bluebruce

They haven't, for all the reasons I outlined.

We've already punished ourselves by losing possibly up to 5 points, getting injuries unnecessarily, bookings to count towards suspensions unnecessarily, national embarassment and having to play 2 more league games this season than nearly everyone (except Ipswich and Sheff W, for who it's only one more). Talk of any further punishment is daft.

If he carries this game on later, he really hasn't helped matters with this fannying around.

When you posted that, they hadn't had a shot on target, so I should hope so!

Sounds like that's our biggest problem area, a recurring issue. Perhaps because it gets the most footfall.

Is that the same area the ref dropped the ball when he called off Ipswich?

Can see a repeat of Ipswich coming.

I feel like you didn't read/understand my post so I'll just leave you to it.

Some people have a very low bar with Pears, and think he's doing well when he just isn't dropping absolute clangers. Which by his standards I guess he is doing well. But I'm pretty sure the lack of clean sheets is due to having to play him instead of Toth. Toth is just a superior goalkeeper to Pears. He was making exceptional saves on a routine basis he had no right to, and Pears isn't doing that. There's also the communication aspect mentioned earlier that may be a factor, and the increased confidence a defence has when they know the man in the sticks is a good un.

Nah it's a little low at times because he plays forward, progressive passes that can carve chances, not constant safety first sideways passes like most midfielders.

I love Wharton, and the eye test is more important, but I'm not sure why they're presenting those stats as if they're something amazing. Statistically, the defensive work aside perhaps, they represent a pretty standard performance for most midfielders.

Strange. I read an article on this interview and it described him as being a present tense Blackburn Rovers scout

Were we? I don't remember hearing them once until they scored, and I remarked on how quiet they were for a reasonable sized following.

Former? Isn't he still here?

What's the other one you're referring to? It's a disgrace this replay is even happening (at least in this form). I'm going, but I'm not happy about it. And I'm certain I'll be going home with a very bitter feeling.

It's literally the first time I've asked you that. If it is hard for you to understand that I'm not other people, that is on you. If you're stubborn enough to insist a League Two player is better than a La Liga regular and come in for a bit of flak, that's also on you.

So, tbc, you're insisting that tier 4 Markanday is better than La Liga Dolan?

Agreed, I'd rather spend that money on hiring reasonable serving staff for the concourse who aren't all kids and can serve at a decent pace.

I bet he's earning more than Toth is.

It's a very fair point, although I'd say he was seen in the summer window as a squad player and with potential to push on. Squad player in a Championship side so soon after his non league loan still suggests to prospective clubs that we may have some absolutely overqualified players for League Two and National League available. I know National League is also non league, but these days those are pretty much pro teams and the level is decent for academy players so in many cases I'd be happy for young players to go there. It's these tier 7 loans we are so keen on that I really think of as borderline worthless in most cases But you're absolutely right that it could cement that these players could be ready for higher levels than they're getting. Especially with Montgomery seemingly kicking on more now.

He will get more robust over time and with men's football too. Starting to have hopes for him. If he gets more robust, with that tenacity he could end up being a Szmodics type maybe?

I dunno, Montgomery moving rapidly from non league to our first team didn't seem to have any effect. I think we just aren't good at finding loans and have a bit of a bias against our youth players due to not being a Prem side. I feel confident if we went up then the same players would be finding loans in League One and Two more frequently, and if we stayed up a couple years, the Championship. I get that we may be cautious, though I'm of the opinion we should generally be testing them at the highest level we can find them semi regular football (another issue, not getting game time for them where we do send them...we need to take a leaf out of Prem sides books and slip in some sort of penalty for not playing them, even though it's a system I dislike). Flip side is Olson may be struggling at that level but he may also just not be good enough. Some teams won't play a youth player over their established players they're paying more money for, or their own youth. If there is a penalty then they will only do that if the player truly isn't good enough, then we learn something about them.

Liking the look of Powell as well as the stats. Looks fast, tenacious. Could be one to press on to the first team squad later this season (hopefully not in that way we like where they just sit the bench a lot and don't get the regular minutes at youth level anymore, slows their development IMO)

I think Pratt is considered agricultural in his style, and Litherland more cultured. The latter being more popular in the modern game. But I think there is still a place for the old fashioned no nonsense CB, personally.

They were discussing Litherland and I think you're talking about Pratt?