I read this article today. I have edited out the clues, but not misrepresented the content. Guess the English club described: Two weeks ago, disgruntled supporters chanted, “You’re not fit to wear the shirt" ... On Saturday, the atmosphere became more heated as angry ... fans vented their fury following a humiliating [performance] in the FA Cup. How has it come to this? It’s a story of inertia and apathy in the boardroom, of strategic failures in recruitment, and of a squad that has been regularly stripped of its best players. The people in key positions at the club appear to be either unsuited to the task, not up to it, or simply don’t want to be there. ,,, current manager is ..., hired in [autumn 2015] as its sixth coach since 2010 ... with no previous coaching experience in England. Thrust immediately into a relegation dogfight. ... [Foreign] chief executive ... risked intensifying fan ire by saying last week that the club was “making progress” because [of] “... our ability to control costs.” ... the risky transfer strategy of buying young-to-get-better value-for-money signings so they can be sold for a profit. The so-called “Moneyball” policy has been a disaster so far. Thirteen players — many unproven youngsters from overseas — joined last off-season [The manager} has the January transfer window to work a miracle, but which potential savior wants to join a club destined for relegation? [He] may just have to work with the current set of players, who have proven this season they are simply not good enough.
I knew things were bad for Charlton but now we are being air-brushed out of history: Shelvey joined Swansea from Liverpool for an initial fee of £5m in July 2013 ... The former Arsenal and West Ham youth team player featured in Swansea's Europa League campaign in 2013 ...
They are starting to flex their financial muscle - but Afobe for £11million was a gamble. Lewis Grabban for £8mil is crazy. He was a journeyman until 24 months ago.
Just saw that Anthony Stokes might be going to Dundee on loan. Now, whilst not guaranteed a return of goals (though his rate his healthy enough), he does guarantee creativity. I'd take him over pretty much all of our attackers.
I would prefer to see him go to Rangers ... I'm a bit worried about Falkirk and Hibs who seem to have a bit of wind in their sails
emailed asking for a refund on my season ticket as it's not what i bought. also asked to be removed from the club database. got a reply today - they'll discuss it with snr management.
We have some way to go before we beat this record, but I am sure RD is working on it: "Players from Madagascar side Stade Olympique I'Emyrne, scored 149 own goals in a national league game against arch-rivals AS Adema in 2002"
Just watched a report on SSN re Bolton's financial plight. To stay alive they have almost completed a deal to sell the car park outside of the Macron stadium, and also in talks with Wigan to sell their training ground to them. Then there's us - who are not under that sort of pressure to sell, reportedly looking to do just that with our club shop. Hiring out the ticket office too. Some will still argue our club isn't being stripped.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...total-club-spent-summit-England-s-flight.html We've spent more time top of the Premiership than mainstays like Everton. Means little, but found it interesting none the less.
I think my old mucker Parky may be for the chop. He has not made the promotion push Bradford could expect with their gates. His cup runs have kept him in a job, but not this year. What price Colin Kazim-Richards coming to the Valley? Ticks all the right boxes for RD. Washed-up career, trouble-maker, cheap.
Kevin Nolan has become player manager at Orient. Amazing business on the playing side - as a manager time will tell. I imagine the whole squad will be buzzing though.
Surely we could of offered him a 18 months on better wedge then orient? Albeit he is player manager there + an extra year.
Their owner is happy to spend his dosh. He would have been a very good acquisition - so at that point he wasn't right for us.
Amusing bit of soccer trivia from Hunter Davies: http://www.newstatesman.com/politic...res-being-dedicated-follower-football-fashion But this part puzzled me: As for markings on the pitch, there was a period when the penalty area was not straight lines, as in a rectangle, but had two bulges sticking out, like a bra. I have spent hours studying old photos searching for them. You can see them in pictures of the 1897 Cup final. I knew the penalty area originally extended right across the pitch, but I have never heard of these "two bulges" and cannot envisage where they would be located. Can anyone enlighten me? (And without going on about bras as the girls do not wear them in the Dominican Republic - too hot). I googled images of the 1897 Cup Final but still cannot spot them. Davies usually knows his stuff, but is he wrong here? In googling I also found this article and learned some new stuff, but not the answer to my question: http://www.thelinnets.co.uk/archive/footballrules.php
I'll send an email to the research dept - but I doubt they will have an idea. Could strike lucky. Edit - guess who's FA proposed it? Brought in in 1891.
The shape. Again, the Irish FA. I've done a very scientific picture of what it was like from 1891 to 1902. To think I didn't continue art at A level.
