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One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that. Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order: - TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford. - TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal. - Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away. - Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years. - 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!) - A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal. - Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self. - Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally. - We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute. Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

bollocks mainly 😜

That’s so they can see in the dark when they set off for all their away games

So let me get this straight. Liverpool disrespect the National Anthem, 30,000 booing it, then expect everyone in the stadium to respect their minute’s silence & get pissy about it when a few don't ? More reasons to loathe these feckers every day.

Jesus I'm not. I'm literally telling you what I can see. What I deal with every day. HMOs and Hotels full of Asylum Seekers and the swell of Eastern European folk is getting bigger and bigger. I work for landlords, I know business owners, I can see before my fucking eyes what's happening. It's not good. If we had decent folk from Poland or any other gaff that was improving the place and all wanted to do a bit I'd waving them in. Like we did 15-20 years ago. You think I'm gathering my opinions from GB news and X? Get fucked you sanctimonious twat.

I've been through it. I work in a holiday zone. The whole economy relies on tourism. 100s of hotels and apartments, pubs and clubs. The property there is currently being bought predominantly by Asians who are then turning the places into HMOs and renting them out to the home office or Serco. Filing a holiday zone with Asylum folk doesn't work. They don't spend money, they don't earn money and people don't want to visit or stay in a place that's full of Asylum folk. Add that to the ever growing swathes of Eastern European folk that were once just in one particular area, but that area getting bigger and bigger. Romanians, Somalians, Turks etc etc Those demographics don't make places better. They make them worse. House prices tumble. People stop earning money and the areas turn to shit. Years ago the Polish came in droves. They made the areas better. They worked, they were clean and the boosted the area. Now these areas are full of folk from the backwaters of Europe and beyond, illegal or legal. They don't make the place better. Some do. But the bad are currently outweighing the good. And it's growing by the day.

This is why we don’t have the death penalty

Folk said similar about Alonso- he got pelters. There will be numerous examples, all over, of young ones not making it at one club, but succeeding elsewhere. Part of the development. Certainly wouldn't judge him on last season, given it all went to rat shit. I reckon that if Taylor hadn't been injured, he would have been first pick for the left back spot, and Conway wouldn't have had the opportunity to shine as he has. Good on him for grasping his chance.

Explosive signing.

I think for now we just need to settle for the fact that we've blooded a player from the academy and he's taken to first team football as if to the manor born. It's a milestone moment for us as a club. Let's revisit his value and saleability at the end of this season. It is also a mark of what a good year on loan can do for a young pro. I hope one or two others get the same opportunity before the deadline on 1 September. Inwood is a prime example.

Vic will never play for us again.

We don't play with 2 up front. We play with 2 wingers/attacker with one up front and a no 10. That no 10 is Randall or McAtee.

I feel a bit sorry for Schon. We clearly signed a winger, who was being asked to play as a wing back; his highlight reel only showed him in forward positions, crossing or shooting. His first few games he was defensively naive and very poor, but going forward he looked very good. Evatt then drummed the defensive side and retention of possession into him, to such an extent that it neutralised his attacking intent. Evatt leaves and Schumacher wants out and out wingers, with full backs supporting them and looking after the defensive side! In my opinion, Evatt and his process ruined him. I wonder how things would have turned out, if he was just joining now, as a winger. As it is, with recognition of his effort and likeability, moving on is the right thing for everyone.

he goes out on loan to other forums every other week he needs to prove himself on here, that he's 100% with us and not paying lip service to the opposition if he can do that, he can stay, otherwise he's out no more loans

Monday morning thoughts There was some overreaction to the Stockport defeat when we played really well and, 9 times out of 10, would have won that gamer comfortably. I'd have been far more concerned as a Stockport fan after that game! Equally, probably a bit of overreaction to Saturdays win. It was business like, professional and organised. The wingers clearly are our threat this season. Personally preferred the Stockport performance but the Plymouth result. Probably seen enough from 2 games to say we will be top 6 or so. How much further we are will be clearer in a couple of months i think. Biggest risks this season will be injuries to ACD or TSL, as neither easy to replace. Burstow looks good, Gale looks raw but room to improve, Tutu 'can' do a job but needs a firework lighting up his arse about 10 mins before kick off each week, Conway lots of promise. Big fan of Sheehan but didn't quite see it myself on Saturday, and same with Randall. I want him to do well, but felt the game drifted around him a lot. Had man flu all weekend so will add that disclaimer to my observations. Probably wasn't at my most tuned in.

