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Thread | Germany v NI
at 11:52 8 Sep 2025
Watched the second half of the game to keep an eye on Galbraith but it became clear after Germany made their substitutions to press on that NI lost any threat up front with their defensive set up, yes they did get a number of set piece and the gulf in quality of individual players but NI forwards were feeding on scraps.
It was very reminiscent of our performance at times last season even under Sheehan in the later stages and with a lot of possession at times with forwards players being mostly starved of quality possession while our defensive tried to stay solid similar to NI under sustained pressure.
It does look as if we have enough players with the ability to pose a threat uptop, players both uptop and in the middle of the park to relieve the pressure brought to bare with a viable threat and turn opposition's forward play into more cautious defensive play which NI were unable to do.
Bit early to see if things go to plan but quietly optimistic.
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Reply | Rossis
at 18:51 4 Sep 2025
Mash potato, corn beef, baked beans and lashings of Piccalilli on top of the creamy White Mash and liberally coating the beans and slices of corn beef. Although the price of corn beef has risen so high it is now on the A La Carte menu. |
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Reply | How do you assess your feelings towards the club and its majority owners
at 23:17 3 Sep 2025
Would bite your hand off to gain promotion but that is a long way off at the moment. Happy with the recent signings we have had at times but the previous owners plugged gaps but didn't have cover so the loss of quality players always hit us hard. This set of owners seem to have employed good staff to advise them on football matters , other areas not so much, things may need to change off the field but we will see how the playing staff develop as the season progresses |
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Reply | Samuels Smith loan from Strasbourg
at 11:05 3 Sep 2025
Agree with the fullbacks role but I think we saw it to some extent against Sheffield Wednesday nice to see Tymon holding a deeper role once we were ahead abke to then press on come onto the ball at pace with the balls from Stamenic holding a higher defensive midfield role and when the ball being recycled quicker or more efficiently athrough the backline.
Do you think Sheehan will play loan players given the quality of our first eleven straight away or will he take time to assess his new options, he started with a familiar team at the start of the season but with the luxury of getting a look at new players given the cup games has build a nice look to the team with permanent signings.
We have seen how the bench strength has increased quite dramatically with players being dropped and moved on be it out on loan or by agreement.
Will be interesting to see if Sheehan sticks with his permanent players if we are doing well which will increase the value of our playing stock or introduce loan players which could increases our performance and value all round. |
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Reply | Samuels Smith loan from Strasbourg
at 09:52 3 Sep 2025
Tymon wad one of our best players and his role has been as a wingerbacl.similarly to Key and yet we play with a back four so if they are both asked to support the attack they will leave spaces in defence for opposition wingers to expose and therefore need good covering either from the centreback and midfield but to do that at least two midfielders must have the pace to match opposition extra men joining to attack especially if we want to cover the cross field ball to opposite wingers which holds our other full back in place providing he isn't bombing forward like a wingback. Playing like wingbacks with four at the back is a flawed notion look at the scoreline against Leeds at home last season they push their wingers and fullbacks up with very little cover as did we hence the goal fest. In the away game we tightened things up but still both teams conceded late goals again.
You cannot expect the fullback to not expose their defensive position if you are asking them to make up for deficiencies in attack especially without adequate cover at the back.
In a number of games this season our fullbacks in defence mode have been asked to hold infield to cover the centrebacks especialy against teams who push the extra players forward leaving opposition wingers hugging the touchline and having plenty of space to recieve the ball and it hasn't necessarily been quick ball, Tymon, Key and Parker, who to be fair has played well, have all been caught ou being out numbered on the flanks.
It is early days yet but Stamenic seems to know his role in that midfield trio to hold deep to support the defence but also know when to push up into midfield add the busy talents of both Franco and Galbraith the midfield seems to be operating well, add the problems caused by Inoussa' and Ronald play Vipotnik resurgence we are causing teams problems which they have to deal with instead of easier nullifying any threat we pose. That leaves space all over the pitch and if you have quality you can expose that if you are setup properly but so will can opposition teams with quality .
So is it a flaw in Tymon's defensive skills or a flaw in how the team is functioning as a whole?
Got to have a setup that match the players at your disposal hoping the incoming players can match the quality that fans expect of them as well as the coaches. |
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Reply | SWANSEA INDEPENDENT : 24 HOURS OF TRANSFER UPDATES
at 17:27 1 Sep 2025
Hope he does well there. Think he has developed here in spite of the midfield around him early last season, became a bit part player in a squad that did better under Sheehan. |
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Reply | Zân Vipotnik Transfer : Our March report on him leaving in the summer seems to
at 10:51 1 Sep 2025
Think you are doing Hartson a disservice questioning whether he could finish with his left he was at a level were you had to be competent on the floor because of his stature Wales tried used his height too often neglecting his other sides to his game that could have been been used to Wales advantage.
As for bullying centre halves that is what a centreforward needs to do, if Cullen can try to do it why not Vipotnik although his aerial challenges under the high ball have been woefully but that might not be what he is being asked to do bring it down, hold up play but to what ends a easy pass to non existant midfield players who either sit too deep or have gone beyond him leaving with no options except to make a better fist of the aerial challenge which he obviously struggles with at the moment.
He is getting in front of his defenders now be it for his headed goal, near post runs.balls to feet in space with him facing the goals to make the wrap around runs that lead to goal scoring chances on both left and right feet.
Let's no go overboard yet he still has a lot to learn but that was hard to do in a team that was struggling to function properly.
