Channons Windmill

I’ll miss his proper black boots.

Exactly - which was my point. He clearly did exactly as he was told to do and it was effective.

The 9 minutes was particularly interesting to watch as he highlighted just how much positive influence RM has already had on the the team. Their instructions were obviously crystal clear and understood - witness Aribo’s contribution; he was clearly told to stay in a specific area to spread the play and then to hold the ball, making only short passes to a team mate. If nothing else, we will be hard to score against this year solely because the opposition won’t get the ball.

I’ve always wondered whether there was a degree of Man City involvement in his move to Girona, after all they’re both part of CFG. Perhaps linked to our acquisitions last summer (and this)?

Dale Vince is a shrewd guy - look at his village team punching way above their weight. He also saw how the energy industry was going many years ago and now we’ll probably see more women in men’s football - he just knows how to use these things to the advantage of FGR.

When I last worked in football (albeit a number of years ago now) the season ended 30th June and the new one started the following day - which is why the transfer window opened that day. Contracts were always tied in around that which is why a lot of transfers were recorded on 1st July, especially with free agents.

Terry Gennoe always struck me as a great keeper who briefly shone very brightly and then promptly disappeared - think he went to Blackburn for ages after us. I don’t remember being particularly responsible against Forest, more that we were completely overwhelmed after half time...

A few ‘characters’ as well - I was so lucky to have been a STH (family centre) through that period from 1975-76 - feel it was an age when smaller clubs could still reach for the top..

I’d be surprised if Monk worked at managerial level again in football though I shouldn’t really be surprised by anything anymore….

Why does Allardyce appear on any list? He’s mostly retired now and his wife wouldn’t let him work further than an hour from home anyway….

He was a great player whose career was stymied by terrible injuries at key moments - not quite good enough for West Ham in the Prem but outstanding at Yeovil in League One, so I guess he found his level with Forest in the Championship as he lacked a yard of pace to make it at a higher level. Met him a few times when he was in Somerset and he always seemed a really nice guy so I hope wherever he ends up it works out for him. Think he was just a victim of the Mad Nath 'era'....

It's also important to remember that this 'social media influencer' role he's landed with is now probably his sole/main source of income..... I hear from a source within the game that he's potentially in an interesting financial position..

Lawrie knew my late Dad (I think he arranged insurance for some of the players) around forty years ago and every time I've spoken to him since he remembered him. He invited me over for Sunday lunch when I bumped into him again at SoccerEx in Manchester a number of years ago, wished I'd taken up the offer. Will always be a hero to me...

There's a small station car park (which I've always used) though it is in the middle of a large residential area - I see there's a also a (new?) big car park next to Altrincham station which might be better as I'm sure more than a few will have the same plan.

Yes, Altrincham (or Navigation Road)! Get the tram in... I work in Manchester several times a month and haven't driven into the City for probably a couple of decades now...

Is the booing a Saints thing, or wider? I remember Alan Ball used to get booed a lot and Lawrie used to get very cross about the 'boo-boys'.. hasn't ever really made much sense to me

Well Wikipedia doesn't record a date of death for him, so he might be available but probably the wrong side of 150 now....

According to Wikipedia, between Sept 1955 and May 1991, we had three managers covering 1682 games... Since then we have had thirty managers (incl. caretakers) covering 1368 games.. I know football has changed a lot over this period, but it would be interesting to compare this against other, more balanced, clubs..

Didn't that shirt first appear for the Charity Shield? I remember the replica shirt I had also said 'FA Cup Winners 1976' so obviously from 1976/77 - which was a slightly disappointing season

My absolute favourite Saints kit! Don't think replica kits were a thing then sadly or else I would have had one - my first would have been the candy stripes I guess for my tenth birthday in 1978

From what I hear locally City are a slowly sinking ship so it could be argued he's doing well to keep them above the drop zone....

Just had a very interesting conversation with a couple of clients, both who played for a PL team at various levels, and they seem to think Marsch would be a very good appointment for us and explained why. In summary Leeds are only one or two players off being firmly mid-table and feel he was very hard done by to be sacked... I'd certainly take these guys opinions seriously so I've come away feeling a little positive about the whole situation. (They did spend about ten mins laughing about NJ though.....)

Thoughts on Bree from a friend of mine who is a long-term STH at Kenilworth Road... Every now and then he'll create a goal from a cross. He's decent but not PL.

David Armstrong's book tells this tale perfectly....

I'd like to see the stats comparing distance run then and now, think that's where the difference would be. Remember Alan Ball being at his most effective barely leaving the centre-circle and Channon stood on halfway with his hands on his hips as we defended....