Londonwell

I initially thought Cena would be excellent for him but they’ve both been so complimentary of each other in recent years I’m not sure what the angle would be? I think a run against Reigns would be stellar but you’d think Reigns’ plans are set and they’re not gonna disrupt that for Punk. Still, there’s plenty of guys he could work with, perhaps not with a ready made storyline but they’d work something and as usual with Punk it would be entertaining. Anyway, as you say, we’re in the land of fantasy, I would be shocked if it ever came to pass.

Winning what? I don’t think he’d come in as the all conquering face who topples Reigns no, but I’m sure he would be presented as a top guy over the short period he’d be there for. It’s very unlikely to happen but fun to fantasy book I suppose.

Aye can’t see Punk going back to WWE, too many egos and pride at play there. Bloody hope he does though, it would be absolutely blockbuster stuff.

Faultless performance there. He’s a top player, you could see it straight away with him, despite a period of struggle. Hopefully this is him now on the path to realising his potential which is a really exciting prospect.

I haven’t seen anything to disprove it personally. If we’re being totally honest though fans like ourselves will never truly know the intricacies of what went on or the personalities involved. So it was kinda a moot point I made anyway. Agree on the second part. Those feuds have the ability to draw in non dedicated onlookers like myself, which would only help AEW’s viewing figures and growth. Shame it looks a forlorn hope.

Aye mob handed. Hallmark of shitebags.

Exactly, he reports what he's been told. Point is, told by whom? Seems pretty obvious who his sources are on a consistent basis. Say what you want about Punk but at least he has the baws to front things up to peoples face. Whereas the other side leak things to their dweeb pal masquerading as a journalist. Look at me, have a few drinks and turn into a Phil fanboy

That’s true and a shame. I guess as someone who only really watches clips instead of the TV programme that doesn’t really bother me as much as someone who watches regularly. I get my fix from the behind the scenes stuff instead.

I don’t really watch AEW cause I find it awful 90% of the time but I do like to read/keep up with the stories and behind the scenes stuff as thats all I really find interesting. Seems clear to me and I’d have thought clear to any non fanboy/unbiased individual that the Alvarez and Meltzer stuff is completely obvious. Not gonna get into the rights and wrongs of it all because well I don’t really care but what I do find strange is that people want them to stop fighting and feuding. Isn’t that what wrestling is all about? Conflict, drama and the illusion of real heat? Hardcore AEW fans seem to want everyone to be friends and a lot of the wrestlers portray that on TV as well. I can’t understand it at all, it’s so boring and counterintuitive to what wrestling was. Let them fight I say. Love hearing about Punk slapping about someone else backstage. Outside MJF it’s the most entertaining thing in AEW.

It’s been 12 years since I’ve been, so caveat applies, but I would suggest Gili T. At the time it was like a desert island paradise with just enough food/drink spots to keep you entertained. I was with my then GF and we loved it. Just to say accommodation wasn’t great at all on Gili T but I was a younger man at the time not giving an f and things may have changed over time (although I hope not).

Really? What’s your working for that? Maybe I’m forgetting some instances but I can’t recall too much evidence to support that claim at all in recent games.

This isn’t meant as anything other than a retelling of an observation but while sitting in Botanic Gardens one afternoon with my dug I observed Dunne and a friend approaching random women. It was fairly obvious what they were approaching them for and I remember having a conversation with myself at the time whether I thought it was appropriate behaviour or not. I settled on that it wasn’t the kind of thing I’d do and I wouldn’t like to be friends with people who did it but as long as they’re being respectful while doing it then what’s the harm. I obviously never knew the detail of their interactions but the only reason I mention it was reading that he was perhaps pro Mendy and that jogged my memory of the incident and made me rethink it. Anyway, bit of pointless info there.

Lamie isn’t the answer to any question. Particularly football related ones.

The other consideration for Clarke is where would he play him? We don’t play with wingers. I know the manager said that he thinks Doak can play through the middle but as far as I’m aware that’s a completely untested theory thus far. So you’re then looking at him playing the Ryan Christie role but perhaps naturally drifting out to the right side. It’s maybe a distraction Clarke feels that we can do without right now.

Tbh, and far be it from me to slow down the hype train, but I actually thought his recent cameo was one of his weaker showings so far. Yes, he pretty much beat his man every time he had the ball, which is staggering given his age, but I’ve almost come to expect that from him now. He’s one of the best 17 year olds I’ve seen in 1v1 situations. However, he also pretty much wasted all of those chances afterwards with a poor touch and/or inaccurate final ball. I’m already judging him by a very high bar, which speaks a lot to the potential of the lad but there’s work to do there for sure. Still early days.

I suspect he will be. He’s played a part in every preseason game and trains with the first team squad. Also, Gakpo has been used in central midfield so far in the friendlies, so that would be one less bit of competition for the front 3. Obviously, Salah pretty much has right forward role locked down on a starting basis but there’s definitely room for Doak to get a reasonable amount of game time imo.

The first bit comes with having better quality footballers, something we can’t afford to maintain across the full squad. The second part I know what you mean but also the conditions really played a part in that. 2nd half Spittal trying to take corners out that puddle looked a nightmare.

I know Dundee had one shot on target but they did hit the post twice, one of which looked a goal all day long. We were the better team 2nd half, while Dundee had the better chances. Draw fair result.

Agree with most of that. I think midfield is our strongest part of the team and hopefully we make use of that. Spittal and Slattery as you say are very good players for this level and with them in the last year of their deals, they’ll be looking to impress. Young Lennon looks smashing as well - best we’ve produced in some time. I thought Casey had a poor first half but improved. 2023 O’Donnell isn’t going to do as first team pick throughout the season. Bair showed enough, particularly 2nd half, to suggest he’ll be a serviceable option off the bench when we’re at full strength. Wilkinson was good 2nd half - liked what I saw. All in all, we don’t look overly fantastic (yet) but with the conditions taken into account there’s enough to be optimistic about for a half decent season imo.

Yes apologies to Bevis to a certain degree, who I thought was good, out with the goal. But that’s his issue isn’t it in a nutshell. Was hard to tell from the other end of the ground what went wrong but looked like he lost his man. Was either him or O’Donnell anyway.

I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing Bair today. Mugabi not so much.

Excellent work! Hope to see not too many updates in this thread as we approach the next games.

Good, good player. Think he has just signed an extension on his Partick deal though, sadly. A dream scenario would be getting him and a wee loan for Furlong towards the end of the window. Would leave me a very satisfied well fan.

I caught his 15 minute cameo and he was the best player on the park in that period. Still room to improve on his final ball, use of weaker foot and decision making (and plenty of other areas I’m sure) but I can’t imagine there’s too many 17 year olds around that can continually make such an impact in a short space of time in a match. Buy me a ticket on the hype train

This is in the it's so bad its good category for me. Buzzing to see him up in Dundee for a good laugh if nothing else.