Lad thinks I'm writing Mein Kampf 2

Schon, i think, was the only signing that Ludonautics had an input on. Everyone (board, manager, fans) overreacted to what happened at Wembley. It was a humbling day (though everyone, myself included, went to Wembley that day with a certain amount of arrogance that it was a foregone conclusion). In hindsight, had Sharon come out in support of IE early on and calmed people down and had Evatt stuck to his guns and tweaked personnel rather than systems (and stayed away from the diet pills), we would have had a better chance last season (we wouldn't have gone up as we couldn't compete financially with Wrexham and Brum). Anyway, Schon is symptomatic of that overreaction. A tidy player, someone who always gave his all, but played out of position and thrust into a club still reeling. Seems a good lad and hope he finds somewhere for his career to settle. Far from our biggest problem last season, but most definitely not an SS player.

Jesus Christ. Of course poverty is the biggest issue. I could write a book on the place and why it's in the state it's in. Pouring migrants into the place is making it worse. The wrong type of migrants especially. It's really not hard to grasp is it ffs.

I've got Telegram if that helps. Good for sourcing cocaine abroad 👍

Said it before but Vic was part of partnership that had us top of the league or there abouts with 300 games in hand. Who knows what a new system and SS can do with him. Worth a try innit? Everyone is on a clean slate.

Apart from the games he picked him in when he took over up to his injury you mean?

Meanwhile, you've written off the current UK Government after 12 months.

It wouldn’t suit him at all. Yes, he looks like he’s best when operating in and around the box from crosses (which granted is part of this set up), but he can’t hold a ball up, he’s no target man, he couldn’t do half of what Burstow did in his role as lone striker. I’m of the opinion that I’d be surprised if became a material part of the squad again.

It would probably suit him but he months of being remotely fit and won’t be to the standard needed. It’s sad but reality

Good summation that mate and it deserves a proper response rather than just "you're all just thickos" To me this is an example of our over aspirational society and a blight brought about by poor central government decision making. Blackpool and the Fylde grew as a holiday centre but suffered decline when the Great British Public discovered cheap air travel in the late 70s and could holiday in the sun. Then in the 80s the Thatcherite Government fueled these aspirations with their “Right to Buy” policies which led to a big decline in LA Housing stock, this hole was steadily filled by private landlords and the previous guest houses were easy to convert to HMOs and accepted the DHSS and the like further destroying whatever holiday ambiance was remaining. Then in the 90s European free movement became more prevalent especially from the east and was celebrated by the Government; the first wave of Polish were readily absorbed but then Europe expanded further east wards into Bulgaria and Romania. Poorly educated workers from these countries could earn on UK building sites the equivalent of a surgeon or architect back home. A gap was opening up in our labour market as the Blair Government further fueled aspirations by stating every UK citizen “had a right” to a Degree level education, the result of this was a decline in youngsters wanting to take up trade apprenticeships and the like, thinking “work” was below them. This hole in the by the workforce was filled by eastern Europeans. Successive Governments have embarked on various middle eastern adventures such as the second Iraqi war, Libya and trying to tame Afghanistan where the Russia had previously failed leading to instability and increase in refugees. All this is happening as the aspirational classes wanted their cocaine fixes, manicures and cars washing… all open to under the radar Immigrant businesses. Then came the referendum, supposedly about EU membership but hijacked by popularist jingoism, people refused to look at themselves in the mirror but wanted to blame others for what was happening. All subsequent Government time was spent on “getting Brexit done” and the problems I have highlighted were ignored and allowed to manifest, add to this two years of the UK workforce tossing it off during Covid and expecting to continue this way and still have new cars and foreign holidays and we are where we are. What next? Without proper devolution and letting Local Authorities taking charge again things ain’t going to get better. I look at the hasty legislation being touted now with regards to planning, terrorism and immigration and wonder. I have long been of the opinion Westminster should be closed as our seat of government as it is too disconnected. In addition we are joining in further funding eastern states by gifting them expensive weaponry at the cost of our relationships with the super-powers. Its no bloody wonder the economy is flat lining and everyone is pissed off.

Just thinking back to when he scored a hat-trick of the same goal crossed in from the right. Holding it up isn't his forte, we know that, but with someone else doing that it might be an option

Just been told Burnden Aces have offered to take him on loan till end of season with a view to buy. Zico wants cash up front so is standing firm.

