Fuber

Oh agreed - just a hunch as I thought he'd at least maybe get a few minutes the last two games. Nothing but idle speculation. Hopefully nothing in it - I just find signing McCrorie questionable unless he's to be moved on.

Personally think we're signing McCrorie to play CDM, with James/King to coach him into it. He's mobile, strong, and a bit headless, but a hard worker. Can cover at RB and CB as necessary fairly comfortably. Think Wilson may be moved on. People are also assuming we'll be using 4atb as our singular option. If we were to move to 3atb, I could easily see - Tanner, McCrorie, Vyner, Naismith, Pring, former and lattermost as WBs. Such as in the scenario of holding a lead; whereas if chasing it, swap Tanner and Pring for Sykes and Bryan. Reviews (for McCrorie) are very similar or even mirroring to Sykesy. Who has performed admirably for NP. Something akin to a midfield three of McCorie, James, and then a more creative midfielder to be signed should Scott leave. Assume we sign the likes of O'Brien, McCrorie, Bryan. Creative midfield player and further winger, allowing rotation as if we happen to suffer two injuries (I.e. Conway and Sykes) all of a sudden we're not that deep in options, playing what is quite a front loaded system. Owen Moxon (Carlisle) or Adam Phillips (Barnsley) for CM. Then, if it was possible, the likes of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi from Palace (on loan to Charlton) or Willock on a free from QPR would be the kind of targets I would aim for, possibly allowing one of Sykes, or Mehmeti, to move central. Although this is just ne being wishful and plugging names that come to mind.

Would think it more likely to be O'Brien surely? Otherwise its three(?) LBs?

Played FM since about 09, think my best save was with Derby in '21 - was travelling a fair bit on weekdays to offices with work due to audit requirements - lots of free time on my personal laptop that I bought with me for FM! - Think I clocked 140-150 hours on that save alone. Somehow got the job before the League One season, cleared the squad completely and rebuilt using free agents, loans, a couple small transfers and finished 7th. Signed Adam Idah on loan for 2 seasons and ran away with it (112 Points) then momentum meant double promotion and carried me up with them to 5th in the EPL, a Europa League win, followed by winning the UCL win the season after due to having the easiest draw I've ever had (Lyon in the Final after beating Chelsea 1-0 in the second leg in the final minute via a Lorenzo Lucca header). Sadly all fell apart when the owner decided to place the club into admin to sell it costing me a 15 point deduction - Lost the likes of Lucca (£50m), Idah (£40m), and Naylor (Regen, £85m) in the space of a week. Couldn't rouse the enthusiasm after that I went to Portugal for bit before burnout struck. Meant I went (for the only time in my FM playthroughs)) 9 seasons with not failing to win at least one trophy per season. Lost the file when my PC GPU went kaboom and knocked out the SSD. Naylor - signed for free from some random academy in Oz. Derby County (2021-2030): 2021/2022 - League One (7th), JPT Winners; 2022/2023 - League One (1st), JPT Winners; 2023/2024 - Championship (2nd), League Cup (Winners), 2024/2025 - Permier League (8th), Europa Conference (Winners), 2025/2026 - Premier League (5th), UEFA Europa League (Winner), 2026/2027 - Premier League (6th), UEFA Europa League (Winner), 2027/2028 - Premier League (4th), UEFA Super Cup (Winner), 2028/2029 - Premier League (5th), UEFA Europa League (Winner); 2029/2030 - Premier League (3rd), UEFA Champions League (Winner). S.C. Braga (2030-2032) - 2030/2031 - Liga Portugal Bwin (2nd), Taca de Portugal (Winner); 2031/2032 - Liga Portugal Bwin (1st), Taca de Portugal (Runner-Up), UEFA Europa League (3rd, Semi-Finals). I saved the best part -

Still not sure what to make of it myself. Must be on a decent wedge nearer to Kalas than Jay's wages.

We've arguably finally got a sensible 'football' guy. Actually been there done that with Palace over an extended period. Let's see what structure he puts in place. Palace have struggled with regards to recruitment since he stepped down.

