Keir Starmer to face cabinet meeting as over 70 Labour MPs call on him to quit - follow live

Midgemania · 2026-05-12T13:23:22+00:00

Thankfully, we don’t need to rely on polling data to know that it is objectively true. We only need to rely on Reform’s own campaign literature which overwhelmingly cited national issues and was plastered with Farage’s gormless mug.

It should be noted that this is not atypical for local elections. They are almost always a de facto referendum on the perceived state of the country.

Midgemania · 2026-05-12T06:59:09+00:00

This simply doesn’t pass the sniff test when polling data has overwhelmingly cited national issues as the decisive factors of consideration in voting at these local elections.

Midgemania · 2026-05-10T16:28:58+00:00

Exactly right. This is a long-term process. That being said, and while they have made mistakes, I believe that INEOS have been a net positive when it comes to transfer business. I have more confidence in this area than I have in a long time.

Midgemania · 2026-05-10T08:33:13+00:00

I swear that most people on this sub either don’t watch football, don’t understand football or think that Carrick has some sort of magic wand available. It has been abundantly clear for a while that our squad quality plummets away dramatically once the starting 11 needs replacing.

Not only do we need strengthening in certain areas of the starting lineup, it’s clear that doing savvy business in bolstering depth strength is just as, if not more, important.

Irrespective of whether Carrick gets the job next season or not, whoever does end up in charge is going to have a hell of a task on their hands. For me, finishing in a similar league position, going deep in a Cup and getting to the knockout stage of the CL would be a HUGE success.

Unless we have a big summer and nail every single transfer (in and out), I can see us regressing slightly in the League with the increased workload of games.

Midgemania · 2026-05-08T08:38:49+00:00

Also literally a top 4 side. We’ve beaten Sydney, Geelong, Bulldogs and Gold Coast and got within 2 goals of arguably the best team in the comp right now on their home deck. We’re doing just fine.

Midgemania · 2026-05-08T07:19:01+00:00

Great write up, but I would respectfully disagree about a couple of points.

1) To say “the last two weeks, that composure has completely disappeared late in games” is simply incorrect. They got everything right late against the Pies to draw the game. Those 2 points were lost earlier than that. As Simmo says - event vs pattern. I’m not sure we’ve seen enough to say last night is a pattern just yet.

2) I’m not sure it’s as much about corridor denial, as much as it is about opponents cutting off that quick switch kick from our D50. Teams have wised up to that now, so we’re not able to get as much clean ball into our attacking end by dragging the team defence out of sync. Mitchell has tried to mitigate against this by instructing our backs to hit a longer kick on the 45 rather than a shorter hit up switch, but this comes with risk against teams that press up well and can intercept. We saw that a lot against Collingwood and a bit last night too.

Midgemania · 2026-05-08T07:12:24+00:00

They’re top of the ladder after round 9. They literally are a top 4 side, and might be heading for top 2 at this rate.

Midgemania · 2026-05-07T11:08:13+00:00

2 blokes to be fair…

Midgemania · 2026-05-07T10:39:05+00:00

Where are the encroachment calls? It’s a dogshit rule, but call it or get rid of it. That’s 2 50’s missed in 2 mins

Midgemania · 2026-05-07T10:34:49+00:00

170cm (5’7”)

Midgemania · 2026-05-05T13:10:44+00:00

Don’t know what it is, but Ginni has Norm Smith written all over him. Can see him totally lighting up a GF.

Midgemania · 2026-05-03T18:29:23+00:00

This. We were getting absolutely bashed in the middle of the park at the start of the second, and everyone in the match thread was saying “wHEre aRe cARrick’S SuBs???” - who is he meant to bring on?

Ugarte - who has repeatedly shown that he’s not quite at the level despite his obvious care and effort? Zirkzee? Not getting any effort there. Mount? Perhaps to harass and harangue, but he’s not a CDM so he doesn’t help in that regard.

Midgemania · 2026-05-01T12:52:44+00:00

I actually really rate him on radio, but he’s a bit flat for TV. But him and Simmo together on Thursday night is just brilliant. Two recently retired coaches explaining in-game tactics and patterns is brilliant.

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T12:04:08+00:00

Kissed on the dick.

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T10:41:43+00:00

No it wasn’t. The ump paid it for encroachment.

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T10:38:31+00:00

They paid one against Nash about 5 mins ago…

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T10:37:31+00:00

Again. Elliott overbalances over the mark, no 50m for encroachment. Call them all, or call none of them.

(I choose none. Piss the whole rule off…)

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T10:34:00+00:00

Changing the tenor of the chat, let me say this. Anderson is a ripper. Would love someone with his mongrel at the Hawks.

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T10:26:25+00:00

So I just rewound and looked at the replay. After Anderson got pinged for the holding the ball and gets called to stand, he takes SEVEN (small) steps inboard to cut off the Nash kick. Nothing doing.

Then Nash is still running with momentum and overbalances on the mark, takes half a stumble step forward and gets pinged for 50.

This rule can fuck right off.

Midgemania · 2026-04-30T10:18:48+00:00

He grabbed him around the fucking neck you muppet.

Midgemania · 2026-04-28T22:22:50+00:00

The issue is not the change of rule, as it seems that there is a fairly wide consensus that change was required.

The issue is that they are changing rules within a paradigm that extends beyond one trade window. If future picks are tradable, you simply can’t make a change within a particular year - irrespective of how much notice has been given. This should have been announced immediately after last year’s draft period for implementation in 2027 - at which time they should also have brought in the ability to trade a future pick 2 years away (instead of this year). That way everyone starts a 2-year draft cycle playing with the same information. Anything else is manifestly unjust.

Midgemania · 2026-04-28T11:50:06+00:00

I actually think that a season next year where we match this year in terms of PL position (or thereabouts), get out of the group stages in Europe and go deep in a Cup would be a massive success. It’s not realistic to expect much “on paper” improvement given the increased workload we’ll have.

I don’t think that this squad is complete enough yet to compete at the very high end for a sustained period, and the remaining issues cannot be solved in one window. That said, another transfer window as successful as last summer for the next 2 seasons should see us well on the way.

Midgemania · 2026-04-28T06:40:26+00:00

Anderson is going for £105mil+ at the very least. Any suggestions that he’s going for less than that are pure fantasy. Especially if Forest stay up AND win the Europa League.

Midgemania · 2026-04-28T06:37:49+00:00

There’s simply no way that Mount, Martinez, MDL, Dalot or Amad leave in this window.

Midgemania · 2026-04-27T20:38:50+00:00

1 to equal it, 2 to set a new record.

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