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We are probably going to need to win a game. And it isn't going to be Anfield, nor home to Newcastle unless we play a hell of a lot better than this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
May well go to the last game of the season, unless others drop points for us.
Chelsea play Forest and Newcastle, we play Newcastle (who we should still beat at home. They are the one team looking more knackered than us). City have Bournemouth at home and Fulham away - not gimmes as we know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
3 points will be enough and there is no way we don't beat Saints. They're awful.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Vegas
Who is this Gittens bloke at Dortmund that Arteta wants, then? Being reported that we are ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
I've not see a lot of him, r, to be honest, but another one that Dortmund have picked up from the English youth system. Very direct winger and we might get him at a reasonable price. Good as a back up to start with.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
More importantly, what do you think of our bowling options this summer?
Well the attack can certainly be described as green, that's for sure. Clearly Gus Atkinson will go in as the man to lead the attack and if he can stay injury free & then I'd imagine that will be great prep for going down under this winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Sam Cook isn't a very bazball selection and not seen much of him. I suspect he's seen as an option to try and beat India this summer rather than someone who will be on the plane to Australia.
I'd expect to see Archer and Wood play some red ball cricket too (think Wood back in July).
It's the spinner call that I don't get. Bashir is clearly not a test match spinner and we continue to ignore Liam Dawson who is on such good form and also adds depth to the batting order. But what do I know :shrug:
Yeah, I did notice that. And it is a tall order for four teams below us to all hit maximum points anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
One win is definitely enough, and what we have might even be. It's just very frustrating that we haven't put it to bed and keep making the same mistakes every week.
That defender is very clearly right footed, by the way. Took me two minutes to see that. Cazorla he is not :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Yep - can't argue with that. And you know I want toQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter
There is chance Bashir can be Test class, Dawson will never be - bang average bowler on a decent pitch. Flattering bunsens at Hampshire aside he has never been good enoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Rich
He's not quick but isn't his FC average around 19? Got a ten-fer in the CC kookaburra game, I believe. Pity he can't bat though, given he'd be challenging Woakes for the classic English seamer spot. Bash is only 21 and has a better average in Asia than Dawson.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
I do worry than in Blighty, you want a spinner who, like all WKs nowadays, can bat. Unless you have a Murali, you ideally want your one spinner to bat as well as Swann. In Asia, you can have a Monty batting at 11 as well.
Also, the final test is too early. You want the Oval much later so your spinner can hope to win that for you in the 2nd innings. ****ing 'Undred.
Agreed. Our recent ashes tours have seen the established bowlers and the safe picks consistently fail to take 20 wickets.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
We have to try something different. Atkinson, Carse, Tongue- they could all do well in Australia. If we just revert to Woakes we know what we'll get. A thumping.
Having wood and Stokes fit would be a big plus.
Having Wood fit :hehe: :Hehe:Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
37 tests in 10 years:-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Only 37 more than I have managedQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Do you think they might give Dan Worrall a go in the summer after he qualifies? Obviously not a long term selection but certainly knows how to play in Oz.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Oh I'm not saying I disagree with his selection. I think he deserves it but it just doesn't seem in keeping with previous mantras about wanting pace / people who bowl a heavy ball. He's more of an English style bowler who wobbles it off the seam.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Sadly I think they might - also agree with your comment on CookQuote:
Originally Posted by Rich
" I think he deserves it but it just doesn't seem in keeping with previous mantras about wanting pace / people who bowl a heavy ball. He's more of an English style bowler who wobbles it off the seam."
It's not a bad selection imo
If you watch Bolland bowl in Australia - as I did a lot in the winter - you realise there is still room for that type of bowler. Even the all rounder they brought in for Marsh got some vital wickets and I recknow you'd probably be quicker. Are you still playing btw?
Two young sons means that I can't really get away with being out all day playing cricket on a Saturday... But the skippers of the Sat teams have my number to cover for holidays etc... The dream would be to play in the 4ths/5ths/6ths when the boys are ready to start playing adult cricket. Would love to play a season or two with one or both of them!Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Blimey - it's been a while since we've talked about such stuff! Good luck with that. Towards the end of my playing days I dropped down to the thirds and played with older players who's kids were coming through the colts and occassionall played when we short. Was back in my home town the other week and chatting to an old friend who told me one of those kids is now the captain of our old club. Proud to say I gave him his debut! Another reason cricket is such a wonderful gameQuote:
Originally Posted by Rich
Plenty of great aussie bowlers were not hugely quick. You don't have to be. I think it is more about adjusting to conditions and to the different ball. Hard, true wickets with bounce, not much off the seam and no swing. Pace is one solution. Devastating accuracy and a nagging line is another. Right arm medium fast at 84 mph hoping for some swing is not. And it is about the only thing we have tried.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
The fundamental issue is that the skills you need to be successful on our wickets will not help you in australia. So in selecting a side you have to be imaginative and take a risk. Picking the guys with the best domestic records is no help at all. You have to be brave....
Douglas Jardine understood this :-)
Yes - added bounce is a factor as well. Although judging by the pitches this winter maybe not as much. Didn't seem to be as much. The new Perth ground in no WACA and even the Gabba seems to be a bit tame. Day/Night game could have a big bearing. I don't think we're going to get the gubbing that some people thinkQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter
For me it is all about taking wickets. We can bat on these surfaces and have done ok in the previous series for the most part. But when it comes to bowling them out we consistently fail, and once the scoreboard tilts against you it all becomes harder and the momentum slips away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
I think there is a mental thing as well. Hopefully our new thinking will make a difference there.
I really dislike the day/night game, particularly over there. The lights just have too big an effect on the ball and you are effectively playing in two separate matches at once.
I think they have stopped them over here - it didn't work. Still think it makes too big a difference in Oz as well but they like themQuote:
Originally Posted by Peter
I read somewhere {at a guess Times or Cricinfo} that there had been a change of mindset. That they now want a bit of variety. They know that 3 right arm Eng medium-quicks doesn't work. But it no longer has to be pure pace - esp cos all our quicks break down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich
I think the knew term is "point of difference." A left-armer would be nice, but they say the Sheff Shield showed there is still one place in the XI for an old skool Eng style right arm medium-fast IF they have the skillset.
{Didn't we used to have someone called Jimmy something who fitted that description?}
So that will be Woakes, then :-(Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
We did - did you see his last effort in Australia. Move the **** on for ****'s sake. His last Ashes at home was pretty average as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
I think they are trying to move on tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter
Oh, I did. My point was we need someone world class. JA was over the hill and had been declining for some time. Basically, he switched swing for wobble ball but would even go back to swing on those days with cloud cover that used to be a guaranteed five-fer with one of the most beautiful curves a cricket ball has ever made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Woakes would be great if his away averages were like his home ones. A genuine all rounder. But he's proved time and again he can' cut the mustard away from home. We don't have enough fit genuine quicks. We don't have a decebnt left-armer. We don't have a spinner who can at least bat at 8 or 9 when there's not much turn and we just use him to try to hold and end, wait for the new ball and try for the odd wicket before breaks.
In short we might as well give Cook a go in light of the lack of other options. Stokes not being able to bowl enough also causes problems when we lack a spinner of Swann's class.
All fair. While I have got your attention - I was trying to find your suggestion for a Paris bar to watch tomorrow's game as I have a friend who will be in the cityQuote:
Originally Posted by Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult
Frog and Rosbif,Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
Near Les Halles and Pompidou centre:
The Frog & Rosbif
116 rue St Denis PARIS 75002
https://www.frogpubs.com/pub-the-fro...if-paris-1.php