EASY, DEVIN: English Football League and beyond, 2018/19

Just a reminder that we might be a bad start from Morecambe away from this list being topped by this man

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/14597/production/_102215338_ainsworthgetty1.jpg

Sky have picked a real peach to kick off the season

Seems like the level of expectancy among Exeter fans is higher than I’ve ever known it, and really the justification seems to be (a) lots of people are relieved Tisdale’s gone, having talked themselves into believing that all and any problems at the club were his fault and (b) Matt Taylor making a series of very popular decisions regarding keeping or releasing players.

I have to keep reminding myself that if these players were that good most of them would have gone somewhere further up the football tree, but I am enjoying the optimism (mine and others’) and we haven’t seen these lads fail yet.

Sky have picked a real peach to kick off the season

― the Joao looked at Jonny (Noodle Vague), Friday, August 3, 2018 5:30 PM (eleven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

fuck me you're not wrong

early game tomorrow otoh is compulsory viewing

Fully ready:

🎩 | Matt Taylor: Defensive coach and magician... #ECFC pic.twitter.com/Wb99fy55jc

— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) September 6, 2017

Mate in the pub pointed it out it's a Lampard ting, same reason Sky are suddenly fascinated with Rangers

This first half has been unremitting gash tho

lol ive quite enjoyed it
lots of great fouls

Screamer, fuck you Derby

Well Bod scored and Mannone made me lol, can't fault the entertainment value

OK now I hate it

One good part of being home for the game is catching up with the breaking news in Sidmouth: http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/supermarket-giant-slammed-for-only-giving-one-free-butter-portion-with-toasted-teacakes-and-scones-1-5634261

Thread title continues to deliver

Meanwhile our best player has suffered an ACL tear a day or two before our first game. We are cursed. Tune into Sky to witness the hell for yourself! Only five substitutes named! It's like 2008 out there!

nice to see Sky suddenly taking an interest in League One eh?

Proper stadium, proper supporters

Howay the lads

If only there was a Sunderland fan posting to ILX whom I could abuse

GET IN

Mr Thompson: Lots of fans fancying Aston Villa to finish top two this year in #bbcefl predictions. I agree. Very few teams bounce straight back, only Newcastle in last two seasons. Looks a weaker league but will still be competitive. Looking forward to it and fancy us.

sit down, you're pissed

oof 2 last minute header winners

ikr? brutal

-_-

3 points today against what surely must now be the least likeable team in league 1

Incredible goal too

ahem

96th and 98th minute penalties give Swindon a win over Macclesfield, that's rough!

Yah Dhanda just scored twenty seconds into his debut with his first touch as a professional footballer.

Or senior professional at least, delighted for him.

West Brom’s new mascot is a combi boiler... 😳 pic.twitter.com/pMDggOXNW4

— Football Mumble (@football_mumble) August 4, 2018

A win which I think flattered us but I'll take it. Blyth didn't challenge much and I know they've got centre half problems - signing someone already carrying a suspension won't solve them for another few weeks.

Weird they didn't put up more of a fight considering sections of our fans have a conspiracy about them, Morpeth and Wembley so are supposed to be decent (in our new history terms).

i am watching leeds stoke?

how are you feeling about that decision

It's better than the Friday night game. Whisper it, but I think Leeds are gradually getting their shit together.

http://www.apocalypse-of-john.org.uk/images/paintings/main/Lamb-Opening-Seven-Seals.jpg

very worrying, although in the 10 minutes I watched stoke looked dreadful.

Afobe!

Douglas looks a good signing for the scum, already!

that vile revenant

Quality pen from Benik, look forward to our fans moaning about his sale again

I had a very pleasant afternoon on Saturday; 3-1 win which (though by no means a perfect performance) is a good way to start with a new manager. All three of our goals came from debutants: given how reliant we were on Jayden Stockley's goals last year, that's really pleasing. I'm not in the "we're going to piss this tinpot league" place but the performance was coherent enough that my fears of a post-Tisdale upheaval / collapse are allayed for now.

Can't be 100% sure till kickoff but it looks like Villa might be about to set up with a back 3/5 lookin something like this:

Elmohamady; Hutton; Chester; Elphick; Taylor

Not a one of them can pass, not a one of them can control the ball, several of them can just about break into a job when pushed

Meanwhile our brightest young talent (and star of the pre-season) Andre Green is on the bench

*break into a jog ffs

Why the fuck is Steve Bruce still here? I'd sooner have taken the punt on Thierry Henry

i wish you rid of Brucey sooner rather than later, struggling to see a top 6 finish for Villa at the moment depending on who you lose before Friday

If we keep grealish for the full season then we'll make the playoffs, if we don't then we won't, it really is that simple now

yeah that's what i meant really

Lol yes exackly that was an xpost

Noted brainbox Lee Hendrie reckons that Bruce has taken the club "back to where it belongs", intentional or not that is a+ trolling of his audience

Ugh comedy goalkeeping, comedy goal

If I were grealish I'd be making a beeline for the exit, can only hope that his diehard villa fandom blurs his vision

We're gonna miss JT this season

Why are our kits always so shit

Absolutely mesmerised by Hull's failure to even attempt to dispossess Alan Hutton there

i would not recommend that as a way for villa to negotiate the first half tomorrow, put it that way

subbed your boy for that?

gl imago!

yessssss

literally taking it with 30 seconds to go ... fuck these nerve shredding penalty shoot outs.

fun ending

never in doubt

Doubly awesome result, Sunderlols

Cheer up Mackems, that first decade in league one is always the hardest one.

