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Post by FullerMagic on May 2, 2024 16:49:36 GMT
Again, mysterious "internal challenges" referred to. You wonder how many were related to Mr Richard Martin? www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-bristol-city-steven-schumacher-9261231Schumacher: I would probably say I knew it was going to be a challenge but it's probably been more difficult than I expected. I knew the size of the club I was coming into and what was expected but the internal challenges are the ones you don't see that obviously make it more difficult. So it's been harder than expected but I think we've overcome them or the majority of them. We've still got a lot of work to do over the summer that we feel is going to give us a better chance to do better next year. I wouldn't have had to deal with half the things I've dealt with if I'd stayed at Argyle for another three or four years because the situations just weren't there. Here it's different. That learning and that experience will only make me stronger in the long run.
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Post by FullerMagic on May 2, 2024 16:27:42 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on May 2, 2024 15:43:24 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on May 2, 2024 13:39:31 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on May 2, 2024 12:24:34 GMT
Interest from Celtic and the Championship in Villa's young Finnish keeper, who's just swept the board at the Exeter awards night.
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Post by FullerMagic on May 1, 2024 8:25:53 GMT
Nice touch (oh...this is from last year!)
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 30, 2024 17:11:00 GMT
Surely one of the main signings will be a starting-calibre left-back - so if Stevens is at the stage of his career where he's okay with a back-up role, we could maybe do worse. Although his record of muscle injuries is probably a giant red flag as he hits 34 in July. Not sure the profile you could realistically target, and attract, as second-choice left-back though, and he has looked absolutely fine when he's played Can't Gooch/Junior and/or Thompson cover a left back, given Stevens is supposed to be on huge money (albeit out or contract this summer). As good as he's been, he's got to be one of the first out of the door surely? Expensive, old and injury prone. I haven't really got any idea about what kind of salary Stevens will be on. As a 34yo coming off 2 injury-hit seasons, can't see him being in a position to demand anything huge? I'll be interested to see where he sees Gooch and Tchamadeu fitting in - and if he's happy to go in with those 2 as his RB options, or whether he'll seriously pursue Hoever. I don't think anyone has seen enough of Tchamadeu to know if he's the answer as a 30+ game starter. The injuries, coupled with Hoever's renaissance, has made it hard to work out what he'll be thinking. Not sure I'd be happy with either of Gooch/Juniorbeing seen as an option on the left. We've seen what a difference it makes having just a functional left-footed option there.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 30, 2024 15:53:02 GMT
I think Pearson will stay. It'd probably be possible for us to move him on - but not easy, given we signed him very cheap, but presumably on top end money (for 3 more years) by our standards. Wouldn't be amazed if Stevens stayed on for another 12 months as a back-up. But can see Baker (and maybe Laurent) moving on as they enter their final year. Rose is another possible exit with only 12 months left. I agree about Pearson...regretably. There's no one I'd rather see leave the premises. Stevens as backup for who exactly...? Surely one of the main signings will be a starting-calibre left-back - so if Stevens is at the stage of his career where he's okay with a back-up role, we could maybe do worse. Although his record of muscle injuries is probably a giant red flag as he hits 34 in July. Not sure the profile you could realistically target, and attract, as second-choice left-back though, and he has looked absolutely fine when he's played
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 30, 2024 15:46:17 GMT
Stansfield could be an interesting one to monitor, especially if Brum go down. The link to him in the winter came from a source close to Birmingham, so could have been something in it.
I'm not sure if he's really a No.9 (don't thnik he thinks he is) - or someone who could really play on his own up there though (or where his next step is). Can't see him being near the standard Fulham would want to try and push on next season
But 13 in a poor team is not to be sniffed at
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 30, 2024 15:29:31 GMT
I think Pearson will stay. It'd probably be possible for us to move him on - but not easy, given we signed him very cheap, but presumably on top end money (for 3 more years) by our standards.
Wouldn't be amazed if Stevens stayed on for another 12 months as a back-up.
But can see Baker (and maybe Laurent) moving on as they enter their final year. Rose is another possible exit with only 12 months left.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 30, 2024 13:32:28 GMT
I never thought he was particularly slow, certainly once he gets going. He's just got one of those running styles
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 30, 2024 12:01:34 GMT
Brendan Rogers would probably be all over the option of a season loan at Celtic and tbh if that were the case Souttar would be all over that himself Devil’s advocate of course He's more of a Rangers man apparently - and his brother plays there, doesn't he? Supposedly they couldn't come close to meeting the wage contribution Leicester wanted last summer. Even if he had a relegation reduction,you'd think he'd still be on really big money for another 4 years. www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/harry-souttar-addresses-rangers-loan-27694134Harry Souttar has addressed speculation linking him with a possible loan move from Leicester City to Rangers last month. The towering central defender was wanted by Gers boss Michael Beale in a late swoop to further strengthen his backline at Ibrox. The move was made more realistic after new Foxes boss Enzo Maresca bombed Souttar out of his squad, leaving the Aussie's future at the King Power Stadium in serious doubt. However, Football Scotland informed you at the end of the window that Souttar's hefty wages acted as a major stumbling block for Rangers, who may have been able to do a deal had they progressed into the Champions League group stage But with him being worth well over £10m on their books for FFP purposes, got to think it'll be loan purgatory for him for the next couple of years as nobody will come close to getting him permanently.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 29, 2024 15:35:35 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 27, 2024 17:46:07 GMT
I don't think he'll be expecting to be featuring here next season.
