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Reply | Julien Stéphan Interview
at 20:51 8 Oct 2026
Very different players. Taraabt was almost certainly neuro divergent. Don’t know about Kolli- agree that he’s not at Adele’s level. But you implicitly accept the point that the manager/head coach needs to be able to manage “ difficult personalities “ for the benefit of the team and club rather than insist on a “Stepford Footballer” personality model. That’s the point about Warnock.
I havent fallen in love with JS, unlike what I read in some of the posts here. I suspect there’s a big ego there which could get in the way of his job. There’s a whiff of the Uriah Heep about him. ( What's the French for Uriah Heep?)Maybe I’m being unfair.
We’ve had some good signings this season - credit to Nourry , but we were due a good summer signing season … [Post edited 8 Oct 20:54]
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Reply | Julien Stéphan Interview
at 18:21 8 Oct 2026
The head coach/ managers job is to manage a squad of disparate personalities,get the best out of them and pick his strongest team on the day. For JS, Taarabt would probably not have displayed the “ right attitude” ( which sounds like something out of stories of dressing rooms in the 60s & 70s - the younger players in awe of the seniors, cleaning their boots, etc all that character building bullshit. ).Anyone who’s been in management knows that you take account of individual personalities to get the best out of them. Your own ego and feelings are irrelevant. Warnock knew this. |
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Thread | Shaun Wright-Philips
at 20:13 26 Sep 2026
Just like he was crap when he played for us , he was crap on Strictly… I’ve seen my cat do a better cha cha cha. Surprised he didn’t fall over.
https://youtube.com/shorts/vH9
[Post edited 26 Sep 20:35]
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Thread | Cantona
at 23:49 23 Sep 2026
Good to see Eric Cantona speak out against Ratcliffe and say that he wouldn’t have signed for Man United if Ratcliffe had been a major shareholder back then. ( Well, maybe a bit too easy to make a statement like that but Cantona was always an unusual footballer and I suspect that he did ( and does ) have principles and blah blah.
Not that I didn’t hate him after THAT game - in the season we went down under Ray Wilkins . I was seated behind the home goal in the loft and we were leading 1-0 ( forget who scored ) and United were piling on the pressure and the referee allowed 6 minutes ( in those days unheard of…) minutes of injury time and with sinking hearts all around and notwithstanding a desperate defence, Cantona scored ( I think it was in the 93rd or 94th minute but it was a long time ago). And that’s when I knew we would get relegated that season. [Post edited 23 Sep 23:51]
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Reply | He who shall not be named..
at 21:44 22 Sep 2026
I think CN is over egging this- I understand that K simply stated that he would like more game time and couldn’t understand why he wasn’t getting it. The “ guaranteed” stuff is bollocks. |
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Reply | Julian
at 09:32 11 Sep 2026
Somewhat nauseating all this guff about how wonderful this guy is. Shows how low expectations are . That semi permanent smiley demeanour comes across as robotic and insincere. |
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Reply | So, six games in
at 09:25 11 Sep 2026
“…fantastic manager”? Stephan? The jury is still out. I’m still unclear on the parameters of his job: I guess he does select the team ( I had my doubts about that last season) and coaches. He doesn’t appear to have Warnock ( or Gerry’s) man management skills. |
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Reply | Fans Forum questions
at 08:52 10 Sep 2026
Great questions.
We need answers on the Kolli situation.
Supporters need to be treated seriously - this applies to the “ song” issue as well. So I see poor player management, poor communications with key stakeholders ( supporters). I hope it’s not puffed up managerial and corporate egos. |
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Reply | Charlton Reflection
at 08:44 10 Sep 2026
We needed Kolli. I don’t know what the situation is and whether it’s simply that the player refused to go out on loan - which he has a right to do - but this needs to be sorted out. The managers job is to manage his squad and select the best team for the occasion. “ Difficult players” ( Stan was a “ difficult “ player, so was Taraabt ) are part of the mix. Is it JS effing ego? Is it higher up? Sort it out ! |
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Thread | Larkeche
at 05:33 3 May 2026
Anyone know what’s the position with Ziyad Larkeche. |
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Reply | Madsen
at 22:47 27 Dec 2025
He reminds me of Mike Fillery. Fillery,signed by Venables,was ever present through the chaotic late Venables- Mullery- Sibley period, and then was a regular in Jim Smiths side.
Just like Madsen, under appreciated, languorous, un showy, a stroller. Loved it.
Madsen has the same attributes. |
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Reply | Merry Christmas my R’s – Preview
at 09:42 25 Dec 2025
I knew our boxing day record was bad. but had forgotten that it was truly, madly, deeply BAD.
I’m now full of hope and anticipation. Stop it.
Merry Christmas everyone. [Post edited 25 Dec 2025 9:48]
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Reply | A miserable return for Marti as white hot QPR incinerate Leicester – Report
at 01:32 22 Dec 2025
Great report. Spot on.
I’d gone into the game with low expectations, becos the emotional cost of unfulfilled high expectations is too great, also because we tend to f**kthings up when least expected.
So , consequently, it was just…brilliant.
Mbengue, Madsen and Dembele you rightly single out as outstanding. Norrington-Davies I thought stood out too - it’s good to have two decent full backs.
However, another game where Clarke-Salter ( have we ever previously had 2 double barrelled surnames on the pitch at the same time…) was subbed at half time. It’s not the first time. Didn’t look injured - maybe he was.
Leicester were terrible. Absolute shit. I almost started feeling sorry for them - well almost - a team lacking in any motivation.
Calling Marti a c*ntwas unnecessary, disappointing and sounded stupidly spiteful - his team’s performance was enough on the hubris front.
This result has led me to raise my expectations , probably unfortunately because we are not going to be playing against such a shower every week. |
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Reply | Could we go up.
at 11:02 21 Dec 2025
Absolutely agree. If we are in the play offs,it’s a lottery. We could go up.
Sunderland last year is a good precedent.
You’ve got to take your chance when it comes.
However, will we finish in the top 6? Head says no… |
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Thread | Nerdy statistics
at 23:57 27 Sep 2025
Our startung lineup today - and for the games against against Stoke and Wrexham - contained only one “ FIFA nationality” English player ( Vale). After Vale was substituted in the SW game , Dembele ( who is English) came on so we didn’t go down to zero English players. Ditto in the Wrexham game : Dembele came on for Saito ; Hayden (Jamaica)for Vale - so we always had one English player on the pitch (2 for 12 minutes in the Wrexham game.).
I don’t recall us ever having just one English player in the starting lineup - not even in the weird days of Mark Hughes (2011-12).
Can another nerd correct me or confirm ( or in the spirit of the times provide “ alternative facts”). [Post edited 28 Sep 2025 0:02]
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Reply | Play Offs? Dream on
at 21:18 15 Feb 2025
My formatting has …collapsed. Apologies.But I hope this makes some sense |
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