going into the playoffs with a horrendous playoffs record already. Sheffield United need momentum but I think this game is going to be a bit dreary regardless of how it ends, which will probably suit Blackburn, and, the final day almost always has surprises. I've chosen this to be the 'surprise' game, but it wouldn't surprise me in truth. Ismaël is a great coach, I think he's truly underrated. The job he did at Barnsley is still fresh in my mind, and the job he's doing now after the brief slump is really good. With that slump in mind, it's a good job the teams fighting for those last 2 places aren't showing real quality themselves, bar Coventry, who were in a false position for the entire first half of the season.
Blackburn: 68 points, 6 GD
Coventry - Middlesbrough
Coventry and Middlesbrough could end up 0-0, or it will be a cluster. Still, it's an absolute failure from Carrick that they aren't in the top 6 right now with the squad they have. I can't see Middlesbrough winning, I can see a Coventry win more than a draw, they have good home form, but something tells me Middlesbrough will snag a draw, heartbreak for Coventry.
Coventry: 67 points, 4 GD.
Middlesbrough: 65 points, 10 GD
Burnley - Millwall
Burnley will not lose to Millwall, this looks like a game that is destined to finish 0-0 that won't actually finish 0-0. Burnley win 1-0. Millwall left it too late again for playoffs. It must be depressing missing out so many times on the final day. I really hope they surprise me and go on to win.
Millwall: 66 points, -1 GD
Sheffield United 3rd
Sunderland 4th
Blackburn 5th
Bristol City 6th.
Relegation:
Bristol City - PNE
Already mentioned PNE, I think they draw 1-1 with Bristol City, I just think that in a panic, Preston will play better than they have been, and it will unsettle Bristol City all game.
PNE: 50 points, -11 GD
WBA - Luton
West Brom have nothing to play for now, they didn't really appoint well with Mowbray, it wasn't the right fit, and now I think they're just waiting for the season to end. I also think Luton are finally showing the grit they were known for, the fight in them that they had to 'overachieve' the previous few seasons, that showed us that they are probably one of the hardest teams to face on their best day, as mental as that sounds after the season they've had. After having the worst away form in the league, they now have 10 points in their last 4 home games, originally only achieving 5 away points all season. Brilliant turnaround from Bloomfield.
I've got this as a Luton 2-1 win.
52 points, -21 GD
Portsmouth - Hull
Hull have a good chance of surviving as well. The problem is, they are facing Portsmouth, who, despite already securing survival now, are not going to want to sit down now the season is over, they'll want as much momentum as possible, especially at home, heading into the new season. They'll want to win this game. Portsmouth are 9th in the home form table. Hull are 8th in the away form table.
This will be such a tight game, I honestly think it will be close. I think Hull find a way to win, what I consider to be against the odds. A close 2-1 win.
Hull: 51 Points, -9 GD
Derby - Stoke
I'll say it right now. This is either a draw, or a Stoke win. Stoke have a decent record against the bottom sides, they've only lost 2 games in 11 against all the sides currently below them, including, 3 wins, a draw, and a loss against Luton away from home.
Derby really need to get at least a draw from this, Stoke would be fine with a point themselves. I can't see a win out of this from Derby. I'm struggling for this one.
I'm sticking to my January bottom 3 prediction of Derby 22nd, Cardiff 23rd, Plymouth 24th (I have Cardiff beating Norwich and Plymouth losing to Leeds).
A 2-1 Stoke win.
Stoke: 53 points, -16 GD
Derby: 49 points, -9 GD
Playoffs:
Sheff Utd facing Bristol City
Sunderland facing Blackburn.
Relegation:
Derby, Cardiff, Plymouth. [Post edited 29 Apr 3:43]
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Reply | We are top off the league
at 23:17 13 Apr 2025
What makes me laugh is that, according to this website, we have 1 more open play goal than Manchester United. |
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Reply | That second half was rubbish
at 22:01 26 Feb 2025
Disappointing trend for most of the season. Whenever a TV shows us attacking the left side of the pitch we seem to forget how to attack. |
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Reply | Luton.....deary me.
at 16:20 23 Feb 2025
9 points in their last 5 games. Only Stockport has managed better in the playoffs, below Wycombe's position, and they lost their most recent match. Your explanation is confusing. Most of all, they aren't losing. Do not expect Huddersfield to finish top 3, Orient or Stockport (or Wrexham obviously) are more likely. |
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Reply | Not looking good for FM25
at 14:18 5 Feb 2025
Miles doesn't have a great reputation amongst the fan base, some see him as overly egotistical.
