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Post by Anders on Aug 13, 2017 0:49:07 GMT
I refrained from posting the other night as I was cautiously optimistic after a fairly encouraging display, which seemed to go against the grain. There wasn’t really anything to take from today though, it was a rubbish game of football between two desperate sides on the day. I do think we’re better than that though and in many ways I think we sort of mimicked Halifax’s incredibly dour style of play.
Our first mistake was dropping our best performer from Tuesday night, Akintunde is clearly thriving and has something about him, for all the world we love Hannah he shouldn’t have started ahead of him. We also ended up switching Mahon and Dawson early and kept a very narrow and compact shape, it all resulted in a very congested midfield which we bypassed by hoofing high up in to the blustery wind. Really ugly and pretty stupid.
Macca’s tactics completely baffle me, his very negative and defensive outlook frustrate me even more. What’s got me pretty downbeat is there’s no real sign of him changing his ways. Ability wise I think we’re improved, but it all looks irrelevant whilst he keeps to his ways. I keep hoping he’s going to wake up one morning to some sort of big epiphany and rip up his rule book. Take defending corners for example and his absolute garbage tactic of keeping everyone back. You can visibly see dozens of fans around you drop their heads in to their hands as it happens, it’s embarrassing.
What’s worrying is that for a while now I’ve witnessed him try to install some sort of belief that we should just be thankful that we’re competing at this level and that 20th is the holy grail. What was alarming today was the attendance, 1,700 home fans for the first Saturday home game of the season against relatively interesting and local opposition. We’re fan owned, we rely on supporters being interested enough to keep coming through the turnstiles unlike many others in this league. We can’t afford to rest on our laurels. People won’t come and watch stuff like that today, we’ve already seen a drop off of a few hundred from Tuesday.
I’m off to Hartlepool on Tuesday and hope to god I see some improvement, considering we set up like an away side at the best of times we may actually well do! I try and hide my anger at crap performances but this is getting a bit tiresome now.
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Post by Al on Aug 13, 2017 6:10:52 GMT
Well, that was shite..
If we carry on trying to play that style of football throughout the season I worry about just how low the crowds will drop. We had the perfect opportunity to put in a performance against Fylde the other night, a number of supporters came in, the Harry McNally looked busier than normal, the first 45min were encouraging, and then all 2nd half we reverted to lumping the ball forward again just like last season, with zero width, and nobody winning any second balls. We just got deeper, and deeper as the half wore on, inviting more and more pressure on ourselves.
Today again, we lumped ball after ball forward, were unable to string more than 2 decent passes together, the full backs didn't get forward enough, therefore the wide midfielders were constantly deep as well. Mahon looks knackered after 30min, Dawson didn't get in the game. There were zero cross field passes in the game to try and stretch the game. We played numerous on Tuesday night which allowed LTR and Halls to get forward a bit more and allow the midfield to push forward. The crowd respond when we feel that we're witnessing good football. That yesterday was not good. Those Boo's at the FT whistle were thoroughly deserved.
So where do we go from here? McCarthy can either carry on as normal with these shite negative hoofball tactics, or will he wake up and revert to getting the ball down on the deck?
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Post by Lobster on Aug 13, 2017 7:07:38 GMT
We aren't the only team to play long ball in this league but the teams who do tend to have the players suited for it and maybe a smaller pitch where there isn't the room for playing an expansive game. We have the best surface in the league and a wide pitch.....we should always be able to knock it about but for years now it's just pumping it up to small strikers. It's a good point about the pitch. We actually have one of the largest pitches around, and it's its length than stands out more than its width. The Premier League are trying to standardise pitch dimensions to 105 x 68m and nobody in that division has a longer pitch than 105m. Ours is 112 x 71.5 m. That makes our pitch 868 square meters (1,038 square yards) bigger than the PL standard. If my maths is right, that's an area about the size of the penalty area and the two spaces either side of it between the penalty area and the touch line. At the top level, you might expect this to be conducive to expansive passing football, but at our level I just wonder if it's more yards to huff and puff around, and if players see all that distance in front of them and their instinct is to just hoof it rather than work it up the pitch. Have we ever considered reducing it? |
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Post by billyw on Aug 13, 2017 7:14:53 GMT
Is it just me or does anyone else think McCarthy' s managerial abilities are on a par with those of Terry Smith.
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Post by MPW on Aug 13, 2017 7:43:50 GMT
Funny how we never hear Macca rip into his players after poor performances, but probably because he knows that it's HIS instructions and tactics that are holding them back.
Some very tough games coming up and he needs buck up his ideas if we are going to get anything.
