Well worth the points today - UTB!

[Northyorksblade]

I can only speak from my view on John Street, but the atmosphere was dead as we were freezing! When the rain poured in the second half, we legged it inside and watched the last 20 minutes on the TV. Plenty had the same idea, while many more went home with plenty of time left to play.

The cold and rain didn't seem to stop our fans singing from start to finish on Tuesday night at Fulham

 

[Bladesway]

Part of that is true though, is it not? We played very well (considering our players) against Fulham, but Porter spent most of the game ambling about with the play bypassing him, almost like he was reffing the game. He didn't ever make his presence felt with a pretty abject Fulham central pairing. Baxter - who is possibly five inches shorter than him and a bit heavier - got at the back two and caused them problems. We definitely looked more likely when Porter went off.

pommpey

Just wonder if you have ever in your illustrious career spent time up top on your own against an opposition that is two divisions higher than you are?

Your not a blind happy clapper, doesn't sound like it from your post. When I pay my hard earned cash to watch a game and see us bring a forward on, I expect him to at least have the capability of putting the ball in the net, not to run around for 15 mins because someone's shagged. Oh yes, the old 100 % argument, that will get us out of this mess won't it. Kitson by the way was twice the player Porter is. Oh sorry, just seen your keyboard manager bit, I will bow down to your superior footballing knowledge and look forward to the day you manage the club.

You missed my point brilliantly, well done.

 

[LSF]

. When I pay my hard earned cash to watch a game

Probably the most crass and overused phrase on football forums.
People choose to go to matches or not, so why beat on about 'hard earned cash'?

 

[pommpey]

Just wonder if you have ever in your illustrious career spent time up top on your own against an opposition that is two divisions higher than you are?
You missed my point brilliantly, well done.

Of course I have, Bladesway. In between my normal 32 year career in the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer and then latterly as a project manager rectifying defects and managing maintenance on the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers I have had plenty of opportunity to forge my career as a professional footballer. Indeed, I am still considered gifted enough to be selected for various teams and when I do, I play upfront and run the opposition's centre backs into the ground. They can't even get near me, you know ...

Back in the land of perspective (and away from 'I submit an observation or criticism about a Sheffield United player and you offer a defence against that without referring to me, personally') I have never offered that I could do Porter's job better than him. Indeed, for a mere fraction of his salary, I doubt he could PM a Navy destroyer, not that he'd be much arsed about that pretty demanding task. My take is that:

1. We are in deep shit - still, despite Saturday's win
2. We have a minus ten goal difference
3. Porter seems to be the only available selection recently (amongst some pretty cack forwards) who serially plods through games without much effect
4. We haven't bought any upper league strikers during the JTW
5. We apparently embarked a Saudi cash-cow on the day after the STW closed
6. We lack a credible strike pairing
7. Goals = wins = points = further up the table

Porter could run about all he wants. Dammit, we could employ Uasain Bolt in the Billy Dearden shirt. But if he is simply going to be flanned every time he runs out (and recently, it hasn't been PL central defenders who have made him look and play shite, we have come in at 90 minutes with zero goals against Shrewsbury away, Carlisle United, Stevenage and when we do score, its the midfield and our central defenders who manage to chalk up more goals than he.

Still wanna defend him?

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

'Abject Fulham central pairing' Hangeland (a very experienced PL defender) and Burn (won promotion from this league) are both huge units and he had to play against them on his own. It's a tough task and Porter did a decent job, much like against Stevenage when he played on his own against their two tank like centre backs.

Fulham were shit. I don't think anyone who watched that game can offer much in praise for any of their players. In fact, then Miller scored, I bet most of their players were secretly thinking, "Thank fuck for that". They are rooted to the bottom of the PL and their survival, individually and collectively in one of the most lucrative footballing divisions in the world is far more rewarding than a bump and a grind in the FA Cup, itself now moving way backward in the footballing galaxy of trophies that must be won. For them and for the club, a drop to the Championship is fatal and means wage cuts, loss in team and individual sponsorships, television cash, bonusses ... you name it. So please don't tell me that Fulham's performance was anything more than 'workmanlike' for the sake of their fans. I bet there weren't too many hearts broken the next day. I know four Fulham fans and their summation of that game was 'Tubby Boo Hoo - lets get the team up the division now we don't have the FA Cup bothering us.'

Porter did a decent job? I can't recall him troubling their keeper much in the 75 minutes he was on the pitch and that includes reading the intent of Howard who was punting it long all night into his parish.

pommpey

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

He did put the ball in the net.
Says everything that despite an important win against important rivals your main focus is on your dislike of a player who came on to run down the last 15 minutes.

1.Main focus of my post ?. 2. I don't have a dislike of Porter, I will give praise to players if they deserve it no matter who, Doyle Porter, Baxter....... 3. Alright for you to post your dislikes of certain players, Silent Long ?.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Just wonder if you have ever in your illustrious career spent time up top on your own against an opposition that is two divisions higher than you are?
You missed my point brilliantly, well done.

And you missed mine, well done to you knowledgeable one.

 

[Pinchy]

The cold and rain didn't seem to stop our fans singing from start to finish on Tuesday night at Fulham

Our fans were absolutely outstanding at Villa and Fulham. Yet the atmosphere at BDTBL seldom rises above the funereal. It makes you think.

