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Post by mermaidsal on May 21, 2017 20:29:54 GMT
I was calling for Leslie's head in September and no apologies for that, we looked like a train wreck only headed in one direction straight for Wrecksville Central. Incredibly, we weren't, and although the season's never been better than patchy despite a flattering league position for a while, we got out of it alive and with Hughes still at the helm.
I thought I'd be shouting Hughes Out again by now but actually, I'm not feeling that strongly. Good manager, bad season is more my feeling right now. Would I hate a change of manager over the summer? No, but over time Sparky's given us a hell of a lot and I'm not averse to giving him more time now. However, unlike many people I don't think it's all about new signings - of course we have areas we badly need to strengthen but we need a major tactical rethink more, especially in the way we defend (or don't) and how we get the best out of set pieces at both ends (or don't). The right new defensive coach could still transform us under the present regime.
For the season, on balance, it's a 4 from me.
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Post by mermaidsal on May 21, 2017 20:22:14 GMT
Thanks be, something cheerful to end this make it up as we go along season - but honestly what's not to like about today? Ok not beautiful but we didn't look in serious danger of losing it, that's one up to Sparky for tactical nous, and then we did what it took to come away with the points and a good part of that has to be down to management and motivation.
8 from me
* if you were there please
(sorry this is late today)
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Post by mermaidsal on May 6, 2017 19:07:08 GMT
Yadda yadda... didn't lose, did plenty of things right, plenty wrong too, objectively that was a better performance than last week so credit where credit's due to Sparky for getting the lads a bit more up for it... but typical of this ragbag mess of a season too...
6 from me
* if you were there please
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Post by mermaidsal on May 4, 2017 1:04:54 GMT
"Buy players in the transfer window, NEXT JANUARY." Has he forgotten about the summer? Or am I missing something? Can anyone explain why he's got a Gents Toilets sign on his lapel??
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Post by mermaidsal on May 3, 2017 20:27:54 GMT
If Stoke got two goes while everyone else still had one that might even things up a bit...
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Post by mermaidsal on May 3, 2017 20:25:54 GMT
Where's the Mad Monk of Mow Cop when you really need him??
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 29, 2017 23:08:39 GMT
Unbelievable fight, awesome win for AJ and I've never heard the words 'epic slugfest' so often in such a short space of time, that has to be a record surely
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 29, 2017 23:02:37 GMT
Sorry this is so late, life got in the way.
We managed not to lose and we managed to nullify West Ham's threat - admittedly not a miassive one, but I'd be hypocritcal not praising Sparky for the improvement so he gets plus points there. I'm struggling to see many more pluses tho, we really did look a tired and depressed team who've run out of ideas. Which has to mean a finger pointing at the manager.
If I'd left the ground feeling much hope the mark would prob have been higher, as it is I honestly can't do better than:
5*
* if you were there please
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 24, 2017 20:45:57 GMT
A great return to form for Ted - always lovely to read you, and never less than thought-provoking. We agree on most of the big stuff but I'd add, yet again, that we've had such grievous problems closing down opponents in open play and defending set pieces I don't see how Sparky can take us forward on any basis without a major rethink in that area. Major meaning imo a new defensive coach - I wasn't Dave Kemp's greatest fan but I'd be so glad to see a similar figure right now. Without the defensive issues sorted it's ever likely we're not going to have the necessary confidence further up the pitch, at best we'll remain streaky and too reliant on the form and fitness of a few strong characters on the pitch.
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 22, 2017 19:46:00 GMT
Took over a stable, well-organised setup and turned it into an omni-shambles. Not fair. We were dire, unmotivated and cynical those last few months under Tone and Sparky was an immediate breath of fresh air. (Even if I didn't rate him when he arrived on the basis of Fulham and QPR - till back end of last season he consistently proved me wrong, and I still don;t fully understood how/why he lost it the way he did.)
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 22, 2017 19:41:43 GMT
Can only be one number can't it? 9 Not defending today's performance, but he has done what no other Stoke manager has ever achieved! Three consecutive top ten finishes. Totally agree with the principle but dropping my mark down to an 8 - up till Christmas 15 he gave me some of my best ever SCFC memories but the past 16 months have honestly been a lash-up at best, too many of his shortcomings seem to have come home to roost
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 22, 2017 17:52:08 GMT
The stats tell the story . Created little, not geared up to convert it when we did, failed to defend. It's bloody training ground stuff yet again. This is a quality squad of players we have, ok not perfect but well able to be an entertaining, dangerous mid-table Prem side. Instead of which, with the occasional positive blip like v Hull, we just get less and less convincing. Sorry Leslie, but this is at your door. Yet again. 3 from me add * if you were there please
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 21, 2017 20:00:48 GMT
Truly, I think he'd make an excellent one - just nothing like the recent lot we've got used to. Principled, practical, consistent, not a self-publicist or any kind of narcissist or sociopath - the fact he's survived so long in front line politics with qualities like that is heroic actually, and tells you he's better equipped than most to see a thing through. Also we'll get McDonnell as the other half of the package and he'll be the best Chancellor for a generation.
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 21, 2017 19:56:49 GMT
Awful, just awful.
I didn't know about his music label till know, what a great guy be sounds all round, as well as a class act on the pitch.
RIP Big Man xx
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 17, 2017 13:02:16 GMT
From the comment section from the match today on the BBC site.
"Lots of comments on the Sentinel (only media outlet more left-wing than the BBC) website this week regarding Hughes' faith in the old guard. But, Crouchy and SJW dug us out of a hole today! " (Bagdad Potter)
I think it was Sal last week suggesting that the Beeb was a right wing outfit.
