True, but when he tells me Manu was there or wasnt then I know its fact. He is very good to me with reagards to info and letting me watch training or matches.
In Australia, the all-encompassing term is 'got the wog' - probably not PC enough to use that over here though...
The Wobby should investigate this, I'm surprised they haven't done so already, I mean when does a newspaper not want to run a spurious rumour/story. The fact that they haven't makes me even more suspicious. there may be no story to run of course.........
Sorry Dan, gotta say, i'm certain you're not right about the infighting...the 'rumours' have come from a variety of different sources, most of whom do know what goes on at the training ground.
Any ideas as to the whereabouts of Almunia yesterday? Certainly Bond played well enough Tuesday and again yesterday to have earned his chance, but what does it say when the player who Zola wanted back doesn't go and sit on the bench? All very strange.
The Almunia rumour gathers pace...and Bond wasn't up to it yesterday. We need Almunia back very soon! Or, give Woods a go...
I am staggered that you say Bond wasn't up to it. Jon Marks was saying all afternoon just how good he was, with a couple of saves keeping us in it. Seen the goals and I can't see how he is to blame for them. Point a finger more at players with far more experience I would have thought.
This is what I have said for a long time!! Bond is still unfinished and rough, he needs time on loan to work on his aerial ability and his command of the box or he will end up another Loach. He flapped at most crosses and his decision making as to whether to come for the ball or stay on his line. His inexperience is going to cost us if we aren't careful. You mark my words.
Bond doesn't need to go on loan, we need a goalkeeping coach who can coach goalkeepers. We have had a few with huge potential...who are not making the grade...with a running theme like that we have to look further than the goalkeepers themselves.
Easy to say this, but I think he did make a mistake for their first goal by coming off his line. He had no need to & a) by not staying by his post, he possibly distracted Nos and b) had he stayed by his post, he would have stopped that shot from Pugh. Apart from that, he played to his obvious strength IMO - he is an excellent shot stopper. Having not seen the whole game, I obviously can't say with any certainty that he didn't make any other errors, but from what I've seen he did rather well. He has, however, developed the 'Richard Lee flap' and needs to work on cutting that out of his game...
he definitely flapped BB...and the third goal he flapped big time! The trouble is, we have goalkeepers that seem to have the potential to go far, but apart from being 'good shot stoppers' as they are...they don't develop their game...so, who do we blame for that? Sorry, the buck stops at the coach imho. (cruel as that sounds lol)
The third one not so much. He had to try and make himself big to put off RM, Almunia would have done the same. But the first was definitely poor positioning, he needed to stay tall and protect the post, not dive and allow the ball to be lifted over him.
OK perhaps he could have done better on that one.... but TBH Almunia (IMO) has let in his share of soft goals... and that one wasn't....
You mark my words, if Bond stays in goal he will make a mistake and a goal will be scored as a result.
