The Hotel End

I see Fleetwood are winning in their local derby 2-0 tonight. That has dropped the Cobblers into the relegation zone. The cod army are the longest serving current League 1 side so they probably know exactly what's needed to avoid the drop. We need to be looking elsewhere for the other club we require to get and then keep below us. Exeter is a possibility but I can't help thinking that Hoskins penalty miss at Shrewsbury could prove to be a season defining moment.

and we're out. Good old Blackpool.

Coughing up 2 goal leads at home?  :P

3-3 final whistle. And they may have been at home, but I bet there was just as many Blackpool fans as Fleetwood ones there tonight. The trams would have been busy.

Let’s face it Fleetwood as a football club are completely pointless and are another man’s (convicted criminal) folly, the sooner they are gone alongside MK Dons the better.

So as a matter of interest and you got your wish and some billionaire took on the Cobblers and got us up the leagues.

Would that be his folly?

I see bottom club Cheltenham have made a signing in the last hour. A free agent midfielder that played 36 times in league 1 last season. I thought Cheltenham were the one League 1 club Manny said had a smaller budget than ours? FACT!

We had the 10th highest budget last season and an 18th this season. FACT - source Kelvin Thomas, Radio Northampton Cobblers Show.

This will be denied by some as they’ve been told different by the horse in the field.

Tennis ball retailers in Reading are still doing a roaring trade it seems, their game against Bristol Rovers was halted by yet another protest against the owners. They did pick up a point though in a 1-1 draw but remain bottom.
Wigan pulled away up to 17th in the table following a 2-1 win over Posh, they have 17 points and would be in 7th if it wasn't for their points deduction.
Shrewsbury missed out on a chance to move up the table as they fell to Bolton. The Shrews remain as the team directly above us with three points more from a game more.

No because we have a history, we are a football league club, and crucially we could sustain it, we would easily get 15-20k in the Championship give the right capacity.
Where as Fleetwood have no history and couldn’t sustain a higher league.

Same as a couple of weeks ago, Fleetwood score and Cobblers drop into the relegation zone. Didn't stay that way last time, let's hope it doesn't this.

Shrewsbury in free fall, such a shame Sam missed that penalty, the table could look do much different now.

You cant stop digging at Sam Hoskins. Give it a rest

Is there something factually incorrect in what I said?

No, it was just another one of your digs against Sam Hoskins

Funny isn't it. When post after posts praises Hoskins, quite deservedly, nobody says "Give it a rest" do they? Yet should someone have the temerity to suggest that penalty miss could prove vital at the end of the season, and it could yet, they are told to shut up. The post ratio praising Hoskins against those that don't must be 100 to 1 on here yet still some of you can't stand that odd one can you? Pathetic.

Is Hoskins the c**t who missed a penalty at Shrewsbury?
Otherwise, Tom Hoskins is Leicester's second ale brewery behind Everard's!

You have been on the pop again Lord Falstaff!

I think Harry Kane has missed more penalties than Hoskins.

Not for us though   8)

Well according to Wikipedia, Kane has missed 4 for "us" as in England. How many has Super Sam missed for "us" as in The Mighty Cobblers? To date, I don't think Super Sam has missed any for England.

What about the failure to mark Udoh and Burge not covering his post?

I think the point is that in all likelihood wouldn't have happened had the penalty been scored. Shrewsbury would have been completely deflated, they hadn't scored in ages and our whole defensive set-up would have been different had we been leading 1-0. It always is. In my opinion we would have gone on to win that game quite comfortably and would now be sitting in 13th place. That's how important that penalty miss was.

Butterfly effect.

If the penalty had been scored, then the ball and players would have lined up for a kick off, and that scenario wouldn’t have happened.

Not necessarily agreeing with that’s been said, but that Udoh goal doesn’t happen if the pen had been successful.

That's true but my point is the folly of picking out one event in a game six weeks ago as defining our current position in the table.

The table "would look so much different now" if Sam had not scored 9 goals, if he had only scored about 4 we would be firmly in the bottom 4 so he is well in credit despite missing 1 penalty.

Anyone else think Marvo might be an avid viewer of Gone Fishing ?

Hes bored. He hasnt started a new topic for a couple of days..

I mention Shrewsbury in relation to the relegation thread, quite legitimately, all you lot move on to a Hoskins love-fest. Its like a totalitarian state on here, there is zero tolerance of anybody that has the temerity to disagree with the majority viewpoint.

Come on, playing the martyr doesn't suit you. Your dislike of Sam Hoskins is obvious to anyone who regularly reads this message board. Cloaking it with obscure statistics doesn't fool anyone.

Well its fooled you for a start as you are completely wrong.

