 | Forum
Thread | Goodison, the ghosts of a previous football and thoughts on Town performance
at 10:34 4 May 2025
Really enjoyed seeing Goodison yesterday. One of the great grounds in British football. The displays and atmosphere at the beginning was moving.
A slight shiver as you appreciated all that history being put to rest. The game's relentless 'modernisation' and vulnerability to the whims of huge investment/venture capital etc. has never been so stark. As these grounds go, we're losing the last things that connect us to a very different period of football. A more romantic and innocent period that has gone.
St Luke's church in sight behind the screen in the corner of the Gwladys Street end, the steep no nonsense stands which just aimed to pack a crowd in, not sell them an experience, the banners, the ground nestled in residential streets. But above all a reminder of a time when the ordinariness of football, it's part in a normal Saturday routine and working class experience, with little marketing or hype, was married with the possibility that your local team could do extraordinary things and build a dynasty and that this was more to do with timing, individual personalities and a collective will than simply the cold calculation of a spreadsheet of financial investment.
If a team like Everton, with all that proud history, can't realistically ever win the league or cups again , then what have we done to the game? Nowadays even colossal financial investment will probably only mean you're competitive in the horrible 'finish in the champions league places' context.
But Goodison reminded you of a time when anything was possible and communities could be proud of teams that built dynasties that represented them and were shaped by them.
It must have been so exciting in that pre Premier League era!
Can you imagine anyone building a new ground now right in the heart of a community that is part of it in the way Goodison is? The sight of the church from inside the ground was strangely affecting - something that would never happen now.
As for Town. Spirited! Deserved fightback and some really good signs. I thought Omari played well, Enciso goal incredible and great character and concentration shown by all.
But as many have said, my standout was Hirst again. What a player, what a worker. His hold up and link up play has been outstanding again this season. He's so unlucky not to have played more. Well taken goal too.
But the thing I most liked yesterday? The way he puts the team first.. Enciso is clearly an emotional character, must be tricky to manage sometimes. Did you notice how much time George put in geeing him up and supporting him? When he hit a shot well over, it was George who was straight over to give him a positive tap and encouragement. Happened several times. Tayls was the same when Enciso went down injured. The emotional intelligence of this group is yet another reflection of KM.
We are in very good shape.
[Post edited 4 May 10:37]
|
| Forum
Thread | Smiling at St James
at 18:27 26 Apr 2025
Typing this out as I wait for the train to begin schlep back to Ipswich.
In the end, I was smiling today. Not because of the game (another very familiar plot played out and as ever spirited and promising before the red. I've not seen anything back yet but my feeling was the second yellow was a yellow sadly. If the dive wasn't a dive that's another matter) but because looking out across the city of Newcastle from the top of a fantastic stadium and another proper club, today felt like a good day to take stock of what has happened to us over the last few years.
There's Morsy, Woolfy, big Cam, then Chappers and Hirst. Players who we were watching at Morecambe and Cheltenham running themselves into the ground to finally get us out of the league one horror show.
Then there's Mass. Signed on a six month contract and not wanted by Wednesday or Boro. In many ways the final piece of the puzzle that year.
And Woolfy. The same Woolfy who was virtually in tears after we were beaten by Swindon at home and the club looked cut adrift. Now racking up appearances in the Premier League.
There's Kieran at the final whistle acknowledging us all. A fantastic manager and person who has led with intelligence, class and resolve.
And the team still working hard, still putting their all in when lesser sides would have just given up or phoned it in. Cam and Palmer having spirited exchange about tactics, everyone working hard.
There's Delap. Probably the most exciting young player in English football and we've had the pleasure of watching him this year.
And here they all are in one of the great grounds of this country playing a team who will be in the champions League again.
It's mad and funny when you think about it.
And all of this seemed to begin with that message from Greyhound confirming the takeover was back on.
|
| Forum
Thread | Newcastle tomorrow
at 13:50 25 Apr 2025
Who's going? On the 7.58 out of Ipswich tomorrow. Looking forward to it even if we're likely to have relegation confirmed on the final whistle. [Post edited 25 Apr 13:51]
|
| Forum
Thread | Burg second goal at Bolton away in front of the fans
at 06:57 8 Apr 2025
Big moment that. Kind of rounded of by him at Coventry a year and a bit later.
What a fantastic player. I'm going to miss him proving lots wrong time and time again.
Really improved his touch, passing play here and a proper no nonsense defender.
Burg angled ball forward for Leif over the top 🥹
|
| Forum
Thread | 'A Spanish international who has come from PSG coming off the bench'
at 18:23 5 Apr 2025
And that's the difference at this level. That's Wolves we are talking about.
Ita been the case for a while but it's still hard to get your head around the facr that we're in a league whose money has made Bournemouth more of a heavyweight in the European transfer market than AC Milan.
To be honest there's not much about rhe Premier League I'll miss. Money is beginning to ruin the championship but it's still the best league in the world
How did football become so joyless at the very top? It's just money and robotic ruthlessness. [Post edited 5 Apr 18:26]
|
| Forum
Thread | I could listen to this level of detail from KM all day
at 15:30 4 Apr 2025
For the second one we roll a goal kick short to Dara O'Shea, with a patterned movement to Sam Morsy, with a patterned connection to Nathan Broadhead, with a patterned connection back to Jens Cajuste, because we knew we had the 2v1 on their number 10 when they're pressing their diamond shape.
"We knew whenever we connected back to Jens Cajuste that Liam would be 1v1 in the left channel because Julio Enciso would have dragged the right-back inside. So we knew that we'd go into the space to Liam Delap in the channel and then Conor (Townsend) would arrive with an overlap.
"Then we knew that our number 10 and our winger would run to the first line, so we'd go for a second line cross. So if that is the epitome of direct play then I'm not sure!
It's a little bit of a departure from Mick's 'Johnny on the spot' isn't it.... |
| Forum
Thread | Feeling good about our situation now
at 10:16 4 Apr 2025
This run in suits our 'just focus on the next game' style.
There's no pressure on us at all. Everyone thinks we're gone. We just need to win tomorrow. Looks like KM has predictably kept everyone's standards and motivation high. As you knew he would. We wanted to play and compete and maybe Bournemouth.
Psychological element of tomorrow mustn't be discounted.We can put a bit of pressure back on them.
Momentum is a funny thing. |
| Forum
Thread | Jewell watching the DVD, Mick huddling the players on pitch V Hull, the
at 17:55 31 Mar 2025
Turnstiles getting a fresh gloss, Quaner cutting a forlorn figure up front, Stuart Taylor being sarky to Blue Action, used car salesmen, 5 year plans, Hurst and deputy Doig reading the riot act after Exeter League cup loss, le coach est parti, Skuglas plus Hyam midfield, four CBs at the back under Roy, Leadbitter corners, Woolfy virtually in tears after getting beaten at home by Swindon, Walters sending Roy picture of his own vomit after being accused of pretending to be ill, Roy taking the team to the paras in Colchester and everyone getting blisters, Dai Cornell, demolition man, Lee O'Neill doing twenty jobs, tree growing out of Churchman's roof...
We'd have killed to be here during all those years. Quarter of the season so left. We are still in this. Let's give it a right good go this week. You never ever know in football.
|
| | jasondozzell
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 2674 | | Comment Votes: | 16 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 2690 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.