M42Owl

Am I alone in thinking that the keeper was at fault for England’s winner. Decent run and shot, a bit of the Bobby Charlton’s, but it was hardly “top corner”. Where was the keeper? Poorly positioned way too far to the left. Should have been able to palm it away.

1. How have things been going for your club recently? Define “recently”. Generally, it’s been crap for nearly 25 years, with half a dozen good years. After another slump, post-the Carlos play off years, we seem to be turning it around again. Last season, although a disappointing ending, was, by and large, decent entertainment. Work to do though. 2. On the pitch - what are your thoughts on the manager? He’s been here long enough to form an opinion, but I still don’t know. Seems a nice chap and a good man manager that can entice players to come to Wednesday to play for him. But he seems tactically naive at times. Came at a very difficult time, but he’s turning the tanker around. I hope he’s giving long enough to see it through. 3. Off the pitch - what are your views on the board/owners? When Chansiri arrived he promised what he couldn’t deliver, but genuinely believed that he would deliver. Gave desperate fans false hope which went against him when he failed to deliver promotion. Very naive at running a football club, not helped by dodgy advisors, but by chance or choice he seems to have taken a step back and the running of the club seems less chaotic. I think his intentions are still honourable, but he’s tightened the purse strings a little. Despite a lot of abuse, there is no serious sign that he’s going to do a Morris and pull the plug on the club. 4. Any thoughts/memories of previous encounters with the Vale? Only memory of PV is my only visit to Burslem. Depressing: place, weather and game. League cup about 10/15 years ago. Richard Hinds scored a late goal to give false hope of a come back. Game most remembered for Jeffers head butting the centre half, breaking his nose in the process, and getting sent off. 5. Where do you think you'll finish this season? Third. There’ll be someone that puts it all together to thwart our season. Probably Ipswich and Derby, but could be any of several clubs.

Lee: way past his best. Shouldn’t sully his legacy by coming back for an embarrassing swan song. Shaw: do we need any more CMs? From a theoretical angle, I’d like to see how he’d do in the current team, but I can’t see him getting ahead of what we have. Perhaps on a free, a season with the U23s to try to rebuild his career from there? Corbeanu: flattered to deceive like most of our wide players last season. Could do well in a front three if we play that way. Not worth the risk for us nor him. Fox: I think he was a bit underrated at Wednesday and became a bit of a scape goat, but as we’ve strengthened down the left, I don’t think we need him. Venancio: I thought he was looking good towards the end of his loan and was surprised that we didn’t get him back. If he’s as good as he was, and doesn’t cost much, I get him in. We still need two central defenders.

I get the impression that Wilks has decided he wants to come to Wednesday, so unless there’s something special amongst the other “interested clubs” he might join in with the brinkmanship and tell Hull that it’s Wednesday or see his contract out.

Didn’t we agreed terms weeks ago? Wasn’t it virtually a done deal only for the transfer fee to be increased at the last minute to scupper the deal? I’m not convinced that anything’s changed. Still waiting for Hull or Chansiri to give way. Could be waiting til Christmas.

I’ve been supporting Wednesday since ‘69 and have racked up something over 1200 games watched live, but I can’t even remember ten games not involving Wednesday. I couldn’t say any are famous, except perhaps for the fans of the clubs involved. First game was FA Cup semi. 1976ish. Derby 0 Man U 2. I was on the kop with Derby fans. Next season, League cup final replay. Everton v someone else. Suppose this could be famous as there aren’t many cup final replays any more. And this was a draw as well. First league game without Wednesday was L**ds 4 QPR 3. A L**ds supporting mate dragged a few of us down Elland Road one evening whilst at Uni. I was bored: it didn’t have the tension of Owls 0 Shrewsbury 1. Went to Blackpool away for a match between Xmas / New Year a few years ago. Blackpool was shut, the match called off (non League Fleetwood up the road managed to survive the cold,). Went home via Blackburn ( vs Sunderland, 3-3 draw I think). After Wembley reopened I went to three L2 play off finals. Always picked the losing side. For years Rochdale would send me a batch of tickets for their Christmas lottery. I never sold a single one. Two pre-world cup England internationals: Nigeria was one. I think I also went to Rooney’s 100th international. Hasn’t lodged anything of note in my memory bank though. Add a handful of local non league games. Early ‘80s I lived in Coventry and fancied the season opener at Highfield Road v Man Utd. The only time I’ve ever walked to the match. Got there and it was a near sell out (should have expected that really). When I saw the price for the remaining stand, I thought “fuck that” and walked home. Nice sunny day it was.

