PDC dismisses move for Pompey striker (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
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PDC dismisses move for Pompey striker
6:00am Friday 28th December 2012 in Sport By Andy Warren
TARGET?: Izale McLeod, left
SWINDON boss Paolo Di Canio has dismissed speculation linking him with a January move for Portsmouth striker Izale McLeod.
Reports on the south coast have linked Town with a move for Pompey’s top scorer, whose contract at Fratton Park expires on January 16.
Di Canio was interested in bringing McLeod to the County Ground last season while the forward was with Barnet, but concerns over how he would adapt to the Italian’s style of play eventually saw him turn down the chance to sign the 28-year-old.
The Town boss is keen to add to his squad in January as he continues to push towards the top of League One, but insisted he will not be bringing McLeod to Wiltshire.
“He is a very good player and he proved that last year when he scored many goals with a bottom of the table team, and this year he is still scoring at Portsmouth,” he said.
“He is a modern striker who is strong, and he was one of the few players we thought of in the past.
“But in the way we play we need a sense of sacrifice, because our strikers are our first defenders.
“I don’t know McCleod, and in the end I said my team works so hard and he is not an option now.
“Watching him at Portsmouth he has good potential, but is he ready to come in here and work so hard in a training session and then work his socks off off the ball?
“I don’t want to say he doesn’t do this, but having watched the clips and the news and things I can’t risk him.
“He is a very good player, but I play in a way which means I go for another option.”
Di Canio would love nothing more than to possess a striker capable of scoring 40 goals in a season, but values the workrate of his current crop of forwards.
“It is going to be difficult to score 40 goals like Jordan Rhodes did last year, but I talked with Tommy Miller and he said he never ran for the defence, but in the area he is an animal,” he said.
“Obviously if I could have a player like him who scores 20 goals in 20 games I would let him stay there.
“But it is not easy, and if one of my players work so hard and scores maybe 18, he is crucial.”
Comments(37)
matt71
says...
9:21am Fri 28 Dec 12
jayden
says...
9:33am Fri 28 Dec 12
matt71 wrote:Tyrone Barnett of posh .Did he fall out with the boss or injury?.
Sky sports says we are after 14 goal striker Gavin tomlin from Southend. Maybe swap deal with benson who is from Southend?
SAPFanSTFC
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9:40am Fri 28 Dec 12
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Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
9:44am Fri 28 Dec 12
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Swap Rooney for Tomlin?
Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry.
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Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
...
The **** fans warned us when we took him that he coud be lazy and one dimensional....sadly we've never seen any of his 'Promised' abilities.
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Tomlin looks a great option as cover on both flanks and centre midfield as well so may fit the 'Hard-Working' mould.
Stilloyal
says...
9:56am Fri 28 Dec 12
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Coventry have got Leon Clarke on trial with a view to a permanent deal, so it would probably suggest that McGoldrick won't be staying there.
Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry. ---. Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
EastleazeRed
says...
10:30am Fri 28 Dec 12
Stilloyal wrote:Surely if Mc Goldrick was available I think the board would be able to provide the extra finance to get him on loan till the end of the season , or has it something to do with the wage cap ? Anyway I think Mc Leish will recall him back to forrest and have a look him , especially now he`s banging the goals in .
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Coventry have got Leon Clarke on trial with a view to a permanent deal, so it would probably suggest that McGoldrick won't be staying there.
Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry. ---. Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
EastleazeRed
says...
10:32am Fri 28 Dec 12
EastleazeRed wrote:Anyway cant see him being loaned out to another championship side ?
Stilloyal wrote:Surely if Mc Goldrick was available I think the board would be able to provide the extra finance to get him on loan till the end of the season , or has it something to do with the wage cap ? Anyway I think Mc Leish will recall him back to forrest and have a look him , especially now he`s banging the goals in .
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Coventry have got Leon Clarke on trial with a view to a permanent deal, so it would probably suggest that McGoldrick won't be staying there.
Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry. ---. Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
mallorca
says...
10:36am Fri 28 Dec 12
Is this a signal from the Board saying the well is now dry.
Or as a post said yesterday they cannot just pump money into the club.
On one hand we hear our Board are worth a few Bob yet I guess with all the rules etc we still found ourselves with an embargo.
