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Bit of a shame that, in other circumstances, that would look like a positive loan for O'Grady-Mackens, but rumoured to be more about shipping him out. Strange fall off after earning an FA Cup sub (under Eustace...) only this past January... Happy O'Riordan's doing well. I've been somewhat vocal that we need to be patient with his pathway, and not to write him off too quickly due to that Cambridge loan. Too bad that Olson hasn't broken through with Oldham yet, but may just need to bide his time. Barrett was such an odd signing/re-signing. I'm a (perhaps ironic 🙂) Benson defender and have been curious what they've been trying to build with our relatively big stable of youth GKs (and Barrett's not even that young, which prevented him from being even a 3rd GKer when we hit the senior roster cap last year!), but didn't get anything out of the likes of Stergiakis, Eastham, Hilton, or Fisher (except presumably nominal fees for the latter). I guess we'll see with Michalski, Goddard, Honor, Khan, etc. Heck, maybe Barrett will get a chance and show something at Tranmere (seems to be replacing their previous backup, a 44 yo player-coach!) Duru with a couple subs so far. I was curious how much gametime he'd actually get given San Diego are in 2nd in the league (impressive for an expansion team!), so that's kind of encouraging. However, another one where it's hard to get too excited given all signs point to that move also being about shipping him out.

Ha..No wonder they refused my request for Stations of the Cross at half time lol

There is a remedy of course 🙂

My think was is often if you dont have two competent cbs you are better off playing 3 at the back to minimise the damage. Utilising full backs in the wider roles as something in between a proper centre back and a full back. I think my point would it be betyer to have pickering and miller playing as part of a back 3 rather than miller playing consistenly as a cb in a back 4.

If you compare the league one side to our current side... That team walks all over this one. That should tell you everything you need to know.

You wanna fuck off somewhere else like? A Wrexham board maybe? We're kind of in the middle of a few things here. Been in Europe have you? You've never even been in the top flight or won a trophy that wasn't absolutely tinpot, so whatever backwater backdoor you accomplished that through doesn't even matter. I'm quite sure we'd have won the 'Welsh Cup' a few dozen times if we were eligible for it, given we've been above you in the leagues for almost every season we've both existed. There was no Cup Winners Cup when we won our trophies, and there was no Champions League or UEFA Cup etc during most of our title wins and top 6 finishes. You've had more European forays through quirks of the system at the time, and being Welsh, that's all. TBC, I didn't mean you're not an old club, and actually I respect small local clubs and I watch your documentary. I'm actually quite happy for you and your town, albeit jealous you've managed to land good owners whilst we languish with our fuckwits and no light at the end of the tunnel. But if you're going to pipe up...by fuck all history I meant it really pales into insignificance next to ours - founder members of the football league and Premiership, the first professional footballer, 3 league titles, 6 FA Cups, 1 League Cup, significant trophies across all three centuries, more than half of our history spent in the top flight. Congratulations, you were founded 11 years earlier than us, but you haven't ever been in the top flight or won anything anybody gives a ha'penny shit about. Your future looks brighter than ours at present, but your history isn't in the same stratosphere at all.

And then getting sold

Where did I say that? I said it's nicer when I don't focus on off-field matters. You'll no doubt take that wrongly, but when I do "switch off", at least I'm not thinking about what is going on behind the scenes. When I'm here talking about it, it gets me down, just as I'm sure it does everyone else. But Rovers are insidious (not a nice way of putting it) these days. What can I do? 🙂

Most amusing Eddie.

you must see the difference between offering a range of products which includes vegan products and only offering vegan products. as in hey some of our food is halal versus now all of our food is halal.

I don't understand how if the food happens to be halal it's forcing religion on you. I could serve you a bottle of wine which is vegan but I'm not forcing veganism on you.

And to be absolutely clear I'm not a fan of Pears.

No way am I terminating Pears contract. He's a more than adequate number 2 at this level and if Toth gets injured then he'll have a point to prove.. if he's off I definitely want a fee and competition for Toth.. Ideally Benson is pushing him hard to improve and be ready.. He's definitely worth a fee, million at least...

Be interesting to see who emerges as the best manager this season

I think Duru’s move to America was on their deadline day or very close to it.

I thought you weren't going to speculate on off-field matters, just focus on the match? But here you are, with a steady trickle of possibilities. I think some of the players certainly did feel unhappy about the Venky mishandling. And I certanly think it was more than just they could get better deals elsewhere. Incidentally, given you prefer not to think/talk about Venky and other off field shenanigans that you can't control, you certainly seem to do just that. In the same vein, I can't control Trump or Netanyahu's behaviour, but I certainly talk about it and worry about it.

Isn't that exactly what's happening in those two scenarios (1. halal as only option due to religious beliefs and 2. fish as only option due to religious beliefs) Surely choice is the answer, not pandering for one belief or another. Agree with the 2nd part though that major issues exist at the club, and this isn't particularly one of them.

Always thought Pears would end up in America at some point, can he still go there?

I don't get the hoo haa about the halal food. It's just easier to make everything halal than some halal and some not. Why is it an issue? What are staff missing out on? Religion isn't being forced upon anyone. Christ. I'm an atheist, but if my work place wanted to do fish only on a Friday because some members of staff are catholic then fine. There are major issues at our club, but halal food isn't one of them and mentioning it misses the point completely. Please grow up people.

I’m surprised Batty didn’t get another loan move. Did pretty well at Accy last season and was expecting him to get another L2 move minimum.

Players weren’t offered contracts because the club would have known the terms the players wanted through agents. Why would they put an offer in writing if they know the player would reject it? The bigger issue is not whether players were offered formal contracts, but why we can’t compete financially with the likes of Derby or Middlesbrough, given the wealth of our owners. Jumping on whether a contract was technically offered or not is missing the point entirely. I dont doubt there’s plenty wrong behind the scenes, but you’re desperate to whip up the fans at any opportunity to boost your ego. The conspiracy theories are tedious and distracting from the main problems. As an aside, Hyam being sold yesterday is a farce and has undone any of the good work achieved over the summer.

Could still have a loan or permanent overseas Plenty of windows still open around Europe & further afield https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/transferfenster

His full name is Suhail Anwar Pasha Shaikh. He was regularly referred to as Suhail Pasha in the early days, then more commonly Suhail Shaikh. The former seems to have stuck with fans.

That’s my size & fit 😉

No wonder venkys have gotten away with it for 15 years and now Rudy and Pasha are able to run the place freely.. unless you’re being sarcastic