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Reply | Ashes thread
at 07:42 11 Oct 2025
Agreed, was disappointed whilst at the same time highly unlikely he would have had much of an impact there. Mind you, zero chance Jacks will have an impact either.
I think they are actually protecting Ahmed, let's reintroduce him at home in an easier series rather than potentially get pulverised in a Test over there.
I've always thought he's a really good cricketer. His brother may be even better.... |
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Reply | Ashes thread
at 07:08 11 Oct 2025
What the Surrey Derangement Syndrome that believes Foakes is the Best Keeper in The World (no, and his batting isn't good enough either) Burns was a good Test opener (he wasn't) and that Sibley should be recalled because he grinds out hundreds on flat tracks whilst playing for the Surrey Globetrotters against 75mph county XIs?
No, no I don't have that. Probably.
To prove it, I think the Oval Invincibles' Sam Curran should always be in the Test Squad.
As for Haseeb Hameed, he's improved a lot so not a bad shout, he should be the next cab off the rank. The joy for all you Crawley haters is you can't lose now - he either helps us to win the Ashes or gets Bolanded and dropped forever.
I think Bazball theory sometimes goes too far, but having endured 50 odd years of our top order prodding and poking about whilst a Warner, Sehwag or whoever smashes us to all parts the Crawley / Duckett opening partnership has surely overall been a success even if this tour is the end of Crawley.
One thing is that as sure as Archer / Wood breaking down in Oz - Oval Invincibles / Slurrey will get a minor injury in the top order in a year's time and sign Crawley. Then it will be all "ooh hasn't he improved" "needs another England chance".
So I refute your suggestion that I am a Slurrey hater.
Regards
Adam Hollioake's Barmy Army |
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Reply | Ashes thread
at 07:36 10 Oct 2025
Don't remember Hick or Ramprakash ever getting a Test double century (267) or 189 against the Aussies in an Ashes test.
Every England team has to have a boo boy and Crawley is this one even though he is one half of one of the best opening partnerships in our history. If you boys think Burns or Sibley running out of the way of Starc, when they realise it isn't a county seamer dobbling one down to them at the Oval when they are 500 runs ahead is a better bet, be my guest. Been there, got the t-shirt and it wasn't a pretty sight.
My one concern is that Crawley is proven to be brilliant against high pace and I fancy Boland will cause him more problems than Cummins would have done.
I do think we have a sniff if Stokesy stays fit and at least two of the pacers play 4/5 tests. However, it is still a very big ask. |
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Reply | Keeper conundrum?
at 08:41 9 Oct 2025
I would be very comfortable with Seny coming back, good solid Championship keeper. Nardi's continual sticking on the line has fried his chips I suspect, and Walsh needs to build some confidence on loan. Dieng back whilst Walsh develops seems a sensible plan? |
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Reply | strictly etc.
at 07:31 8 Oct 2025
That's a good point Davman, for all of its faults old-style television at least used to bring families together on the sofa. Perhaps even marriages! Now everyone is staring at their own screen, not so much. So anything, however asinine, that enables some people to watch things together could be a good thing these days.
And if Tess and Claudia get any thinner I fear for them. If it is true that the camera adds 10 pounds, mind boggles. Can't be healthy. [Post edited 8 Oct 7:32]
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Reply | Credit where it's due?
at 06:54 7 Oct 2025
Here's something that I really hope happens, as it means he's been a success. I have no doubt that Nourry is (rightly) ambitious to land a role at a PL club. There's already a puff piece out there about the work he is doing in the mainstream media, plus I see he put himself out as an expert on a podcast somewhere. Only took a couple of wins and the wheels are in motion, it seems. Just like with anyone in football.
Apart from the obvious joke about asking if he has a sell-on clause, will he sack himself if he actively approaches another club?
Stephan appears to be doing a fine job, but not sure I can ever fully warm to Nourry over his treatment of Cifuentes. |
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Reply | Credit where it's due?
at 17:18 6 Oct 2025
It's a fair point. I was hypercritical of Nourry because for me it is all about results and winning the next game and I thought we were being dangerously idealistic and not pragmatic enough. I eat my words as we are getting points in the short term - so far. He doesn't seem to be forcing any formation on the manager, or picking the team, so I am pleased.
If he can just insist that we take the FA Cup seriously, I will bow down to the man. |
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Reply | strictly etc.
at 09:52 6 Oct 2025
I didn't say you did, Ted, I was referring to the thread so far where that term was used. No big deal anyway, I am not mortally offended, just find it perplexing that everything has to be so black and white. The view that if I don't like something = people who like it must be complete fools. Never quite understood that (unless a football team of course).
I'm not particularly keen on music but I don't start or comment on threads declaring that everyone who likes it is an imbecile and that is, and this I do quote you on..."Dreadful processed shyte served up to entertain people who deserve to be entertained by dreadfully processed so called shyte talentless entertainers."
Why not just comment that you don't like it? That you think it is rubbish. That's fair enough. Why denigrate those who do like it as intellectually inferior?