I also think Tom Shaw would be better playing than wasted on the sidelines. I reckon that's another thing Macca misjudged and probably didn't expect Tom to decide that he didn't want to play.
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Post by hughie on Aug 13, 2017 8:00:09 GMT
Two matches unbeaten and only one yellow card picked up.Could be worse.Vital we get a good result at Hartlepool.
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Post by tarvinblue on Aug 13, 2017 8:12:55 GMT
Is it just me or does anyone else think McCarthy' s managerial abilities are on a par with those of Terry Smith. He strikes me as someone who's playing at being a football manager - almost like he can't quite believe he's been given the chance. All this excitement talking about tactics and watching DVD's, but no clue in reality about turning that knowledge into effective football management. As someone said last night, if he was sacked tomorrow, could anyone see him ever picking up another management job - particularly at this level? That says all you need to know about his ability. |
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Post by Rio Doherty on Aug 13, 2017 8:35:46 GMT
We aren't the only team to play long ball in this league but the teams who do tend to have the players suited for it and maybe a smaller pitch where there isn't the room for playing an expansive game. We have the best surface in the league and a wide pitch.....we should always be able to knock it about but for years now it's just pumping it up to small strikers. It's a good point about the pitch. We actually have one of the largest pitches around, and it's its length than stands out more than its width. The Premier League are trying to standardise pitch dimensions to 105 x 68m and nobody in that division has a longer pitch than 105m. Ours is 112 x 71.5 m. That makes our pitch 868 square meters (1,038 square yards) bigger than the PL standard. If my maths is right, that's an area about the size of the penalty area and the two spaces either side of it between the penalty area and the touch line. At the top level, you might expect this to be conducive to expansive passing football, but at our level I just wonder if it's more yards to huff and puff around, and if players see all that distance in front of them and their instinct is to just hoof it rather than work it up the pitch. Have we ever considered reducing it? I was also thinking that we had a bigger pitch than some PL teams. |
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Post by rcb on Aug 13, 2017 8:57:28 GMT
Avoid defeat on Tuesday and that'll be three games unbeaten. Fabulous start and surely a contract extension on the way!
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Post by paulie on Aug 13, 2017 9:05:03 GMT
Two matches unbeaten and only one yellow card picked up.Could be worse.Vital we get a good result at Hartlepool. In all honestly I fancy a win on Tuesday night. |
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Post by South Wirral Blue on Aug 13, 2017 9:17:58 GMT
The severe lack of creativity across two home games is alarming - particularly as it's been against sides who I would suggest will finish mid-table at best.
It's too familiar I'm afraid. We may only be two games in, but in the context of last season it's already significant. If this all turns out to be more than just a teething problem, I really hope the board will finally realise what needs to be done.
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Post by Firestick Frank on Aug 13, 2017 10:16:59 GMT
The official Chester FC Twitter feed have retweeted Hannah and White who both said along the lines of it not being a great performance, yet Chester FC TV said "a great point" - what's the official party line? It's like the right hand isn't talking to the left!
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Post by Cestrian For Life on Aug 14, 2017 6:24:13 GMT
It was a dreadful game that we could and should have won. The fact that JM doesn't acknowledge this, or anything else for that matter is the biggest concern. I didn't believe he was the right man for the job, I still believe he was the main problem when Burr was manager as he appeared to be looking after running the team anyway.
BUT, it is way to early to be getting on his back and pushing for his removal. Maguire has done an amazing job in the close season with many things and I can't believe he won't have set the Manager some targets. I suspect if the situation is looking bleak after 10 games, pressure will be applied and after 15 games, action may be taken.
I do actually now really want Macca to prove himself and go on to be a great Manager for CFC. Sadly, a club like ours just cannot afford for any other outcome. We have to hope that Macca comes good. I just wish he'd be honest and say we are shit when we are and that he's upset by the dire performances. It might actually win him back a bit of rapport with the supporters. Similarly, he really needs to bite his tongue and praise us supporters, as biting the hand that feeds him is not a wise idea.
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Post by Dodge on Aug 14, 2017 11:42:22 GMT
For someone who prides themselves on doing their homework, he certainly got the "tactics" wrong on Saturday. We all knew before the game that Halifax were strong at the back and offered nothing up front, so it was obvious that they would set up to frustrate us. Why oh why then did we not keep it on the deck and get wide to stretch them?
People saying Dawson shouldn't play wide but to be fair it worked well against Fylde who were open and expansive and it allowed us to control the midfield and play balls through to the strikers, but it just wasn't the answer on Saturday as we were too narrow and reverted to hoofball very quickly.
