Jack
churchy.bsky.social
Jack
@churchy.bsky.social
Non-sequitor, but been reading through your farming, iron making and peasant life series. Top stuff!

Was wondering - what are bandits? Are they smalltime poachers and robbers? Are they larger bands of former soldiers and second sons? Are they rebels?
January 20, 2026 at 11:40 PM
I'd be so down for Knutsen - didn't he nearly go to Celtic before a new contract?

I saw Jack Pitt-Brooke say Robbie Keane - thoughts???
January 19, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Idk, seems like his settled possession game was always heavy on channel balls - it was just better players and the championship.

The other change seems to be the pressing efficacy/intensity - maybe it's the tactical shifts since 2020 to beat presses, so his non-man to man press is bad now
January 18, 2026 at 11:33 PM
A midfield three of new excellent 6/Gray, Gallagher/Bergvall and Maddison/Xavi seems pretty decent?
January 12, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Yes Windy! 17th or 10th I don't care now, would rather have fun watching a Carrick team.

Get us out of Europe and get Madders, Solanke and Deki back healthy for a clean run next season, play the kids, and upgrade on Carrick after the world cup.
January 8, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Skewed by Frankball imo
January 5, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Ange is 7-1 in cup finals now - for all his talk of 'his football' in the league, he's definitely willing to turn the dastardly dials for a cup run haha
May 21, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Oh for sure, and a bad 2/3 season no doubt.

I would argue that Frankfurt and Bodo had sommmeeee level of intentionality to sufferball - neutralise Frankfurt's reliance on counters/Ekitike, and use Richy/manage the pitch in Bodo.

Keen for UCL money to get them Eze
May 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
To be fair, we were missing our first choice midfield for P&P in this game with Maddison, Bergvall and Deki out
May 21, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Eze pleasseeeeeeeereeeeeeeeeee
May 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Spurs missing Maddison is hugely bad for any IP quality on the ball
May 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
130h! So worth keeping up? My partner and I are going through it together, about 5h in and feeling like slow progress. In her words:

"it's a fucking turducken of puzzles"
May 12, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Windy, that starting XI is relegation level talent/production under any manager, and you cannot convince me otherwise. Too much youth at one time, too many fringe PL players (Davies, Sarr, etc.).
May 11, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Great stuff. Just wondering if you've watched any of Ange's Socceroos at the Asian Cup? They beat Son's Korea,and it didn't look like Celtics Angeball from what I can remember. Any thoughts or insights on Ange cup pragmatism to be gathered from there?
May 7, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Inzaghi loves it, interchange between the midfield and CBs in build up. Plus the midfield is like, all 10s?
April 28, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Does the future seem bleak?

Seems clear that the big transfer spend, low wages and poor results is directly linked to some big spends on very young players, which is probably a good thing for the future?
April 23, 2025 at 10:43 AM
U-shaped possession hurts the heart. I think the next big thing (across all IP-forward teams) is very deep CBs carries against low blocks. We almossssttt do it, Danso's shot was a perfect example.
April 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Not to play the injured players game but I really, really wish we had Deki back. Whether as a 8/10 or the RW he just offers that bit of something extra.

Windy do you think we can defensively survive a Bergvall - Madders - Deki midfield?
April 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I'm worried that Iraola, maybe Silva, maybe Frank will be a lot like Motta at Juve. Took Bologna far, but then turned Juve into Bologna.
March 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Here's one with Tottenham, not very flattering:

bsky.app/profile/camb...
Out of interest, I wanted to look at the English Super League this season and it's kind of wild how flawed/vulnerable they are in this game state despite the gulf in spending. Meanwhile, if Slot could choose with Liverpool - like with PSG - they're more likely playing as the reactive team.
March 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Sorry it was a Cambi post who was publishing the graphs for other teams around the same time, but here it is:

bsky.app/profile/camb...
Rayo and Bournemouth under Iraola have claimed a combined 39.9% of available points in games with the majority of possession - 35.7% in games with 60+%. A bigger club than Bournemouth will come calling but the short/long-term scalability of his game style is a legitimate question despite this quote.
March 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Don't think any are strong enough IP coaches imo. I saw a graph that Iraola has only collected 35% of available points when his teams have >60% possession.

Silva is uninspiring too.

At least Frank had good IP in the championship.
March 27, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Bergvall, Odobert good; VdV + Romero clears a threshold all other CB combos do not
March 13, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Bergvall doing a Rodri impression now
March 13, 2025 at 9:16 PM