Their fans were even debating whether it was worth having him back on loan next season when I looked last week.
The consensus was that it was, but they didn't think they had someone they'd be lucky to get.
He's clearly a player with big potential - but, at 18, that's a long way normally off featuring in the Champo unless you're extra special and really physically developed.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 27, 2024 17:43:43 GMT
Wonder when the last time there was anything like this?
In the relegation zone on Feb 2nd. Best form, by a mile, since then. Amazing.
5 Aug-Feb 2 22nd Doncaster Played 29-08-04-17 GD -21 PTS 28
Feb 2- Apr 27th 1st Doncaster Played 17-13-03-01 GD +25 PTS 42
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 27, 2024 16:43:29 GMT
Outstanding reaction after that Cardiff loss at the end of Feb. Anything looked possible after that, but it's all turned out swimmingly Definitely did not see a feelgood factor emerging late on. He deserves a hell of a lot of credit
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 27, 2024 11:30:37 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 26, 2024 17:54:03 GMT
Presumably it's going to be Burger, comfortably. With Bae Junho a very strong second. No idea who else would be remotely in the mix. Third place will be a very interesting call. Define “very interesting” Yeah, that might have been overstating it a bit
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 26, 2024 17:33:10 GMT
I voted for Bae. Think burger has been good, but bae has had more of an impact. Burger tailed off massively as well when it’s mattered the most. Yeah, I don't think that would be undeserved, and I think Bae will have the better career and he's done about as much as you could possibly hope for in his first season. He's special. Burger just hasn't been able to get back up to speed over the last month. But I do think his consistency levels in a dysfunctional team, right until that silly booking at Preston, gave him quite a big lead, which Junho possibly hasn't quite overhauled, despite looking better by the week - but it's pretty close.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 26, 2024 17:20:23 GMT
They’ve both been shit for most of the season and have had a good games recently. It’s fucking laughable and always happens. I think there are only 2 candidates - but third is necessarily going to have to go to someone who's had a very mixed bag of a season, to put it mildly. Maybe Gooch if not Hoever/Thompson. I don't think you could go with any of the centre-backs or Laurent with a straight face
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 26, 2024 17:11:44 GMT
Presumably it's going to be Burger, comfortably.
With Bae Junho a very strong second.
No idea who else would be remotely in the mix.
Third place will be a very interesting call.
Maybe even Hoever's late run and Thompson's decent run will put them in the mix with some recency bias involved.
Rose 3364 minutes Hoever 3270 McNally 3188
Burger 2765 Laurent 2727 Bae 2377 Thompson 2257 Wilmot 2190
Pearson 1978 Johnson 1815 Leris 1801 Gooch 1796 Vidigal 1748 Mmaee 1649 Iversen 1530 Bonham 1440 Stevens 1381 Travers 1260 Baker 1141 Campbell 1124 Haksabanovic 1033
Wesley 872 Tchamadeu 849 Cundle 812 Manhoef 649
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 25, 2024 18:27:03 GMT
Wouldn't be amazed if there was interest from us in Browne from PNE?
We love a PNE signing - links with Walters from Ireland and Gallagher.
Captain, reputed 'good egg', rated by PNE
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 25, 2024 14:24:31 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 25, 2024 11:14:13 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 25, 2024 10:47:39 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 25, 2024 10:43:22 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 24, 2024 8:14:26 GMT
Yeah, maybe a change of plan when he got the loans manager job at Leicester? www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-huth-loans-manager-rodgers-7674078The German centre-back, who retired in 2018 after injuries ruined the final year of his career, returns to City after spending time in his homeland studying to be a sporting director. But, if there is anything in the works, would imagine we could offer him something more senior as a kind of deputy to Walters, who he seems really close with? Better commute too.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 24, 2024 8:10:31 GMT
Quite surprised at the level of anti-Martin vitriol in their fanbase, even before last night, for a team that may end up with 90 pts.
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 24, 2024 7:59:46 GMT
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Post by FullerMagic on Apr 23, 2024 15:00:47 GMT
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