theAnticlough

Long lie-in today, I just couldn't get out of bed. Putting on a podcast guarantees that I'll go back to sleep and so it worked. Can't make it today, I have to go in the opposite direction and attend a gig. As with all pre-season games, I don't give a toss about the result but I suppose we need a decent showing or clear signs of it for the season opener. COYP

Enjoy your holidays @Blake, sounds like you've earned them

Very nice indeed. White socks though, please.

Yeah, I was guessing at something like this when I wrote about Prem GKs pecking orders for when a bunch would be made available for loan. I suppose our situation was too critical and we couldn't afford to wait around any longer for that - and Kelle Roos fitted the bill for our No.1. I wouldn't be surprised if a different lower-ranked GK loanee came in as a back up and an outfield Prem loanee sometime in the next fortnight.

I can relate to that BT. I'm as frightened of that pet carrier box as my cat is. I dread it! Last month she managed to jump on my chest and dug in tight, writing off one of my favourite t-shirts. It looked like I was a Dracula victim - a blind dracula that can't tell a chest from a neck.

Alassana might be this season's Crowley, he might not, but I have more faith(!) in him giving his all on his contract, not sulking, and not going to a L2 rival eventually. If I could make a small request to the club (I can't of course 😊), it would be not to use the phrase 'match our valuation' and use 'exceed' instead and to actually follow that as a selling policy.

It's getting worse if anything, but where there's a will there's a way. I personally think it's bound to be tackled sooner or later, for this mass viewing age it's just too annoying and unwatchable to be tolerated indefinitely. Or maybe the physio coming on for a playactor will be the cue for ad breaks ;) I thought it was crazy last season to hear our ex-coach admit that 'Bassy' went down to stop the game. There's 10K+ who have paid to watch football and 1000s more on streams. I wish more people would think 'hey, it's my time your wasting as well! Just through that I'm going to get home at 5:35 instead of 5:30 and that's just the start'

One day a cheating team may figure out all their antics are counterproductive. England were not creating chances. I genuinely believe that if Italy had just played and tried to get to the final whistle as quickly as possible (instead of as slowly as possible through time wasting) they would’ve got through. All the extra time allows the opposition to strategize, the subs to acclimatize. Without the stoppages, England wouldn’t have figured it out and equalized IMO.

Yeah watched it all. I’m almost as happy to see Italy lose as England win. One day football will have to do something about the time-wasting and acting, but tonight though the good gals won. Super impressed by players like Hemp, Walsh and the girls at the back - absolute class

The rest of L2 should start figuring out how they’ll expose him for pace and on the turn - he’s 36 now

After reading up, this seems like a good signing. I was expecting a loanee tbh, so having our own player on contract (and save something for other acquisitions, as it’s on a free) is a real bonus. Experience, capable with the ball at his feet, played in many big games and we get his 33 to 35 years at least. Seems like a good piece of work from Rob Gag and co!

I wonder when Prem clubs finalize their GK pecking orders for the upcoming season. Will it all be done by now? Or maybe a bunch will come on the loan market anytime now? GK is the number one priority, but ACM isn’t far behind. Get just one of those and we won’t be equipped for a promotion challenge

You wouldn’t swap your lawn for mine,@Fan of Big Tone is there a product call ‘weed, kill and starve’? Still on holiday myself, going to have a lazy day after a very busy weekend. Craving some transfer news - hopefully today

@Fan of Big Tone, glad you enjoyed it, great idea for a getaway. I was in the Peak District myself yesterday - did Curbar & Froggatt Edges onto The Grouse Pub. Everything excellent, despite the bad weather

Sure is, might finally get a good night’s sleep tonight

Yeah, it’s pretty clear we moved to that system under the bros. Bradford were an even more obvious case last season. I support it, it’s good for morale. If there’s no standard way of counting and declaring crowds in the EFL that’s a surprise. You’d have thought the FA would have guidelines to follow

Tubs may serve you, she may not. Be ready to back out quickly and go the co-op instead! That particular view, from the shop down to the village, isn’t there. And Hadfield is a bit disappointing unless you’re intrigued due to TLOG. You can quickly decamp to Glossop though.

Always wanted to go there, it's on my list Last year, I went to Chapel-en-le-Frith for the first time - I was a bit disappointed. Glossop is good, you can take in Hadfield/Padfield where The League of Gentlemen was filmed, which is not from from Hyde the stomping ground of our infamous ex-fan. On second thought, best where you are Big Tone, that other area is a bit creepy!

@Fan of Big Tone,yes and the penalty shoot out was unbelievable, what was it 12 pens and 7 misses?

Yes, great location, compact, no gaps, great scoreboards/screens and all in maroon. Went to Hibs a few years ago, another good ‘un. Amazing views of Salisbury Crags. Meadow Lane is just about in the same bracket as both - big clubs in Scotland’s capital but we can match them. We need to continue on our upward trajectory to do justice to Meadow Lane

Inauspicious start @Fan of Big Tone, but things could only get better from there and it seems they certainly have. Enjoy a precious few days taking in the views and all that fresh air.

Cheers @allardyces tash, appreciated and likewise yourself. Hoping for a great season of chat as we follow our beloved club's fortunes.

Yeah, our needs seemed to be recognised by all. A GK and attacking, creative midfielder are top of the list. And another striker, I guess. The timings not ideal though, is it? Most of the free agent action has been done already. Gagliardi and co. will be dealing with ever-changing lists and a factor will be time - the longer we leave it the greater the negative impact on our promotion chances. We can be sure they will be bringing these players in ,when they bite the bullet and commit to a direction, and it's going to be fascinating which players are introduced to us in the coming days/weeks.

Hope you have a great break in Derbyshire @Fan of Big Tone, I wonder where you are in the county (I live there) Pissing down here further up north as well. Had to delay the return from our trip, taking my daughter to hospital in the early hours (she'll be fine) but it was sad to see the state of our NHS, everything seems tired. Still, service still good in that she was put on the right track at the time it was really needed. John Shuttleworth is what happened to Jilted John (remember him?) of "Gordon is a moron' fame. One thing I love about the radio series (all on Youtube) is all the references to Derbyshire - he's forever buggering off to Baslow, Hathersage, Snake Pass, Castleton etc and the Lady Bay reservoir of course. It's gentle humour anyone can enjoy, well worth a try.

To play away to these strong teams in Germany drawing one, lose by the odd goal in another, is fine. We should 'take it' and build on it. But this is the main bit I'm praying that the club share this assessment, otherwise it could be a long season