28 minutes ago, arbitro said:

Luton and Coventry at home, Huddersfield and Blackpool away are stark reminders to me what can go wrong. I don't believe I'm negative but more of a pragmatist. However you are correct, one game at a time (Sweet Jesus).

Well this next few games could tell us a lot then, as we play Luton & Hudds in the next 4, all of which are eminently winnable & could really consolidate a play off spot at least; what progress that would be.

I'd like to think that the confidence gained from the response to the Fulham embarrassment outweighs those other disappointments, but we'll see; confidence is a fragile thing...

But we all now know that this squad has guts, spirit & fight in them, given the Fulham match & the first 2 mins v Sheff Utd. That's what gives me REAL hope that we can achieve something special this season.

Agree re the dangers of over confidence though. Just focus on ourselves, match by match.

26 minutes ago, den9112 said:

Got my ticket weeks ago left it in a envelope on my side table were i sit in the living room ,looks like its in one of the black bags used for all the wrapping paper and other envelopes from yesterday as we can't find it anywhere...Got two of the kids going through the bags as write this ,slightly panicking but i know its not left the house ..

Happy hunting, hope they turn up...🤞

10 minutes ago, El Tombro said:

First Christmas present of the day. Sound like van Hecke and Khadra are staying for the season. 🙂

Where is this from please?

Merry Christmas everyone!!

(Ben, if you're reading this, "Felis Navidad!")

COYB

5 hours ago, rigger said:

That link was from September, things could have changed.

I think we will all agree that a lot HAS changed since September, pleasingly!!

Looking at that link that Chaddy posted (cheers Chaddy), I can't think there's much if a chance Khadra will come here permanently. They clearly rate him (who wouldn't), he'll be too good to stay in the championship & if we get promoted it would take a large sum to get them to part with him.

Same with Van Hecke.

Hope I'm wrong mind.

3 hours ago, rigger said:

I would agree if we manage to sign Khadra on a permanant deal.

Not sure that matters if he contributes to us getting promotion.

41 minutes ago, chaddyrovers said:

Park scouted Kharda and recommend him after seeing him live against Rangers in a friendly. 

If this is correct (I don't recall hearing it said previously), then it's not a bad start to Park's Ewood stint; if he can pull more rabbits out of the hat like Khadra then that's good enough fir me.

Thanks Tony. That makes it sound like Pickering had a really bad game, but I didn't get that feeling at the match. After all, a full back / wingback's first job is to stop the crosses.

It's funny how deeper analysis can dispel first impressions.

To be fair to Gallagher, he's never been one not to put a shift in, whatever other criticisms may be levelled against him ability-wise.

52 minutes ago, JonnyP said:

I’d be happy if we got close to making our money back on him.

But that's exactly what was being said by many about Ben 12 months back. I'm not saying anything spectacular like that will happen for Gally, but if he is played in the right role then I think he can be very useful and be a 10-15 goals a season player.

He's on 5 already this season, that's playing less than half the season and mostly outside of his strongest position.

He's worth giving an extended contract to, there's no doubt in my mind.

All valid points in the posts above.

Playing devil's advocate a little, Lord Baltimore admits that there's not much young talent coming through in Chile hence why they looked further afield for qualifying players, so in 2/3 years' time will they realistically be challenging for the latter stages of the Copa America or the WC in 2026?

Also Matty, who would have said 12 months ago that he would be flying like he is now? If he continues to develop, who knows what ghat could lead to? Look at Jamie Vardy for an example of how a player can come through from nowhere & hit the top, especially if they offer something different to their peers.

Anyway it was a daft question, albeit thought provoking. I would tend to agree that whatever happens from here he should have no regrets as it's been a unique journey for him.

Thanks for humouring me!

We must try our damndest to get Lenihan, Rothwell & Nyambe all signed up long term, if necessary with non-promotion or modest buy out clauses effective from summer onwards; failing that, reject all offers & keep them here until the summer to try to finish the job. Same with BBD & Kaminski, though that's less urgent & probably harder to achieve, esp in BBD's case.

To be fair, none of them seem unhappy; quite the opposite in fact. Hopefully the common unity & desire not to spoil it for the rest of the squad will carry some weight in their decision-making.

Cancel Poveda's loan (with some reluctance) and Clarkson too (I can't see he has a role to play this season). 

Spend decent money on a RB / RWB to challenge RN; no need to break the bank, but I'm sure there's a right-sided Pickering out there.

I genuinely don't think we need too much more; we have decent cover almost everywhere, somewhat unexpectedly. January is never the best time to buy, and we don't want to risk undoing the harmony in the squad by signing a well-known player that likely comes with an ego.

Here's a half-serious / half-jokey question to discuss; having been born in the delectable (ahem) Stoke on Trent, in 2 or 3 years' time might BBD regret nailing his colours to the Chilean mast at the tender age of 22?

Off you go...!

Plus I have some signed, framed memorabilia of Nobby Stiles & Sir Bobby Charlton, the only 2 English players to win the WC & European Cup / Champions League. It would have no value if England win the WC!!

(It was a drunken purchase in an auction at a kids xmas footy do years ago. It's stashed away wrapped up in a dark cupboard, there's no way I'm putting it on display with Utd's badge on it!)

Rovers. Simples.

I presume those comments were made in response to specific questions, and was therefore put on the spot?

If he's not been told by the owners - his bosses - what they plan is, he's hardly going to publicly commit them to anything is he, especially if he is after a new contract himself. Would you make outright promises about your company commiting to a certain level of investment without any authority's to do so?

I think folk read too much into managers' media interviews, be it pre-match comments about the opposition, post match analysis, transfer speculation etc. I'm sure internal conversations are very different and much less diplomatic. 

5 minutes ago, TimmyJimmy said:

This style of play is our nemesis.  I'm worried by this one. It's going to be a tough bruising encounter.

I think we have enough at the back to cope with most of what they throw at us in that respect.

All 4 of our CBs are good in the air & don't mind putting their bodies on the line; it's been a long time since we've been able to say that!

Fancy us today (I know, I know!).

We now have a really strong first 15/16 players, the only position we seem to lack any depth in is RB. I hear covid doesn't affect any of last week's starting 11, which I'd go with again if possible (albeit with TK replacing AP).

Form is temporary. We're top of the form table & Brum near-bottom, but that doesn't really mean much besides breeding confidence & momentum, both of which can quickly shatter a young team that is founded on being hard working, well organised & pacey on the counter. It only takes an injury, red card or a bad ref to spoil what's brewing.

If we are at it from the off & get an early goal, we could go on and get a hatful. Should they score first, we'll have another chance to see what our young bucks are made of. 

With the cushion we already have to 7th & with more postponements likely over Christmas, this is a real chance to nail ourselves on as leading play off contenders if not top 2(!!).

Any result is on the cards today. I'm  going for a 3-0 win with BBD (2) and Rothwell.  But I'll happily take another 0-7 if it leads to us going on another 6 game run afterwards like this one!! 

On 13/12/2021 at 12:24, oldjamfan1 said:

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better after what you've been through mate. Take it easy. It sounds like you're an open enough book to not be afraid of speaking up about your mental health, which is half the battle.

You've got plenty of people on BRFCS on your side, take care.

Thanks fella, & the others who liked my post. Tbh I'm only just coming to terms with how important it is to speak openly about mental health struggles, but I'm getting there.

Let's just say it's a journey, to bring it back on topic!

Or, even better... 😁