Funny enough, I signed him as a scout from Manure for my all-conquering Rovers side on FM20 that won the Prem and Champions League repeatedly. He was a top scout on that game, with 17 for Judging Ability and 19 for Judging Potential (out of 20, for those who don't play the game). Also had Adaptability of 20, which he may need to adjust to the shit-storm that is this club...

I caught about 20 minutes of the u21 game (about 10 and a bit end of first half and about 10 of the start of the second half). Tbh the game seemed to be passing Adam by. Not in a way that was necessarily his fault, the team were playing in other areas mostly, although there was a time or two I thought he could have showed a bit better for the ball. I see he is barely involved on the highlights too. But, I didn't see the whole game. Did anybody else on here? Tbf I can see how he might not be too arsed about an u21 friendly, when he's been overlooked yet again for the main team and won't want to risk a recurrence of his injury. But if he wants to make the step up it would help to shine at this level. But it's just one game, and I saw less than a quarter of it.

We should tell them it's not the time to renew our season tickets at this stage of the season.

Excuse us if we don't believe the lad struggling to become a regular in League One is better than the lad who is a regular in the Championship.

I don't think the described model of little cheque big cheque, with no real investment in the squad, would be too successful here. Obviously you'd imagine any owner would be a step up at the moment, but what we need is also investment to improve the squad and get out of this league. Then you can get your much bigger cheque.

I wasn't there, much to my chagrin at the time, but my parents were - much to my chagrin at the time! They told me it wasn't possible to get any more tickets and they were lucky to get the two they got, which I didn't accept with grace being 9 at the time but I understand now. So I had to watch the game at home on the TV, with my grandma, auntie and uncle. I remember feeling like it was all destined to be as we went 1 up and Manure went 1 down. Then of course things changed, with both games drawing level. We kept hearing about all the chances Manure were having, knowing their uncanny propensity for scoring late winners and the refs giving them as much time to do so as needed, so things were getting edgy. Then we conceded that second goal and you knew we weren't getting the points we needed. It was all down to Upton Park and due to that aforementioned knack for late goals the red scum had, it felt like the earlier elation was just the fates fucking with us in order to deliver the cruelest blow at the death. Now the inevitability was that we had tossed it all away. Then the surreal scenes began of fans celebrating at Anfield, as the final score at Upton Park came through. My grandma, auntie and uncle (not as footy mad as the rest of us) were confused as I started celebrating, and it took me a good ten seconds of frantic shouting to get them to realise that despite losing the battle we had won the war. I went to bed a very happy lad, and woke up to see my parents had left me a souvenir scarf in my room, from the day, proclaiming us champions. With the greatest striker in world football (I'd heard about that Ronaldo chap but I really didn't get at the time how good he truly was) and with Uncle Jack's support, it seemed like the world was our oyster and we were only going to go on to more titles, maybe even European ones. We couldn't have known how quickly things were going to collapse after Kenny went upstairs and Jack stopped funding reinforcements thinking the job was done. A real crossroads moment, as serious money was on the way into the game that could have established us as a real force (especially if we'd gone for that Zidane fella) and likely meant we wouldn't one day end up in the hands of these pricks in India. Nearly every player we built that squad with was sold on for profit down the line because of the way the money trended. Serious investment back then would have made us brilliant on the pitch and future sales could have made the club wash its own face like Jack always wanted. Ah well, you can't be too beat up about it. Jack Walker gave us all our dream, and all dreams end.

19

He's also already been capped up to U19 level (8 caps, 3 goals), so no shock he's going up an age group as he ages and plays competitive football. If he was in the U21s, now that would be a big shock. But all the truly good young players are in the U21s already (and even that level, let's not forget that Jason Lowe played 11 times for the U21s and I think I heard was even captain at one point?). ACD has talent and potential. But his decision-making has been dire lately and I think his confidence is in the toilet. He also obviously lacks the genuine pace after the first few yards to truly beat his men with regularity. Unless he gets smarter and adapts his game that will probably always mean his ceiling doesn't reach too high. Probably not the right thread for talk about him though tbf. He's not part of our Academy or U21s, or even club, and plays in the first team squad.

I didn't read that as him not picking him because of the recent injury (why put him in the u21s if it's in any way to protect him?). Reads to me more like 'he's close, but I didn't think he's ready yet so I went with Henderson for his experience. I thought about picking both but we wanted an extra keeper instead'

We did in the season the accounts showed the jump. Certainly on the sheet I saw.

Has Waggott had a big pay rise, or is this oft-repeated claim all coming from the accounts showing a substantially higher bill on the Director wages part? Because I'd assume that came from employing a Director of Football.

Ahh, the Schmichael technique. Without any of his ability.

I can because A) the one a couple of minutes earlier definitely was, and He already gave it, but seems to have his own personal VAR in a league with no VAR

This club can't catch a break. I'm done.

It looks like it, but I've never seen a penalty get reversed without VAR, fucking bollocks

Wtf!?!? That never happens without VAR! Whistle blows, points at spot, penalty end of. If you want to check with your assistant do it first, you fucking cunt. Amazing, even with my apathy about the result the officials can still make my blood boil!

I hate being right sometimes.

Refs never give Gueye anything. Dragged round the neck there.

You couldn't write this. All that's missing now is for us to romp the rest of the game 4-1 out the blue, but then all the goalscorers get injured in the last 5 minutes.

Well that's their job.

The black death and the bubonic plague are the same thing. Pears would have been lucky back then, no way he would've caught it.

That we'll let another one in later.

That's what I want to know too. Livescore have changed to that too now and they started with someone else. Makes fuck all sense if true.

Yes. Calf I think it was. Needs a scan. Makes me think he will be out for weeks, maybe the whole season. When I heard that I considered it the final nail in the coffin.

Christ I hope not