That's my point. But it wasn't a particularly vigorous one, just passing some time avoiding working on a Monday morning. |
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Reply | strictly etc.
at 08:01 6 Oct 2025
I never knew Chris Hollins was John's son! Which is ridiculous because now, looking at him, I can somewhat see the resemblance! :-) |
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Reply | strictly etc.
at 07:34 6 Oct 2025
Well each to their own but I don't like this assumption that you have to be "brain dead" to enjoy watching something just because you don't like it.
I enjoy it, my wife enjoys it, my family watches it and my entire wife's family watches it - as do about 10m other people who have done for the last 20 odd years. Last time I checked all our brains were fully functioning.
It is, in my opinion, by a mile the best live programme on television and has been for years. I don't particularly like dancing but I enjoy watching it. If you actually watch the whole thing and the whole series it is a fascinating insight into what training can do to you, on how bitchy people can be and sometimes it is just downright hilarious.
That's even the case when it is presented by one of the worst live presenters of all time (Tess) alongside one of the best (Claudia). It is also often far too long and the obsession with skits or puns every 5 minutes is (I will agree with that bit) ridiculous.
But yah boo sucks to you lot. It's a bit of fun. It's also largely harmless.
It's had the odd QPR connection too - Seann Walsh, JFH and er, um. |
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Reply | COOK
at 06:27 5 Oct 2025
Agree with all that Brian, perhaps bar JCS being more talented than Cook. Cook's been a top-notch defender for many years and JCS can only dream of that, so Cook has talent in abundance.
I think it was Ray who said once you hit a certain age in football every time you get injured or you make a mistake the dreaded "legs are gone" comments come out.
So pleased for Cookie, a class act for us for years and has forced himself back in even after that awfully shoddy release the club put out over his contract renewal. Top pro, him and Liam every day of the week ahead of Mbengue.
Great win yesterday, so impressive all round the work done since Cov. |
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Reply | Overtaking National Express coaches – Report
at 06:58 3 Oct 2025
Thanks Clive, matched what I saw. Interesting about your Oxford correspondent making Cook our best player. Looked like he had a point to prove to me and I reckon he proved it. I am sure he will leave at the end of the season, but I reckon he's one of the most under rated and unappreciated players we've had in my time of following the R's, relative to commitment and ability. Still think he will be important this season and the Morrison / Cook axis at Brizzle is going to be back in play. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 11:23 2 Oct 2025
Quite. And it has to be a concern that for all the promise and hope about our new forward options - we mustered one penalty against two of the weaker teams in the division.
Home to Oxford and their keeper made only one routine save.
Very early for pivotal games but now Saturday is interesting. A routine 3-0 defeat there and optimism disappearing again. Get a result, continues to be promising. Just don't know what to make of it all so far, really. [Post edited 2 Oct 11:23]
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 09:56 2 Oct 2025
Yeah, maybe that's it!
I still marvel that, even at 51, I manage to retain the ultimate disdain for fans of the big clubs. To be fair to this lot they at least go to the games, but I still just inwardly sneer. There's something very funny about getting on the Central line coming back from a 0-0 draw with Oxford at home and enthusiastically dissecting it whilst they are all sitting staring into space having just beaten Real Madrid 8-0 to win the Champions League or whatever it is they did last night. I couldn't give a flying fig. None of them know each other because there is no community, no local aspect, just a bunch of born and bred South Londoners Who Should Be Palace, trudging off home from their soulless fan existence. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 09:14 2 Oct 2025
It does smack a bit of that, Beckenham, I admit. What gets me about Field is that he's proven to be the sort of player who gets so much better the more he plays. So difficult for him with just the odd game here or there. I don't get those who don't rate him, for me if / when we sell Varane for decent money then he is the reason I am very comfortable with that.
PS - when I got back to Beckenham Junction last night, in amongst the inevitable Arsenal shirts, I did spy an Oxford fan. The game was so dull couldn't even nod my head in appreciation of a fellow proper football fan being there in amongst all the gloryhunters. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 08:51 2 Oct 2025
Talking of which, I enjoyed the touches of brotherly love between the Dembeles. A fist bump when the brother was subbed on, and then Siriki clapping off the Kaddy when he was subbed.
None of this Neville ignoring rubbish. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 08:49 2 Oct 2025
That's fair Dave. Yet to see Jimmy get back to full form either, bloke next to me reckoned he's still got a niggle and watching him closely he certainly doesn't seem as mobile as last year. He even got beaten to a header by The Other Dembele! Sure it will sort itself out, then I do think the defensive options are looking healthy. Nardi was nervy again yesterday though, which doesn't help. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 22:42 1 Oct 2025
Couldn't agree more Ted. So infuriating and if you are trying to be clever wouldn't you play your best team in the winnable home game? We could play well on Sat and still lose.
Never understand it and if we are resting and rotating in the league the mind boggles what he's going to do on 3rd round day.
Play your best team, always. Please. |
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Reply | Oxford Utd Reflection
at 22:36 1 Oct 2025
Fair assessment from my vantage point. All I would add is that I was pleased the oft-stated belief that Cook is finished, is a load of rubbish. Loved his drilled cross, deserved better. |
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