I hope that one does not rear its head again.
I can see a few players leaving next month,however if theres little or no money available to work within the 65% ruling it looks difficult for Pdc.
Yet am sure he will come through this it's just a pity we never got a few pounds out of a good cup run.
Still just look where we are 5th in table ,decent goal average and onlseveral points from top spot.
No Pdc will sort all this out just needs hopefully to ship out players who don't come up to spec
HAPPY NEW YEAR to all
TOWN FANS
Colchester0-Swindon 3
Stilloyal
says...
10:36am Fri 28 Dec 12
EastleazeRed wrote:Paolo says he has an interest elswhere so maybe it's McGoldrick ?
Stilloyal wrote:Surely if Mc Goldrick was available I think the board would be able to provide the extra finance to get him on loan till the end of the season , or has it something to do with the wage cap ? Anyway I think Mc Leish will recall him back to forrest and have a look him , especially now he`s banging the goals in .SAPFanSTFC wrote: Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry. ---. Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.Coventry have got Leon Clarke on trial with a view to a permanent deal, so it would probably suggest that McGoldrick won't be staying there.
Would this player fit the PDC bill ?, he certainly knows how to score but Paolo likes his strikers to defend as well. I've not seen enough of this player to know if he does that or not.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
11:17am Fri 28 Dec 12
EastleazeRed wrote:He's 90% leaving Coventry and going elsewhere in January - Latest reports are saying that he has a couple of permanent offers from other Championship clubs hence there would be a reasonable fee involved as well.
EastleazeRed wrote:Anyway cant see him being loaned out to another championship side ?
Stilloyal wrote:Surely if Mc Goldrick was available I think the board would be able to provide the extra finance to get him on loan till the end of the season , or has it something to do with the wage cap ? Anyway I think Mc Leish will recall him back to forrest and have a look him , especially now he`s banging the goals in .
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Coventry have got Leon Clarke on trial with a view to a permanent deal, so it would probably suggest that McGoldrick won't be staying there.
Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry. ---. Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
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His stock has gone up since 14 goals in League 1 but Nottm For won't be needing him back with their strike force.
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Just think he would be looking for an immediate return to the Championship.
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Hope I'm wrong as he would be a huge piece in the jigsaw.
SAPFanSTFC
says...
11:19am Fri 28 Dec 12
SAPFanSTFC wrote:He is a hard worker as well - strong quick feet and good distribution to go with an eye for goal.
EastleazeRed wrote:He's 90% leaving Coventry and going elsewhere in January - Latest reports are saying that he has a couple of permanent offers from other Championship clubs hence there would be a reasonable fee involved as well.
EastleazeRed wrote:Anyway cant see him being loaned out to another championship side ?
Stilloyal wrote:Surely if Mc Goldrick was available I think the board would be able to provide the extra finance to get him on loan till the end of the season , or has it something to do with the wage cap ? Anyway I think Mc Leish will recall him back to forrest and have a look him , especially now he`s banging the goals in .
SAPFanSTFC wrote:Coventry have got Leon Clarke on trial with a view to a permanent deal, so it would probably suggest that McGoldrick won't be staying there.
Shame we haven't got the Finances to attract McGoldrick as his loan is up at Coventry. ---. Best player I've seen all season - sadly a Championship club will be in for him now.
...
His stock has gone up since 14 goals in League 1 but Nottm For won't be needing him back with their strike force.
---.
Just think he would be looking for an immediate return to the Championship.
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Hope I'm wrong as he would be a huge piece in the jigsaw.
hertz
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11:46am Fri 28 Dec 12
Oi Den!
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12:28pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Dover Red
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12:50pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Oi Den! wrote:Think i agree with you for once !! only joking, think our strikers will be coming good very soon, if not already. !
New striker? We don't need one!
Okus Road
says...
1:23pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Dover Red wrote:All being well Williams will continue scoring and follow last season as he did at Yeovil.
Oi Den! wrote:Think i agree with you for once !! only joking, think our strikers will be coming good very soon, if not already. !
New striker? We don't need one!
I have £10ew @ 66/1 for him to finish top scorer well worth a bet
the don69
says...