I can see the logic of starting Hannah because he needs the time under his belt, but he was very poor which didn't help proceedings. Hopefully when he gets match fit his form will improve, and we desperately need Mahon back to his best. I'm hoping it's a coincidence that Mahon's poor form coincides with him playing the first season of a two year deal, because the last time he had a two year deal it started during the 15-16 season and he was very poor that season, citing work commitments and newly born twins as the reason.
Anyway here's hoping McCarthy has learned his lessons from Saturday (doubtful) and the team start to click, because I think he's overestimated the patience of the fanbase.
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Post by Harry Lime on Aug 14, 2017 15:13:45 GMT
For someone who prides themselves on doing their homework, he certainly got the "tactics" wrong on Saturday. We all knew before the game that Halifax were strong at the back and offered nothing up front, so it was obvious that they would set up to frustrate us. Why oh why then did we not keep it on the deck and get wide to stretch them? People saying Dawson shouldn't play wide but to be fair it worked well against Fylde who were open and expansive and it allowed us to control the midfield and play balls through to the strikers, but it just wasn't the answer on Saturday as we were too narrow and reverted to hoofball very quickly. I can see the logic of starting Hannah because he needs the time under his belt, but he was very poor which didn't help proceedings. Hopefully when he gets match fit his form will improve, and we desperately need Mahon back to his best. I'm hoping it's a coincidence that Mahon's poor form coincides with him playing the first season of a two year deal, because the last time he had a two year deal it started during the 15-16 season and he was very poor that season, citing work commitments and newly born twins as the reason. Anyway here's hoping McCarthy has learned his lessons from Saturday (doubtful) and the team start to click, because I think he's overestimated the patience of the fanbase. I believe playing Dawson wide is a good decision. He is better than the alternatives, and he can tuck in and help the central two. What we then need is the other wide man to push the opposition back and stretch them. Halifax dropped Dixon onto Turnbull which caused us to be outnumbered in midfield. We didn't adjust our tactics to adapt, apart from bypassing midfield. Problem is, we then didn't hold the ball up. It just came straight back. A plan B might have been helpful. JMc is trying to play 2 upfront because he realises that what we want. Against a team that swamps midfield that leaves us outnumbered. So, you either bypass midfield, get it wide, or outplay them. We're probably not capable of consistently doing the latter. Fair comment regarding the patience of the fan base. The problem is a lot of us keep thinking back to League 2 and how the game was etc etc. We need to realise we are a West Brom or Crystal Palace of our division. Some people do think we should play like Arsenal and still win most weeks. It ain't going to happen. Equally though, if you play like West Brom you have to win otherwise the supporters will crucify you. |
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Post by waggoner2 on Aug 14, 2017 15:47:13 GMT
It's a good point about the pitch. We actually have one of the largest pitches around, and it's its length than stands out more than its width. The Premier League are trying to standardise pitch dimensions to 105 x 68m and nobody in that division has a longer pitch than 105m. Ours is 112 x 71.5 m. That makes our pitch 868 square meters (1,038 square yards) bigger than the PL standard. If my maths is right, that's an area about the size of the penalty area and the two spaces either side of it between the penalty area and the touch line. At the top level, you might expect this to be conducive to expansive passing football, but at our level I just wonder if it's more yards to huff and puff around, and if players see all that distance in front of them and their instinct is to just hoof it rather than work it up the pitch. Have we ever considered reducing it? I was also thinking that we had a bigger pitch than some PL teams. I spoke to Burr about the pitch when he was here. It's too big. Needs to be a maximum of 100m long. The pitch is over 8,000 square metres. Bigger than most teams in the prem. Couple it with the fact that the pitch is like a billiard table, we struggle against teams who play it on the deck AND the hoofball teams who play the ball over the top. A pitch of say 100m x 68m would tighten things up |
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Post by Hannibal on Aug 14, 2017 17:12:37 GMT
Is it just me or does anyone else think McCarthy' s managerial abilities are on a par with those of Terry Smith. He strikes me as someone who's playing at being a football manager - almost like he can't quite believe he's been given the chance. All this excitement talking about tactics and watching DVD's, but no clue in reality about turning that knowledge into effective football management. As someone said last night, if he was sacked tomorrow, could anyone see him ever picking up another management job - particularly at this level? That says all you need to know about his ability. Does he have a regular performance review where he stands before the board and gives a report on the progress of the team and his tactics are scrutinised by the board. This was asked last season and I can't remember if anyone was able to answer the question. |
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Post by steveo1 on Aug 14, 2017 17:37:35 GMT