I agree with all the above - of course, whilst he's hanging around in a disruptive capacity (which he currently is) he can say what he wants, and I'm sure he'll continue to rattle the big two parties. I'd even argue that's he's probably already killed one of them, as I see no way back for the Conservatives as things stand. As pointed out by both @bolty58 and @gonzo who don't have the same political leanings, so it's not a partisan thing, the more that people try and discredit Reform/Farage (and let's be honest, they are one and the same) the more support they seem to garner. As is the way with politics these days. I think we can expect more of the same for the next 3 years or so. The point of interest, for me, will be the run up to the next GE. Firstly, like it or not, it'll be won/lost on immigration and the NHS (unless something very dramatic happens in the meantime). Labour need to get a grip on those two things, or be seen to be doing something. The Conservatives will need to come up with something, and basically, just stop being who they are today. Reform, will have to put together a coherent manifesto, that is actually costed (unlike the ridiculous document they released last time), and also find some credible types to become MPs. Their recent track record in running local councils doesn't seem to be going too well at present, as they just don't have the right people. I don't like Reform at all, and I believe if they did become our Government, then the UK would be in all sorts of shit, and not a nice place to be. I'm not sure they will win outright power, but I don't think either of the other two will either. Not based on where we are today anyway. Imagine, if Reform and Tory had to form a coalition, now that would be grim. As for Farage, often labelled a grifter/conman, I've long held the belief, that like Johnson, he didn't want to win the Brexit vote, he'd be much happier sniping from the sidelines and being the plucky underdog. I wonder if he would feel the same about being PM, does he really want it? - being PM for him, would have been perfect (if he wants the gig) had it coincided with Trump, but that clearly won't happen now, thankfully. It's only my personal opinion, but whilst I appreciate he's possibly/probably been the most influential politician (Thatcher aside??!?!) in my lifetime, I'd really not want the likes of him and Lee Anderson running this country.

Meanwhile in Gaza the IDF have assassinated an Al Jazeera journalist who they say was a Hamas member. Who knows - we’ll never know, although Jeremy Bowen says the evidence he’s seen is unconvincing. “Acceptable collateral” appears to be 6 others, including 4 more journalists. This ain’t right (again), and I’d be saying the same if the army of an islamic government had killed Jewish journalists.

i didn't realise they had dropped out of the league fuck em, anyway

Turkish Barbers and Car Washers. I think.

Laws should be applied without fear or favour. I think/hope we all agree on that. Might seem daft arresting “leftie pensioners” for sitting down with placards but thems the rules, as it was for the “patriots” rioting last summer. If we don’t like it change the laws, or the government. Democracy.

I think he probably likes Schon's application (but not his lack of end product). Simply put, he's upgraded on him and he's down the pecking order. Can imagine he's a pretty expensive player to keep around if he's not high up the list

They haven't been convicted yet. Should that happen, their sentences will be scrutinised heavily. It will be interesting to see if they're advised to plead guilty. They have shot themselves in the foot, particularly young ones. Listening first hand to a reporter with first hand experience of this in northern Ireland, he was explaining that they will struggle to get a mortgage (or won't get one) in future, their ability to travel abroad will be greatly restricted (or removed). I wonder if the organisers pointed this out to them, beforehand?

It's making me permanently erect Koontzy.

hes even backtracking on that like any sane person would, tbf but for anybody to suggest hes not a self serving conman shows a ridiculous level of ignorance

Still Good to see Starmer is out of the crosshairs now everyone has realised policing is consistent. Love to see it. #9moreYears

My brother has a big tract of land there with one of these big corrugated shed 'houses' on it. Goes up from Sydney every year for a month just to keep the land managed. He intends moving up there permanently on retirement. Hope it all goes well for you.

Ate out? Not at that restaurant RW has been telling us about? Hopefully the water cannon is parked up in a side street in London waiting for the next shower of terrorist supporting scumbags.

Thicko.

I’d have him right up there, in the bracket after Dan. We paid a (reported) lot of money for a shit winger to play out of position as a wing back as our system had nothing to do with wingers. Can’t question his effort and I wish him well, but he was a shocker of a signing.

Absolute scum.

In the 9 role, so is McAtee! In horse racing parlance, McAtee is exposed, whereas Lawrence is unexposed. We’re only looking at 2 or 3 matches, while efforts are made to recruit and get Dalby fit. Nothing ventured …

Thanks as ever for compiling. Not gonna lie skimmed through the Stockport bit, only interested in reading when we’ve won 😆

Lots of gestures like that floating about just for social media clout

I’ve just spent 5 days in hospital and can only assume the cost will have run into the many thousands. The treatment I received was world class and the only expenditure was a bottle of water from a vending machine. The staff were excellent. I’d hate to be without the NHS

I was brought up in a 2 up 2 down terrace with an outside loo. I went to school in my brothers 3 year old clothes. I also wore plastic sandals to school and was laughed at. When I was eleven, we moved into a council house. I thought we’d won the pools. Champagne Socialists and Middle Class Twats haven’t a fricking clue what ‘working class’ is and never will. Up the ‘Boomers’ edit. Forgot to add, five of us.

First away for over a year due to combo of health issues, IEs team/disinterest, small away capacities and laziness. I think the phrase is "in x 7"