1:27pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Oi Den! wrote:Every club needs a new Striker Den!that is as long as he's a Goalscoring Striker!what we don't need is another Barn-Door Billy Striker!that don't score Goals!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
New striker? We don't need one!
!!Are we Gonna play tomorrow?or is there another storm to blow through Colchester and give us another blank day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oi Den!
says...
1:53pm Fri 28 Dec 12
old town robin
says...
2:35pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Oi Den! wrote:Oi Den, think you got this one wrong, really depends who will still be around in the New Year, no guarantee that Benson and Martin will still be here, Storey isn't ready for a regular place, De Vita has only been used out wide, so that only leaves Collins, Williams and Adam Rooney (if we have to keep him until the end of the season).
New striker? We don't need one!
Agreed one or two would have to leave to make room for someone better, but Paolo has always said he wants 5 strikers, so in my reckoning only 3 are certs, the other two places are up for grabs.
Oi Den!
says...
3:02pm Fri 28 Dec 12
old town robin wrote:Hello OTR. Must confess I chucked in my two pennorth to start a bit of debate on this. I did originally type a longer post, including some comments about Benson and Martin, but decided to keep it brief in the end. Don't think Benson will be back. I understand he's keen to stay at Pompey. But if we can keep Martin (who's looking better by the game) I honestly believe we have enough firepower to make a serious promotion challenge. I think the key is to keep getting the ball to the strikers' feet rather than whacking it in their general direction and hoping for the best. We are more effective when we play it on the deck and we create many more genuine goalscoring chances.
Oi Den! wrote:Oi Den, think you got this one wrong, really depends who will still be around in the New Year, no guarantee that Benson and Martin will still be here, Storey isn't ready for a regular place, De Vita has only been used out wide, so that only leaves Collins, Williams and Adam Rooney (if we have to keep him until the end of the season).
New striker? We don't need one!
Agreed one or two would have to leave to make room for someone better, but Paolo has always said he wants 5 strikers, so in my reckoning only 3 are certs, the other two places are up for grabs.
HOOKEY
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3:58pm Fri 28 Dec 12
SAPFanSTFC
says...
4:12pm Fri 28 Dec 12
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PLEASE!!!!....Update the Miller thread with all predictions:
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Predictions League: Colchester v Swindon AND Swindon v Portsmouth
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Dear all,
.
I'm putting up a second double poster - Tranmere entries close at 2.00pm on Saturday and Portsmouth Entries close at 1pm (EARLY KICK-OFF!!) on New Years Day but you can enter both of them here and can submit both on the same post or either at any time from now until the individual deadline.
PLEASE….Make it clear which game you're predicting for :-)
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"I'm really looking forward to Tranmere under lights as you can't beat a cup or top of the table fixture under floodlights" - That was my opening quote on the Tranmere game but BOY! I didn't expect that display, even the Spanish Inquisition would have come to mind before a 5-0 and how it wasn't double figures is beyond me except that their goalie had a fantastic night despite 5 going in…..by coincidence I always look forward to Colchester away and Portsmouth at home…..can't wait!! (except for the soul-less new(ish) Essex moors stadium).
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Personally I very much doubt the Colchester game will be on but I may be being unfair on them, fortunately I missed the home game and whilst I enjoyed our last cup exploits in Essex we don't have a very good recent history in the league with 4 defeats in the last 4 visits although we are 4-0-5 since 1st Jan 2000…..and it is very much our turn to win!!….especially as things are very different this time round. Colchester have lost their last 6 and 8 of the last 9…but we shouldn't expect too much in what is a hollow stadium where the wind howls through the huge gaps and all on a very soggy and squidgy pitch.
Portsmouth at home on 1st January in past years would have been a big battle but they aren't what they were despite us not having beaten them at home since 1993, but they still have a fantastic fan base….one which has matured and mellowed through the years. They have lost 7 and drawn 3 out of their last 10 so again not a lot to shout about although we may see one of my old favourites Phil Smith on the County Ground pitch again after he joined on a 1 month contract.
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Our record high score v Portsmouth was the 5-2 victory back in 1921…..Yep you guessed it - on NEW YEARS DAY!! :-) Since then we have won 3-0 twice hence a 3 goal winning margin is our largest ever victory….can we replicate last Friday night!?…bit too much to ask but this team is definitely capable of doing it.
