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Even with the cost of living being so high, what this shows is Club's have been proactive in marketing themselves more towards families, with only 4 clubs showing marginal losses in home support. I'm sure if most clubs did a breakdown in the demographics of who actually goes to games nowadays the era of cheap U12s and Under 19s tickets has increased the numbers of children coming to games massively. To avoid the anticipated drop off when the under 19s go into Adult prices, City are one of the only clubs I reckon to do Under 22 and Under 25 tickets as well. Will be interesting to see if we keep the momentum going, but next season's sales have I think shocked a large number of us over how high they actually are.

I think for me the Pearson era was kind of like the Millen, McInnes, SOD time, where a manager had been bought in to try and keep us in the Championship after GJ (read LJ and DH) had left and the budgets were being reduced. The squad NP inherited was a bloated mess and financially we were on a knife edge of dropping into FFP problems. The football wasn't great (particularly at home) and yes, that West Brom at home was a low point . But somehow (still not sure how) we managed to avoid getting dragged into any relegation issue, let alone having to start again in L1, like we have had to do so many times over the last 30 years. The team needed to address our defensive problems first and you'd have to admit that the signings of Dickie, Tanner, Roberts and even McCrorie (at times) has allowed us to build a solid defensive base. Knight and Sykes (for a free transfer) have also been astute signings. Matty James, and Andy King have bought a level of professionalism and experience to the team. There have been some questionable ones of course (no transfer dealings are perfect). Cornick hasn't worked, Simpson wasn't great either; the Jury is still out on Mehmeti. But he didn't waste millions on poor signings and loans like some of his predecessor's. We still don't score enough goals, but then maybe that was the next piece of the jigsaw that was going tontake place, we will never know. Losing your best players continued to haunt City managers yet again. Butbthe reality is without selling, we are a Hugh operating costs club, where we can only continue to function as a club by selling those players if the PL come calling. When NP was sacked, i thought it was for the best, as the working relationship had obviously broken down with the Lansdowns. His contract wasn't going to be renewed, but he left the whole club in a stronger position both on and off the pitch. The fact that for a team that has struggled to get into the top half of the table over the last few seasons is able to draw crowds not seen since the 1970s down to the ground is testament to the belief that people were starting to believe that we were heading in the right direction, even if the football and results didn't always demonstrate that. I'll always be grateful to NP for all he did to bring us stability and I hope a firm foundation for Manning to build on. Comparing Tinnion to Pearson in a managerial sense, fails to take on board the complete root restructure that had to take place. It was painful at times, but we got there in the end. Cheers Nige for everything you did for the club .

I think there is some points to be made here from the club's communications today. They are obviously priotising POTD for next season. Hence the "South Stand sold out". It won't be sold out, just sold out to anyone buying STs. There will probably be 500+ free seats for the first game of the season for POTD punters. Secondly, they are only offering a "limited" number of STs for the open sale market. I think as a club we will be looking to cap ST sales at around 14k or so (not sure about H/T STs around Christmas). This will once again force more people to get memberships or go POTD. The club has probably recognised that the missing STs and a certain number of the STs that do come are unlikely to spend as much in the shop/concessions as people doing the POTD trip down the gate experience. It's going to be interesting how this new approach works anyhow.

Yep, just moved by youngest's seat in E28, all went well. A lot better than being in "queue position 52" for the next 3 hours....

I know @Davefevs it's been a real quandary as to whether to do it or not this year. Last week, I renewed all 4 ST's in the Dolman ( 3 x E32, 1 X E28). Total cost just under £2k. Will have to see how the season pans out fixtures wise. If it's a solid season and I don't miss more than 5/6 games, I'll carry on with an ST (probably with @GrahamC in the LS). Otherwise it's looking like memberships and POTD. Judging by the 48 notice of renewals period that has just come out from the club, without any mention of numbers sold, I'm guessing the figure isn't one that they want to be publicising.

The Linesman that patrol the Dolman side are having an end of season party to celebrate this news. Last season in E32 for us as well I think @Graham c. Like you, we'll be looking to move to LS wings as @TomSutton will be off to Uni.

Thanks @Davefevs, as i said on the FBC podcast this morning, i was half way down Ashton Road at this point . From this screen shot, the ref got her sightlines absolutely spot on. Shame a few Huddersfield supporters have chosen to take it personally.

I do wonder whether we are seeing a 80% fit Twine at the moment? A few times he's got into shooting positions and not been able to either generate the power/accuracy that he has demonstrated in his career. Obviously had his injury issues at Burnley as well and although only still 24, he does look a player who is "prone" to Injuries unfortunately. That said, teams are aware of Twine and having him on the pitch opens up space for other City players. So from a team perspective having him back has been a positive (results wise of course over the last few weeks). When talking of transfer fees, McCrorie's fee at the moment looks a bit heavy based on the skillset he has demonstrated so far. Let's see what a pre season does for him, but unless we are able to get him for £2.5-3m I would pass. We would also need to bring in a number of players next season to allow us not to rely on a "fragile" player.

