Tyrone Shoelaces

Sad really, we gave him away.

The Knight Brothers - Temptation ‘Bout To Get Me

Maybe but would they even get their money back on him ?

As I said on another thread - they have a truly massive squad that must be costing an absolute fortune. Last time they had a couple of good players to sell to balance the books. I can’t see there being many clubs rushing to chuck big money at their existing squad.

I think he inspired the players yesterday enough to put in that performance.

I was just looking at the league table. Have we ever won more away games than home games previously ?

I saw their playing squad listed the other day. I never realised it before but they’ve got a massive number of players. What that lot must be costing in wages I shudder to think. At least they’ll be saving a fortune on winning bonuses.

Without a significant strengthening at both ends of the team we are doomed to repeat this season. Expecting a more expansive way of playing with the existing squad is just dreaming.

The way I look at it is - Eustace came in a took a look at the squad. What are we good at ? What are our strengths ? Where are our weaknesses ? what formation will suit us best ? First he looked at the strikers and thought - “ Bloody hell, the cupboards bare in that direction. Apart from Sammi nobody has a goal in them. That’s after he looked at the goalkeeping situation and though - Bloody hell, we’re in big trouble between the sticks. Defenders - were not too badly off as long as we can defend in numbers. Midfield - a bit limited plus too many of the players are injury prone. So - pack the defence, ensure the keepers have as little to do as possible. Try and get the ball to Sammi as much as possible. Grind out as many points as possible until we can regroup in the close season. Not pretty on the eye but we live to fight another day.

I was thinking Andy McEvoy when he scored that goal at Leeds. He never really goes for power but he just passes the ball into the net like a lot of the top strikers do/did.

I didn’t either, he did ok under the high ball today.

I presume that should read - Can’t see Trav going unless we get a decent offer ?

I’m prepared to be patient with Hyam, I’m not 100% sure he wasn’t carrying the after effects of that injury he had. However if we were to sell him I’d love to see Hill back. He’s hardly played since he went back to Bournemouth.

Yeah, Hill looked the part but we are probably better off for centre halves than any other position.

Mm, possibly. He’d have to muscle up a bit. I’d have no problem playing him there in an injury crisis. I don’t know when Hyam cried off but I suspect Pickering was moved over to centre half very late in the day.

If we have to take a similar collection of players to the Dingle Dome next season I’d rather be going with Eustace than the last manager that took us there. At least we know we can grind out results now if need be.

I thought Pickering looked good as a left sided centre back. He’s decent in the air, reads the play pretty well and has a good line in left footed clearances.

I’d have Chrisene back next season.

That first goal was great. I didn’t know Sammi was that quick. He didn’t panic and shoot early but took it in close before threading the needle between the keepers left hand and inside of the far post. I classic image that will stay with me forever.

Don’t worry, they won’t be backing anyone.

Just look who we had on the bench today capable of influencing the game. Let me just list the bench - Wahlstadt, O’Riordan, Koumetio, Buckley, Moran, Garrett, Timon, Telavic, Ayari. A dodgy keeper, two totally in-experienced centre halves, Buckley, OK, Moran and Garrett, bit part players, an apprentice centre forward and another centre forward who might as well be an apprentice. Ayari , OK Football now is a squad game, you have to have players who can change the direction of the game, we haven’t got any. Then people expect us to go to the Champions and give them a football lesson.

That’s how I feel. It’s been a real season to forget for all sorts of reasons. I think the guy deserves a chance. He kept his nerve today in a massive pressure match. Especially in the second half when we were staring into the abyss given every other result was going against us.

Well, nobody who’s earned that trophy before has earned it more than Sammi That was a prodigious effort. He’d no right to score that first goal - the defenders were favourites - but he did !

I’m not Pickering’s biggest fan but I thought he was really excellent today playing as a left sided centre back. It could be that’s his best position. His lack of real pace isn’t shown up as much there and he’s facing the play more than at left back.

James Ray - If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody