 | Forum
Thread | One more post about Cam...
at 11:00 15 Jun 2025
Sorry, only just remembered this so being self indulgent and starting a new thread rather than adding to one of 20 others.
Cam Burgess - once put in a shin high tackle with his face. Hard as nails |
| Forum
Reply | He is not going to Brentford
at 10:19 13 Jun 2025
I can feel the pile-on coming, but this is really just meant to voice my curiosity on this situation. No criticism intended to any parties involved before the usual crowd gallop in on their white steeds.
I've been really intrigued by people's interpretation of McKenna's comments on this. I read what he said at the time and didn't see anything that committed him to the club next season. It was all very vague and didn't really say anything much of substance.
It was the fact that the local press jumped on it big to say 'you should read this as he is definitely staying' that got people thinking that's what he'd said. It's not clear-cut in what he has actually said, yet the story is written as if it is.
I obviously am suspicious of this as it's been proven that the local press have taken editorial lines from the club before. So you could easily see a scenario where the club have asked them to make more of a vague quote than is true in order to suit a financial agenda. Remember that 'we are very well protected', 'Delap might stay you know' and this story all came out around season ticket renewals...
He definitely didn't say 'If any club asks me to be their manager I will say no' but then I fully appreciate that he can't in today's media world. Noone wants to give a quote that they can be hanged with later. To give a wrestling example, CM Punk has gotten into trouble recently by previously coming out strong against taking 'saudi blood money', only to now be working a match there.
Ultimately, I hope it turns out that he stays; that he is currently having a well earned holiday with his family and comes back refreshed and ready to find new players and attack the championship again. But, if he does go, I can easily see a 'well, I didn't actually say I was staying now did I?'
And also good luck to him if he does go. Its a job. I've moved jobs for better pay and prospects, KMc has exactly the same right to that as I do. You only get to do this once... |
| Forum
Thread | Retro Town on Sky just now
at 09:45 13 Jun 2025
Nottingham Forest 3 vs 0 Ipswich, last game of 2017.
Anyone remember that one? I have to admit I'd stepped away during that period as had a young family so only recognised a few players.
Two very soft penalties when viewed with modern eyes |
| Forum
Reply | If McKenna goes....
at 13:05 10 Jun 2025
Not strictly to the point of the many, many threads on this, but isn't it just really refreshing to for once be looking at people with a pulse for our next manager?
First time in my lifetime we aren't:
- Looking at someone to step up from the lower leagues (Hurst, Cook to an extent, Burley)
- Looking at an older manager hoping for one last cuppa coffee in the big time (McCarthy, Royle)
- Looking at an utter lunatic with a reputation (Lambert, Keane)
- Looking at total shots in the dark (Magilton, McKenna)
We've come a long way baby |
| Forum
Reply | Huni's count
at 17:42 8 Jun 2025
I'd add to the Home vs Away fighter bias referenced here the bias that if the downed opponent is the defending champion, or is the "a-side" of the fight in terms of star power, or if the downed opponent was winning on points AND it's the last round.
I'd also point out that each of the alphabet boxing boards have different rules - some insist on the minimum 8 count, some don't. Some I think have the rule of a "standing 8 count" where it's in effect ruled a knockdown even if still on your feet. Obviously, WBA rules are the relevant ones here as that is who sanctioned the fight (it was for their "interim" "regular" world title I believe).
Having no unified world body doesn't help with the overall murkiness of boxing narrative. |
| Forum
Reply | Huni's count
at 11:38 8 Jun 2025
Just picking up on if Huni would be happy to lose. It's kind of the art of "matchmaking", and Warren has decades of experience in padding his fighters' records to prolong everyone's paydays - culminating in the final payday where they lose to the genuine "big cheese" of the division. See Naseem Hamed, Jonny Nelson, Ricky Hatton (before he left Warren post-Tsyzu fight), Joe Calzaghe (for the bulk of his career before again he left), Amir Khan, Audley Harrison. The aim of the game is to match up with someone who is just good enough to preserve your fighter's ranking, will put on a good show, but won't spoil the grand plan by beating them.
Huni took the fight on 5 weeks' notice. Nobody takes a fight on that notice with any notion of winning. In wrestling parlance, Huni is a "jobber to the stars" - beats the "jobbers" beneath him, loses to the guys the promoter wants to push to the top of the card. His script would have been to make Wardley work, lose valiantly, and there will be more paydays like this ahead.
I remember the BBC did an article years ago about journeyman boxers (jobbers), which said if they don't follow the script, they don't get booked/can't earn a living. Same with fighters the same level as Huni - look at what happened to Andy Ruiz vs Joshua. Hardly been good for his career, causing the upset was it? |
| Forum
Reply | Huni's count
at 11:15 8 Jun 2025
Yes, I completely agree. As I mentioned in an earlier post, you've got to protect the fighters first and foremost. I referenced the UFC as being ridiculous, where fighters are encouraged to hammerfist an unconscious fighter in the head until the referee physically pulls them off. I wouldn't want to see that.
An important factor that I've just discovered is this was in round 10/12 not 10/10 as I originally thought (probably as not a 'proper' title on the line). This gives the referee some cover too - it's only really the final round that the "benefit of the doubt if winnning" rule applies to knockdowns.
Carl Froch vs Jermain Taylor has just come to me as a good example of that actually. Taylor is up by miles in the 12, but has gassed and Froch spends most of the 12 battering him round the ring. Referee lets this go until he really has no option to stop it; Taylor was only 15secs away from holding on. If it had happened in any other round he would have been stopped minutes earlier.
