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Opening day match thread
Views: 2291
Is this Sky commentator watching a different game?
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1785
Blackpool, on.paper at least, have a very very good League One side. They will be a proper handful for a LOT of sides up there this season.
Yet we have just gone up there, gone at them from the off, and deservedly won.
Said throughout pre-season that our signings and performances very much suggest a totally different style this season, and that was hopefully the start of it being a regular showing, because (sure there is stuff to work on) that was an attacking, creative and dangerous showing going forwards.
Not come from behind to win away since Wigan in Jan 2024, and only scored more than one away goal on one occasion all of last season in the league, so to do both in the opening match, away to a side heavily fancied this season, is a great start.
Now to see whether we follow it up next weekend!
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7 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 883
Funny you mention Wigan because it felt very similar. Big stadium, go behind to a stupid individual error, opposition fancy themselves a bit and take liberties at the back, home crowd full of kids only really interested in seeing goals.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1415
All 4 goals today were from mistakes, and a penalty.
At least we took the chances today though and some good finishing for a change!
Players a bit rusty it would seem for both sides.
Tremendous result. The best I was secretly hoping for was a draw but wouldn't have been surprised by a loss.
So to come back from going behind to go on and win was quite impressive.
Good start. Need to back it up with some good hone performances.
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6 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1414
Forced mistakes, on our part. By harassing them and pressing them and being switched on, especially the opener (seriously top work from Reid, with a lovely finish).
We weren't doing that properly last season.
Edited by Chuds at 22:22:07 on 2nd August 2025
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5 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1288
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1244
Exactly this. We put so much work into pressing the ball.
It's dangerous for pundits to say sloppy errors when it's down to the attackers forcing the defence to play it quicker on the first second and third ball, so often it's that third pass that results on a turnover.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1139
We definitely forced them into errors with our pressing. Does us a disservice when people put it solely down to them making mistakes, they were a result of our hard work for sure.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1123
Yeah like Chuds said the opener was textbook pressing and included Houghton trying to make amends.
It's still a bit surreal to me that we went behind there and scored three unanswered goals, I was sure after we went one goal down that it would be 85 minutes of running around and flashing the occasional cross across the box.
We were unforgiving and showed zero respect. We did this at our best under Evans but we may now have players who are better able to do it - we fell off in L1 because the difference in player levels meant outworking them was harder.
We can still be got at defensively but I can think of seasons where yesterday would've been my highlight of the whole year.
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4 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1126
After going behind we scored three unanswered goals ?
Erm...
Otherwise spot on
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1049
Whatever 'three consecutive goals uninterrupted by conceding' is then
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2 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1694
Just so pleased to see a game that was actually entertaining for a change!
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1727
No Mathaeus Roberts, any news regarding his absence?
Thanks.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1630
Was 18th man today. Warmed up and warmed down
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Roberts
Views: 1774
His best game for about 2 years. Looked stronger and actually worked for the team. Funny what happens when you suddenly have a challenge for your place!
A great away performance that.
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3 people
Re: Roberts
Views: 1415
Still frustrating at times like when we were 3-1 up and the ball went to him with no one in front and he mis-controlled it and shrugged. Was an opportunity to make it 4-1 (albeit a fair bit of work to be done)
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2 people
Re: Roberts
Views: 1474
Agreed - he was outstanding today, as was almost everyone but Roberts really stood out and looked like a different man from last season
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1 person
Re: Roberts
Views: 1448
Plus side
Butler, Goode, Houghton (other than his mistake), Roberts, Kemp (Amazing work rate) Reid
Minus Side
White (Anonymous), Marschal,
Neutral
Luther, Pidge (Ground work scares me), Campbell
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Re: Roberts
Views: 1417
I thought White did ok.
Houghton is a strange one. Looked really good for 80% of the time but made 3-4 really bad errors and lucky really that only one was punished. Still think there's a good player in there though.
Having watched the higlights back, Marshall could arguably have done better with both goals. The first one is pretty close range but is beaten on the near post, the second, while I don't expect him to save it, he just freezes for some reason rather than narrowing the angle.
Edited by RockyBottom at 20:22:13 on 2nd August 2025
Edited by RockyBottom at 20:22:21 on 2nd August 2025
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Re: Roberts
Views: 1451
Incredibly harsh on Harvey there!
