weeyin

Still my favourite 'Well keeper.

The only keeper I can recall from personal memory who came through the ranks was Richard Wright. He was 17 when he got his first game in the senior squad and made the grade as a youngster. When I lived down south I used to go to the Ipswich games quite regularly, and he was phenomenal. After he moved on from Ipswich he seemed to lose his confidence and a few clangers along the way hurt his reputation. No idea if that has anything to do with his young age, but it was a shame his early promise didn't quite materialize. Not that he has had a terrible career, but it originally looked like he would be a superstar - he really did have that much talent.

It's rare for any club to bring a keeper all the way through the ranks. Almost impossible for an 18 or 19 year old to usurp an experienced keeper and you can't bring them on for 15 mins at the end of a game. As a result, the youngsters almost inevitably move on.

I have a lot of sympathy with the travelling 'Well fans, but totally get why it's not being moved. At 2 - 2 after the first leg, any advantage should be exploited by the home team.

That's not an answer though, unless you know what they do differently from us. I'm pretty sure they have a much bigger budget, for example.

My point during his first time around was that people were jumping to conclusions. There were a few reasons he had a good run, one of which was that he benefitted from less chopping and changing of defenders from week to week. I'm happy to give him a run in the first team - I just didn't see him as being this Randolphesque keeper that others saw.

Sadly, I had concerns his hype was bigger than his perceived talent. Was a little disappointed we didn't look down south for another Ruddy or Randolph style deal. Hopefully just a shaky start and he will prove, yet again, I know nothing about this game. (Oh, and Gunnar would have saved one of the pens :-) )

My point is that it's possible to have a poor result without everything being dismal. Go back and read some of last season's threads after a loss and you would think we were in a relegation battle rather than a fight for 2nd. It is actually possible to have a poor result without 100% of every aspect of a performance being negative. You want something positive? Our new guy scored. We are still in the tie, some of our best wins last season were away from home and we will be a little sharper and fitter in the 2nd leg. Does that mean I'm happy about last night? Of course not, but it doesn't mean everything is doom and gloom. Life, including football, is a little more nuanced than that.

So by your calculations (which I'll assume are correct) 80% of our goal threat still remains unchanged. Maybe we just have different definitions "of not that much" - especially after seasons where we have lost 8 or 9 players. Plus of course, we brought in some form of replacements including one who scored last night. Or maybe your bafflement threshold is lower after a poor result last night.

Glad to see the doom merchants had a good preseason and have hit the ground running.

During the regular season, the youtube channels show tasters of the available content, but the subscribers see much more. I expect once the season is in full swing it will be much the same. As an ex-pat, I have enjoyed all the MFC TV coverage, including live audio streaming and U20s highlights.

They seemed to abandon the service last season. Didnt see a single one on there.

These things just take a while, particularly if it's a loan from down south. A lot of the English clubs don't agree to farming out players until later in the summer. It's what happened with Ainsworth.

Are you taking the other side of that bet?

Everyone who has MFC TV will have seen Erwin and Thomas play (plus the other U20s) for the past few seasons. Plus there are a few who attend the U20 games too. So while, of course, you can't predict how quickly they will develop, you at least have an idea of their potential.

Anier and McFadden were out of the team injured (or ineffective) for large spells last season, so our goal threat hasn't changed that much.

Don't let your hatred of Leann distance yourself from the fact that most of us would take a job closer to home for more money. I know when I changed jobs that closeness to home played a big part.

Except for all the home games we have won at this stage of the competition, of course.

Imagine the reaction on here if Gunnar had made that howler. He would have been crucified.

I hope we don't change our tactics based on one shot going past the Bangor goalie.

You do know the compensation clause info came directly from the Board at a Well Society meeting?

According to this, they have played 10, won 6 & drawn 4.

Good to hear Erwin and Thomas shaping up - they certainly have been standouts in the U20s.

Also noticed that they say "The Cottagers, bossed by Felix Magarth".

Like I said, only if we don't get stuck there. I know we are dealing in hypotheticals, but it's a big risk. I also know it's easy for me to say, as I was lucky enough to be at Hampden the day we won. So my view is certainly biased.