the1stknowle

Let’s see. He’s leaving because he wants to play. What prem league team is he playing regularly in? Anyway, bit off topic.

David Ornstein reporting today that Charlie Patino wants to leave Arsenal on perm. Assume he won’t get a premier league move. And not many other champ clubs will have money this summer (assuming we sell AS). That is an Alex Scott replacement I’d like to see here.

Yeah, exactly. One slightly off performance, if it happened to be his last, who cares. That doesn't define his time here in any way. He's a kid and he's been amazing to watch and hopefully everyone is excited to see what he goes on to next - even the 'why are we talking about ex-players on the forum?' crew. FWIW, if Brighton are in for him (who knows if true) then I think better to sell him there than anywhere else given how they are doing with player sales. He'd look great in that team, and if you could take 25m to Liverpool or 22m to Brighton, each with a 25% sell on (fantasy figures, I appreciate) then, purely from a financial point of view for City, Brighton every day. With the model they use, they have put themselves in such a strong position to attract young talent. (Compare and contrast Tottenham where the chairman refuses to sell a player that has given them everything for nearly a decade even though the money is good, the player is getting on, and they have a 'gentlemen's agreement' to let him go at a certain price.) Anyway, all to say, pleasure watching him but if we get massive money then it is a real chance for us to push on, as well as for Alex. So all in all, think it's time to say goodbye and fingers crossed he gets the right move. Because if it all works out, he is going to be some player.

Does this not go against your entire point about potential refs leaving the game? I thought the whole point is that the pipeline is poor because its so hard to be a ref. I agree that referees are not turning in poor performances for just one team. That is the point. It is consistently bad. Where there are lots of random, non-conspiratorial mistakes, some teams out of 24 will be on the end of the most, and some teams out of 24 will be on the end of the least. Those on the end of the most would reasonably be more likely to complain. Lets hope those managers unlucky enough to be on the end of the most do it in a measured, non-aggressive, way, a la Nige. I dont think we disagree as much as you seem keen to. The managers that abuse refs are tools. The players that go out of their way to con refs - like our own Joe Low on weekend - are also part of problem. But you have to be able to call out bad mistakes and bad management by those responsible for the people making those mistakes. Will leave it there.

I used 'mass' once in my original point. Hardly 'a lot'. But not really the point. Look, if you are saying that the only explanation for any more than two 'outliers' (I think you are using the term incorrectly in this sentence btw) is, by implication, a 'conspiracy', and therefore, even though I have never used the word, I must have meant that, then we can leave the conversation there. It's a point that is tough to respond to when I fully agree that there is no conspiracy, just poor standards in refereeing. To make that point doesn't have to be abuse. It doesn't have to be personal. It doesn't even have to be a failing of the individual referee. In fact, if it is multiple referees turning in bad performances, then it is a systemic failure, not a personal one. That won't be fixed by ignoring it and shielding bad decisions from legitimate criticism, any more than it will be fixed by abusing individual referees.

Conspiracy is your word. You can have a mass of decisions go against you without a conspiracy. in fact, because it’s NOT a conspiracy is the point. It’s a lot of objectively bad decisions that warrant genuine criticism. It’s a separate issue from the abuse of refs driving them from the game.

Where is the abuse? I agree with your general point - and think it applies to some managers, like Warnock (who loads of people on here seem to think is good for the game but I think is pernicious precisely because of the way he treats referees). But that is different from a very legitimate criticism of the mass of decisions that have gone against us over last few years and the shambolic admin process Nige describes in the article. Having elite referees mic'd and with a gopro is a good solution to try to change culture of abuse. Players and many managers would not look good with current behaviour. Nige is not one of those. If anything, considering some of the penalty decisions, he's been pretty sanguine towards refs.

Wilson at Coventry is interesting choice. Didn't realise he would be quite so highly thought of. Guess there haven't been too many outstanding keepers in league this season. Other than that, agree Benson over Tella from what I've seen. And not sure about centre back choices.

I know he's injured and out for a while but Cooper is surely the pick of the lower league keepers if that is the direction we are going. The other one I've seen a few times that looks to have very high ceiling is Toby Savin (nominative determinism). But Im not sure he's even getting into Accrington team at minute so maybe he hasn't kicked on from a few years ago. I like the Rushworth shout too but don't think it's too crazy to think he might get a go at Brighton next year.

Christmas party, right?

Well let’s hope you have to put up with it for one more season as it’s probably worth a few million quid to us if they stay up this year.

I don't think its even in question - at least it shouldn't be - that if these charges are stood up then, in among fines and bans and title strippings, there will be at least one relegation, possibly more. Odds on Haaland being first person ever to score 100 goals in a League Two season?

Not sure about this take. I think more likely, if Man City did that, they would take zero proper fans with them and there would be yet another Manchester phoenix club. The super league needs English clubs because they bring English fans and the people that came up with the idea seem to have absolutely no understanding of what English fans want and the centrality of the pyramid. If it were as simple as you make out, BT Sport would be some money making machine the second they got the UCL rights. Not exactly worked out like that.

Good lawyers can go a long way - but there is only so much you can do in face of a mountain of evidence. And, as someone said, the Premier League are not without financial resources themselves. From that charge list, Man City are in very serious trouble. Also appears they might have lied in their representations to CAS that enabled them to escape the most serious punishments in the previous UEFA case.

Don't think we should write Andi off just yet. He's a class act upfront for Championship level. Have thought for ages though that we are a better team when we play three actual midfielders in midfield rather than squeeze him in there. We seem to control game much better as a result. But can still see him doing a great job in any of those top three positions in the current 4-3-3. And he will score and make goals. We are lucky to have him as an option.

And when he is good (admittedly not often enough) he is very, very good.

So, once all bonuses have been added, Max is on 10k a week then.

Probably best move for us too in terms of maxing out his future value for a sell on. If they can get to a reasonable upfront fee then this is probably best possible move for all concerned. His career could go either way but he’s definitely got a chance. If he goes for mid teens plus sell on, great business and fingers crossed he does well - for him and us.

100% this

A really good mate of my Dad's. When my Dad died during the pandemic, Stoney came to the funeral, even though the restrictions meant he couldn't get in. So he just came along to stand outside and pay his respects. A really good guy and, like everyone has said, funny as. RIP

Well, we won't know that until he has a real run of games as a fixture in a side and can get the experience. Given his rate of improvement over last few years, you'd think a 40-game season could see him really develop. So from that point of view, this is the right move at this point in his career. Don't think it has to mean a permanent move to a lower level. Good luck to him.

Surely Atkinson was our best player in last part of season just gone.

And we’ve lost an insane amount of points very late in games. Even with half of those, season would be looking half decent. Despite some dire performances. Agree very odd season but definite progress.

Correct answer. Heywood also a disaster. As was Partridge. Richard Dryden back in the day was pretty bang average too. We’ve also had some very good ones though - Taylor, Carey, Bryant, Webster, Caulker, (second season on) Flint, Bikey.

Spot on. Everyone was like ‘oooo he’s spent 5.3m on a striker. He’s bought us a premiership centre back for best part of 8m. Thanks Steve. Ooo he’s lost nearly 200m quid on City and built us a modern stadium and training ground. What a great guy.’ But now his plan is clear. It was all just a distraction to minimise affordable housing in his new suburb, Chipping Lansdown Nice plan. But we’re on to you, Steve.