Good luck everyone, and hopefully we'll get Saturday's game played with a decent result and one that will set up a fantastic County Ground atmosphere for New Years Day.
Cheers all and wishing everyone a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!! (especially to all the players, management and back-room staff at the County Ground), SAPFanSTFC!!
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Predictions for Colchester United v Swindon Town.
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1) Correct Score.
2) Total Attendance.
3) First Swindon Goalscorer AND Time of the goal.
4) Number of Corners.
5) Time of last Substitute.
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Match Bonus Questions:.
A) Time of the last shot requiring a goalkeeper to make a save (3pts or 1pt if nearest required).
B) Number of Away Fans (5pts within 20, 3 pts within 50 and 1pt within 100).
C) Time and Day at which an abandonment will be announced….if required (3pts or 1pt if nearest required).
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Predictions for Swindon Town v Portsmouth.
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1) Correct Score.
2) Total Attendance.
3) First Swindon Goalscorer AND Time of the goal.
4) Number of Corners.
5) Time of last Substitute.
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Match Bonus Questions:.
A) Total Goals in all New Years Day fixtures - Top 4 English leagues (5pts exact, 3pts within 5 or 1pt if within 10).
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B) Time of the last Corner (3pts or 1pt if nearest required).
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C) Number of Away Fans (5pts within 50, 3 pts within 100 and 1pt within 200).
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ESS! TEE! EFF! CEE!
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Cheers all - SAPFanSTFC".
old town robin
says...
4:48pm Fri 28 Dec 12
spectacles testicals wallet watch
says...
5:05pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Merchant Bankers the lot of'em sure its a conspiracy while theyre playing shat
the don69
says...
5:10pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Oi Den! wrote:Famous last words Den!I thought Colchester would get the game called off!they didn't fancy their 10% chance (according to Paolo)I wonder if we'll be the only game in our league off again????????????mor
Weather looks alright Don and I reckon we've got a great chance of winning. PDC's "90% chance" is a bit of an exaggeration though!
e Boooldy Sales again!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!
Oi Den!
says...
5:26pm Fri 28 Dec 12
EastAnglianRed
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7:15pm Fri 28 Dec 12
remberingthe80s
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7:33pm Fri 28 Dec 12
melnursesear.
says...
7:45pm Fri 28 Dec 12
joey butler
says...
7:46pm Fri 28 Dec 12
EastAnglianRed wrote:The reasons PDC has difficulty signing a quality striker are firstly, that he is over dependent on his agent. For all PDCs fantastic strenghts, this is his biggest weakness.
McLeod - no, no, NO! Given how comfortably our defence has shackled him in the games against Barnet last season, I'm just not convinced he's got the quality we need. The trouble is that truly good strikers are in very short supply in Divs 1 and 2, and I can't see Championship quality strikers dropping down to play for us. It always strikes me as odd that PdC can't unearth a striking gem, when he manages in most other positions. Rather proves my point, I guess
And secondly, PDC keeps churning players like they are going out of fashion, which causes instability in the team and the very inconsistent results we have had this season.
Oxon-Red
says...
7:51pm Fri 28 Dec 12
EastAnglianRed wrote:Agree totally about McLeod.
McLeod - no, no, NO! Given how comfortably our defence has shackled him in the games against Barnet last season, I'm just not convinced he's got the quality we need. The trouble is that truly good strikers are in very short supply in Divs 1 and 2, and I can't see Championship quality strikers dropping down to play for us. It always strikes me as odd that PdC can't unearth a striking gem, when he manages in most other positions. Rather proves my point, I guess
At the start of the season if you looked at the Top ten strikers (goals wise) in Leagues 1 and 2 there would have been 4 or 5 names that we could realistically have signed and McLeod was one. We have signed two of those names in Williams (7th in scoring charts) and a young James Collins (top ten in scoring charts).
On paper I would say we did pretty well and on the pitch I don't believe they have let us down, especially when you take Paolo's comments about defending from the front on board.