✊

turns out getting the nightmare out of the way after four minutes is possibly the way to go, sunderland brought nothing of their own after that

Looking forward to Season 2 of Sunderland 'Til I Die!

sky just called villa tinkers afaict

god save the queen going down well in buskers in temple bar

Who was this guy that they brought out of the bar to meet the players?

https://i.imgur.com/oRZZqzd.jpg

joke

That was like when the fifa ai's decided it's having a goal no matter what

OK then. Have a good summer

good stuff

st andrews then next year is it

probs easier to get to tbf

where is Bowyer going then imago? Fucking loathed the cunt from his days as one of O'Leary's precious "young" Leeds team that proved to be even worse than their individual parts. But he seems like not as horrible + violent as he was as a young man and might even be a half decent manager for teh post brexit Vanarama sponsored back to basics "all parachute payments cancelled" EFL.

can't even process what's going on tbh. bowyer is a v canny and effective manager though, and has lost the attitude problem more or less completely

seems to be above average levels of managerial tumult this year in champo, although I've only come to this conclusion after just reading some thread saying there is already half a dozen clubs who've pumped/replaced their managers already and that might just be the usual tbf.

although I didn't mention the category of useless fucking egotistical club owners just losing managers because they've better things to do with their precious time and money.

Don’t fancy this new Stevenage kit much

🚨 NEW KITS REVEALED! 🚨 Pre-Order your 2019/20 Home & Away Shirt NOW! 😍 👇 #WeAreStevenage

— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) July 2, 2019

!!!

Oof

National Leagues fixtures list out any minute now. Maybe time for a new thread?

Tim's lot snap up Ajose. Sure to become a crowd unfavourite, but will occasionally pop up with a goal or an assist out of nowhere, meaning that among the cognoscenti (yourself inclusive, obviously) he'll gain a reputation of 'underrated'

Scored 24 for Swindon one season, I hear. My friends seem pleased , usually a bad sign.

we heard that too. he did not threaten a reprise

Genuinely awestruck by Bury’s new managers hair. What the fuck is going on there? pic.twitter.com/RujfWLaTyM

— Triggs (@triggs14) July 1, 2019

ftr I'm not intentionally bald shaming, that just made me giggle. Last time my hair got
slightly long some kid on a trampoline in a garden shouted: oi bald bastard, you look like you have a cock growing out of your head!

i'm on holiday in stroud. hearteningly large number of forest green rovers shirts on view. local pride trumps premiership gloryhunting, or something

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D_qeNUOXoAAQie3.png

if this isn't some zany fucking marketing bantz from Paddy Power then bring on the clowns in ribbons!

lol i quite enjoy that

It's a mess lol

thank goodness the paddypower lads on twitter had no jokes at your expense last year :P

Looking like that kit may not in fact be real

yeah it's more nauseating zaniness from those crazee guys at PP.. ho ho ho my sides acheth with mirthe etc... hope you bust wankers.

I would love my children if they were murderers, Tories, whatever, but marketing is a line.

Bill Hicks is considered alt-right these days apparently, but he was spot on about people who work in advertising and what they should do to themselves.

sheeit .. they are all wearing this kit at Spotland tonight.

Yeah. From what I've read it doesn't meet League requirements for sponsorship logo size but they're planning on wearing it for pre-season games

HTSA statement on Town's 'new kit'
We hate to break it to you, our rosy-cheeked friends, but you've been the victim of some top-notch Banter.

But while you’re here, please consider reading a bit about our charity partners. They all do necessary work in our communities, and most of the time, they don’t get paid for it, so they need your help.

First off, there's the Huddersfield Town Foundation. The Foundation started off by providing free school breakfasts in Huddersfield and the surrounding areas, but they've since grown to the point where they’re involved in almost every aspect of our communities. And the more they do, the more resources they need. You can donate here.

Second, we've partnered with the Welcome Centre, a foodbank that supports local families and individuals in crisis. The number of people who have to use foodbanks has skyrocketed in recent years, so again, the Welcome Centre appreciate any time, money, or goods that you can give. Find out more about donating food here , or about donating money here.

Third, we work with Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield (DASH). DASH provides advice and other support to destitute asylum seekers in Huddersfield. These groups do not have access to main public funds and no support from the home office. Click here for more information.

Fourth, we are happy to announce that we will be helping raise awareness of and funds for Ruddi's Retreat, a Linthwaite-based charity helps families with seriously ill children. Visit their website and donate.

Finally, we would like to draw people's attention to Gamble Aware and When The Fun Stops , two charities that help those affected by gambling-related problems.

very dignified and impressive response from our Supporters Association on this travesty, proud of 'em apart from "top notch banter" of course!

At least they didn't use "bantz"