I was just quoting McCarthy, he said 50.6 points "would be enough". Just did some back of a fag packet calculations: Last 24 games: Won 4 Drew 3 Lost 17 Points per game: 0.625 Wow. Still in a job as well and people supporting him. |
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Post by embalmer on Aug 14, 2017 17:41:28 GMT
I was just quoting McCarthy, he said 50.6 points "would be enough". Has he actually said that this season? Yes, at the last CFU meeting. |
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Post by bluefrombirth on Aug 14, 2017 17:54:09 GMT
Has he actually said that this season? Yes, at the last CFU meeting. No he didn't if you'd listened and didn't talk horse shit. He said 1.1 points a game would be good enough for a side looking to avoid relegation, because statistically it would mean that with six games to go, that team would only need to win one more game to stay up. Which is exactly what we did Last Year! He did not say that was his target this year. But hey, deva chat must be right. |
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Post by embalmer on Aug 14, 2017 18:08:36 GMT
Yes, at the last CFU meeting. No he didn't if you'd listened and didn't talk horse shit. He said 1.1 points a game would be good enough for a side looking to avoid relegation, because statistically it would mean that with six games to go, that team would only need to win one more game to stay up. Which is exactly what we did Last Year! He did not say that was his target this year. But hey, deva chat must be right. I did listen and I am not talking horse shit - if you actually took the time to read my posts, you'll clearly see that I stated "McCarthy seemed to suggest that he'd be happy with 1.1 points per game". Seemed being the keyword there which you have chosen to ignore so that you could throw your toys out of the pram. Now, you are more than entitled to interpret his words differently to me, but don't think for one second that you can self-impose your views on me. Given that we've drawn our opening 2 home games playing fairly negative, defensive football, coupled with the fact McCarthy himself chose to show statistics which started from the base of 1.1 points per game and stated that it "would be enough" - I am going to assume 1.1 points per game is his own personal baseline expectation. |
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Post by bluefrombirth on Aug 14, 2017 18:47:04 GMT
No he didn't if you'd listened and didn't talk horse shit. He said 1.1 points a game would be good enough for a side looking to avoid relegation, because statistically it would mean that with six games to go, that team would only need to win one more game to stay up. Which is exactly what we did Last Year! He did not say that was his target this year. But hey, deva chat must be right. I did listen and I am not talking horse shit - if you actually took the time to read my posts, you'll clearly see that I stated "McCarthy seemed to suggest that he'd be happy with 1.1 points per game". Seemed being the keyword there which you have chosen to ignore so that you could throw your toys out of the pram. Now, you are more than entitled to interpret his words differently to me, but don't think for once second that you can self-impose your views on me. Given that we've drawn our opening 2 home games playing fairly negative, defensive football, coupled with the fact McCarthy himself chose to show statistics which started from the base of 1.1 points per game and stated that it "would be enough" - I am going to assume 1.1 points per game is his own personal baseline expectation. Self impose my views, behave. You're intentionally misleading people, Macca explicitly stated the aim was 1.4 points a game, because that would result in our best finish in this league. Whilst he'd hope for 1.6 as this may be enough to get into the playoffs, given the new format. |
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Post by embalmer on Aug 14, 2017 19:00:47 GMT
I did listen and I am not talking horse shit - if you actually took the time to read my posts, you'll clearly see that I stated "McCarthy seemed to suggest that he'd be happy with 1.1 points per game". Seemed being the keyword there which you have chosen to ignore so that you could throw your toys out of the pram. Now, you are more than entitled to interpret his words differently to me, but don't think for once second that you can self-impose your views on me. Given that we've drawn our opening 2 home games playing fairly negative, defensive football, coupled with the fact McCarthy himself chose to show statistics which started from the base of 1.1 points per game and stated that it "would be enough" - I am going to assume 1.1 points per game is his own personal baseline expectation. Self impose my views, behave. You're intentionally misleading people, Macca explicitly stated the aim was 1.4 points a game, because that would result in our best finish in this league. Whilst he'd hope for 1.6 as this may be enough to get into the playoffs, given the new format. I am not intentionally misleading anyone you weapon. I am almost certain he did not say his aim was 1.4 points per game. And if he did, more fool him because he would have just made his job even harder than it already was! |
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Post by luckyblue on Aug 14, 2017 19:25:09 GMT
I'm sitting in the main stand watching a professional football match....thinking....if it wasn't for the fact I've paid for my season ticket, why would you come and watch the next game and part with your hard earned 18 quid to be "entertained" in such a dour manner. Very very poor quality. Play so deep in every match....just like the final 8 games of last season. Something has to change and improve soon....or I can see attendances regularly below 1500 in the darker months.....
