A few random thoughts from today

[crasher]

In no particular order

1 We need Dale Stephens to sign a new contract. In the first half especially, he was excellent today. Uwe rightly gets a lot of plaudits for an excellent performance but Dale was not far behind. When you play a determined, physical team like Blackburn, you need some real steel in midfield and that's Dale produced. Not diving in, not headless chicken stuff, but controlled agression and good use of the ball. Is it to much to hope the club will announce a morale-boosting contract deal just as we near the finishing line?

2 Booing Akpom. Just feck off if you did that.

3 Not a great atmosphere today. But the South Stand gave it a go by starting a round of 'We're the South Stand...'. It would be great if this went North, West, South instead of just back and forward between the first two. Give the South a chance...

4. Was Muzza giving it a 'calm down' gesture to us after his goal? Looked like it from WSU and made me smile.

5. I like Pocognoli more than Bong. Does the simple stuff well and I feel more confident with him there.

 

[GoingUp]

I think Bong on top form is a much better chose personally, I think we are at our best with the Bong and Bruno running up the wings, playing one-twos and 'diagz'.

 

[Beach Hut]

Stephens was man of the match by a country mile, consistently breaking up the opposition play

 

[Weststander]

Pog didn't play well today, outfought by confident, strong opponents, gave away so many dangerous free kicks when his opponent was going nowhere. Probably ring rust. He was a class act before his injury.

Stephens is the midfield boss, covering opponents counter attacks, and a fighter if opponents try to bully us.

 

[Albumen]

Stephens was man of the match by a country mile, consistently breaking up the opposition play

Unless your country mile excludes Germans, yes.

 

[Beach Hut]

Unless your country mile excludes Germans, yes.

It didn't he was by far the best player on the pitch

 

[redoubtable seagull]

It didn't he was by far the best player on the pitch

He has been absolutely top notch since his return to the side.

 

[crasher]

Pog didn't play well today, outfought by confident, strong opponents, gave away so many dangerous free kicks when his opponent was going nowhere. Probably ring rust. He was a class act before his injury.

Funnily enough, I agree - it wasn't one of his better performances, and perhaps not surprising given that he's only just back from injury. But somehow I feel he can 'manage' a poor game better than Bong - he plays the percentages whereas Bong, when not on form, gives the ball away a lot and can get caught out of position.

But - I appreciate lots of people disagree with me and would prefer Bong.

 

[Medwayseagull]

Unless your country mile excludes Germans, yes.

He is Basil Fawlty in disguise.

 

[Mackenzie]

My random thought of the day is if we could get a time machine and bring in a prime Micky Small and Johnny Byrne to the team, would they make us a stronger team than we’ve got with Welbeck and Maupay?

 

[Brok]

My random thought of the day is if we could get a time machine and bring in a prime Micky Small and Johnny Byrne to the team, would they make us a stronger team than we’ve got with than Welbeck and Maupay?

No.

 

[GT49er]

My random thought of the day is if we could get a time machine and bring in a prime Micky Small and Johnny Byrne to the team, would they make us a stronger team than we’ve got with than Welbeck and Maupay?

Debatable - they got us to the play-offs in the second division (IIRC correctly, it was still the second division then, before Sky invented football), so they would be good Chamionship level strikers - as was Maupay before we bought him. Welbeck is a full England international though, albeit a whie back, so realistically a class above.

Think I'd stick with the two we've got at the moment.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Small and Byrne were fabulous players and a brilliant partnership, but I think our expectations have risen in the last few years.

That said, I might fancy Mickey on for the last 10 mins if we need a goal at some point

Byrne, a fabulously balanced player, could glide around the pitch. I think the work-rate thing might annoy me now

 

[dejavuatbtn]

My random thought of the day is if we could get a time machine and bring in a prime Micky Small and Johnny Byrne to the team, would they make us a stronger team than we’ve got with than Welbeck and Maupay?

Hmmm. It might work I’d all the other teams played Championship defences.

 

[zefarelly]

John Byrne was a class act on his day.

a different era though . . .30 years ago FFS!!!

 

[Monkey Man]

I remember Byrne being interviewed about his partnership with Small at the time.

He said it was great because one would go marauding forward during matches while the other one took a breather. Then they'd swap roles.

Not sure that's how strike partnerships work in the Premier League in 2021.