03-05-2025, 00:00
(This post was last modified: 03-05-2025, 00:13 by johnno_pne.)
(02-05-2025, 12:06)themaclad Wrote: The Fitness Test
Sam Greenwood, who has missed the last two matches, is back in training and could be in contention to feature.
Ryan Ledson made a return from an injury of his own last weekend and will be in an even better position come Saturday after a week in training.
It’s unlikely that any of Ali McCann, Brad Potts, Freddie Woodman, Jack Whatmough and Mads Frøkjær will be available.
The Robins
Like North End, the fate of Bristol City is in their own hands, however at the other end of the table. The Robins currently sit fifth and are looking to secure a Play-Off place.
A win will confirm their top-six spot, and even a draw or defeat could see them do it, however they would at that stage be relying on results elsewhere to go in their favour.
Liam Manning’s side find themselves in the position they’re in largely thanks to their record at Ashton Gate, with only the top three holding better home records in the Championship.
We have been in the same league as City since 2013/14
Are the Siamese twins of football finally going to be seperated, probably going to see my first defeat at any Bristol ground since September 1986 lost 3-1 Jim Brannigan put in one of the worst performances ever seen in a North End shirt.
The key match in my view is Portsmouth v Hull, Tigers fans really do think they will go, hope they are right but no matter what happens things have to change at Deepdale, no ifs or buts
Fair comments there Maclad, as always.
And if NE /do/ somehow manage not to have a dubious penalty given against them, the Stoke Derby game also comes into consideration. Either of those two teams could theoretically go down too.
As for the large number of wrong decisions against NE that have since been overturned, I'd like to see a mathematician show whether this seasons evidence for PNE adverse decisions stands out as statistically significant. (That term statistically significant has a formal definition in maths.)
And, beyond that, I can see multiple improvements that can be made. Here's one: over the years there has increasingly been a 'good character' test applied to players before they are signed. This commentator suggests that the test outcome can be faked.
It's a complex matter which, again in an opinion, has resulted in the root cause of the problem of many, many obvious poor performances (and points gifted away) by players (not anyone else!) being masked. However, maybe it is time for the 'advisors' of those players to pass a good character test themselves.
That might mean almost none of the current set get admitted to the professional body that is needed.
Would we weep ?