@Davefevs will be interesting to see what happens with Sykes in the summer. Entering the last year of his contract and probably not unreasonably asking for a better deal that what he arrived on from Oxford. He'll have other suitors in the Championship as well of course. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see him move on rather than lose him for free at the end of the season. I don't want that of course, but he's an established international player now with no bad stats in the division over 2 seasons, he'll expect a decent deal no doubt.

I'd like to personally congratulate Dominic Hyam for one of the most inept performances I've seen from a visiting centre back. Why Eustace kept him on at half time and took Wharton off is anyone's guess, but he was able to cluster it again with our third (just like the first 2) in the second half. Thank you Dominic for an entertaining display

Went to that game. Tues night away at Sunderland, what was I thinking??? Got home at 3 30 am, ready for work at 8. Crazy game, but a great goal by Soren.

When you look at the communication from this time last year around "record sales etc etc", it's telling that we are now 10 days on from the start of the process and no figures have been released. It must be starting to dawn on even the most clueless at the club (Hello Jon) that the fanbase is not happy and that some big decisions are going to have to be made to correct the trajectory we are going in. Although the international break came at just the right time for Manning and the club, the restless supporters have been stewing in the background. Not quite sure how tomorrow is going to go really. In any other given season playing probably the best team in the division would afford the manager a bit of a pass. Got this feeling that unless the performance itself is substantially better tomorrow, then the boos will start to ring out again live on Sky. Not a pretty scenario for anyone connected with the club.

He really is the most boring public speaker. I wish he would talk less about what the players are going to do and focus on how the management team have been working on their game management and intent. Tinnion spoke about him "learning on the job", well he took over a team of seasoned Championship players who he's failed to develop or enhance in any way. He may be excellent on those FA coaching courses, but now is the time to be brave in your selection/formation/leadership and tactics. Let's see real improvement in the next week, or it's going to be even more uncomfortable for both the Management and the club.

Just from an age perspective Archie Gray really stands out in this group. What a player he is going to become in the next few seasons. Best young talent I've seen down the Gate in a long time.

Is Tom Headford still playing for Cribbs @headhunter? 34, but looks 10 years younger

Where do you park Harry? I used the park and ride. It worked well going up to the ground, but we were left queuing for 20 mins afterwards to get back down the hill of doom....

13,14,15

@Harry Reyes made an excellent penalty save against Walsall at a critical point of the game, as well as 2 x 1 on 1 saves. He's quite small, but a excellent shop stopper at that level. Bunker played CDM against Walsall, wasn't great and was subbed off after 58 mins for Omotoye (who went on to win the penalty, that was never a pen.. ) With two really good runner in Doidge and McAllister up top (alongside Omotoye), Cotts has really given them a chance of staying up. Playing Sutton at home this weekend, massive game... C'mon Cotts.

Went to see FGR vs Walsall at the New Lawn last Sat. Walsall technically far the better team, but Cotts has got FGR motivated and organised and they produced a fantastic result. Just got given the other day this book, many thanks @TomSutton. A great read

Fill out the squad photo with the 4 keepers as well. Was hoping to see the mythical "no knees" Murphy in the photo.

@Curr Avon Mark, I got @headhunter to read out some of Ian's tweets during the game so there will be a record of them (in retrospect I should have screen shoted). @TomSutton and I aren't on the podcast this Sat. But Ian has to be challenged on going back and deleting his less than favourable postings of the game and Manning he made during it, in favour of more positive ones this morning on Twitter. It's like somebody has had a word with him? I'm relying on you...

@Sir Geoff The issue for me answering that question is that it was so badly phrased on Ian's part. Would I beat happy to win 16 games at home per season, whilst playing dire football? So would I be happy in essence to get promotion playing dire football? The dire football yesterday was so awful that it would be a really hard sell to come and watch it, but do I want promotion? Ian once again tried to defend LM. But I bought up all of his postings during the game where he commented how bad it was, and what he would do to change it. In true Ian fashion, following the podcast he went back to his postings and deleted a number of those posts to show his feelings in a more positive light post result. It's his way of appearing to be in the right all the time.

I think the game changed on the bad miss from Swansea left winger Placheta. As others have said we were poor with no shot of any sort until Dickie's effort in the 63rd min. First time this season I'd heard booing from fans when we are in possession at 0-0, but it was really that bad. If we had conceded, the atmosphere would have become toxic straight away. Fortunately he sliced it and the positive substitutions (he'd learnt from the Ipswich game) about bringing Roberts and King on, saw us home. We actually played some half decent stuff for about 15 mins (65-80). The result was everything today, 9 points clear of 22nd with 9 to play. I can't see the bottom 3 all winning 3 of 9 to see us plunge down. But God it was an awful game for around 68 minutes wasn't it?

1 win in 10? Try 2 in 13.... Massive game tomorrow for Manning and the future direction of the club.

Got mine a few hours ago fortunately. Only 1 ticket left now