We saw last season with the progress made under Sheehan we still looked blunt against Burnley and at the Middlesbrough this season, new players have been introduced things look up but Sheffield Wednesday are struggling, nice to see Vipotnik and Ronald get on the score sheet and if we can keep the goals against down like the end of last season I think we have a season to look forward to.
With a rejuvenated Vipotnik with a point to prove. |
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Reply | Championship weekend thread Chat a-long
at 13:31 31 Aug 2025
Team game, Galbraith popping up all over the place making nice options around the box Inoussa pacey and tricky again around the box both creating space for others to benefit Vipotnik and Ronald scoring goal they have been missing, Widell looking lively, nice to see the defence doing the defensive work first and not pressing forward too early Tymon not trying to get forward so often conserving energy to defend and it works better because Stamenic in the middle has options to play to the full backs, it is the easiest thing in the world for a central midfield to get himself out of tricky situation one touch pass to fullbacks who haven't gone rush up the field beyond you expecting you to turn and play wonder balls while under pressure, instead balls in front of the fullback that he can run onto at pace creating a forward momentum that drags defending opposition around and makes them work harder and gives our rmidfielder time to choose his options better.
I did think Stamenic makes a difference with the simplicity of his play which then seemed to spread to the rest of the team. |
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Reply | Vip or Idah?
at 10:14 31 Aug 2025
Sheehab seen tibe having a goose chat with Hamal Lowe after the game, just good friends? |
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Reply | Vip or Idah?
at 09:22 31 Aug 2025
You have to admit that it would appear things have changed within the team and with the player himself will that last who knows. |
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Reply | Vip or Idah?
at 09:18 31 Aug 2025
We need another striker or we start using Wales but if we did that it would put Cullen down the pecking order as a striker and would Cullen get a starting place as a forward midfielder , I think there will be a number of changes during the season and who Sheehan will use but obviously he doesn't want take the adjustments too soon taking into account new players and injury issues. |
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Reply | Zân Vipotnik Transfer : Our March report on him leaving in the summer seems to
at 09:11 31 Aug 2025
Little things that make a difference against Plymouth Vipotnik went around the keeper from a tight angle tried to get the ball onto his right foot instead of using his left which would have been his best option giving defender time to make the tackle, yesterday he took his best option first time strike with his left. He was in a similar position as yesterday goal in an earlier game this season were he used his left and took a swipe and most missed the ball completely the changed a result of confidence or more care and focus on his part. I don't know but he seems a lot more focused and switched on to what is happening around him, for the most part. [Post edited 31 Aug 9:29]
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Reply | Championship weekend thread Chat a-long
at 08:57 31 Aug 2025
There are signs of better play up top with more chances being made all.be it against some poor defending by Sheff Wednesday.
Against a better organised team would we over commit as we try and break teams down especially at home with the expectations to attack.
All for getting forward in numbers but over committing players forward without players covering the forward runs can leave us in disarray scrambling back letting pressure build with the opposition getting into the box. Sheff Wed had a good chance of getting back into the game when they were one nil down.
Getting that fine line right between attack and defence right can be quite tricky, Stamenic and Galbraith seem to get us up the pitch in the middle of the park when the flanks get blocked, as Sheehan stated tweaks were instigated in the half time break which were telling, luckily Sheehan didn't go into detail wouldn't want him to give away any advantages we could gain in other games.
Sheehan seems more cautious with his words unlike previous managers who spend time trying to big themselves up and become the centre of attention giving too much information away. |
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Reply | Live music?
at 07:55 31 Aug 2025
The loss of Johnny Walker sadly missed given his sounds of the 70s show and his presenting skills, I do like Simon Mayo's Album Show on Sunday 1300 to 1600 it does appear that the Grestest Hits radio station is targeting the listeners that are being alienated by the BBC
Will have to listen a bit more to BBC Radio 6 as I have no doubt there are good new artists about. |
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Reply | Championship weekend thread Chat a-long
at 00:25 31 Aug 2025
Think there were a number moves that opened them up most noteably getting Franco into good shooting positions a couple of times, so is it the finishing you think Dobbie would supply or the guile to create them for himself and others?
You did say away from home you think the midfield picked was correct and I would agree but does Inoussa who started his first league provide that unknown factor similar to Dobbie?
Early days yet and the team is still finding it's feet and Stamenic played a good anchor role all be it against a poor team. It was a nice team performance it would be interesting to see how this developing team would have perform against Middlesbrough given it was nip and tuck in the season opener and but for some poor set piece defence we could have come away with a point. [Post edited 31 Aug 7:58]
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Reply | Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea City : Match day thread
at 23:58 30 Aug 2025
Lovely the lack of panic on the edge of their box taking time to try and work the space to get into scoring positions.
One moment of concern was seeing Cabango being given the chance to drive on with the ball at his feet because of th space left in front of him but Key also press on high basically leaving us vulnerable on our right side, we were almost punished? I can't remember if it was at one nil or two nil but thought it was reckless we didn't leave adequate cover in place and could have allow them back into the game .
One point for all the referee's out there, we know at a penalty no-one other than the penalty taker and goalie is allowed in the box including the arc on the edge of the box.
Is it the same for the opposing team players when a goal kick is being taken Vipotnik seem to be inside the arc although not the box, the ref tried to stop him standing in the arc but Vipotnik. seemed to think he could stand inside the arc which is really to stop players getting within a certain distance from the penalty spot. So are attackers allow any where on the edge of the box including the arced area at goal kicks? [Post edited 31 Aug 0:49]
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