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by Copeysaurus4/12/2024 09:19Wed Dec 4 09:19:37 2024
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Match Fred
Views: 2358
No Roberts or Luther anywhere.
Starting 11:
Cooper
Butler
Pidge
Goode
Thompson
King
Phillips
Kemp
Hanlan
Reid
That's probably the 11 I'd have selected.
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Return fixture
Views: 1184
Postponed due to international callups: https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2025/march/13/birmingham-city-home-fixture-postponed-due-to-international-call-ups/
Seems like Tuesday evening gave them a big enough scare to take no chances.
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 781
Birmingham's League One clash postponed at just nine days' notice and fans have NO idea when they can play it https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/33834049/birmingham-city-league-one-postponed-stevenage?utm_source=native_share&utm_medium=sharebar_native&utm_campaign=sharebaramp
Sorry it's from the Sun not my fav rag but interesting.
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 1017
This one may not affect our attendance as much as assume they will still sell out away end.Also for us Reid not called up by N Ire not sure re King for Wales U21.
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 557
Philips called up by Trinidad I see now.
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 1074
Strange call by them. They must want the fixture congestion.
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 1059
They have two blank midweeks and two matches to rearrange.
Fucking idiots are 14pts clear of second, just play the damn game.
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2 people
Re: Return fixture
Views: 1059
They actually only have 1 free midweek, the last week of the season. With Easter games on Friday and Monday, they either have to play Sun-Wed-Fri before Easter or Mon-Wed-Sat after
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 1050
They have Tues 15th or Weds 16th April as well.
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 1039
That's the Sun-Wed-Fri before Easter. They have Crawley at home Friday 18th
And the Sunday (13th) being their trophy final at Wembley
Edited by AndyC at 12:17:50 on 13th March 2025
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 975
Ah, read your post as saying after Easter rather than before.
Either way they are fucking dickheads for not just playing the game and for causing yet another fucking midweek game, which I am absolutely sick of this season.
League One seriously needs to stop scheduling matches during international breaks.
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2 people
Re: Return fixture
Views: 934
But if they're not scheduled during international breaks, they'd be scheduled for midweek anyway, as there are no other free weekends unless you start the season in July, end later and play the play off finals in June, or have all FA Cup rounds midweek
Not seen it confirmed anywhere, but a friend was telling me Birmingham normally get 7 or 8 of their usual 20ish called up?
Edited by AndyC at 16:23:01 on 13th March 2025
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 936
Or don't postpone games for international call-ups in the first place. It's the third tier after all.
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3 people
Re: Return fixture
Views: 934
But that way you know when they will be from the start, rather than them being postponed once people (foolish as it may be) may have arranged travel or accommodation or bought match tickets, and clubs who don't get call-ups could always rearrange midweek matches for international break weekends instead.
Would save so much unnecessary faff.
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1 person
Re: Return fixture
Views: 876
It is ridiculous. Either don't schedule or have a rule. Even Cambridge have called a game off for 3 international calls ups this season....
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Re: Return fixture
Views: 611
We used to use it as well especially when we were out of form or had some injuries.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1413
I'm not really sure what more we could have done last night against a team that could spunk so much cash on a striker.
We competed well, but didn't have the quality to keep the ball or create many chances against a Championship quality team.
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3 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 1479
Phillips will be suspended for our next two matches.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1787
As a post said earlier this week, Young needs to be given game time through the centre, not shoved out on the left. I'm convinced there is a decent League One striker there.
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7 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 1179
You dont watch him train Monday to Friday ......
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1014
That's an interesting debate in itself.
Is it what a player does during training that should matter (in terms of team selection) or what he does on a match day?
Not saying this is Young, but if you had a bad trainer or someone who doesn't show much in training but delivers whenever he plays then should you be picking him anyway, as it's only Saturday that actually matters.
Or is the bigger picture in terms of fairness and squad ethos and rewarding hard work etc more important. If you set a precedent that you can get picked without performing in training then do standards start dropping as a whole.
I don't know the answer, but I do rate Young from what I've seen on matches (and on YouTube from previous clubs 🤣)
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1 person
Re: Match Fred
Views: 994
As usual you do create interesting debate. Paul McGrath rarely trained for United. Clive Walker never warned up for Woking
However this is Stevenage. There is an expectation. A work rate. We press. If you won't/can't do it Monday to Friday then I wouldn't play you. It is a big part of our game. Working hard without possession. For me Jake Young isn't good enough to do eff all in training to demand a starting spot. If Evans was still manager he'd have gone out on loan in January inl feel sure of that
He scored a free kick v Mansfield. For want of a better phrase, whoopee.....