Williams is a player who's pace excites, people expect things to happen when he gets the ball a bit like they did when Don received it. Touch wood that he can now stay injury free I see a star in the making.
Collins is young and despite lack of chances in front of goal (IMO) works hard for the team. Only 21 he is (again IMO) one for the future.
Hope we can keep Martin, his partnership with Williams is just starting to work really well and he has dropped down a few leagues.
Then we have a young talent waiting in the wings. Not sure Miles is quite ready yet but he is certainly one for the future.
Also believe Rooney is better than he is given credit for. I am think he is suffering from the Caddis effect (i.e. he is carp because he is a replacement for a favourite and therefore will only ever be accepted if he scored every game).
Need a Striker ? Not sure we do if we can keep Martin.
COYMR
London Red
says...
7:52pm Fri 28 Dec 12
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As for what we need all I would say is a forward and a fullback
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We DO need a forward as we don't have a out an out goalscorer
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Yes we came good against Tranmere - but we have dropped so many points by not having one!
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Doncaster and Notts Co for example we played well created chances - just didn't take them so dropped points - other games like Scunny could be thrown in there too
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I think Bessone will go - only played 3 or 4 games and will be on a fair whack coming from the Premiership
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So that leaves us short of natural fullbacks so one more would be good
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As for wages as was stated ages ago our money has NOT been spent already
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Wages are NOT paid up front - so whatever wage a player is on will be available from the moment they leave
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So whatever we are paying Coke for example will be available as soon as his deal expires
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Likewise Benson, Risser, Rooney and Cox will still be paid partially by us - so if they move on that part becomes free
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Caddis is more likely to be completely off our wage bill - so probably no money there - unless we could get Rooney's deal terminated as part of a perm move
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Moving on the loaned out 4 and not renewing Bessone and Coke's deals plus the unused "extra loan" before the window shut should give us plenty to sign the additional 2 required and hopefully secure Ward on a perm deal
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Hopefully we could then extend Hollands, Bostock and Martin on the same terms as now to not use up any additional budget
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As for the Austin offer - we would be mad to accept £500k - we are not short of money - Black is worth over £250m!
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£500k is like him going for under £4m!
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If they offer £1m then yes it would be worth the risk of losing another potential £200k to get it in now - especially if it allowed us to sign McGoldrick or Cassidy
the wizard
says...
8:00pm Fri 28 Dec 12
mikek
says...
10:33pm Fri 28 Dec 12
spectacles testicals wallet watch wrote:My thoughts entirely stww sure are some strange decisions being made against the mighty reds, or are there mysterious happenings like the odd hose pipe being left on overnight etc etc. It goes with out saying that most of us would rather have played these games rather than have them in hand but may be the demolition of Tranmere has everyone running scared and I said after that game that this result would send shock waves through the division. So may be it has and teams do not want to be facing a team like Swindon when they are struggling with form and injuries but it may well become quite a farce if the Orient game goes ahead when the weather has been just as bad all week as it was Boxing day so what exactly has changed. Mind you when you see what has been happening lately in football with the state of premiership refereeing in question yet again with some totally crazy decisions being made or not made and the game of football is suffering big time and so it seems is Swindon Town. One of the most bizarre moments in recent games was when QPR's keeper Rob Green was pushed on the goal line so that a high ball ended up in the net and the goal stood now that was a complete joke and Harry was disgusted so much that he now has been summoned by the FA to explain his comments made against officials.If refereeing at that level is so bad then at our level we have no hope. Question is can clubs manipulate pitches to their own advantage when the weather can be blamed and clubs have injury problems.
Pump, Colchester were at home Boxing day the game went ahead where as our game in Leyton was called off Christmas day, now a day earlier again were called off yet Orient is on!!??
Merchant Bankers the lot of'em sure its a conspiracy while theyre playing shat
SimonPrice351
says...
10:40pm Fri 28 Dec 12
However, most clubs in the London area all have games off (in League and Non-League). Therefore, I think we should give Colchester the benefit of the doubt this time.
I just wonder if it will be a re-arranged mid-week game?
Oi Den!
says...
1:43am Sat 29 Dec 12
Stilloyal
says...
11:45am Sat 29 Dec 12
old town robin says...
8:36am Fri 28 Dec 12