How about next season we allocate the Lane End lower tier to home fans as unreserved seating? It could always be altered on a game by game basis to allow for exceptional away followings. Of course, anyone occupying such an area would have to promise to sing their hearts out. I'm too old now but would join in the chorus from a distance!

The fact is that two or three thousand concerted voices can make a hell of a noise, far greater than the same or even larger number dispersed amidst 15,000 others. We know that from being out shouted frequently by a small minority of away fans.

Not only that, once started properly with a bit of volume and passion, it can get others going.

I know a 'singing section' has been tried before without success but it was a bit half-hearted wasn't it?

I understand Mr. Phipps reads our outpourings of drivel from time to time. Worth a try, Jim?

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Probably the most crass and overused phrase on football forums.
People choose to go to matches or not, so why beat on about 'hard earned cash'?

Yes there's not many of those on football forums are they, why beat on about it ?, have a think about it ?.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Our fans were absolutely outstanding at Villa and Fulham. Yet the atmosphere at BDTBL seldom rises above the funereal. It makes you think.

How about next season we allocate the Lane End lower tier to home fans as unreserved seating? It could always be altered on a game by game basis to allow for exceptional away followings. Of course, anyone occupying such an area would have to promise to sing their hearts out. I'm too old now but would join in the chorus from a distance!

The fact is that two or three thousand concerted voices can make a hell of a noise, far greater than the same or even larger number dispersed amidst 15,000 others. We know that from being out shouted frequently by a small minority of away fans.

Not only that, once started properly with a bit of volume and passion, it can get others going.

I know a 'singing section' has been tried before without success but it was a bit half-hearted wasn't it?

I understand Mr. Phipps reads our outpourings of drivel from time to time. Worth a try, Jim?

When I first started going to the Lane, the one thing I remember in particular is the non stop singing and support from the stands. Mind you, I started going when we were beating all in sight and Deane and Agana were running riot.
Now we only seem to get going when one of our team gets sent off, if there's a bit of a barney between players, a perceived injustice by the referee, a particularly disliked opposition player scything down one of ours and not even being booked OR we go 3-0 up.

 

[Bladesway]

And you missed mine, well done to you knowledgeable one.

Bloody hell this is a new low. You missed my point, no you missed my point? What next, your dad is bigger than my dad?

Of course I have, Bladesway. In between my normal 32 year career in the Royal Navy as a Marine Engineer and then latterly as a project manager rectifying defects and managing maintenance on the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers I have had plenty of opportunity to forge my career as a professional footballer. Indeed, I am still considered gifted enough to be selected for various teams and when I do, I play upfront and run the opposition's centre backs into the ground. They can't even get near me, you know ...

Back in the land of perspective (and away from 'I submit an observation or criticism about a Sheffield United player and you offer a defence against that without referring to me, personally') I have never offered that I could do Porter's job better than him. Indeed, for a mere fraction of his salary, I doubt he could PM a Navy destroyer, not that he'd be much arsed about that pretty demanding task. My take is that:

1. We are in deep shit - still, despite Saturday's win
2. We have a minus ten goal difference
3. Porter seems to be the only available selection recently (amongst some pretty cack forwards) who serially plods through games without much effect
4. We haven't bought any upper league strikers during the JTW
5. We apparently embarked a Saudi cash-cow on the day after the STW closed
6. We lack a credible strike pairing
7. Goals = wins = points = further up the table

Porter could run about all he wants. Dammit, we could employ Uasain Bolt in the Billy Dearden shirt. But if he is simply going to be flanned every time he runs out (and recently, it hasn't been PL central defenders who have made him look and play shite, we have come in at 90 minutes with zero goals against Shrewsbury away, Carlisle United, Stevenage and when we do score, its the midfield and our central defenders who manage to chalk up more goals than he.

Still wanna defend him?

pommpey

I don't see anyone defending him just being realistic about what we actually have and haven't got. We don't have anyone else more capable thus far otherwise my guess is we would be playing them. Goals are coming from midfield because we don't have a goal scoring forward. The last one we had we sold to Reading to go and warm their bench if memory serves me right.

P.S Good points 1-7 I don't argue with any of that.

 

[LSF]

Yes there's not many of those on football forums are they, why beat on about it ?, have a think about it ?.

I've had a think.... I'm still no wiser

 

[Rodley]

Our fans were absolutely outstanding at Villa and Fulham. Yet the atmosphere at BDTBL seldom rises above the funereal. It makes you think.

How about next season we allocate the Lane End lower tier to home fans as unreserved seating? It could always be altered on a game by game basis to allow for exceptional away followings. Of course, anyone occupying such an area would have to promise to sing their hearts out. I'm too old now but would join in the chorus from a distance!

The fact is that two or three thousand concerted voices can make a hell of a noise, far greater than the same or even larger number dispersed amidst 15,000 others. We know that from being out shouted frequently by a small minority of away fans.

Not only that, once started properly with a bit of volume and passion, it can get others going.

I know a 'singing section' has been tried before without success but it was a bit half-hearted wasn't it?

I understand Mr. Phipps reads our outpourings of drivel from time to time. Worth a try, Jim?

Stick some rail seats on the Kop.

 

[Pinchy]

I've had a think.... I'm still no wiser

Fuck you René Descartes!

 

[LSF]

Fuck you René Descartes!

Sacre Bleu!