Exiled in Toronto Mk2

Bit of revisionism methinks. Under Saxton, before Jack started paying for stuff, we finished 10th, 11th, 6th, 5th 19th and 12th, not much different to our last few years.

Not too despondent. Lost because our CHs were completely AWOL for the long throw. But it was clear to me there’s still a lot of rebuilding needed, particularly in centre mid - with no forward threat all in the middle, no direct running at CHs, teams can double up on our wingers. One of Travis/Tronstad has to be replaced as starters. My other main worry was Yuki: no hold up play as the forward and no nothing as the #10. Plus, with Miller’s humongous throw you have to have Papi on the pitch. I can see Miller being the third CB, then 5-2 ahead of him.

I’m liking this fella’s passing resemblance to a young Vinnie Jones

I agree about the team, but I thought it a hammer blow to the club - a pointer to there being only a future of Coddingtons and Conlons, rather than any more Newtons. Brittain will be forgotten this time next year.

Keith Newton

Speaking as a veteran Crohn’s expert (45 years and counting), the good news is that biologic drugs have revolutionized its management, with years or even decades of remission being far more common than in the past. The bad news is that its course is completely unpredictable and he could be in for major surgery next month - but then so could Wharton, Carter and Leonard. The one thing I’d say is he won’t be a malingerer in the treatment room for slight knocks - you soon learn that remission is a gift to be made the most of.

When Mercer is posting about himself and other folk arguing with the Chadbot, you know there’s no news. Have to say VI is growing on me, seems to know what he wants and it’s clearly not what we had. Seems like forever that we’ve had no pace, not enough height, not enough physicality, two defensive centre-mids because our defence was crap, and keeper even worse. About time to try something different. Brittain had a good season but JDT had him on the bench for JRC. As to losing Weimann’s and Dolan’s goals, we’ve said this every season since Dacky/Graham broke up. Someone will step up.

Kean, Agnew, Shaw, Senior, Chesterton, Singh - did any of them leaving really change the trajectory of the club? And if the family read Glenn’s WhatsApp messages, why does it matter which empty suit is in charge here?

Piss poor marking

Noticeable that the new gaffer has put a stop to Dolan’s drag backs, back heels and going round in circles - as did JDT - and he’s a much better player for it; good movement prior to create space for the pass and a good finish. And no way we get that goal with Pears - the quick releasing of the ball by Toth found a player who’d made a run to get into space - he’d have wasted his breath with Pears. I said two moths ago I thought we’d only get in the playoffs if the manager had the balls to drop Pears and Cantwell, which he didn’t till it was too late…

Do you mean 97.65% of the many thousands of registered users of this site or 97.65% of those who have voted, which is a tiny percentage of those many thousands?

Big differences for me are Toth’s much quicker distribution, and to someone who is expecting it, plus Trav and Sonny getting more advanced in possession.

And his distribution is much quicker

Who was the shifty looking bloke next to Gestede?

Anyone else think Pears was to blame for the second? A pointless performative dive for a shot heading for the corner flag.

Going back to my pre-retirement life, if I’d encountered those three in the boardroom, the only one I’d have listened to was Sunhail. I didn’t like everything he said, but at least he said it clearly and briefly. The other two however, are obviously out of their depth. The Geordie Sir Les Patterson blathers on endlessly, saying nothing and with zero charisma. Jeremy the trainee next to him was even worse, he makes Greg the Egg sound like Warren Buffet.

Is one point from the firs five games our worst ever managerial start?

It was a good save, he got an un-Pearsy like strong hand to the shot so it went up and away to a defender.

Two crosses into our box all afternoon - courtesy of two giveaways by us - both given free headers by the weak as piss Hyam, both easily beating the truly abysmal Pearsy. 5 goals in a week that would all have been saved by any of the keepers we faced.

Yes. A header from beyond the penalty spot that lost pace bouncing well in front of the goal. xGOT is correct, it should be virtually impossible to beat a keeper from there.

Even though the goal yesterday was not down to him, I thought he was shit in the moment. It’s going to be either a shot or a ball slipped in to the six yard box. Sanderson did a good job sending him wide making the shot unlikely. Pearsy though didn’t see that, was protecting a shot unlikely to come so made no attempt to cut out the ball. Even worse, he went onto the floor even though he was nowhere near the ball, precluding the albeit slim chance of being hit by the shot had he thrown himself across to the back post. Useless.

And what, 20-25 goals thrown in? Ishmael showing a lack of balls.

Gone to 3-5-2

Rest of Championship keepers -363 mins Pears - 2 mins 27 secs

I have to say I’m liking the cut of his jib so far. Reminds me of Souey coming in: imposing man, somewhat of a mixed record but old enough to have learnt lessons along the way, quarter of the season to see what he’s got. I would also see the contract situation as an opportunity - last thing you want to hear in a new job is you are stuck with all these dollopers for the foreseeable. I predict we won’t see a Eustace/Kidd arms-windmilling performative appearance on the touchline after 60 mins nor will we ever hear “Pearsy and Picks” again.