Almost put us ahead inside 30 seconds and put some great deliveries in for starters.
Edited by Chuds at 20:17:36 on 2nd August 2025
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3 people
FT. Great win
Views: 1834
Tough opening match. Well done Boro.
Edited by Original Mr Wasp at 17:04:21 on 2nd August 2025
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3 people
Re: FT. Great win
Views: 1581
Really pleased with that result, and the performance was solid with room for improvement.
To go to a place like that and take the game to them was refreshing. We bullied them, played a nice combination of direct and more nuanced football, dare I say it we had a clear purpose in possession for once which is all I’ve asked for since Revs took over.
Would be harsh to single out Marschall for the goals conceded. Houghton and Pidge could have done better on both respectively. Jury will be out on him for a while yet but absolutely willing to give him a chance.
It’s better to play like that and win 3-2 than to play anti-football and lose 1-0 or nick a draw.
Won’t get carried away but a very satisfied fan this evening. Hope it continues.
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5 people
Re: FT. Great win
Views: 1572
I agree. I might disagree with a couple of selections, most notably the keeper, but can't deny I'm very pleased with today's match! Long may it continue
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1 person
Re: FT. Great win
Views: 1515
Agree, take that all day long, we'll lose a few as well but who doesn't like goals
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Re: FT. Great win
Views: 1716
Great result. Considering we were wondering where our next goal was coming from for parts of last season, and Reidy appeared to have taken goal-scoring Kryptonite, scoring 3 away and two for him is a dream start. And away. At Blackpool. This is a good day.
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1 person
Re: FT. Great win
Views: 1754
Have some of that you northern inbred nobbers
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6 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1843
This fucking keeper is permanently pinned to his line, has been at least partly at fault for both goals, and doesn't give me any confidence whatsoever.
Get him the fuck out of there and get Taye back where he belongs.
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6 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 973
I think TAH has to start on Saturday
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1163
I’m very vociferous in my support of Taye. I’ll always support the team regardless of who plays too of course.
I hope that if Marschall is to be number one he is head and shoulders above Taye. That’s in the best interest of everyone (aside from Taye, but at least he’d be displaced on merit). None of the keepers we’ve had to “replace” him previously have been better than him. Including Cooper. Really we shot ourselves in the foot last season by giving a shed load of experience to a keeper for him to then take that to a divisional rival at the expense of our own player who is just as good, if not better.
Regardless of all that Taye should absolutely have started yesterday. Marschall has been here for days. If he’d been in the door for longer perhaps one or both of the goals we conceded yesterday don’t happen. Communication and knowing what your defenders are going to do would have been stronger.
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6 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1003
Agree with most of what you say but IMO Cooper is a better all round GK, which is why he was starting.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 872
I was worried about Taye last season when I saw him. He was great in league 2. With great defence in front of him. I thought his confidence looked low last season when he played. I'm not surprised he isn't number 1.....
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2 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 841
He looked low on confidence because the gaffer didn't fancy him, so it created more self-doubt.
Vicious circle. Chicken/egg.
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3 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 769
I never understood why he was dropped under Evans. Was then signed full time and subsequently dropped for the season. He's a good keeper but there's a reason that more than one manager doesn't really fancy him.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 802
He wasn't dropped, he got injured (after 12 clean sheets and just 18 goals comceded in 26 games), which led to us using seven keepers that season.
The following season he kept a further 16 clean sheets and conceded just 25 goals in 31 League One appearances, and then last season he had a finger injury that led to Cooper starting the season and never being dropped.
And now here we are, with a GK who has 29 clean sheets and just 59 goals conceded in 66 EFL appearances for us being accused of not being good enough. Because people clearly have no memory.
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6 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 682
Ah, but he was a little bit low on confidence, so, as Tucks rightly said, we bury all our investment in him and develop a loanee keeper. It’s a problem
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 675
Sadly it’s probably the case that if Cooper didn’t play we had to shell out more for him, so Taye on his flat rate took the brunt of it.
Wonder if anyone has shown him (at least a version of) the stats Chuds posted above. I know if I was low on confidence at work and someone showed me indisputable proof that I was in fact doing a great job, that would be a shot in the arm.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 686
My response to this is - why are we bringing a loan in for the goalkeeper position, rather than investing in our guy?
