S-Clarke

Nice one, you'll enjoy it. This is the first season for a while where I won't be getting a season ticket, primarily financial reasons as I've just purchased my first house - so penny pinching is of the highest order atm and out goes the fun things for a few years. I'll probably go to the odd game though.

Yeah, probably. What you'd get is a 'Premier, Premier League' and the rest in what would be the 'new' Championship. Anyone decent in the 'new' championship would get poached by the premier, premier league. And obviously all players would then aspire to play in the premier premier league, obviously because of it's competitiveness and not the $$$. I wouldn't be against letting them battle it out in their own league though, it would close the gap between the rest and maybe even the leagues below and it would all be a bit more compeatative. I enjoyed the Championship last season, it's nice going into a league where you have a shot of maybe doing something, rather than being in a league where you're just food and drink for the top 6. Don't get me wrong I'm glad we're there, for the club it's imperative financially, but it won't be as enjoyable from a footballing perspective next year. If you could guarantee that we'd continue as a top Championship team and be fine financially, always pushing up the top end and coming 1st or 2nd, but never actually getting promoted, I'd probably take that.

I saw that on social media as well, rather amusingly one of the comments from our 'fan' questioned why we are letting someone so important go for free. Thus the club is 'clearly asset stripping' and we're skint, or something equally daft. Someone doesn't understand contracts I guess.

There was chatter about VAR maybe being binned next season, but it's here to stay. The big boys have spoken and they don't want it scrapped, so little old clubs will have to suck it up. There is talk of them 'tweaking it' some more though, so I guess we have that to look forward to again next year! This year has been so much more authentic without VAR.

I'd imagine we'll hear regarding Lallana in July, his Brighton contract doesn't actually expire until the end of this month.

If you think those names are uninspiring, just imagine who we'd have been linked with without promotion! Doesn't bear thinking about.

That's quite muted given the rest of the crap he's done in his life, assault, fraud, prison time - you name it. Should definitely be in the team. I want to say Valery did something bad, but I can't remember exactly what. It might not have been criminal and more personal.

He was third choice at Newcastle for a reason, became a bit of a banter figure for them when everyone else was getting injured. They preferred to use Dubrabva when Pope was out. Not sure we should be signing 8th placed PL teams third choice keepers tbh.

Great read, find myself agreeing with pretty much all you say. One caveat is that as far as I know...DCC is an obligation, so Lyon will be forced to buy him for a fixed £3m and he'll never return here. Probably for the best.

1 - Downes winner v Watford. Won't get much more dramatic than that, I thought that would have given us the boost to get top 2. You never forget the feeling of last min winners like that. 2 - The first half away v Swansea. Honestly it was majestic, going in 6-0 up wouldn't have been unjust. 3 - Edozies 5th goal against Huddersfield, we knew we'd wrapped it up then after one of the most topsy Turvey games of the season.

Wrexham could be a good gravy train to jump on for players like him.

Most of those will go for a mega pay-day in Saudi I reckon, their reputations are high enough to earn some interest from those teams. Tanganga had a decent season at Millwall by all accounts, but my feeling on him is that he's a Championship player and no more than that. I'd rather focus on someone like Ben Johnson rather than Tanganga.

He was one of the players on our mega-list of potential signings back in the January we sold VVD. Sessegnon, Shaw, Theo, Promes - we were signing them all. Then we ended up with Carillo.

He did well at Carlisle didn't he? I remember he was loved by their fans during his little stint. I think the pathway could be similar, I think we've outgrown him and I don't believe he'll be a PL player but I'm sure he can make a name for himself in the EFL.

He's been absolutely invisible for a year now, has he been injured? He does need a fresh start, not sure I'd be willing to gamble on him though as LB is a position I'd say we need a new starter from day 1. A player I think we'll go for is Ben Johnson of WHU. Right back, but can play right mid, DM, third CB and LB. Powerful runner with the ball and that sort of handy versatile option you need throughout a season. Available on a freebie.

Yep, just read a bit more on it this morning. Basically they are trying to complain about some of the rules that they say they didn't break, but they want them changed so they can operate within them. Hmm. I smell something. As much as most neutrals want to see them punished, the leagues/FA do not have the guts to do anything meaningful to clubs like City. They bring the PL/FA a lot of money in their European exploits and player recruitment, raises the profile of the league etc - the PL will want to protect that at all costs. Doesn't matter if little old Forest or Leicester overspend, dock them points until the cows come home as it won't harm the leagues pull - but god forbid they stopped Man City being able to bring in the next Hallanad - that's why nothing will happen with City.

I don't think it was his 'dilly dialling' on the ball which caused us many problems, he was great with his feet. The issue with Baz is that he cannot save any decent shot on goal, which is a pretty big failing for any aspiring top level GK.

Club already blinked on Lumley and gave him an extension in March for some reason.

At least 10 months was in the official announcement, back end of next season if we're realistic I think. Need a new GK for the entire season really.

I doubt he'll have much, if any involvement next year at all, so we're looking at a stop gap - McCarthy is an easy option for the club.

That's how I see it playing out. Not that I agree with it, but the club have gone all in on Bazunu so they're not going to replace him with a bought player. (As much as I think they should do)

Man City hitting the ball back and now launching legal proceedings against the PL for some financial stuff, not that I truly understand what they're going on about. I'm just waiting for the announcement when it's confirmed that Man City's 120 charges are finally brushed under the big carpet at FA HQ.

End of Stu's time here. But also, finally, after what feels like a lifetime - we've released Jake Vokins. Not sure where he'll go from here, maybe non-league at a guess. Simeu off as well - clearly a signing to help Tino settle in at the time, offered nothing long-term for us.

Sad end to his time here, but one of my favourite players in our 'less than stellar' period. He had an amazing spell under Ralph during the empty stadium games and start of the following season, he was at the peak of his powers and one of if not our best player. Didn't he hold a crazy record that we didn't win without him playing? Sadly time caught up with him and injuries and a gradual slowdown has enormously impacted his game. I have nothing but gratitude for all that Stu has given us during his time here, but I feel that this was a natural point to have a parting of ways and allow both sides to explore something new. I hope he gets a good move.

I think I always get a bit of excitement when a tournament comes around. I don't care much for the friendlies, but world cups or Euro's have resulted in some of my most memorable summers in my lifetime! I'm a bit of a footballer watcher in general though, so there's nothing better for me than 3/4 games a day for a month.