Harry Nilsson - Everybody’s Talkin’

A very good summing up in my opinion. I agree with nearly all your conclusions

It’s his eye for a pass and his ability to regularly deliver the pass at exactly the right pace, place and time that sets him apart from any other midfield player playing in the Prem at the moment. What’s he got you can’t teach players.

All the tests they ran on Pele as a young player showed the same thing. He almost had eyes in the back of his head. You can have real “ football intelligence “ without being anywhere near ready to go to Cambridge or Oxford. Wayne Rooney had it at 17. He just didn’t have much non football intelligence. Back in the day I remember listening to Malcolm Allison talking about this. He illustrated the point with a bit of play regarding George Cohen and Bobby Charlton. Charlton had the ball and Cohen was making an overlapping run. Instead of passing the ball more or less into Cohen’s run Charlton passed it yards further forward, almost to the byline. This compelled Cohen to cross the ball as soon as he got to it. Allison explained - “ That’s Charlton pulling the strings, he’s knows Cohen is a bit of a ditherer on the ball, so he’s passed the ball there to give George only one option - cross the ball “.

Modern footballer for me. He can run a bit, tackle a bit, head the ball a bit, pass the ball 20 yards. Has he got the “ X” factor ? Can he make play ? Not that I can see.

That’s what a stand full of away fans buys you.

Hottest day of my stay so far. We’re further down the coast, nearer to Almeria, but it was 39C on our terrace yesterday.

Little Eva - Keep Your Hands Off My Baby

They’d just cut back on expenditure. They’re way past caring now, if they ever cared in the first place. We’re just a broken toy.

What sort of chances ? Half chances like the one Ohashi had at West Brom ? How many chances have we missed this season where you could honestly say - “ That was a sitter, I could have scored there “ ? Hardly any. At the moment don’t make enough real chances, that is unarguable.

We’re under a fee and wage restriction.

I’m not sure the chicken chokers are overly concerned about us being relegated again. They’re probably thinking - “ Last time it was no big deal, they got back again “.

The Action - I’ll Keep Holding On

Early cotton mill fodder working every hour god sent from the age of about 10. Then cannon fodder “ Lions led by donkeys “ in WW1 etc etc Standing by whilst our industrial base vanished in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. I remember reading that in the late 19th century there was a pub or ale shop for every 12 people over drinking age in Blackburn. That speaks for itself.

Like I said to Chaddy - it’s relying on the set piece delivery being right. If a pro footballer can’t take a corner we might as well all stay in our own half.

The difference was WBA got the delivery right, we didn’t.

Yeah, he can’t take a corner.

Freda Payne - Band Of Gold

I have my own theory why our support is so supine regarding the shit being dumped on us by the chicken chokers. It relates to “ Lancashire folk “ being used to being shat on over the centuries in many varied ways.

You’re right on that point. We never seem to “ flood the box “. WBA scored their goal because they had plenty of players in our box and the ball fell to one of them.

I alway thought Dolan would be more of a success than BBD because he’s willing to work harder. I know, it’s a low bar. Fans will accept some failings if they can see the player is giving his all.

Clubs are no longer accepting “ magic beans “ as a currency.

Yeah they can all - run a lot, pass it 20 yards, tackle a bit, head the ball a bit, etc. Can the they beat an opponent with the ball at their feet ? Can they be a “. difference maker “ like Berkovic or Bohinen or Warhurst ? All that is coached out of them before they’re 15.

I’m not an Hedges fan but it’s pretty obvious that he’s better playing on his “ natural “ side ie the left hand side.

Ritchie Valens - Come On Let’s Go