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 739
Absolutely. I think the reasoning was Taye’s injury at the start of last season. Not sure if you can do it from the start of the season, and it isn’t a perfect solution (none ever is), but it could have been worth just utilising the emergence loan market until Taye was fit again.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 618
TAH is a great keeper IMO. Only bettered by Chris Day at the Boro.
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2 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 666
Come on Wasp you are having a laugh.
Toby Savin is our greatest ever keeper.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 746
I thought he got dropped the second season by Evans. Not the first one where he was injured. Didn’t he spend some time on the bench? Either way he’s a decent keeper but not a head and shoulders number 1 IMO
Edited by Jonnym8 at 21:19:30 on 5th August 2025
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 746
Wasn't he just injured? His first two seasons after Christmas he picked up injuries.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 843
Birmingham at home, in the cup, Taye was outstanding...and that was against a team that cost £m's. He certainly turned on the style after being in the wilderness due to Cooper.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1675
Just said the same to my dad. Wasn't tested much but didn't cover himself in glory. I prefer Taye from what I saw today.
Think some sides will exploit the lack of pace in our cbs better but overall very pleasing.
Edited by RockyBottom at 17:26:16 on 2nd August 2025
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1713
The geezer is 22. I reckon we could probably cut him some slack considering its his first game. What do you reckon?
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1649
Nope.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1703
I’m so glad *you* said that. I feel identically and felt TAH would’ve done better for both goals but didn’t want to say that out loud on here. I swear he dived out the way for their second goal. Definitely would rather Taye in the sticks next week.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1740
Your obsession with Taye is weird to say the least
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1153
Someone explain the management’s problem with him? Can someone ask Revell directly why he is number 2 again? Where is Phil Ravitz? Not surprising really as the local ‘media’ are reduced to the status of fan boys and non entities
Chuds - you’re pals with Revs. Ask him wtf is his problem with TAH?
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1148
Revs will I just I assume say he is not no2 but both are competing to be first choice .
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1100
The incumbent really should be offered the no.1 shirt if both are equal IMO.
Of course maybe TAH wanted the shirt he has been allocated.
But if not he's got every right to feel hard done by.
If Revs doesn't fancy Taye as his number one, nd thinks Filipe is better, that's fine, as long as he's had that conversation with Taye.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 11:38:28 on 3rd August 2025
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1089
Agree but my point is is what Revs would say in public.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1702
After that showing, do you not feel the same?
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1703
Yeah, Marschall looked awesome.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1658
Give him time ffs. There has to be a reason he started ahead of TAH or are you questioning Revelll’s judgement?
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1641
I might give him this one game to find his feet (or his hands) - sure. But if you’re coming in ahead of Taye you’ve got to be able to show straight away that you’re a step up, that that’s the right choice. I haven’t seen that today. Goalkeeping is surely about giving the fans confidence in you. I was hoping to see TAH in goal from the team-sheet, but with hindsight, I am even more certain of it.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1653
That was the only thing Revs got wrong today.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1773
He is poor. 2 shots on target and 2 goals
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2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 1814
Keeper should have come out for that
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Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 1687
Goode and Pidge being booked because they can't cope with a player spinning off them, and then Pidge being turned way too easily for their goal.
Great to get the win. But that CB pace and mobility is a bit scary.
Edited by BALDOCKBORO at 17:51:22 on 2nd August 2025
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2 people
Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 951
We don't have any CB's with pace, and it shows every time we come up against a speedy striker. This will need addressing. Pidge scares me when the ball is at his feet. He never looks comfortable. Thought overall the team worked their socks off. Kempy was all over the pitch. Roberts was fantastic. Reidy did what he's paid to do. Houghton played well other than his mistake. He looks a very good league 1 player. I still don't think White offers enough in his role (I know Chuds won't agree). He takes free kicks but offers little else, either defensively, or going forwards. Thought Butler had a very good game, and Luther did OK, not his best game going forwards, but he had to contend with Coulson who I thought played quite well 1st half. Campbell looks a decent acquisition, and will hopefully blossom in the role. Plus we now have depth on the bench. The least said about Marschall the better. A very poor debut unfortunately. Should never had conceded their 1st goal, and I though was way too slow coming out for their second. Hopefully he can put this behind him.
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2 people
Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 883
Whenever White goes for the ball and he has a man on him I'm already looking to see where our defensive line is.
