[lesgeo]

Non-proven (Scotland), case dismissed, insufficient evidence and not guilty etc may mean innocent but, frankly, usually don’t.
When I was a Chairman of the Bench some years ago – I often acquitted people whom the Bench believed to be guilty.
On the ‘balance of probabilities’ every single one would have been convicted. (Without exception.)
But that definition is radically different to ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ – the norm to which Justices operate in criminal trials.
This is the right and proper way for the system to be applied.

[lesgeo]

Hippo is not bad – he is adequate. (And he has a long throw.)
You would obviously hope there are better for the first 11 – but as a regular on the subs’ bench – okay by me.

[lesgeo]

That’s my guess.
I really want to be wrong.
No chance whatsoever of a Yates or a Toney!

1 user thanked author for this post.

meth

[lesgeo]

The forward line is a disaster. As previously mentioned – we MUST have a Paul Hayes-style player.
Another backup forward.
One GK.(Come back Mark – all is forgiven?)
We are banking on Hallam staying fit in CM.
Phew! And all that is assuming both triallists fit the bill.

[lesgeo]

Stop-start penalties against a world class GK?

[lesgeo]

A rare sighting indeed, MKI.

We have a Harris Hawk swooping over Sheffield 13. They don’t even live in the UK!
Seen it really close up twice.

[lesgeo]

Cynic.

Take off the injuries and there’ll be bags of room.

[lesgeo]

So we seem to be okay for signings.
One question:
Where are they?
What was 31st of May thing all about?
(Okay, I can’t count to one – I admit it!)

1 user thanked author for this post.

alcazar

[lesgeo]

If we’re lucky.

[lesgeo]

I pay £40 quid a pop to the former Sheffield Steelers physio whenever I get too painful – and it buys me 7+ days of pain easing.
Take care, Jeff!

[lesgeo]

Yeah. In practice – with the players we are looking at – it may not mean a great deal.
No way shall we pay big bucks and a tad improbable that we’d pay transfer fees either.

[lesgeo]

Youngster!

[lesgeo]

Scunthorpe United

Conditions under monitored loan agreement.

Anyone been a-hunting to find out what this means? A leftover from last season with a loanee?

[lesgeo]

I would actually have given it a try but on match day mornings in winter I plan to be in rather sunnier climes.
(Degenerative arthritis of the spine is not quite as much fun as it sounds and my back really does not need a cold climate.)
How’s your back these days, Alcy?

1 user thanked author for this post.

Sanfran49

[lesgeo]

The problem is that the fans are all seeing the creation of a failing model; they cannot see how it can possibly work.
That then means that if all is okay at the club, there really should be reassurances to thousands of Iron supporters. Maybe a few explanations of what the club is doing or trying to do. Particularly against the backcloth of ‘a squad complete from the 31st May’.
Communication with supporters has been very poor in recent years – now it has become non-existent.

If those of us in a near panic situation over the club we love have got to the point where many hundreds – and possibly even thousands – have had enough of this treatment combined with zero entertainment and who are going to vote with their feet – the club’s future will be jeopardised.

Two questions which the club should answer but probably won’t:
1) How many fewer season tickets have been sold than on 7th July 2020 and
2) Does anyone believe that there is the remotest chance of even an 1,800 gate in the first league match here?

Fewer fans + less money for squad strengthening = a club destined to drop further down the leagues.
I am not yet at a point where I am accepting that there is a conspiracy going on here – but I am finding it increasingly difficult to gainsay it.

2 users thanked author for this post.

alcazar, inspector

[lesgeo]

Have to disagree, BI66.
We had a terribly top heavy squad last year.
The club has correctly decided to tackle that by trimming out dead wood and any troublemakers they could and those who could not cut the mustard.
But 19 is an incredible amount to lose.
I think most on here agree with the number reduction – it makes sense in a variety of ways.

However, even with 8 players in, it means we would still be 11 players down. Surely, that figure cannot be reduced any further?

