Magic finish. What a signing he’s been so far

Not too bad a half. Bristol a bit out of sorts, we are looking alright generally. A few trying a bit “too” hard, which isn’t so much a criticism as it is a comment on things not quite pulling off. Beck, Carter and Travis having good games, Dolan very active and playing a bit simpler today, but not quite in it. Think Ohashi one that’s guilty of trying a bit too hard, perhaps needs to let the game come to him second half. Overall: pleased.

Parker’s done well in the Championship, but with extremely well-put-together squads and money. Looks like the American Experiment they’ve been under has hit a wobble and the thing about Americans is they hate losing to the point of error. If there’s even a remote hint of conflict over there, it could boil over into a real mess and I don’t think their fans are quite hip to that. It’s not going to be the mega-money Kompany team and I think there are a lot of players in that team that wanted out on Friday. Delusional is the correct term. I think they believe they’ll walk this league and I also think it’s not going to work out like that. Ideally, they have a December meltdown and get humbled at Ewood. Cantwell gelled into that team with rotation and refinement of process, I think they could get their arses handed to them.

If the job’s too hard for them, maybe they shouldn’t be doing it. I think the profile of individual in officiating is so mismatched to the task. Pencil pusher drips. There should be outreach for more former professionals to be doing it or for a much better profile to be developed. Today, the ref was the same one who bottled giving Bournemouth a penalty against United last season. Just a weak character. The opposite of what you need in a high-stakes game like today was.

Agreed. He’s definitely not worth the kind of money that he reckons he is. Did anyone come in for him this summer? A year left on the deal and nobody came in? He needs to knuckle down and deliver this season.

We’ve really dug in since the red card, encouraging to see.

The unfortunate truth underpinning the minutiae of this match is that - as a team - we are not playing well. Not handling the occasion, touches are poor in the key moments, bad decision making. Dangerous number of yellows. A little more fight than last time, but we look petrified.

Fully agree

Aside from the run through for the goal, Dolan has been basically non-existent. He’s about to lose his place to a player several times his level, he should be busting a gut for his shirt.

We’re about to get fucked out of this by the officials. Spineless, can’t take the heat, don’t officiate the game. Absolutely lost their heads.

Conceding from free headers is the kind of thing that happens three steps below this one. Carter horrendously overcommitted and Hyam like a headless chicken in the box for it. Feel for Owen Beck, what a game to be dropped into.

Extremely pleased with this. It’s a punt worth making and not the kind of move we’ve made too often recently. I was very concerned by “The Model” being replaced by Rudy and Park, but I am fully impressed that they’ve managed this one and that the others are turning into good bits of business. Nice feeling to go into the game tomorrow with.

I’m so fucking angry at the admin

Passing through 8pm is just weirdly ominous. We’re all living with PTSD.

That’s the thing! You can keep making it, just like they keep saying it! What are you waiting for?!

To be fair to Waggott, he does seem to do quite a bit, he’s just fucking awful at all of it.

This joke is never gonna get old for me. Love seeing it every time.

I hope it’s the latter but Waggott has tried the “medical shows you’re too risky, we’ll have to change the contract” before, I believe. I think there was a footballer said as much on a podcast and it might even have been deadline day.

People are pretty certain in their opinions, is the thing, but I think criticism should always be direct, for balance. We’ve entered the “off-topic” realm now, so before we get pulled for it, I suggest we cut it short. Even still, I appreciate the clarity.

So for clarity; we should only express opinions on players we may be looking to sign if we’re proven scouts? Noted, thanks for the clarification.

Sorry for posting an opinion, I guess?

Interesting. Seems to play a little simpler than Dolan and carries the ball well, but agreed, he’s not lightning and does cut infield a bit too often. I do think he looks quicker than Dolan at top speed in this video, though.

Quite the weekend for the nerves. Deadline day with Waggott at the wheel ‘til 11pm tonight. Dingledome Derby 13 hours later. *GULP*

Someone mentioned that Las Palmas had put an offer to Cantwell yesterday.

Las Palmas currently 1-0 up at home to Madrid. Let’s hope we’ve got this deal done, what a gazumping we’d be onto