This is a horrific case of self-sabotage, though. Not even an update or announcement. [Post edited 5 Feb 14:32]
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Reply | Muric vs Walton
at 08:10 17 Jan 2025
The pass in the first half that almost led to the goal, the goalkeeping for the first goal where he lets the ball travel underneath his body - regardless of the deflection, the corner he gave away cheaply in the second half, his long kicks going straight back to the opposition because he isn't good enough with his feet under serious pressure, which forced him to go long, straight back to their defenders, that was the most frustrating part of his game yesterday.
However, I believe in the both of them.
in my opinion, the goalkeeper is the worst position to play in the Premier League because of the amount of pressure you are put under for making simple mistakes that you may be able to get away with if you played anywhere else on the pitch, but it doesn't mean I can't question some things. Muric rushing out for Bournemouth's first was dodgy to me as it was for many, but I also feel it was dodgy for Walton to concede the first goal. It doesn't mean I've given up on either of them. |
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Reply | My fave pic from the night so far
at 04:13 31 Dec 2024
After all the time I've defended Muric (rightfully IMO), I'm really happy for Walton, had a very good game, if he does continue to start, I hope he proves me wrong for me doubting his ability. If this is the style we decide to continue on with, considering its success last night, then he should start over Muric as passing from the back is obviously a secondary in a system like this. |
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Reply | The third goal
at 15:49 22 Dec 2024
It's not just this, but everyone ignoring the fact that when he made the same exact pass to Morsy, Morsy was instantly pressed by the player closest to him, as close as the man was on Cajuste. Everyone is ignoring this argument as if it was not the same situation. It was.
I don't want to blame a specific player, if we were pointing fingers, I'd point at Cajuste, but it's tough in that position, especially for Muric, because we didn't have anyone up front physically capable enough to win the long ball, and we still had about 45 seconds until the end of the half.
It's just poor from Cajuste.
The right decision was use your left foot to drill a pass to your right with your left foot like Morsy does to his left with his right foot. Burgess is in the correct position waiting for the pass to be made, should it be made to him.
The actual argument should be whether or not it should be the way we play, and my answer is that it's complicated, because we didn't have a preferred striker playing on the pitch. |
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Reply | No Puskas nomination for Wes
at 06:02 30 Nov 2024
That is an injustice, an absolutely tragic disgrace.
How is Kudus' goal in this list? How? Rutter's goal against us at PR was better than Kudus'. |
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Reply | Last season. How good are we.
at 10:21 27 Nov 2024
People forget that we only played with one main striker for the majority of last season, and in the period where we had 1 win in 10 games, we didn't have an actual striker in our squad until that 9th game when Moore and Al-Hamadi came on as a sub.
That's how good we were last season. If we had Moore from the start, we would have honestly gone on to win the league and break Reading's 106 points record... easily. [Post edited 27 Nov 2024 10:23]
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Reply | Morgan Whittaker
at 22:04 22 Nov 2024
Michael Cooper went to Sheffield United. |
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Reply | The ongoing Muric analysis
at 16:15 11 Nov 2024
My recent posts have been nothing but Praise for Muric. Long may that continue becuase I will defend Muric until the oceans implode into dust. |
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Reply | So who at the club is responsible for this massive oversight then?
at 19:03 4 Nov 2024
Last week at Brentford, Muric literally pushed a player over and they completly ignored it.
We can only presume that you are allowed to do that inside the box if Chaplin doesn't get a clear penalty when it's not just a goalkeeper pushing a player over, because what is a penalty if it doesn't involve the use of legs? |
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Reply | I have rarely been so angry after a game of football
at 18:36 2 Nov 2024
For most of the game, the referee gave us a lot of decisions that Leicester were enraged by.
Then, he makes one of the worst decisions I have ever seen given against us.
I'm going to presume that the second yellow card was the prevention for VAR to not give anything against us, it's either that, or you ARE allowed to just body check someone into next week anywhere on the pitch, because clearly referees are allowing that outside of the penalty a- wait, they aren't???
It's beyond infuriating, if it's a thing that can't be checked because of the second yellow, then rules need to change as that is pure injustice. [Post edited 2 Nov 2024 18:37]
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Reply | This ref is giving us nothing again
at 16:17 2 Nov 2024
I think he's giving us every decision so far. I haven't seen him give much to Leicester at all if I'm being honest. |
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Reply | Muric. The alternative view
at 18:35 27 Oct 2024
After his performances against Burnley, I thought he was the perfect GK for us when Walton was injured. I was thrilled to see him succeed with us last season. If he doesn't make that save against Sunderland I don't know if we would have been promoted automatically last season. That win was momentum defined. He also had (pretty much) the same back line to work with.
I'm as confident in Muric as I was in Hladky to come good eventually. He's desperate to be playing with a solid back line rather than a constantly changed back line, but injuries happen. I believe in him. |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 56 | | Comment Votes: | 359 | | Prediction League: | 14 | | TOTAL: | 429 |
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