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1  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Are You Good Enough to Wear the Shirt? on: January 13, 2019, 10:50:58 am
Think a large number of our fan base would probably say this in answer to your question.
1) Runs around a lot.
2) Runs around a lot.
3) Runs around a lot.
4) Runs around a lot.
5) Runs around a lot.

Pretty much this - I think supporters are generally too quick to confuse lack of effort with lack of ability or team cohesion.

When all said and done, the players at the club are still within the top 0.5% of footballers in this country. They've dedicated their life from an early age to get there, and while they get paid a decent sum it's generally a very short and risky career for the majority. Everyone wants to club to do well, but it does rankle when a fat 50 yr old that doesn't even have a fraction of the mental/physical discipline can lay into a young lad for being a 'lazy c*nt' if he gets beat in a tackle.
2  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Kelvin Thomas on: January 13, 2019, 10:40:18 am
Stupid question but - does Kelvin Thomas or any of his backers actually lose any of their personal wealth if the club fails to breakeven? Or is the debt just leveraged back against the club for whoever is next to take over? Would the directors draw a salary in the meantime?

My understanding is the only initial outlay is the purchase of the club. (which I assume was very minimal given Cardoza's legal state)


Honestly - I have no idea why anyone would risk their own wealth to try and make a profit out of a football club. Without TV money barely any seem to turn a profit, and if do it's almost instantly swallowed up as re-investment. 
3  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: January Window - Rumours, Ins and Outs on: January 07, 2019, 20:19:39 pm
Chris Long

Hmmm... I actually think he'd be a decent goal-scorer in League Two, but don't see what he offers over Williams or Morias. No real pace so wouldn't be effective out wide either. Would be good as cover but not worthwhile him making the move just for that.
4  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: An MK Dons fan's view on: December 31, 2018, 23:36:49 pm
I got as far as Derby day and stopped. Local game, yes! Derby day, No!

Unpopular opinion, but I honestly care more about beating MK Dons, and even Oxford, than Peterborough.

I know Posh are supposed to be our 'traditional' rivals, but I've never met a fan from there to concern me if we lose, and we've barely had an evenly matched fixture between us since the late 90s.

There's nothing that remotely links to two towns to a rivalry other than historically being the geographically closest club, which is still a good 50 miles. Couldn't tell you a single thing about the place or the people to have any genuine emotion for the game.   

The worst for me were Diamonds though. Upstart club flush with cash, within the county. That 3-2 with those Billy Sharp goals was excruciating.
5  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: January Window - Rumours, Ins and Outs on: December 31, 2018, 23:24:16 pm
Clarke Carlisle was a pretty decent 'journeyman' signing too ;0)

Ricky Holmes also depending on your definition of journeyman! Alternatively taking a punt on talented players with injury problems sometimes works out, i.e. the likes of Bayo and Gyepes.

Given we're relatively safe from the drop, and with minimal chance of a promotion push, I'd rather we didn't  get extra bodies for the sake of it. Now is probably a decent time to bed in some of youth without much risk and lay the groundwork for next season. If we off loaded a few without bringing anyone in it might make a boring second half to the season, but puts us in good shape for a summer shake up.
6  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: January Window - Rumours, Ins and Outs on: December 31, 2018, 14:17:03 pm
Aren't near enough all lower league signings journeymen? Especially in January when everyone is still under contract.

I don't think we're a million miles away from a decent side. Definitely need some width/pace, preferably wing-backs if we're going down that route. Potentially another keeper and defensive mid, but think both Cornell and Turnbull are serviceable in those roles.

Main priority is to start shifting some of the deadwood.

7  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Kevin van Veen on: October 14, 2018, 18:22:30 pm
Don’t totally agree because having watched football for many years I would categorically state some player can’t be arsed.

Also if in your footballing world passion, commitment and heart have little bearing you represent the mindset of coaches a few years ago that had a philosophy of suppressing individual passion and replacing it with sophisticated technical skills - result boring sterile football.

Of course technical ability, fitness and confidence have a place but surely a blend of all these characteristics gives us the best football.

