Holmes_and_Watson

Is there about to be a new broom sweeping away the bits of the new broom? Lots of articles on Catherine West launching a leadership bid on Monday. As a prompt for others. But are Rayner (HMRC), Streeting (Mandelson connections), Burnham (not a MP), Miliband (not even the best Miliband, despite union backing) ready? I'd read that both Rayner and Streeting had enough backing already to launch one. But there's also an Anyone but Ange campaign. Is West fronting for anyone in particular? An early campaign, not allowing Starmer a timetable for departure, rules out Burnham. Could there be enough in fighting, that one of the other brooms in the broom cabinet, ends up in charge, like a Reeves, Mahmood, Lammy or Cooper? Starmer hasn't much faith in any of them. If he goes, he considers that things will "descend into chaos"

A disappointing 1-0 defeat, to a Bourg-en-bresse side needing the points at the bottom of the table. VA.had their usual busy, without end product, start. As the game settled, they had the better of the chances. The best came off the underside of the bar and was cleared in the first half. In the second El-hadery took it just too far round the keeper, and it was cleared away close to the line. Around those, Appuah had an effort, while Courtet had a header, an acrobatic effort, and a quick turn and shot through a lot of bodies that was saved. It was beginning to look like a draw, when the home side's big centre half, Do Marcolino got up really well from a corner, to head it in, on 63 minutes. Abu had just come on for Airhiavbere, who had received a knock. He hit an early, direct ball to a central Appuah, that looked promising. But Appuah was then subbed. Without any target, or plan, VA's final 4 subs just made their side more disjointed. The home side had their own 1 on 1 that Lacombe blocked, and they finished the stronger side. A pitch invasion of happy home fans weaved their way around dishearted, departing VA players, Courtet keeping his obvious frustrations to himself, as best he could. 7 points off the relegation places, and 18 off promotion, VA are now in the middle of a midtable pack. They could still drop another couple of places. So a last good result would at least end the season on a small positive.

It will be, as will Tonda's plan. Larin and Fellows has parts to play today, even when it was hard going for them. Larin didn't win much. Nor did he hold much up. But he did act as a focal point, when we didn't have much support around him. Shout out for a very good tackle not long before he went off too. I prefer Fellows when Stewart is on. that's also because we're more attacking generally when that's happening. You could argue that Matsuki would have given us more fight in support for the first half. But then Tonda might have brought Fellows and Charles on, and we might have lost a bit of steel that we had in Matsuki later on. Tough calls. But everyone plays their part, even on the tough days for them.

Tonda will have plenty of satisfaction with how it's going overall. Sure, it would have been better to not have a first half with all that pressure. But the idea was to use Larin, and support, a lot more than we were able to. While keeping ourselves composed and compact at the back. We managed to absorb everything they threw at us. Tonda made his usual planned changes in the second half, giving us a different dynamic. In the end, we had 2 very close efforts to get a lead. You could see the passing quality and awareness we have, in that last spell of the game. It did feel cautious. But better going into the second leg as it stands, than chasing a deficit.

And again.so nearly a winner.

So close!!!

Yup. I'd take that. Goalless going into our home. Better than having to break down a 1-0 defence.

Here we go... Stewart, Leo and Manning

Never like to see Downes not there. Fellows no had a chance to link up with Stewart. Matsuki and Charles will give us more in the middle though. Jander's going to be busy.

I had Downes to get a sneaky winner. He's getting into that position.

Not reallly on there for Leo. Manning was never being used on the overlap. But it might make them think. and give us a yard.

Nice from Leo. But it's a brief attack. Stewart for Larin. Not that far away from when we make that switch normally. Downes gets things back to normal, by getting a card.

Becoming more of the same. Just getting it clear.

Nicely in from Fellows. Nice to visit the other half of the pitch.

Better than that. Just wait for deep cover agent Targett's report.