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 675
would like to see Young more central than wide left, Same was said about Reid
Why cant we play two strikers together so you get flick ons etc
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 674
We did when Appere was in the side. He won't play a 442 with Reid and Young I'm pretty sure as let's face it neither of them having winning headers in the strengths.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 869
He scored an excellent goal at Wrexham, and another at Birmingham. And anyone who has watched his goals for Swindon last season will surely accept there is a real footballer in there. Now clearly he had issues at Bradford, but according to Revs, we only ever sign players with the right character. So...? You can't have it both ways, boss. The single most important skill in management is figuring out how to get the best out of ALL the people who work for you.
The likes of Pidge are easy...they'll run through walls for you. But talent often comes in a prickly package. I suspect Revs was a thoroughly whole-hearted model pro and perhaps can't understand those you aren't so straightforward. But that's what he is paid to do...and sticking a £400,000 investment (allegedly...I don't know) on the left wing or the bench won't wash.
Young and Kemp ran riot for Swindon. How many times have they started together for us?
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4 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 838
J. You make fair points but..... He scored goals for Swindon. League 2.
Gilbey and Rose didn't follow us. They knew they are good league 2 players. So is Jake Young. I'm not a hater of any of our players just looking at it from the managers pov
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 825
Which rather begs the question of why we paid so much money for 'a League Two player'. Assume Revs wanted him.
Pidge has spent his entire career in League Two. Players can, and do, step up.
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2 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 798
If they have the ability....
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 805
I'm not convinced Gilbey wouldn't be doing a perfectly adequate job for us now rotating with Louis.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 811
Fair enough. I personally disagree He may well have been offered a packet to go there but remember he dropped a level for us. Then stayed in league 2 for MK. So maybe he knows where he can shine.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 814
Tell me you hate Revs without telling me you hate Revs
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 794
Haha, that was exactly how I interpreted the message too.
Some of the good players that previous managers of ours have had huge fallings out with and not played for goodness sake! And not just managers of ours. Look at Amorim and Rashford for another example. Every manager at every club.
And two players having a relationship in one side for half a season that flourishes, a division lower, doesn't mean they can replicate a division higher surrounded by other players, and against far better players.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 791
I don't hate anyone (this side of the White House, at least). But I don't think Revs cuts it as a manager. It's an opinion, that's all.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 960
I do tend to agree, and if you're not pulling your weight in training you shouldn't be picked.
BUT, having seen him play at Swindon, and I'm assuming our scouts monitored him for a while, he's never looked like a Beardsley type who will run and press all day long. If they knew that, why sign him? (for a lot of money according to the rumours)
He's a different type of player and I think his composure and finishing ability would have been useful this season. Obviously, if his lack of work rate exposes the team then that's a bigger issue, but from what I've seen he's not overtly lazy he just doesn't press to the extent that Appere does, or Beardsley used to, for example.
As we've got nothing to play for surely it's worth trying him up front over Hanlan, who probably won't be here next season - otherwise it's just a waste.
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2 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 848
I expect Hanlan to be with us next season. And I wouldn't be at all disappointed if he is.
The suggestions from Bradford were that Young has the talent but not the attitude. Maybe we believed that wasn't entirely true, or believed we could work with and sort it, or maybe we were on deadline day and desperate for a striker because we were missing Appere and Pressley and those who were fit were not doing anything so we had to spend some money out of desperation.
I think many would be surprised at how many matches and minutes Young has played this season. I would wager most would be surprised how high it is. Plenty of time to show what he can do on the pitch, whether wide left or not. And whilst all three goals have been well taken, I don't know that anybody could suggest they alone suggest he is a guaranteed starter.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 764
I was very surprised when you totted up his minutes.
I think people looked at his partnership with Kemp and thought "that's why we bought him, they'll play together and bag a hatful" , thats our scoring problwm solved, and were then disappointed when;
A) They were almost never on the pitch together.
B) They never clicked when they were.
C) They realised we still weren't going to be scoring enough goals despite having Swindon's best ever strike partnership available to us.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 752
It is also dangerous and foolish to base things on just a few months of success they had together.
Jamie Reid had six months of scoring for fun in League One. It didn't/doesn't mean it was/is going to be maintained.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 771
It is quite funny to big league Swindon so much by getting a partnership that did well for them and going "Pfft, don't even need it".
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 833
You make good points. I don't know the answer. Just providing an alternative viewpoint. My issue is I love a Beardsley type player. Honest as the day is long and grafts. I have to pay attention when watching, despite what some people may think and I have seen some players not do what I expect if a Stevenage player when they have list possession this season
Hanlan might be here ......
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2 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 1002
No, but I've watched enough to know he's better up front than he is shoved out on the left wing.
Edited by RockyBottom at 11:34:45 on 13th March 2025
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 966
I can only think he's sparking up during drills.