Not sure I follow, what coaches are you referencing? The most sterile football I've watched at Town is under Boothroyd, and there was no technical sophistication in that unless you're counting Tozer's long throws. I'd argue it's those types of managers; Aidy, Pulis, Allardyce, that produce the worst football to watch. None of them reward individuality, it's all laboured collective effort and organisation.

8  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Kevin van Veen on: August 19, 2018, 00:08:01 am
I still make no apology for what I said back in May, and I still don't accept that the standard of the performances he put in was down to anything other than his heart not being in it.

Poor fitness? Still recoperating from an injury? Lack of confidence?

It's amazing how people still assume bad performances are simply due to lack of effort, when football can be such a short and volatile career. Why would he jeopardise his future earnings? Yeah players probably aren't as 'passionate' or as loyal about their clubs as fans are, but it's nonsense to suggest because of that they sometimes just can't be arsed.

Football is mostly technical ability, fitness and confidence. Passion/commitment/heart has very little bearing when it comes down to it. van Veen's improvement is just based off a full pre-season and a step down in standard of opposition.
9  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Ins and Outs - Summer 2018 on: August 03, 2018, 22:57:54 pm
Pace, he offers lots of pace

Don't agree with that at all. Can't remember him ever beating his man, or breaking away from a pursuing defender with a burst of pace.

He's got a lot of energy though, and does a lot of pressing. Type of player that's useful for tough away fixtures, but doesn't offer any real attacking threat really.
10  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Ins and Outs - Summer 2018 on: August 01, 2018, 21:07:19 pm
Some interesting comments this evening from Port Vale manager Neil Aspin about his club's approach for Billy Waters. He was speaking to BBC Radio Stoke:

“It was no secret, we agreed a fee with Northampton Town for Billy Waters. He was a player I thought could do well. It was dragging on and on and you just felt there was a reluctance from Northampton to commit, so we had to move on. He was a player I expected to sign for us”

Seems a bit contradictory, we agreed a free but were reluctant? I imagine Waters is on a decent salary when we signed him in League One, and it's unlikely Port Vale were willing to match it hence why it fell a part. Anyway, he's shown flashes of ability and reckon he'd come good this year given time.
11  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Opinions greatly appreciated on: July 26, 2018, 18:44:29 pm
Good evening

So Basically, I'm a Preston fan and live in West Sussex


I always have a large wager from a team in each division to finish in the top half or bottom half or whatever.

This year the team I have picked is you, For a top 7 finish.

Was just looking for some opinions etc, Basically to make myself feel better ( Or worse ) about my decision..

Much appreciated !! Thanks Smiley


League Two can be unpredictable as the difference in budgets up and down the league isn't huge, so it's generally better organised teams that do well. The expectation is we should finish top 7, however we could easily end up bottom half if early results don't go our way and the dressing room doesn't take to Austin for whatever reason. Bookies have us 5th favourites so seems reasonably safe bet but definitely not a banker. 
12  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Ins and Outs - Summer 2018 on: July 22, 2018, 21:03:37 pm
Good to know, Bowditch takes a decent set piece too. I agree we missed a consistent delivery last term.

Funnily enough we actually had the highest conversion rate from corners in League One last season.
13  The Hotel End / Other Football & Sport / Re: It's coming home on: July 15, 2018, 13:14:24 pm
Not quite sure what you don’t understand? It’s my opinion that’s all. You have to know Souness background and I still think he has an axe to grind! I know, you know and certainly Clarence knows that our midfield was lacking. To belabour the point is hardly even debatable! Reference to Scottish is a bit of a red herring but I guess it went over yr head!

It's not even a dissenting opinion though. It's essentially agreeing while also being annoyed it's mentioned by someone you perceive as bias against England.
14  The Hotel End / Other Football & Sport / Re: It's coming home on: July 15, 2018, 11:35:49 am
Souness was saying the obvious we know that the midfield was deficient - the foreign guy told him so and after near argument reined him in.
IMO not sure you would get fair/reasonable comment from Souness(Scottish) who appeared to have an axe to grind.  Being Scottish of course had nothing to do with it;or did it for you?

