Holmes_and_Watson

On their contracts, it's an opportunity to get deals for them too. KWP going at the end of this season. Most of the other going into the last year (and interest in Will). A Jan offer was made for Bednarek. His value will be lower in the summer, so another offer could see him go too. I don't mind some of them in the Championship, but offers or loans would be fine and free up places for others.

Depends on the bridge. Bridge over troubled waters Bridge of sighs. Both useful this season. 🙂

Star

Dog

Buyer

Leicester decide to bring in a RVN ringer, for a while, to take training. Having easily secured safety in 24/25, they go on to be 25/26 champions.

Celebrating us being taken for a ride by SR. 🙂

Moore

Well, that came across as particularly clueless. ‘There are similarities between managing a media group and a football club. On the one hand, you have to choose the right programmes, and on the other, you have to choose the right players,’ stresses the man who says he is privately passionate about football," is a highlight, or lowlight. Results will tell a lot more than "forget all the massive blunders when we told you we knew exactly what we were doing. Instead, here's another plan where we tell you we know exactly what we are doing."

It can be a transition as it should be every window. Just with a clear plan of manager, system, coaching and importantly recruitment, to finally give one of our managers all of the tools they need to succeed. That’s not necessarily the scouting, but in getting the targets over the line. SR should bear in mind how many misses they’ve had and get the squad PL ready, even if that means not trying to be overly clever. That means working very hard to be clear with players who won’t be getting minutes and working very hard to find them other clubs. The contract status of our squad and the wretched couple of PL seasons we’ve lend itself to the transition. Unless there’s contract clauses in play:- Players leaving in 2025:- Lumley 25, Walker-Peters 25, Ugochukwa 25 (U21), Lallana 25, Grønbæk 25, Amo-Ameyaw 26 (U21), Payne 25 (U21) Walker-Peters’ replacement was Sugawara last summer. Amo-Ameyaw has an obligation to buy clause, so will be gone too. Of the others, there was little to no impact. That’s 7 players going for a start. From, what we all know is a bloated, ill-fitting squad as it is. Players leaving in 2026 McCarthy 26 (would prefer to loan Baz out again, as Alex saw out his last contract), Bree 26 (Could see us extending), Taylor 26 (thought he’d be used much more, but has vanished), Stephens 26 (if we play 3 at the back, or sell enough. Versatile, but not first choice in our Championship team), Bella-Kotchap 26, Onuachu 26, Stewart 26 (Will be going nowhere), Bragg 26 (A year to be involved, or make a loan impact for an extension), Smallbone 26 (really useful in some systems, passed by in many others. So, depends on new manager), Fraser 26 (early impact, but faded), Aribo 26 (versatile, but not enough game changing from any position), Dibling 26 (U21) (If not signing a new deal, hopefully a move can be agreed to fund a chunk of our rebuild), Ballard 26 That’s another 13 in their last year. While it should be made clear they are not in first team plans, that’s not to say they can’t get into them. Injuries will keep some (Stewart). Some are fine to have as squad players for a while longer (Bree)and some are on too high a wage to want to go anywhere (McCarthy, Aribo)/ looking to be free agents. Sales elsewhere (Bednarek, Downes, Fernandes, Ramsdale) will also bring some back into contention (Stephens) but would really need replacing with PL quality players (something SR should be aware of before their eyes light up with pound signs, for a change.) But we should be looking to upgrade on all these positions. For every upgrade we make, the clearer their futures are. If moves can’t be permanent, then they can be loaned. Where we should start from:- GK Ramsdale 28, McCarthy 26 DR Sugawara 28, Bree 26 DL Manning 27, Welington ?, Larios 27 (U21) DCL (Any DC sale should really be replaced with a left footed centre half) DCR Bednarek 27, Harwood-Bellis 28, Edwards 28 (U21), Wood 28, Stephens 26 DMC NEW - Romeu replacement needed since SR window 1, Charles 27 , Bragg 26 (U21) MC Downes 28, NEW AMC Fernandes 29 (U21), NEW, Akachukwu ? (U21), O'Brien-Whitmarsh 27 (U21) AML Armstrong 27, Sulemana 27, Edozie 27 (U21), Juan ? AMR NEW (Tella, SAA, Dibling if he goes replacement.) SC Archer 28, Robinson 27 (U21) FC Brereton Diaz 28, Stewart 26 – due to Injury, NEW - Adams Upgrade promised and needed since SR window 1 Armstrong was not only prolific in the Championship, but would be available of competing with Archer and playing AMR if needed. 7 definitely going 10 others that wouldn’t be first, or often second choice That still leaves 21 players, with a requirement for 5 first team/ fighting for first team players. Those are the ones we should be looking to bring in PL ready players. Ideally permanently, but loans with options possible too. It’s not including Larios, Akachukwa, O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Robinson who have barely featured. There should be another 3 or 4 pushing through from the U21s too. We’d also have January and the ’26 window, should we go up. If we are going up, that would make getting experienced PL players a lot easier. But not impossible to get them this window (especially using loans with options)

... I wouldn't release the 2025 version, choosing a 2026 version instead.

A dedicated cold call team, phoning every club on the planet. Repeatedly, until 1 caves in. 🙂

So, a Daily Mail hack was there and dropped their copy near the dog? Suspicious.

Vomit

Sule brace for a sneaky point.

Train

I read that as Question: SOG. Hopkins, Tate and Robinson in same room. You have a gun with only two bullets in the chamber, who lives? I thought that the mods wouldn't look too kindly on some of the responses. 🙂

Full

It's because SR are much more interested in us as a shop window, than ensuring that we had the ability to operate the business behind it. Dazzled with the profit of a Tino, Lavia or Dibling. Never mind the age and that they fade when overplayed. Get shot of the higher earners to make way, as long as the kids get sold before they burn out or get crocked. Never mind the load of kids they brought in that haven't hit those levels. Getting one right, or developing one, pays for the others. Just don't total it up, and wonder if it could have been better spent. Focus on left field players. Those with a point to prove, or returning from injury. Never mind the bloated squad of similar standard players. Never mind the gaping holes, across multiple windows, in the first team. Areas like defensive midfield or forwards. Just keep those wages low for individuals. Don't pay the going rate. Again, just don't total up the quantity over quality. Systems, tactics and consistent approach and decision making have been jettisoned faster than SR's shop window approach. Don't forget to extend the up and coming, point to prove approach to managers. Just don't total up the compensation packages, or wonder why the squad is so bloated with players suited to different systems. How could a well run club at this level be so reliant on a couple of kids? Juric should have a chat with one of the actually well run clubs, and will find out that they don't.

Our new employee. Perfect for overseeing a lot of issues at once. MLG's new purchase. Perfect for cleaning up the mess after a love-in over a favourite employee.

The heavy flow of goals we concede?

No, it isn't! 🙂

The cardboard cut out would be in the running for player of season with Ramsdale and Fernandes. 🙂

He's far from the first owner to become wealthy in one field, only to be taken for a ride in another. Certainly if that other field is football. He'd also not be the first wealthy person who's success is built firmly on the backs of others, but I don't know enough about his background to know if that applies here. He was taken for a ride by Rasmus and Kraft. The terrible decisions kept coming, and that was allowed. His being in closer control now doesn't inspire confidence. He's shown no aptitude to be anywhere decision making in football.