I personally think your attempt to demonise Hoskins to an irrelevant presence in the team; going back to the Bradford game last season was an error in judgement! Most on here did not appear to support your treatise on Hoskins which was supported by some dubious innovative stats.

You still don't get me do you? I'm not like you, I don't need the validation or the reassurance of being in the majority. When Hoskins does eventually finish at the club, whenever that may be, the club will be okay, it will continue as it has for the last several decades going up and down between tiers 3 & 4. It wont be Armageddon. That also applies to both you and me.

I will only get worried when one of your masterful comments gets unaminous approval.

I know. That's your thing isn't it? It's unanimous by the way.

I agree with Marvo's factual statistics, the interpretation of which is a personal preference.
Marvo's interpretation is one of a few that could be applied.
The fact that it upsets people on here (some quite significantly), is hilarious.

Perhaps another perspective might be that it’s just that no-one agrees with you?

About what? Shrewsbury? The penalty? Whether we'd be further up the table? Which one is it?

None. Probably more likely because it’s a pointless observation. If you could be bothered to look there would be literally hundreds of examples in any given season where if so and so hadn’t have hit the bar, or he hadn’t hit the post, or that bloke hadn’t have missed an open goal or penalty the result and table would’ve been different. Many affecting relegation/promotion. Whilst factually accurate all are a bit irrelevant, basically if my auntie had bòllocks she’d be my uncle. Still whatever makes you happy.

So you've never heard the saying, turning point, or if you have you don't think they exist? All bollocks eh?

Yep I’ve heard the term, it’s just that there are hundreds in any given division over the course of a season. However, one has the option to focus on just one to make a point. I’m just highlighting the fact that it’s a bit of an irrelevance.

I actually fall firmly into the "what if" category. Generally I'm a lot more likely to deal with what's in front of me. But when it comes to my football, I do look back on the season and imagine what would of happened had we done something different. I don't see any harm in debating the potential outcomes, as much as the actuals. After all, the longer thread on this forum remains speculative to say the least. And there those that willingly contribute to with out any idea of what has sometimes happened, and of course what will.

Perfectly understandable Tel and why not, that's your prerogative. Marvo is a bit different though, for him its like a dictatorial state on here, there is zero tolerance of anybody that has the temerity to disagree with one of his minority viewpoints.

Hello Mr Pot, let me introduce Mr Kettle.

Oh and just to be clear, which minority viewpoint is this? You said you didn't disagree with anything I'd said not but just 5 pots ago.

I disagree with your view that its a like totalitarian state on here because the people who responded to your post thought the Hoskins penalty miss wasn't much of an indication of anything. I happen to agree with them for the reasons I explained, you seem to be struggling to get over it though?

And he is 100% correct

Who, Tel or Marvo or both?

So basically, you are refuting the concept of regret - and therefore by default, saying you have never regretted anything in your life.
If that is the case, you are not telling the truth...bit like your place of abode seemingly!

Are you having a go at me again? The way you’re carrying on we’ll have to start calling you Hotpussy

No I'm fine. I think the penalty miss cost us at least 1 point, more than likely 3. We could end this season 21st, 5 pts adrift of Shrewsbury. The swing from losing at Shrewsbury to winning is 6pts. If the penalty had gone in, we'd be 13th now. That's quite possibly the highest position we could hope for this season and one that almost everybody would be happy with, including I'd imagine the Chairman, manager and players, let alone us the supporters. You disagree with all of that. That's cool.

Help Mods I’m being cyber bullied, I’ve got a whole gang after me.

Fcuking hell you’re bleating like a stuffed koala, you and your like have been bullying Beds for years.
How’s the weather in Melbourne 😂😂😂😂

Jesus now Guesswork’s turned up, I’m taking a standing 8 count, Deepcut where are you?

The sooner you accept that Hoskins inability to score that penalty has cost us a nailed on mid-table position (and probable promotion push) the sooner everyone can move on. Forget his other goals, unless they are the only goals or ones that secured any points they are irrelevant. His goal at Exeter looked really important, until Brough ruled that one out in the last minute. Hoskins should be suitably ashamed of himself.

Either that or you can keep getting bullied.

If it was another quartet I might start doubting myself but let’s be honest, we won’t be seeing this lot make up a 4 on University Challenge anytime soon will we?

Charming. So you bring up bullying but then start insulting the intelligence of your fellow supporters instead of sticking to the debate.

Also, if I'm in such a minority, how do I become the bully?

Note: You may be right, I never went to university so wouldn't qualify.

He's not saying he doesn't have any regrets about things not going our way. He's basically saying there are a lot of examples where things go for or against a team in a season. Hoskins missing a penalty is a prime example of something that went against us. The simple fact is Marvo doesn't like Hoskins and has highlighted his miss. I look forward to his opinions on all the others that have cost us.. Brough is a good example

It won't be Melbourne. I'm rarely 10% right.

