benjii

Yes, get Delap in then Salisu can move off throws.

Not a lot of info yet and it's not clear how SFC will fit into the broader football portfolio that they seem to want to build, or what exactly is funding that because if this Serb guy is only worth around GBP 1 billion then that won't go very far. It's also strange how cheap the reported price is. Debt, or no debt, West Ham just went for 700 million, so there's definitely something else at play when it comes to the price. Maybe there is some deferred element. Also not clear why Kat wants to retain her 20%. Finally, not clear to what extent the Brentford chap will want to change things operationally. So, lots of questions. On the plus side, they appear "legit" and seem to be here for reasons beyond, "I thought I'd better get some assets out of China", and don't appear to be linked to any criminal activity, which makes a nice change.

Warning: a lot of this post is stating the bleeding obvious, but the relegation battle is starting to look quite straightforward now. Fulham finished 18th with 28 points so, yes, Burnley in 17th could have stayed up with 28 points and a better GD than Fulham. As it happened, they got 39 points so were very comfortable. Looking at the current table, you wouldn't bet on Norwich or Burnley breaking 30 points. They've only won 3 matches between them out of 36 played and I don't see either having a dramatic resurgence. I know Dyche has been here before but I don't think they've ever been this bad at the half way point. Watford also look in trouble but will probably have a new manager soon. If they get someone good in and even manage to bring in a good player or two then they've got a chance but they would need to average nearly 1.5 points per match to get to 40, which seems unlikely so at best you would put them on around 35 points, and that would be fairly optimistic. All the other clubs, bar Newcastle, are on course for 38 or more points but it's likely one or more will perform worse in the second half of the season. Everton, perhaps? 😀 Leeds should be OK once Bamford is back. So, really, I think it's Norwich, Burnley and whoever does worse over the remainder of the season between Newcastle and Watford that will go down. It could well be that, like last season, this is settled well before the end of the season, if Newcastle put a run together. Although I don't see Newcastle suddenly becoming a good team on the back of the January window you have to assume they will improve at least a bit. If both of those improve dramatically then someone else could be dragged in.

Good chance to mix it up a bit but still put out a decent team with the likes of A Armstrong and Adams having not played much recently. With KWP out of the Brentford match I'd bench Perraud in this one and give Small a game if he's fit. -------------Forster--------------- ----Valery-- Stephens -- Lyanco--- KWP-------- Romeu --------- Small ---------Diallo ------Moi ----------- ------A Armstrong -- Adams/Long ----- If Adams still isn't 100% then maybe Long deserves another game. Give Stuart Armstrong the second half. Broja and Redmond on the bench for emergencies.

Yeah, it's pretty disgusting. Refs have no chance with that sort of coverage. I thought he did a good job keeping control and didn't start overreacting like some refs would. He got all the major decisions right, with the help of VAR. The City penalty was a shining example of the value of having VAR. His angle didn't allow him to see the shirt pull, but VAR could see it. The Odegaard / Ederson incident could have been called either way in real time but IMO doesn't merit intervention as it's a very tough one to call. The red was absolutely clear. Arsenal have only their own poor discipline - and missing an open goal - to blame today, not the officials. Contrast with the guy reffing the Watford Spurs match, plus fat head Mason on VAR. Those two are genuinely awful.

Yeah, true, but it wouldn't happen straight away - you have to submit the form within 14 days. The point is that Companies House is basically an archive of submitted information, so there are times when there's a lag between that info and what has actually happened. If we're taken over there will be an announcement made promptly by the club and the new owners in any case. They would want to own the PR and wouldn't just leave it hanging in case things start to leak. Personally, I doubt anything is about to happen, but you never know.

Wrong! No need to register a share transfer in a private company at Companies House until the next annual confirmation statement.

They floated a SPAC on NYSE. That is literally the vehicle, no? I think not. In any case, we don't want to be owned by some bullshit SPAC. It's a half-baked craze for hype victims.

Assuming Stephens or Lyanco is available I'd be tempted to stick with a back 3 for this one. Valery did really well and I don't fancy a back 4 with Jan plus someone other than Salisu at CB. Foster Valery Bednarek Stephens/Lyanco Tino Romeu Perraud Moi JWP Broja Redmond I assume S Armstrong will be eased back in so might be better starting on the bench. He seemed to be slightly off his usual pace against Spurs. Plenty of options on the bench with Armstrong x 2, Long and Tella and maybe Adams.

Massive credit to Forster, Valery, Perraud, both Armstrongs, Diallo and Long. Stepped up and did a job. A Armstrong in particular put a great effort in at defensive left mid. We got the rub of the green from the officials; that offside was a horrific call and Bednarek was asleep. He’s becoming a liability at the back. Cracking point in the circumstances. Well done lads.

Fucking claaaassssss!

I would go with: Frazer Foster KWP Bednarek Salisu Perraud Romeu Smallbone JWP Elyounoussi Redmond Adams

Let's see if we play a deeper defensive line and keep the extra man in midfield. If we do, then you never know. If we go full Gegenbusters with the high line then no doubt we'll look great for 15 or 20 minutes but end up getting a whooping. Hopefully Stuey can start this one.

Like today. See my post above. Much more resilience in midfield without losing the ability of JWP to chase every ball all over the pitch for 90 minutes. Today's shape should suit S Armstrong and Diallo better as well.

Had no confidence when I saw the starting line up but the change in formation today helped Elyounoussi and Walcott. Redmond was good, as were the fullbacks. Salisu continues to impress and fair play to Bednarek for the goal. JWP and Broja were both immense, with JWP given licence to get forward more with the different midfield shape. I definitely think a variation of 433/451 is the way for us to go so hopefully we see less of the 4222 and kamikaze midfield in the second half of the season. I've also done a tactical analysis of Moyse's West Ham. Here it is: Hit the channels. *end*

First Liverpool red card for two years I think. Officials made a mess of that. Kane should have gone, Liverpool should have had a pen and Liverpool’s second should have been disallowed for a clear foul on Lloris. Cracking match though.

As if we're signing a player in January 🤣

It's incredibly lax. It beggars belief that indoor events with no proper proof of current Covid status and no mask requirement continue to go ahead in a country with an infection rate as high as the UK. But then we are fast becoming entrenched as a joke country led by morons appealing to morons, so perhaps not that surprising.

The thing that has impressed me most is his long throw. Truly spectacular.

I actually think I would have saved that.

Sorry, I'm not sure what came over me there.

Fuck off you massive cunt!!!

I think Twar is struggling here because no keeper is statistically worse than Willy this season, yet no keeper is statistically better than Willy this season.

I'd be in favour of intelligence passports.

The really damning statistic is the lack of goals we have scored in the final 30 minutes of matches. It is because our attacking play is generally shite and reliant on the other team making mistakes.