Hands on

I don't mean to be picky but wasn't that the sort of opposition we should be beating if we are going to get into the playoff places?

Back to the point. Bryan, the one I want to keep, to a Championship side where he will spend most of his time kicking his heels, or to a 'bigger' league 1 club where he will play. Byrne will leave and then could return at end January - it rather depends on what happens on the thing that has yet to be resolved. Doyle will either be loaned to another club for a trial before they buy or be sold to another club. If the thing that has yet to be resolved is resolved positively by mid January there will be another flood of the foreign legion with any of those who are here for which any other team wants on sale or loan going. If the thing that has yet to be resolved is resolved negatively I suspect we will once again find ourselves in a fight for survival when the foreign legion depart with no replacements. If the thing that has yet to be resolved just drags on your guess is as good as mine.

If you were at the game you would have seen a crass error by Gerrard when he passed the ball back at speed when he had other options. Byrne ticked Gerrard off and not Johny. It did however show how much our team has come to trust Johny. Ripley and Placide are different. Ripley did very well as the last line of defence and saved us from relegation. Placide is doing very well as the first line of attack and with his excellent defensive work as well he is putting us in line for our highest finish for some years. Cometh the team cometh the goal keeper. Both were/are fantastic at this level but Johny is what we need now.

I've probably only just woken up on this but why does the official fixture list have us playing our home games at Boundary Park rather than at that other place?

It's a strange one. When in the main stand I could buy a drink consume it and get back to my seat in the half time interval. Now in the Great White Elephant you have to queue before the game and there is an even bigger queue at half time with the end result that I don't buy anything.

It was a strange experience watching a game where a win was never in doubt. Just a good side with a good shape making another look really poor. Gerrard asked too much of Johny but their goal didn't worry me at all. Byrne ticking off his captain was priceless. Fane was targeted after the break and the referee gave him no protection just booking him for an innocuous foul. Of the three we want to keep I put Bryan firmly at the top of my list. City might want to get him some games in the Championship because you no longer have to be big if you are good enough and he is undoubtedly good enough for league 1.

There will not be a cliff edge unless, as is possible but unlikely, the deal that will be agreed by March 2019 is vetoed. So we won't see any difference for some time because of the 'implementation or transitional' two years to March 2021. What everyone ignores is that all the non UK EU citizens here at March 2019 will be able to stay and if they want apply for UK citizenship (I expect some form of dual nationality). It is sensationalistic journalism and business self interest that bangs on about the need for free movement of people. The public sector and NHS will not collapse. Immigration will be allowed in those sectors where we need it. We might just however see wages rising and business investing instead of, as now, relying on cheap foreign labour.

I love the "truth". Yes there were only eight HMRC but what about the other six from the SFO.

Pitch should be playable but taking its first steps to the sand pit we played on last year. As long as the Health and Safety freaks let us walk on the frozen pavements and surrounds we should get a game.

One of the many good things. Unlike some I can't see B teams ever playing in the EFL. They would rise to the top and then you could have a Chelsea A and B team in the premiership - can't happen.

Two draws and a loss means we are now looking behind us rather than up the table. Nine points from our three home games should ease us forward but I suspect it is more likely to be seven from five and if we start being cautious could be even less.

Let us hope Wellens is not a nice man if the success of the little shit is anything to go by. He could have been the Messiah but sought an easier path once he discovered the complete lack of ambition in his Chairman. I hope HMRC were given a copy of "Our Game" - that would have confused them.

"Moisley said he spoke with them and they went through paperwork before taking some away with them. He added that the visit would not have any effect on a proposed takeover of the club which is ongoing." Hadn't seen this on BBC web site. Why can't they put more details on the OAFC site.

Speculation. Given that the OEC was part of the raid I suspect this had nothing to do with the football however it does seem the football club has been involved in the financing of the new stand. I can't imagine that this has anything to do with the construction of the new stand, payments to contractors and sub contractors, as how could that be so serious. I can't imagine a raid taking place if the target is some one else. So something that one or more of the three amigos has been doing has caught the eye of my past employers. Has to be finance and that could impact on the football club. For those of you/us who lacked patience over the "whatever it was" or "whatever it is now" with our "agent" friend give up all hope as this could take years to resolve. Stokes will probably have single handedly won back the Ashes in England first.

Ah but when HMRC come mob handed and it is a raid, ie no appointment, with members of the Serious Fraud Office I think it might be a little bit more than late payment. However let us hope it is the off field activity that has attracted attention. After all what can a loss making league one club get up to.

It seems Gerrard might have broken his collar bone. Dummigan is having a hard time defending on the right with no cover in front of him but is doing exceptionally well. Scores one and is always willing to run forward. I know there was that dozy misdirected back pass but still my MOM. Don't get me wrong Hunt, Bryan and Gerrard all put a shift in but Dummigan has to do the work of two much of the time because of the mainly absent Byrne. That lad Byrne clearly has issues hence the loan of such a skilful match winning player to us. Taken off due to lack of effort and given a right rollicking by Wellens. A strange match with periods of total domination and periods of losing the midfield. Manager fantastic did the trick with his substitutions leading to the Doyle brace. The second is one I won't forget.

The dare I say it Checkatrade game was further evidence that the squad is buying into the Wellens way. Win or lose, can't see a draw, this will be an entertaining game. I am full of hope which is all I ask for. Onwards and upwards.

About time we see some more "Fist" action!

Is this a new sport? Are they all goalkeepers? Can anyone spell at OAFC? Does anyone read what they right?

It is not that we need the money with whatever it is about to happen. Pleased it's not an early offer for 2018/19.

I assume we are not on the BBC fixtures as postponed because another date has been agreed. Or is that we no longer exist?

That was an enjoyable night in the Great White Elephant. My MOM was Johny. It is such a delight to have a goalkeeper who injects so much pace into our game. The first goal came after a long kick out to the right. He commands the box and the players in front of him. I did hope we could keep him for some time but I suspect he will be noticed and moved on. The invited clubs have to play six under 21s. It was the inexperience of the Newcastle side that made this an easy victory. I don't see how this can be regarded as the thin end of a wedge to place the invited teams in our league.

I think a draw is good enough even if we lose the penalty shoot out 5 0 because goal difference doesn't seem to include the penalty shoot out goals and we have a higher goal difference.

A must try hardest.

Bollocks Johny would have caught the first and made himself bigger for second after Clarke cocked up. Without Johny we are back to giving teams a two goal start.