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Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 898
He isn't afraid to get stuck in though.
Like Greg Tansey with minerals
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Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 823
That goal against Tranmere 👏👏
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Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 1603
Almost like there is a reason Sweeney is going to get game time, despite what some would have you believe about him 😉
Our defensive unit was fine last season and will be this (if the keeper decides to not spend all game pinned to his line), but we will concede more goals owing to the very nature of our different style and being far more attacking.
If we win more than we lose by doing so, or even as many, we'll be just fine.
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2 people
Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 1511
Is Sweeney much more mobile or pacey than Goode?
Freestone will be a touch quicker than Pidge but he's not quick.
The only pace we have at CB is when Luther drops in.
So we definitely need a keeper that is happy to come out to sweep up behind the CBs occasionally. Which Taye can do, and I'm sure Marschall is capable of.
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1 person
Re: 2-3 More comedy defending
Views: 1480
If that guy from Wycombe is decent at rb I feel there is a strong case to move Luther inside for sime away games on the wider pitches.
Edited by RockyBottom at 18:35:44 on 2nd August 2025
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Re: BRG gets another 1-2
Views: 1929
Can’t understand what went through the head of the defender. The handiest of hand-balls.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1990
Pretty poor turnout from our fans. Thought we'd bring a few more considering.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1466
It's feckin' miles, most of our hard-core have been a few times already.
And it's a bit of a pooh hole as a town.
Nice ground, nice fans but low on atmosphere.
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1487
did you go as its very expensive to go
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 866
Stayed in Preston Friday and Saturday night. Half the price of Blackpool. Train was only £3.80 return. My god Blackpool is a grim place. So run down, paint peeling of everything. Even the houses were rough. People seemed nice enough, and the stewards at the game were polite and helpful.
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1 person
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1468
Yeah £28 was a bit of a piss take, but at least they gave us the corner of the other stand so we could dodge the pillars.
It's an absolutely vile place though, I don't see the appeal. Give me somewhere like Bournemouth anyday over that dump.
Edited by RockyBottom at 18:44:36 on 2nd August 2025
Edited by RockyBottom at 18:44:47 on 2nd August 2025
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1452
Answered your own question about our attendance there with that reply! Shithole and a pisstake price for L1, plus been before.
That said, we still took 341,which really isn't bad. Not that long ago we would be taking those sorts of numbers to local aways, let alone up to Blackpool!
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4 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1443
Didn't feel like that many, that's not too bad!
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1905
1st half thoughts. They look decent going forward. Houghton and marschal to blame for their goal. Reidy took his goal really well. Houghton bosses midfield. Kemp and White not really been in the game. Goode commanding at the back. Oh and a penalty. We'll done Reidy
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1905
We're going to piss this tinpot league
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2 people
Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1919
Deffo a top 3 finish
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Re: Opening day match thread
Views: 1186
Champions by Christmas
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F*ck off Ref
Views: 2094
Neither of those were worth a yellow.
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Re: GOOOOALLLLL! BGR
Views: 1995
Tfft, we've actually scored at Blackpool, 2-1 victory now that's off our back
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Re: GOOOOALLLLL! BGR
Views: 2034
We look shacky at the back. We've not really got into the game
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1 person
Re: GOOOOALLLLL! BGR
Views: 1977
Thank goodness they gave us a quick gift in return
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Re: GOOOOALLLLL! BGR
Views: 2016
Moderately priced clowns
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Losing 1-0
Views: 2091
Comedy defending and goalkeeping.
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2 people
Re: Losing 1-0
Views: 2057
Awful by Houghton to give the ball away there in such a dangerous position. Just incredibly poor
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Re: Losing 1-0
Views: 2062
Revs out by now surely?
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1 person
Re: Losing 1-0
Views: 2053
A bit late in the season to start that
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3 people
Re: Losing 1-0
Views: 2051
I've travelled today so I've earnt the right to say absolute bargain bucket clowns
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Re: Losing 1-0
Views: 2074
Not scored in last 3 visits there, enjoy 😎
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Re: Losing 1-0
Views: 2047
Kemp with a really thick booking. Ho hum
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Previous thread: Score prediction Blackpool v Boro? by WASP2/8 08:40Sat Aug 2 08:40:08 2025view thread