It is hard to see any hope of even limited success on those numbers unless, for once, we happen to be very lucky with injuries.

I suppose that GK, forward, wide man is the absolute minimum – and where does the cover come from for LB?

3 users thanked author for this post.

alcazar, SODIron, Northumbiron

[lesgeo]

Harsh.
If there is proper movement around Loft – I expect him to have a decent season. Good for 15 goals, I reckon. He got 8 goals in 41 games last season and in a team which was a total shambles. Not terrible under the prevailing circumstances.

I obviously don’t expect Paul Hayes quality on our budget – but I do want to see someone in that mould who he can work off.
Playing him as a lone striker would not qualify – that is where we have seen him at his worst.
It is rare for younger players make good lone forwards.

[lesgeo]

Odds that GK will share a surname with one of the backroom staff?

[lesgeo]

As an example: “We are currently looking at a CM’.”
That’s what gives the fans a little encouragement – don’t give them that and you alienate them.
They don’t ask for what you are suggesting, UTI99 – for the most part, they are not stoopid. A few titbits of info – doesn’t even have to be a lot – and they feel involved.
Involved fans buy season tickets.
Alienated fans don’t. QED.

1 user thanked author for this post.

cassidystash

[lesgeo]

Welcome, Ross.

[lesgeo]

BTW – here’s news from me.
Millen has now signed!

[lesgeo]

Fine pal – if that were the issue.
It is not.
The problem here is a near total news blackout!
A great way to cultivate support, innit?

1 user thanked author for this post.

razoriron

[lesgeo]

So. Why all the delay if this guy is going to be signed?
Fans are being deliberately kept out of even the very widest of loops. Even a holding statement from the club would demonstrate just a little respect towards desperate fans. Zilch.

Don’t you just wonder if fans are being punished? – Punished because of ‘negativity’ on this very board?
If that scenario turns out to be the correct one – it hasn’t worked. Has it? It has just got people like me who have generally supported the Chairman spitting feathers.

If Millen is not signed up today – we may have to think that this deal is no longer feasible.

Boy. These days – all I ever seem to be wanting is to be proved wrong – on pretty much anything and everything!

[lesgeo]

Thanks for the figure.
Allowing for that and other income sources – it is still difficult to see why this year’s playing budget could not run to £1.5million.
Was just thinking back. Five weeks since the complement of players was going to be complete and here we are – two players in, a net seventeen shortfall.

I think we had expected at least seven or eight rather ordinary players in before training began. Even with those levels of hope, some of us were startlingly naive.

Starting a season’s preparation unprepared is, frankly, a disgrace.

Incidentally, our lowest ever attendance was: League: 1,106 v Bury – Division Four – May 4, 1982.
No real reason for including that stat. Just thought it might help to clarify the current situation a little.

[lesgeo]

If debts are now removed by loss of the ground and with monies to come in from fans, club shop, adverts etc – if we only have a million pounds this year for use on the team, it rather begs a question.
Just how little is the controlling family putting into the club without strings attached?
Is it not pretty normal for wealthy club owners to donate lumps of cash to their clubs?
Perhaps those fans in the know, shareholders etc can calculate what this figure might be?

[lesgeo]

Sorry IA but if you have never had any personal Christian experience yourself it’s impossible to speak with any authority on something others have encountered when you have not.
You have to make a guess.

[lesgeo]

How many home goals in recent seasons, Cass?

[lesgeo]

We do remember the handful of good uns but there are far more abusers of oxygen whose names we can barely bring to mind.

[lesgeo]

Oh, the players will be coming in but I am now thinking that we shall be seeing loadsa hoping-for-the-bests in the loans market.

I have not been quite so despondent about the Iron since those heady days of re-election to the league.

1 user thanked author for this post.

IRONINTHEBLOOD

[lesgeo]

Starting to look improbable but can’t see that he’s signed for NT either.

[Author]

Posts