Worcester Owl

Same here. They've got a lot to answer for though, it was watching them that cemented me as a lifelong fan!!

Yes I take your point, and if we were playing more attractive football and winning more often I'd definitely agree (and we might be on TV more often, a virtuous circle), but boy oh boy Saturday night was a hard watch.

The other thought I had during the game - at risk of stealing @BP1960's thunder ! - was how lightweight we seem, especially in midfield. The number of times we seemed to get brushed off the ball, or lose 50/50s, was really depressing.

Er, no. That was 90+ minutes of my life I'll never get back. A totally embarrassing performance, apart from maybe the first 10 minutes. The ball spent so much time in the air I started to wonder if it was a balloon. Why we have this craze for hoofball is completely beyond me. To try it now and again in a game as a change of tactic, fine. When it becomes obvious that your front men are winning zilch in the air, surely even players slow on the uptake can see it's not working and should try passing the bloody ball on the deck. It must be a lack of confidence, or basic lack of ability, or both. Plus points? Well, I suppose the new players still need some time to gel. Oh, and the defence did ok, though we rode our luck at times. I'm not entitled and I'm not going to show Ebbsfleet (who deserved to win) disrespect by calling them a pub team. But they are 22nd in the table for a reason, yet passed the ball around and created chances much better than we did.

Pick a multiscreen bar, you'll be up against Sheffield Utd v Villa. I know, proper football v the prima donna league, but not everyone will see it like that.....

I stood on the Kop for that game, figured it might be my one and only trip to Anfield (to date, it was!) so I was curious what it would be like. I remember the Jimmy Case goal very well, and being shoved about 20 feet forward after it! That Liverpool side won the European Cup only 3 months later. They were a hell of a side but we played really well on the day.

You'll court controversy with that name, cracking in defence though

Really interesting post, thanks. If the football pyramid is to mean anything then surely it's time that automatic promotion/relegation slots were standardised across all leagues. With the government finally showing an interest in the governance of football, I don't see how only 1 automatic promotion place from the NL can be justified, particularly if it enhances the financial risk to clubs. I know the EFL and NL have dropped hints about automatic promotion slots being increased, but it's time for less talk and more action. And yes, I'd feel the same way if we were back in the EFL!

Lots of options west of London now that the Lizzie Line runs from Reading. Well, as long as the train drivers aren't on strike.

The interview that George gave on Football Focus ahead of the 3rd round game v Stevenage was very moving, he talks about his late father. You can see what being the Maidstone manager and their Cup run means to him. As long as there are stories like his, football will never die.

He might stay over in the Caribbean for a bit after Saturday's disaster!!

I just support my team. Carp all you like if it makes you happy.

“Fanboys” You really know how to scrape a barrel, don’t you? So we shouldn’t get behind a manager who is a proven promotion winner? I thought @BP1960 was pretty negative with his anti-MM comments but you are in a class of your own.

Good post. My God there are some Jonahs on here. It’s like a Private Fraser fan club - we’re DOOOOOOOMED! Except we’re not. We just won 4 in a row and now today we screwed up. Somebody the other day posted that we are on the up, but will still hit the occasional banana skin, and today was one of those. We will finish in a play off spot and I am confident that MM will continue to improve this team. People need to remember that new players are still bedding in and getting used to each other. Everybody calm down, as the excellent dentist said in Django Unchained.

They deserve promotion for that!

Must have been a short book!

I thought your avatar was Lee Harvey Oswald!!

It’s definitely a weird feeling, you’re right. Let’s hope it’s onwards and upwards !

It’s so good to wake up the morning after and recollect a really good performance and result from the night before - then to come on here and read all the positive messages. There’s a long way to go and I know nothing is settled yet for the season but it really does feel like we are on the way back at last. Hope last night’s result makes Frank’s finishing line feel a bit nearer!

Agreed, re Madine. 93 goals in 444 league games according to Wikipedia, so hardly prolific. Convicted twice for assault, and jailed the second time. All in all I'm struggling to get excited about him.

I agree with just about every word of this but..... I also agree with this. The amount of advertising for betting sites particularly on Sky Sports and TalkSport really annoys me. I'm lucky - I follow a tipster who names 12 horses to follow every NH and Flat season, and I never bet more than £2.50 E/W whenever one of the 12 races. It's just a bit of fun. When I go racing, I always enjoy the day out and I set myself a budget of a £5 stake per race. If I lose the whole lot (as usually happens!) then that's part of the cost of a fun day out. But some people can't/don't treat it as a bit of fun, get addicted, and the pressure from Sky and TalkSport and the betting companies to have a bet on this, that and the other is out of order. Personally I would ban media advertising of gambling.

Not really. They have 51 points to play for, we have 57. IF we win our 2 games in hand we’ll be 9 points behind them. All to play for.

Not sure about Spreadsheet Phil as Chancellor of the Exchequer though

So sad to hear this. I remember him so well, back in the days when I didn’t miss many home games. I was so excited when he decided to join us, as @oafc1955says, it was a time when top flight players were happy to finish their careers at a lower level. He was a very good player, a real professional.

Yes, he's called James Norwood. In any case as @Frankly Mr Shankly says, it was really poor defending by Altrincham.