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Reply | Who picks the team?
at 15:51 2 May 2026
Maresca left Chelsea citing interference in team selection and substitutions and so did Pezzolano at Watford |
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Reply | Who picks the team?
at 15:32 2 May 2026
And yet we’ve seen just such interference at Watford and Chelsea recently |
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Reply | Who picks the team?
at 15:30 2 May 2026
Don Revie did used to massage the Leeds players. Very hands on of him… [Post edited 2 May 15:33]
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Thread | Who picks the team?
at 13:53 2 May 2026
I was at the Derby game last week and afterwards got talking to someone who works for the club. I won’t mention their role as I don’t want to put them in the spotlight but, suffice to say, they were very credible. This person said that Stefan does not pick the team, Nourry does and it’s simply JS’s job to coach. They also said that substitute decisions are made from the executive box too. I was sceptical at the time but I’ve been thinking about it all week. More and more it seems to make sense. Looking at today’s team sheet with Kolli cast into outer darkness when we desperately need a striker can only suggest some sort of personal grudge. Aren’t we supposed to be developing young players? Nardi brought back last week out of nowhere then disappeared today. There have been countless examples like this all season. Not to mention strangely protracted substitute responses. We have lived this all before with Briatore so it’s not beyond the realms of imagination. In fact, it explains a lot. I feel sorry for JS as I felt sorry for Cifuentes. Must be like managing in a straitjacket. I am not a conspiracy theorist or rumour monger. Just passing on what I’ve heard after some consideration. Has anyone else heard anything similar? |
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Reply | paddy's day
at 21:10 15 Mar 2026
I'm half Irish and half English so have thought about this a lot over the years. St Patrick's Day is a celebration of a nationhood and identity that was denied for 800 years as Ireland was subjugated, exploited, starved and even denied its native language. In light of that dark history (and the legacy of emigration) it's easy to see why it's a celebration all over the world.
St George's Day doesn't really have a strong enough identity. George is the patron Saint of England, but also Georgia, Portugal, Ethiopia, Palestine, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Greece. Oh and Catalonia too. England is not a nation, it's part of the United Kingdom so what exactly are we supposed to celebrate on that day? In the town I live in, we usually get a few drunk fat blokes in England shirts marching down the street with flags singing the Dambusters theme or 'No Surrender to the IRA'. Most people ignore them and don't wish to be associated with behaviour that is anti something rather than FOR something positive and inclusive. I wish they would call it Shakespeare's Birthday rather than St George's Day. It's the same day (23 April), Shakespeare was undeniably English and transformed our language from what was then considered low doggerel into the highest form of poetic expression. We could all get behind a holiday in his name and use it to celebrate whatever Englishness means to ourselves in a non-political and unifying way. |
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Reply | Red Pitch— Anyone Seen This Play?
at 14:12 25 Sep 2025
I saw it at the Bush Theatre with my daughter and we both loved it. Great writing, brilliant performances and a clever set. American audiences might need a while to tap into the broad London street accents or maybe they’ll adjust accordingly. Highly recommended! |
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Reply | Interested to know the last time a manager here only used one sub?
at 18:13 21 Sep 2025
Not sure who he would have taken off. Kone and Burrell were a constant threat and Stoke couldn’t pour forward as they had to cover two strikers pressing high. He could have made changes to waste time or disrupt the rhythm but then time is added and our own rhythm might have been disrupted. It showed confidence that this team could see the game out. |
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Reply | Kone Burrel switch
at 18:01 21 Sep 2025
I think the one on one that Burrell had was a great save rather than a miss. 9 times out of 10 that’s a goal. |
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Reply | Mbengue - a potential liability
at 17:58 21 Sep 2025
I haven’t seen a replay but I thought it was a fair 50/50 challenge and Pearson tried to con the ref into a sending off. It was the one decision the ref got right all afternoon. |
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Reply | Kone's all round game
at 23:31 20 Sep 2025
First time I've seen RK play live and even though he didn't score, he completely exceeded expectations. No, he doesn't have the pace of Burrell but he has great presence and anticipation which opens up space. His ball across to Burrell was quick-thinking, selfless and perfectly judged. They seem to have the beginnings of a great understanding. There was a moment just after the goal where Burrell called him over to help him press the Stoke defence and he pushed up, harried the defender, won the ball and crossed it to RB who almost scored a second. I watched him off the ball a lot and he was constantly calling for it, pointing to where he wanted it, talking to other players and listening too. He competed all over the pitch and it was a tireless performance for the team. Loved the way he whipped up the crowd too. |
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Reply | Saito
at 23:09 20 Sep 2025
He made the difference today against a very decent Stoke side. He's half the size of most of the guys marking him but utterly fearless and tough as old boots. He's like a weeble, try to knock him down but he just keeps going. It gives everyone confidence and opens up gaps where there shouldn't be gaps. Also, how does he manage to win so many headers against behemoths? |
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Reply | Madsen
at 23:00 20 Sep 2025
3 or 4 really good defensive headers in the first 20 mins, some great interceptions and even a sliding tackle or two. He's so composed on the ball that I can't remember any Stoke players dispossessing him. Tried some quick through balls to Kone and Burrell that would have been goals if they'd come off. His body language is casual and he does tend to stroll around which was a virtue for many past players we loved but looks odd in the mega fit, all-action, run like a bastard 2025 Championship. I thought JS was going to sub him on 80 mins but instead he gave him an energy gel and a drink and he saw out the rest of the match comfortably. Hope he continues to grow in fitness and confidence. |
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Reply | That Mbengue tackle
at 22:44 20 Sep 2025
It was a completely fair 50/50 tackle. You could hear the sound of the ball being squished between the two players. It was an outrageous piece of gamesmanship by Pearson who after rolling around like Margot Fonteyn and limping off like Douglas Bader, was fine to come straight back on and sprint over to remonstrate with the referee, before immediately running 40 yards up the pitch to hack down Kone and get a yellow card. |
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Reply | Vale’s goal .
at 22:37 20 Sep 2025
I didn't think that at the time (because I was jumping up and down in ecstasy) but watching it back, the execution is uncannily similar in terms of pressure and technique. Only difference is that Zamora was a very experienced PL striker and Vale is a 22 year old Championship midfielder and that was his first goal for us so doubly impressive. He tried a similar left foot curler earlier in the second half that drew a good save from Johansson. Clearly the miss after 2 mins didn't play on his mind (as it did on mine) which is the mark of a very confident player. |
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Reply | How did Madsen play yesterday?
at 13:12 16 Sep 2025
Clive Allen did very little apart from score goals. Hundreds of them. Mind you, that was his job. |
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Reply | How did Madsen play yesterday?
at 11:23 15 Sep 2025
Thanks everyone for your insights. The reason I asked the question is that I find Madsen an enigma but he's creative, got an eye for a pass and a goal and is a different type of player to anyone else in the squad. I would like him to do well but he can be passive and frustrating. He reminds me a lot of Mike Fillery who in the days before message boards divided opinion in the ground by a) coming from Chelsea and b) strolling around a lot which looked like indifference. It took half a season before we realised his creative virtues and it helped that he had Gary Waddock was doing the leg work next to him in midfield. |
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Thread | How did Madsen play yesterday?
at 11:35 14 Sep 2025
I saw he played 84 mins and on the highlights there was a great turn and pass for Kone's goal. How was he the rest of the match? |
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