ianofcleveleys

Temple off to Oldham, as pretty widely touted

You're right, and it makes the near-misses of the previous couple of seasons more costly. The longer it's taken the wider the budget gap to be bridged has become. Two years ago SB was open in saying that when we got up we'd need more investment. As fees and wages at the level have spiralled, the amount required to make an impact has grown.

If we think SS was being frank about the situation it's nothing compared with Heckingbottom at PNE Reporter - 'how far away from the squad you want are we?' PH - 'miles away'

However its been interpreted / transposed onto here, SS was being honest, the players aren't daft and its a pretty reasonable and realistic view for them to be taking at this moment in time. We didnt piss our way into the Championship with a squad that was too good for L1, we just about got there, via the play offs, and are minus some of the key assets involved. What we've got at this moment would only moderately excite me if we'd stayed down and were refreshing and preparing for another go in L1. It's frustrating, for SS and us as fans, that after all the missed chances and anguish we've finally got where the aim was to be but then look to be going to war with a peashooter. We can only hope a few things drop into place over the next few weeks and, in the meantime, those we put out v Preston go out there, graft, scrap and do its level best to get us at least a point on the board, against one of a few other lower half sides whose fans are downbeat at a lack of action.

Randomly, Tim Leiweke came up in a documentary I was watching yesterday about Robbie Keane and his various transfers. Late in his career, when he went to LA Galaxy, Leiweke was apparently the one who sold the club to him and did the deal

David Boost

Hednesford Town have just been promoted to that league, were in the NWCL, pipped FC United of Mcr to it at the death

Yes, a very good (preferable to me) Cadbury's alternative to Kit Kat. Wafer biscuit with what was, back in those days, Cadbury's quality chocolate 👍

I certainly used to like a Bar Six, nothing outlandish about it but quality bit of chocolate

And another, Big Dave to Hednesford Town, permanent deal

A bit like 'happy as Larry'. Who the fuck's Larry? 🤣

Daughter lives in Sheffield, definitely a chip teacake there

It is, nobody in my family and friends who aren't from Bolton have any idea if I try and explain it

Today's opponents probably a step up for him but Ritchie was similarly on the edge of things on Tuesday, a more realistic test, though I wonder if the position is doing him any favours. L2 loan would do him good.

Our issues laid bare. Was nowhere near our best winger in L1

Binge watched both series of The Undeclared War on C4 (S2 on now), enjoyed it, caper about GCHQ, hacking, cyber espionage etc. Good cast.

Sorry to hear that. Know what you mean about grieving yourself v staying strong. I did a lot of that when my dad went, then lost it one night about 9 months later when I'd to present a bowls trophy in his name. Thanks be to the cauliflowers 😊

Got mine by email this afternoon

Playing them together the other night very much felt like a test of how they'd shape up against L2 forwards

Apparently they've sold over 50k STs for this season, fans sticking with it. Bit of novelty also perhaps about going to Champ grounds again for them and Wolves

SS intimated in that interview that, while its a bit frustrating not to have the bodies in yet its not about getting folk in who aren't the right types for the sake of it. I'd imagine we might be able to shell a small 7 figure fee out on one of those right types if we need to, though I suspect not of the £5m+ levels of our competitors. He did also make the point that only Stoke have brought more in than us to date.

That also crossed my mind, to be honest, when posting it. The flip side of that argument I put out is he's a lad who takes more than some time to get his legs firing and speed of movement up to the right level

Bit of over-reading of it (as is the way) to suggest he was 'fuming', and his short answer could just as easily be seen as not giving anything away. Tricky also when asked in the midst of his thoughts on what he'd just seen, some of which he might not have liked

And that's fair enough, no issue, the time is the concern, we will need every one of the 46 games to try and accumulate 50 points. Not ideal if we essentially give two or three away in August because we're so short staffed.

Having watched tonight's game, the striking situation is really urgent. Dalby's having to play the bulk of all the friendlies as there's no-one to give him a half off and us still be able to play the same system. Dalby himself has looked pretty laboured so far and didn't get much change tonight out of two rudimentary mid table L2 CBs. If he's to start us off in Champ he needs some serious pace and energy around him.