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Post by rcb on Aug 14, 2017 19:32:46 GMT
My first game, as a ten year old in the 1962-63 season, was a 6-1 win at home to Southport. Great manager! Five days later we lost away to Southport 1-4. Rubbish manager! All the joys of following Chester. Been much like that ever since. The occasional high kept me going through the many lows. Didn't know what budget meant in those days.
Can't remember eight months of continuous boredom like the present though, or a manager who insisted that he saw great performances when none of the crowd did. Always seemed to have a character in the squad. Sadly I don't see any in the current squad. Just not inspired by club any more. Perhaps it's an age thing. How do our younger supporters see it?
p.s. Hartlepools ended the season bottom of the league in that season.
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Post by billyw on Aug 14, 2017 20:22:54 GMT
I'm sitting in the main stand watching a professional football match....thinking....if it wasn't for the fact I've paid for my season ticket, why would you come and watch the next game and part with your hard earned 18 quid to be "entertained" in such a dour manner. Very very poor quality. Play so deep in every match....just like the final 8 games of last season. Something has to change and improve soon....or I can see attendances regularly below 1500 in the darker months..... I know exactly what you mean. I've had a season ticket for longer than I care to remember but with each passing home game I feel less inclined to go. If die hard fans like myself get to that stage, Is it any wonder that the attendances are plummeting. |
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Post by Dodge on Aug 15, 2017 9:15:26 GMT
My first game, as a ten year old in the 1962-63 season, was a 6-1 win at home to Southport. Great manager! Five days later we lost away to Southport 1-4. Rubbish manager! All the joys of following Chester. Been much like that ever since. The occasional high kept me going through the many lows. Didn't know what budget meant in those days. Can't remember eight months of continuous boredom like the present though, or a manager who insisted that he saw great performances when none of the crowd did. Always seemed to have a character in the squad. Sadly I don't see any in the current squad. Just not inspired by club any more. Perhaps it's an age thing. How do our younger supporters see it? p.s. Hartlepools ended the season bottom of the league in that season. When I ask my two young nephews about last season and why they still want to come this season instead of going out with their mates or watching Liverpool on telly they don't think about the dour end to the season, they think about beating Dover 5-0, they think about the Tranmere and Wrexham games. The same happened at the start of last season, we only missed four home games all season but they turned out to be 8-2 v Aldershot, 4-1 v Torquay, 3-1 v Kiddy and 1-0 v Braintree, and we unfortunately sat through all of the boring losses to teams like Eastleigh and Woking, and I couldn't for the life of me work out why they still wanted to come but they were still living off the high of beating Wrexham 3-2 9 months previous. Obviously as you get older you grow more and more impatient and the highs that you mentioned are a lot shorter lived, and the lows (or boredom at the moment) become more excruciating. Also younger supporters haven't experienced the heady days of the third division and beating Leeds bla bla bla. For most, non-league football is all they've known and therefore it's obviously easier to come to terms with where we are as a club. |
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Post by Oaks Blue on Aug 15, 2017 10:04:14 GMT
Then it's clear, we just need to get rid of the generation who have seen the good times, should only take another 20 to 30 years, then Macca will have a job for life, being supported by people who don't know any better than a relegation dog fight and celebrating staying up. Genius by the club, their vision is astounding! I fully expect to see Macca given a well deserved 30 year contract extension tomorrow.
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Post by bing on Aug 15, 2017 10:24:21 GMT
Then it's clear, we just need to get rid of the generation who have seen the good times, should only take another 20 to 30 years, then Macca will have a job for life, being supported by people who don't know any better than a relegation dog fight and celebrating staying up. Genius by the club, their vision is astounding! I fully expect to see Macca given a well deserved 30 year contract extension tomorrow. I think Dodge gave a pretty well considered reply there, certainly not deserving of this OTT response. Although everyone strives to be entertained, it's definitely true that some people have become embittered over the years. |
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Post by Oaks Blue on Aug 15, 2017 10:26:05 GMT
Then it's clear, we just need to get rid of the generation who have seen the good times, should only take another 20 to 30 years, then Macca will have a job for life, being supported by people who don't know any better than a relegation dog fight and celebrating staying up. Genius by the club, their vision is astounding! I fully expect to see Macca given a well deserved 30 year contract extension tomorrow. I think Dodge gave a pretty well considered reply there, certainly not deserving of this OTT response. Although everyone strives to be entertained, it's definitely true that some people have become embittered over the years. Engage your sense of humour before responding next time. Jesus |
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