Thank goodness, I had a terrible feeling I was having some sort of episode?

I don't dislike Hoskins AT ALL, I just like to provide balance. However he may have been injured or replaced earlier that game and somebody else could have stepped up and missed, we'd be having the same debate, it's not about Hoskins, others make it about him, it's about the penalty miss that may or may not affect us later down the road.

No, he brought in a bizarre example of whataboutism..."if my auntie had bollocks..." which again states that he doesn't accept the premise of regret or counter-factual.

Can’t have a laugh on here anymore.

Looks like you will just have to accept some won’t agree with you. Never mind if he hits the post next week it will add more weight to the argument, unless the opposition hit the post in which case will this cancel it out. If so if they miss a penalty will that cancel out Hoskins penalty or is it only his misdemeanours that qualify, not being confrontational, I’m. Just not clear on the rules?

To just try to settle the dust a bit. I don't think there is a wrong or right here. Because we are arguing at different ends of the spectrum. By missing a penalty, it hindered our chances, but that is only one of many factors that impact on the overall outcome. But equally, it is only important in terms of saying "if only".  Where we have a clash is between the, it makes a huge difference brigade. And the, "move on and consign it to the past brigade". There is no common ground to be had.

But the fact that something happened that could have made a difference. Certainly makes it relevant. But irreversible.

And stop chatting shyte about bullying, unless you wish to report something. Beds/Dave would be pi$$ing himself reading that.

Bad weather for golfing, baby’s bored  ;)

I don't play golf in the winter, unless I'm abroad. It's not actually about being bored though, it's about having the time to reply or getting involved. I enjoy the debate when I have the time.

There is definitely a boredom factor on the lack of genuine football discussion to be had....

The main difference on penalties is that it is recorded and recognised as a genuine opportunity to score (c75%, so failing to score isn't really a major shock), as opposed to golden chances from open play with similar success rates. I'm sure him and others have missed plenty of those. That is before you start on howlers at the back from the defenders and goalies. Midfield is the place to be, unless you cough up possession that leads to a goal.
I wonder if any statto's have/could get Hoskin's success rate from the spot? We can then know in advance when he is likely to miss the next one.  :P

Whatever your view on Marvo, he gets people talking, a bit like ol' Delboy.

You should apply for Mastermind. Those Cobblers Stats and several reads through Frank Grande's book and you should be able to nail the Specialist Subject section.

Turning points fascinate me and for some reason stay in the mind. I'll give you an example about two sending offs. One that took place, one that didn't.

No 1) Rushden & Diamonds away. it's 2-2, injury time and Billy Sharp breaks from the half-way line, Luke Chambers could and perhaps should have brought him down. I believe the manager hinted at it afterwards. He would have got sent off but we'd have got the draw. He didn't, Sharpe scored and we lost.

No 2) Nottingham Forest at home in Calderwood's return. McGleish stupidly got himself sent off. Our 10 men put up a valiant effort but we lost 0-1. What might have been.

Hilarious, my intellect is being challenged by someone who pretends he lives in Australia 😂

Nah, I have a terrible memory. If ever I answer a question without checking, I'm invariably wrong. The older I get, the more mistakes I make.

I am quite proud of the stats I put on here though, you wont find that information anywhere else on the internet and my hope is people will still find them useful long after I have departed this forum/world.

It's all rather pointless really as you could point at most games and say what if

What if Hoskins had not scored at Tranmere in the final game of last season, it would have made absolutely no difference. So when he scores it makes no difference but missing the penalty at Shrewsbury (only the 2nd he has ever missed) makes a difference.

Talking of Shrewsbury, if it had not been for Pat Gavin's arse in 1993 we would have been relegated from the EFL.

If it wasn't for Lee Burge's excellent form last season we would not have got promoted      but
If Lee Burge had not been at fault for several goals this season we would have been higher than 13th so his errors have cost us more than Hoskin's penalty miss.

If we had not lost at home to Fulham in 1966 we would have maintained our place in the top flight for at least another season.

If George Best had failed to score in the FA Cup game when Man Utd beat us 8-2 we would have drawn 2-2 and had a replay at Old Trafford.

If Mr and Mrs Hoskins had given birth to a girl instead of a boy Samantha would be playing for our ladies team.

I could go on and on and according to my wife I sometimes do but as the saying goes "if ifs and and were pots and pans there would be no need for tinkers".

It's just a debate, a talking point. This is a forum which was set up for people to talk and debate about all things Cobblers.

Your posts (like my stats) about previous matches are all fairly pointless too but people enjoy reading them so why not. What do you suggest people talk about on this forum? How many posts would have been made today without this discussion? What would you prefer, click on the site, see there were no posts since you clicked on yesterday and move on? I really don't understand some of you.

