Steve McClaren

[mr underhill]

McClaren was shamelessly pimping himself  for a new job  last night as co commentator on the Wednesday v Huddersfield play off second leg. Apparently offered a Director of Football role at Huddersfield, but wants to remain a coach/manager.

[MoetVillan]

Pimping himself is an appropriate term, he used the word penetration 20+ times in the commentary

[Duncan Shaw]

He also said what an excellent tactical move it was to replace Fletcher with Rhodes, as he had more pace to exploit more space Udddersfield were leaving.  Despite it being obvious that was the point they lost control of the game and all the Sky pundits (I'd got home by then!!) said it was puzzling as the ball stopped sticking up front at that point.

[eamonn]

Poor Rhodesy wasn't feeling up to taking a penalty either. Surely you'd have more regrets from your team losing and you not having taking one than taking one and missing it.

[Gareth]

I'd say we dodged a bullet on Rhodes, like McCormack he is a Scottish striker who scores goals but hardly gets a game in a dreadful Strachan side.  Couldn't get a game at Boro, joined a side where daddy is on the staff then bottles a penalty....hope Wednesday kept the receipt

[cheltenhamlion]

I'd say we dodged a bullet on Rhodes, like McCormack he is a Scottish striker who scores goals but hardly gets a game in a dreadful Strachan side.  Couldn't get a game at Boro, joined a side where daddy is on the staff then bottles a penalty....hope Wednesday kept the receipt

See, this is another thing that concerns me about Bruce. We tried hard to get Rhodes in January when what we need given how Bruce sets up is a big lump the ball sticks to.

[brian green]

Or a skinny lump the ball sticks to like Davis.

[cheltenhamlion]

Or a skinny lump the ball sticks to like Davis.

I want to see us use the kids more next season Brian but he ain't going to do 46 decent games in that role. If we are going to play like Bolton under Allardyce we may as well sign our own version of Kevin Davies.

[cheltenhamlion]

Or a skinny lump the ball sticks to like Davis.

I want to see us use the kids more next season Brian but he ain't going to do 46 decent games in that role. If we are going to play like Bolton under Allardyce we may as well sign our own version of Kevin Davies.

In fact, I would say, if we are to play the lump, Davis is fine cover. We just need an older, bigger, lump with form for scoring set pieces as your starting lump.

Davis can be the younger, thinner, reserve lump for when main lump gets tired.

Murphy at Newcastle would be the perfect lump.

And we should be off to Exeter to ask what they want for Ollie Watkins. Who looks like a lump but is quick, physical and can finish with both feet. A poor man's Dele Alli if you will.

[brian green]

I like the non lump physique of Skinny Davis.  When Gabby challenges he just goes up vertically misses the ball completely or it skids off the top of his bald patch to a defender.  Hogan's upper body goes up a fair distance because he tries very hard but he only has little legs so  he is starting at a disadvantage.  Weimann was the same.  Remember the picture of CB's goal against Sunderland when Weimann at full leap had his head at Benteke's waist?

Davis jumps like a tree creature, all arms and legs and elbows and knees, bent at the waist to stick his arse into the centre back.  Just like Peter Withe used to do.  He mixes it.  Jack playing behind him thinks he has died and gone to heaven.  Plus he looks as tough as old boots.

Our election agent in Cambridge supports and advises Exeter.  I will ask him about Ollie Watkins. 

[brian green]

Just called party HQ.  Ollie Watkins is the new Bastin I am assured.  Stand name after him and they sold him to the Arse at 17.

[cheltenhamlion]

Just called party HQ.  Ollie Watkins is the new Bastin I am assured.  Stand name after him and they sold him to the Arse at 17.

Watkins looks a bloody steal at, say 750k, plus a bit of sell on. He is only young but physically a bully like the young Rooney. And he can play off both feet. I would add him to our squad tomorrow.

[cheltenhamlion]

I like the non lump physique of Skinny Davis.  When Gabby challenges he just goes up vertically misses the ball completely or it skids off the top of his bald patch to a defender.  Hogan's upper body goes up a fair distance because he tries very hard but he only has little legs so  he is starting at a disadvantage.  Weimann was the same.  Remember the picture of CB's goal against Sunderland when Weimann at full leap had his head at Benteke's waist?

Davis jumps like tree creature, all arms and legs and elbows and knees, bent at the waist to stick his arse into the centre back.  Just like Peter Withe used to do.  He mixes it.  Jack playing behind him thinks he has died and gone to heaven.  Plus he looks as tough as old boots.

Our election agent in Cambridge supports and advises Exeter.  I will ask him about Ollie Watkins. 

A tree creature? From now on, I shall think of him as the Ent!

[adrenachrome]

In other words, the big lump doesn't clock that we need a big lump. Probably lump averse because he doesn't want the lump in question dropping the nut on him.

[brian green]

Stu, I was tempted to write 'monkey' but Kelvin McKenzie has poisoned that well of vocabulary so I wrote 'tree creature".