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1 person
Re: Match Fred
Views: 1889
Starting to play now lol
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1847
Despite the obvious gulf in quality, I feel like the shape hasn't worked tonight. Our teams pressing also looks so disjointed. Will be interesting to see what Revell does for the reverse fixture, albeit on a narrower pitch.
Edited by RockyBottom at 21:18:40 on 11th March 2025
Edited by RockyBottom at 21:22:09 on 11th March 2025
Edited by RockyBottom at 21:23:19 on 11th March 2025
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1328
I think we showed them too much respect.
They're a top side though, not many League 1 sides can manage to string more than 3 passes together without giving the ball away.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1300
They are Championship quality based on what I've seen this season. Just not sure what we were trying, seemed like Reid and Kemp were just shoved out far too wide to compensate for the teams lack of natural width.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1728
A Jellyfish will have more footballing insight
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1754
Will be interesting to see what Revell does for the reverse fixture
Probs exactly the same.
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1 person
Re: Match Fred
Views: 1547
That’s bollocks. He gets it wrong. He gets it right. It’s a treat to be here, but yes we must compete. We certainly have done for much of this season
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3 people
Re: Match Fred
Views: 2002
Are we starting with 10?
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1970
Looks like it! It's like an attack v defence training game.
That said Birmingham look to me comfortably the best side in the league, a Championship side in all but name.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1828
We need more legs if we are to get anything from the second half. They aren't even breaking sweat.
Looking at the subs, not sure we've got much more mobility on the bench capable of winning back the ball and disrupting Blues patterns of play.
Maybe we could just kick them a lot? Put a few out for the home tie.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 20:42:36 on 11th March 2025
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1849
Don't worry they've casually brought on Alfie May for the second half.
Ridiculous really.
Bang there you go.
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1 person
Never a penalty
Views: 2069
Ref caved in to the crowd.
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6 people
Re: Never a penalty
Views: 2023
That was a dreadful decision
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6 people
Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1999
I thought he pulled him back?
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Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1939
Personally saw nothing at all in that. Man dived, ref bought it
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Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1936
Ref is frightened to upset the home side.
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Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1951
I might be wrong, on the second angle it looked like a shirt grab as he got goal side. He certainly was looking for it though.
Oh well at least we'll have to attack a bit now.
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Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1573
He certainly touched him, but that level of contact happens in every single attack in every single game, so if that's a penalty there should be about 30 per game
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2 people
Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1461
I mean we all know we aren't getting that given for us up the other end!
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2 people
Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1453
Looked a blatant pull of the shoulder to me from the away end and I expected a penalty and red card (not a genuine attempt for the ball), but not seen it back. Just got home and am tired so will check it out tomorrow, but I didn't complain at the time, and nor did many of our players seem to.
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Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1311
On TV it was a pull on the shoulder but the type that happens all the time around rhe pitch without anything being given.
It was a technical foul, so we can't really complain, but it was very very soft.
If it was a PL match and the ref missed it, VAR wouldn't have intervened.
Likewise if the ref had given it, VAR would have backed the decision.
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1 person
Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1993
There are levels. We have to get hold of the ball before we can attack. No shame in what we're watching - or how we're playing. This is a game where the most important thing is to work hard and cover ground
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Re: Never a penalty
Views: 1965
Well based on that first half, £15 well spent.
Not sure Birmingham have even got out of second gear.
Edited by RockyBottom at 20:29:59 on 11th March 2025
Edited by RockyBottom at 20:35:49 on 11th March 2025
Edited by RockyBottom at 20:35:59 on 11th March 2025
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 2020
More importantly, no Sweeney.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 2022
Goode starting, a momentous day.
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Re: Match Fred
Views: 1988
Ooo we get a full light show, we must be big time now!
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Ifollow not working?
Views: 1925
I’m furiously tapping away on the ‘buy pass’ button but not working. No matter how I approach it on different search engines it will not let me go beyond the ‘match centre’ page. Any clues?
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Re: Ifollow not working?
Views: 1835
Ifollow is shit.
Try every browser you have available.
Clear cache and cookies
Try incognito browser then email ifollow and they'll ignore your moan till Thursday afternoon.
Fucking shit service. Every. Single. Week.
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1 person
Re: Ifollow not working?
Views: 1736
Weird that I can access the match page but the buttons don’t work. They must know they’re missing out on tons of revenue each week with all these faults.
Edit: Luckily I can access the FM on radio, but ifollow should be ashamed.
Edited by Spirit of East Coast Boro at 20:48:26 on 11th March 2025
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Re: Ifollow not working?
Views: 1532
And when you argue with them by email, they simply insist it's a problem your end not theirs.
I can usually buy the game, then the button to listen live doesn't work so I can't listen. Sometimes I get the same issue as you and can't even buy coverage.
It's brilliant. And they wonder why so many people get dodgy firesticks.
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