So why are we kicking off early if L1 isn’t being suspended for the WC? Either way, I’ll be glad when it starts again.

He's my favourite Utd manager. " One Bryan Robson, there's only one Bryan Robson...".

Jairzinho. Might have the spelling wrong. Better than Pele in the 1970 WC

Apologies. Derby County’s Wayne Rooney parts company with Wayne Rooney’s Derby County. Lampard, Rooney, who’s next? Beckham? Scholes?

Wayne Rooney's Derby part company with Wayne Rooney.

No. I’ll buy one every three or four years, only wearing it to matches, but I don’t really care as long as we play in blue and white. Last year’s shirt is normally good enough for the next, imo.

My birthday is in August. Season ticket as a birthday present for a few years running.

I think the club would be better off producing the first stage prices (which I guess accounts for most ST sales) then decide on a release date, say Dec 1st. From this work forward to a desired “maximum” price for STs bought just before season starts. Then confirm an increase every 1st of month of x% until the final price is reached. Thus, for a 5% monthly rise, Dec1st price * 1.05^8 = Price on 1st Aug. equates to an increase from Dec to Aug of 47.75%. If that’s too big, try 2%. But just be a bit more transparent. [Ideally, I’d go back to a single price for STs available Apr to Aug, with maybe a short early bird discount stage. But that few stages seems unlikely now.]

But you couldn’t get it later at the same price, could you? Wasn’t there a 10% of so increase after the early, early bird special offer? Even if I’m mistaken, and if there wasn’t a price rise at stage two, there was certainly a statement along the lines of “buy now, get the cheapest price”, which suggested that there would be.

I agree that there might be a problem with throw ins: whenever we get one deep in our own half I think it would be better to let the opposition have the throw. But a kick-in doesn’t seem right. Even if limited to the last 5/10 minutes. How about a player from the opposition has to stand next to the throw in taker? A bit less radical, and I think they do something like this in rugby line outs. Said player could then stand in the way of the taker to stop him stealing an extra 10 yards or so.

Robbie Stockdale Wednesday career: played 6, won 0, drew 0, lost 6. Hope David Stockdale does considerably better.

I'll give it a go, but I'll probably forget to get my transfers in. What happens if my defender doesn't play?

Cardiff Portsmouth

Sunderland

More substitutes is advantageous to the bigger clubs with the bigger squads and greater strength in depth. So in principle, I’m against it, but as we’re one of the bigger clubs in L1, I’m all in favour.

Not overwhelmed by the thought of Stockdale, but he’ll be better than BPF. We need experience, someone to organise the defence and to dominate his area, particularly at set plays. BPF was too weak and quiet.

I recall that we had free STs for young kids a while back. I read that we stopped (amidst some moaning) because “prime” seats were being used only 2/3 times a season but weren’t able to be sold when not used.

Why Gillingham & Solihull? Surely it’s either Gillingham & Oldham or Solihull & Mansfield. Or if the first criteria is met (and Derby are on the fixture list) but not the second (they’re kicked out) it’ll just be a 23 team division.

I don’t want to defend the EFL, but did they fall for it? Or did they put too much trust in the administrators? If the Administrators, supposedly a bunch of competent accountants, signed contracts with Kirchner, surely that should be enough for the “have they got enough money” aspect of the fit and proper test? Its the administrator that should be answering some awkward questions.