I don't really understand - you agree that his point was obvious but also think he has an axe to grind? If pundits aren't allowed to say anything other than 'THE LADS DONE GOOD' then why bother having them on there.
15  The Hotel End / Other Football & Sport / Re: It's coming home on: July 14, 2018, 12:21:51 pm
Well if that’s your idea of informed view by 2 or 3  Scottish Pundits then God help us !  Souness ok to begin with but was slowly taken apart by the foreign guy who reined him in.  You did well to locate that judgement panel - which TV group/station was that.

What part do you actually disagree with Souness over? His point was England didn't have a central midfielder that can retain possession well, and you need that to do well in the final stages. I don't see what being Scottish has anything to do with it.
16  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Ins and Outs - Summer 2018 on: July 08, 2018, 09:26:41 am
I reckon we’ll see Junior Morias sign in the next couple of days. Just a hunch!

Looks like a minitature Bayo on Google Images, 5'2"! Who's the smallest Cobbler player we've had? I remember a loanee from Wigan (Abdullah?) being close to that size/

edit: Wikipedia has him listed at 5'2", but looks at least 4 or 5 inches taller based on videos of him.
17  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Ins and Outs - Summer 2018 on: July 06, 2018, 21:07:52 pm
From Sky Sports:

DONCASTER REJECT BIDS FOR MARQUIS

Aberdeen and Peterborough have had bids for striker John Marquis rejected by Doncaster, according to Sky sources.

It is understood Aberdeen bid £500,000, while Peterborough offered £750,000.
Marquis, who has two years remaining on his current contract, has scored 41 goals in 99 appearances for Doncaster.

The forward moved from Millwall on a free transfer in 2016 and scored 26 goals in his debut season.

Marquis' impressive tally meant Doncaster secured promotion to League One and he was named League Two player of the year.

Really liked Marquis when he was here, proper physical striker with lots of good movement. I can see him having a similar career trajectory to Stevie Morison.

£750k does seem excessive though... 14 goals in League One is a solid return but by no means outstanding. Or is that just now the going rate for good striker at that level? Bradley Dack cost that for Blackburn and he looks a much better prospect.

Are Posh still selling players for ludicrous sums or still riding off that Dwight Gayle money. 
18  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Which players would you like to see the club try to sign? on: June 05, 2018, 19:47:17 pm
Ryan Hardie at Rangers nay be available - just the sort of striker to compliment Williams - young, hungry, mobile and knows where the net is. Maybe Mr Crooks could persuade him to come here?

Anecdotally he always does well for me on Football Manager. Never cut it in the Championship for us mind.

I wouldn't be surprised if we're waiting to offload a few players before signing anyone else. Still stupidly overloaded with players that can play centrally. And 4 keepers??
19  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: NTFC next manager on: May 02, 2018, 18:30:09 pm
If there's no real stand-out candidate, I'd just give Austin a 1 year contract and see how it pans out.

Previous clubs he's been involved with have had success, head of recruitment at Southend when they smashed League 2, assistant to Rodgers during his stint at Watford. At the very least he should have decent knowledge of players around our level.

I also think this being his first proper managerial role could be a bonus. For a club of our size, he'd be more emotionally invested than experienced managers on their descent, who quite often are just going through the motions. (Johnson, Boothroyd, Hasselbaink and his 'little Northampton' comments)
20  The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Kevin van Veen on: April 28, 2018, 19:15:58 pm
I don't really buy that there are professional footballers that don't care about relegation. Even if he's on decent money, it's a short career and a poor spell with us could mean he'd struggle to be pick up another league contract afterwards, like many other past players we've released. 

Suspect he hasn't got anywhere near to match fitness since his arrival, and fatigue / low confidence can easily be confused with lack of effort.

Could still be a dud next a season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he came back a completely different player after a full pre-season.  Similar to Langmead's transformation after looking horrendously off the pace in his loan spell.
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