Look, joking aside the way I look at it is that it’s unrealistic that a player will score every penalty he takes. So whilst it’s factually correct that every miss may cost you points it’s inevitable that a player will miss some. Given that each team has a specialist penalty taker, I prefer to look at it that if a player converts better than average he’s probably gaining points rather than losing them. However, when all said and done both are reasonable perspectives, it’s just down to which you prefer. If someone looks at it another way you can’t really argue. I will say though that I hope Hoskins doesn’t read this forum, he’ll probably never score from the spot again.

The next time you come over me and you are meeting up mate, Chapel Street or Southbank you decide?

In light of today’s events, Hoskins is most definitely “NOT GUILTY”  >:D

Are you likening Hoskins to Mackintosh and Grossman?

Just another 1, if we had increased our ground capacity years ago the redevelopment thread would not now have reached 2069 pages, what a lot of time that would have saved some of our posters.

Already been done, years ago. Anybody know him. I don't recognise him.

https://youtu.be/p1wUAUHIzVs?si=Gozdwb38b4rbVtmA

That's a poster 'DYL' from memory and didn't he do well?! You might say you knew a lot of the answers but being in that chair must be next level!

I got 10.

I didn't count but must have been similar. It's a hard one to revise for with so much history but they threw a few easier ones in for the 'common' fan.
I'm sure I saw DYL post on here not too long ago, so maybe he can remind us of his experience.

Love too mate 😉

And theres one who posts on here, having had several different user names in the past, who appeared on "Deal or no deal". I cant recall if he won owt though.  :D

Don’t really want to drag this out but can I just make one point. Many years ago when I joined this forum there were some fairly vociferous opinions being banded around regarding the owners. I somewhat unusually put up some innocuous comments in defence and Dave and Derek rounded on me like a pair of chattering hyenas. So as far as I am concerned that made them fair game, and if anyone doesn’t like it tough. If you can’t take it, don’t give it out. You won’t ever see me complaining.

That’s a date then, not in a sexual way obviously.

It was a long time ago. 15 years I reckon. So I'm not surprised people don't recognise me from the video.

I originally wanted to do 1960-2000 but they told me they wanted me to do the entire history of the club. So that's what I did. I went through every book I could find pulling out facts that could plausibly be asked about and turning them into questions to practice. Frank Grande was a great help in providing context and clarifications. By the time I went on I had pushing 1000 questions written. Haven't watched it back for a while but from memory I missed a cup shock, which was simply down to the pressure of trying to recall it at speed, and a player of no significance who hadn't crossed my radar

After all that prep it felt like an easy ride. But the reason you do all of that prep is to be able to answer at speed when you need to. I lost in the semis that year. A few years later I got to the semis again and did Herbert Chapman as my subject. Alas I lost on a tiebreak. I had one more stab at it, and again lost in the semis. A couple of years later after success on 15 to 1 I got asked to write for 15 to 1, and when the questions team moved to Mastermind I went with them. So now that I write for the show I won't be able to go on it again.

But it is a scary and exhilarating experience to go on Mastermind. I'd recommend it to anyone.

As a postscript, when I was prepping The Cobblers, unbeknowns to me the question writer was struggling to get his hands on the centenary history. I'm known in quiz circles for being a Cobblers fan, so even though he didn't know me I got a private message on a message board asking if I had a copy he could borrow. I didn't reply and told the show's producer immediately and that was that. Many months later when the show was due to be broadcast the Mail on Sunday ran a full page article headed "mastermind contestant asked to write his own questions" which of course was not what happened. They made no attempt to contact me before publication. In the course of pursuing a complaint against them they initially claimed that they couldn't find a way of contacting me. When I told them I was in the phone book (that's how long ago it was) the Managing Editor had to admit fault. He also admitted that I was collateral damage in an attack on the BBC. That's who they were really after. The story was repeated by the Independent and Telegraph almost word for word, and thereafter went worldwide. The only place it was taken down was on the Mail's website after my complaint. It was a real eye opener.


I saw mention elsewhere of Deal or No Deal. I haven't done that. I stick to quizzes. I think that was Glen Cousner.

Nice story Gareth.
Yeah it was Glen Cousner who went onto a career in towel manufacturing, although he almost lost his pension.

Oh you tease

;D

Great story Dyl. But I have to take exception to the above comment. Have you read most of the comments on here? You'd struggle to piece together a salient answer from hardly any of us.  ;D

I’ve got all the answers.

There is someone on here who knows all the FACTS. They would be great on it. They could even tell Magnus Magnusson if he was wrong.

Manny has many contacts in this world. But unless he has a medium in his little black book, that could prove tricky.

;D

I'm surprised old hubris central hasn't told us that he knows him already..

The way things are going, this will have very little interest to us.

I really hope your right