Think probably on balance it's fine. The ref hasn't helped himself with a quicker than needed count and waving it off without a proper look. I think if a more steady count had seen Huni get up at 8, the referee take a proper look at him and then wave it off, there would be far fewer complaints. Optics I guess, but the result is the same so doesn't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. [Post edited 8 Jun 11:20]
|
| Forum
Reply | Huni's count
at 09:25 8 Jun 2025
It's actually 9 and then waves it off, but that's besides the point.
I think the points raised are more around the speed of the count, when the count starts, what number he picks up the count from (pretty sure he goes from 4 to 6 without counting 5), and if its 9 and a wave off (which is what I've seen), whether the referee has properly judged that Huni was in 'not fit state to continue'. He doesnt even look at him before deciding that.
Like I've said, the result fits the 'booking' for the fight and everyone leaves happy. This kind of thing really isn't rare in boxing for those of us that have watched more than just the most hyped of fights. |
| Forum
Reply | Huni's count
at 01:25 8 Jun 2025
I would of course refer to Sven Ottke vs David Starie as a great illustration of said hometown fighter points robberies...
Or probably a good 10 of Ottke's defences. It was well known all the judges were wined and dined at 5 star German hotels before each of his fights. No wonder Calzaghe only went for unification after Ottke retired. [Post edited 8 Jun 1:27]
|
| Forum
Reply | Huni's count
at 01:06 8 Jun 2025
Ive followed boxing for 30years. Looked a hasty stoppage and a fast count to me. No doubt he wasn't all there still, but you often see benefit of doubt given to fighters winning on the card in the final round.
Don't get me wrong fighter safety is paramount, and I hate that in the UFC you can get away with reigning down fists on an unconscious fighter, but I think given the cards Huni had earnt the right to attempt to clinch out the round.
At the end of day, I've long made peace with boxing having more in common with pro-wrestling than with a legitimate sport.
The result required to appease all parties was a Wardley decisive win, and that's what happened. Everyone moves on happy and a little bit wealthier. [Post edited 8 Jun 1:08]
|
| Forum
Reply | Marco Silva
at 09:25 2 Jun 2025
I think the new contract he signed last summer could be more key than we think.
Regardless of where we think KMc's stock is as a manager now vs last summer, we can safely assume that he is now more expensive to get than he was pre-Brighton/Palace/Chelsea/Man Utd interest.
That presents more of a risk, its more of a 'punt' if you will. That's not a comment on him as a manager, simply the economics of it; the bigger the investment, the bigger the pressure that it's 'right'.
And I know these clubs can afford it, but it's still not nothing. If it doesn't work out and he's gone in three months, that's money lost that could've gone on a semi-decent squad player or up and comer. Fans remember those kind of things. There is still negativity around what it cost Man Utd to change Ten Hag for Amourim, and I'd suggest the latter currently has more pedigree than KmC, yet the figures involved could potentially be similar.
Another layer to an interesting summer ahead anyway. |
| Forum
Thread | Kone or Kelman?
at 13:40 1 Jun 2025
Obvious it's not a binary choice, but dawned on me that there has been a lot of talk about Kone to us, and nadda about Kelman, even though he was leading scorer in same division.
What do we think about him, talk that QPR may be interested in selling? |
| Forum
Reply | Delap & PSR
at 13:01 27 May 2025
Just posted this on another thread but assume Chelsea will want him for Club World Cup so will be pushing for it to be done 1-10th June window?
I wonder if some slight of hand accounting can be done to suit all parties whereby we loan him to Chelsea until say July then a sale is completed? |
| Forum
Reply | Next sale & New signings
at 12:58 27 May 2025
I assume if it's Chelsea for Delap then that will get done in the early window to allow him to play in Club World Cup?
Though by business I'm guessing you meant incomings more than outgoings. |
| Forum
Reply | Doing the 92 in one season
at 19:21 26 May 2025
Being a bit erm 'particular' as I can be from time to time, I think I'm up to 70 if I count grounds I visited with Town in my youth.
However, I haven't counted them as can't remember the details and don't have the programmes to prove it (I have a spreadsheet and four folders of programmes. Like I said, 'particular'). |
| Forum
Reply | Doing the 92 in one season
at 18:51 26 May 2025
That's bizarre. Paywall has gone for me too!
Yeah imagine impossible unless got the sort of contacts and expense account that comes with a national newspaper.
I'm at about 50 having only seriously tried for two seasons, and paid over £200 for a ticket at least 5 times so far |
| Forum
Thread | Doing the 92 in one season
at 18:44 26 May 2025
https://inews.co.uk/sport/things-i-learned-doing-the-92-3713551
Read a preview of this article on reddit, seems really interesting. Its behind a paywall, if anyone knows the internet magic to unlock it, have at it!
Enjoyed in particular the description of the toilets at Oakwell (I went to their first game of this season) - walk in, see wall, pee on wall, leave. Doesnt even have a roof, just four brick walls and a piece of gutter concreted into the floor
|
| Forum
Reply | Hey Jude
at 13:57 26 May 2025
I'm in the minority that actually quite likes The Angel so would be well up for Ed to pen something for us. Kinda wondered why it hasn't yet, bit of a no brainer imho |
| | Jrm_72
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 226 | | Comment Votes: | 0 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 226 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.