Holmes_and_Watson

Hang on! Are you saying this book I'm reading by Midfield_Supreme_Commander is really credit taking fiction?!

Bloomin' heck. Assisted dying was horrible enough. Now we're burning people?! Starmer out!

I'd also seen links (I didn't really get past the headlines) of links to Russia. So much we don't know, with pretty much everyone involved doing their utmost to cover up what they can. Let's hope all of the redacted due to being part of investigation material, gets put to good use.

Agree. While SR go to lengths to put players out of position ( Fellows at wing back, Aribo at centre half) sides and talented players are more flexible. Sure, Tonda can have a Larin/ Stewart focal point. But circumstances will mean we won't always use that. AA was flexible across the 3 attacking midfield roles, and offered support back when we were using Adams in narrower formation. Yes, that would mean Leo, Azaz or Fellows would have competition. But that's a good thing and they'd all get minutes. As would Robinson and Matsuki making up the group (no idea about Edozie). AA's scoring and assist record means that he'd very much have a big part to play. Archer, as more of a finisher could also play as a two up front, but would seem to be more limited in a supporting roll. Of the two, it's a shame AA has moved on.

Paceless defender? Disappointing he wasn't back with us, so we could have sold him to Leicester along with Aribo's loan. 🙂

It's pronounced Cilla, as in Cilla Black. We brought him in thanks to Rasmus' Blind Date approach to recruitment, where you've not to use your eyes.

Ah. SR were thinking about keeping our penalty success rate as it was with...

I think the main reasons for him not returning are:- SR would not match his wages. He will surely think he can do a job for a PL side (you rightly mention the changes around him at clubs) Far too well known to be on the Rasmus shortlist. We'd have to lose Charles first, for starters. He was easily our best midfielder when he left. In those early Martin games, he helped get us over the line. Without him, others had to improve. The system had to alter to allow the group to pick up the gaps he left. There were also hints at him being a threat, just a little futther foward too. You never know. A season or three down the line, when we're looking to bring in our annual veteran, he might end up here again.

Brought in on what the club could reinvest of the Ings money, in the last half Gao season. He wasn't coming in as an upgrade, just as what we could afford and the hope his form at Blackburn the season before would continue. Which it didn't and we relied on others to keep us up in his first season. In his second, no one kept us up. When he struggled to score, you could see it knock him and he was often not in the side. He saw himself as a central player, although we often didn't play to accommodate that. Back in the Championship he thrived again. Sure, he's not our target man. But he's more than just being out wide. I think his ability to score from narrow angles after cut backs, really got our season going. That, his determination and work rate lifted the side. We were better with him being mobile, with better players to link up with. He got loads of assists for us too. SR are noted for failures to bring in strikers, chopping and changing systems with each manager, and reducing the quality of the squad. AA has come through all of those four years. While a first 11 may not seem to have a place for him, he's our top scorer for a reason. There was more to him than just goalscoring. It's a shame to see him go. He'd have been well down my list of players I'd like to see leave. As noted, we've probably just handed a good Championship scorer to a rival for next season. As for him, it's a new challenge away from our basket case club. But possibly joining another one, especially if they go down.

His ability to clone himself, will be very handy at corners. Jury is out, based on opinion, on whether even 5 will score from open play. 🙂

Nope. And certainly not for Starmer and his inner circle. Intelligence raised concerns, as part of vetting. No idea what the foreign office found. Passed along to cabinet office, who did sod all in any depth, before passing it along. Meanwhile, you've got Morgan McSweeney pushing whole heartedly to give his pal the job. Starmer, perhaps trying for some reflected Blairism, or just a puppet for others goes along with it. Mandelson's dealings were known, to enough of an extent to establish risk. They ask him a sum total of 3 questions. And let him take the job. Even Trump didn't want him to have the job, knowing about the depth of the Epstein links. Both Starmer and McSweeney were reluctant to punt Mandelson out of his ambassador's role, despite them claiming to have taken "decisive action." I remember one labour MP being truly disgusted about Starmer and his decisions. She pointed out that MP's had lost the whip for standing against policies enforced from above (probably u-turned on by now), while they allowed Mandelson to get in and wanted him to stay. Right up until, like so many politicians, they were dragged into it being untenable. We'll see if Starmer holds himself to the same standards, as he did Johnson, who promoted someone against reason. The allegations of what Mandelson was doing while in office are damning, and are going to run and run. Even the SNP, who try and block any police enquiry going, have asked for a police investigation.

Muffled by trapped deal sheets again.

You see that space? That's right. You can't, because Larin is filling it. That's class that is.

That was earlier than I thought it would be. I was thinking it would be 11pm. That has lowered my Whelm rating even more.

Another high ceiling on Football Manager player departs.