Who's right? Obviously me In general I would say with eg discusssion and current affairs progs like QT, the BBC is generally fair and coming from the centre altho since populist and far right groups have made a lot more noise than the far left, they've had more coverage inevitably - which I believe the BBC should have done more to either resist or at least balance. But actual news coverage really has moved steadily to the right, Nick Robinson is/was a Tory, Laura Kuensberg is a more blatant one and ditto editorial policy.
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 15, 2017 17:51:30 GMT
Well, he does take us right to the edge - every time I honestly believe Leslie's lost it, we get a proper strong performacne, and job of management like today's.
Same again next time please and there'll be some well-earned sighs of relief all round, for today it's a good solid
8* from me
* if you were there please
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 8, 2017 19:02:57 GMT
RIP Dan, so very sorry Love xxx
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 8, 2017 19:01:21 GMT
So very sorry, God Bless to a real fighter
RIP Connor xxx
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 8, 2017 18:42:09 GMT
Yes individual errors cost us, plus outstanding work by Mignolet, but that was a poor Liverpool performance and we ought to have finished them off with relative ease. Ok players are also understandably low on confidence after three defeats on the bounce - but that's where the manager comes in no? Not to mention the subs today.
Our game management is so consistently drek no wonder it's undermining the players. They don't trust the tactics and formation enough , with reason lately. A good manager makes average players good and good players great. Too many out there today were playing better when they arrived than they are now, which speaks volumes.
4* from me
add * if you were there please
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 4, 2017 22:21:52 GMT
So this doesn't exactly look like a board full of bullies, does it? Interesting thoughtful human beings who can get a little rough in the playground on occasion yes - and so far I'd suggest the stats would be much the same on most football boards, except perhaps in London and bigger cities where the ethnic mix would be greater. As it is we're whiter than the general North Staffs population and there's a higher proportion of males (even curiously formed ones like Mary) but as a cross section of SCFC fans who attend games, I'd say we're pretty representative.
essex, Malcom, what do you reckon?
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 4, 2017 22:11:07 GMT
If v Leicester was a dismal job of football management, v Burnley tonight was ***ing dismal. Ok we're looking down to the bones in terms of players visibly carrying injuries and/or plain knackered - but it's not just thnat, or the way the team was set up tonight, it was the lack of confidence and belief that seems to run through most things we do now. This side is feeling like the one that looked doomed at the start of the season. Sorry Leslie, but this just isn't acceptable on any level.
3 from me
* if you were at the game please.
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 3, 2017 13:02:16 GMT
Guardiola, Mourinho, Moyes. Who else? Probably all of them if we're honest. None of them can answer a straight question, none of them can deal with a straight question and they are fast becoming the new politicians with their tired old cliche's and excuses. The simple answer is to not bother with the after match interviews and resort to the very old days of reporting on the match in the written press and writing what the hell you like (within legal bounds) about the manager, his team and their performance. That way, you don't have the comeback of some smart jack having a pop at someone for simply doing their jobs. I'd love a go at it personally. First question to Mourinho "Why can't you manage young professional players, and why do you always rely on big money experienced players. Can't you coach?" Stick that one in your craw. Still laughing at Mourinho's answer to the question about whi he was smiling at Tone at the end of te game... everyone knows it was a meet me round the back after smile from both of them
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 3, 2017 13:00:34 GMT
That does look very sinister when written down. Surely he couldn't have even slightly meant it though? That'd be proper mental. Be honest tho, has Moyes looked other than someone with proper mental health issues most of this season??
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 3, 2017 12:56:23 GMT
Mine are Gender FEMALE Age (just which decade) 40S Ethnicity CAUCASIAN Religion if you have one AGNOSTIC WITH CHRISTIAN SHARDS Sexual orientation STRAIGHT BUT OPEN-MINDED Political views LEFT WING
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 3, 2017 12:54:35 GMT
Don't worry poll fever isn't making a comeback but essex's thread, Malcolm and others' comments just made me think, out of interest, how representative, or not, we are of the population of North Staffs on here:
Honest answers please:
Gender
Age (just which decade)
Ethnicity
Religion if you have one
Sexual orientation
Political views
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 3, 2017 12:47:59 GMT
Pale shadow of the novel but good TV all the same, enjoyed it too
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 2, 2017 22:34:18 GMT
I've been to a few funerals in Wolstanton organised by these people and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. They're based in a side street down by the main church, St Margarets on the Wolstanton/ May Bank border.
hopkinsonwoottonlovatt.co.uk/contact-us/
Another vote for HWL from me, they did a lovely respectful family funeral for us a few years ago now. Chetwynd Street. Wolstanton but I'm sure they'll work anywhere in North Staffs.
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Post by mermaidsal on Apr 1, 2017 19:34:28 GMT
Thank God we have Lee and Arnie, and if that sounds like a worrying way to start a rate the manager post...
We gave Leicester the chance to look half a league better than us, which they did, and won with ease. I just don;t see how we go forward from here without a complete defensive rethink - one week we play like heroes at the back, the next we're like bone china seconds. On the heroes weeks it's about the lads playing out of their boots, and when they fall short of that, if someone's carrying an injury or just off it for the day which is always going to happen towards the end of a season... yet again, the lack of a consistent, effective defensive strategy that can close an opposition down becomes screamingly obvious. It's not so much the personnel at the back, altho we need some younger legs for sure, this is training ground stuff and have to have a complete rethink about how we do this.
5 from me
add * if you were at the game please
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Post by mermaidsal on Mar 31, 2017 23:27:54 GMT
And I'm Sienna Miller... couple of goals please Saido and let's forget this?
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Post by mermaidsal on Mar 31, 2017 23:23:52 GMT
If we win this we'll finish Top 10, if we lose it Leicester will and we won't - and I truly believe we're going to nick this one. You heard it here
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