Possible Leaving (12-Months Remaining on current contracts) - Vyner, Williams, Weimann - Of which, due to availability and rumours, I actually think Vyner is the most likely to leave. I make that as (due to Atkinson's ACL injury) us needing the following: - Goalkeeper, as competition for O'Leary) - Left-Back, as competition for Pring) - Centre-Backs (x2) , Competition for Naismith, Atkinson; possibility of Vyner leaving (see rumours). Towler being sold in retrospect a poor decision. - Centre-Midfielders (x2), competition/replacing James, Williams, Wiemann, and King. Allowing Taylor-Clarke a loan to League One. If rumours are correct one of them may be McCrorie for height/strength, likely to play alongside James. - Utility Forward/Winger - i.e. Ogbene, to replace the pace and/or strength lost selling Semenyo, possible loan. Something I also note - is that pending Sheffield Wednesday taking up the option I believe Bakinson's contract also expires end of this season (June 2023) so more wages freed up, although likely closer in figure to Taylor Moore and DaSilva monetarily.

Currently - outside of younger academy players (Taylor-Clarke, Low, etc), with assumptions on the exit of Kalas, DaSilva, among others - it looks like the below currently. Assuming Scott is sold:

Personally I'm discounting him (currently) until he can prove fitness - double ACL (initial and recurrence) are very worrying given his age. Its giving me Christian Ribeiro Knee/Hamstring vibes, hopefully he can prove myself (and others) with concerns over his fitness completely wrong and have breakthrough similar to Conway this season. Until that time - any minutes next season injury free are a positive - I'm definitely not putting him into the "Possible Scott Replacement" Bracket anytime soon. Lets see him get through A pre-season and full recovery period first. No point overestimating any potential he may or may not have until he can prove fitness. Its the same reason I'm discounting Williams having an impact much next season - I could arguably see him being offloaded for the same reason we're not renewing Kalas' deal. All a matter of opinion of course - just my two cents.

If, and likely, we sell Scott. Positional requirements all over the pitch, lack of depth abound Loads of wages being/already cut between the likes of Bakes, Kalas, Massengo, Taylor Moore, Bentley, Martin, DaSilva, among others within the academy. Decisions to be made on Vyner, Williams (both 12 months left); don't think we'll offer Andi nor James new terms. Need early business sorted. This is going to a big one me thinks, not just for us but many clubs are cutting costs. Need to nail the recruitment, get settled and ready for the pre-season and kick on for next season early doors. Is there a position we arguably don't need cover in? Right Back possibly with Wilson fit for next season alongside Tanner, but aside from that... What are peoples thoughts? - Personally equal parts anxious and excited for what the window will bring.

This. It spoke volumes at the time and in a similar vein to "My Club I'll do what I want" etc. I appreciate the job SL has done in backing the club financially - but it remains that his actual management and leadership has been at best shoddy, and the cost has been basically fixing his own mistakes caused by lack of longer term planning.

To be fair - he's been pretty anonymous since stepping back in, for me anyway. Today was just very poor on top.

Would assumedly split with Peach as well, plus less the likely editing costs assuming outsourced, plus spotify and iTunes related hosting fees - all takes away from it.

Yep. Getting slaughtered.

That was my thought in the Rotherham thread.

What in the Bristol's cocaine riddled water system is that logic? I've seen some stupid takes - but dear lord. If that makes Rovers worth £105m, what on earth are we worth? - Someone tell SL to up the asking price pronto.

My misunderstanding. Thought Gabs feedback was him being tagged into discussion Dilks' point. To be fair to Smith - thought he was generally good first half. Just completely fell off second.

Transfermarkt has Engvall at €1.6m. And undisclosed with regards to the Mechelen fee. Talk at the time and since also pointed towards very inflated agents fees as part of the deal. I'd also point out I'm not only slighting LJ, but MA and JL as well. Transfermarkt makes errors, a common problem is not exchanging to GBP. My error was actually thinking we signed O'Dowda for £1.6m - the above correction is valid, again noting Transfermarkt have the fee in Euros in error. However, being the case, I remove Cornick from my £3.5m total. Doesn't change much, does it? I could put immeasurable other signings from the MA/LJ era. Wish people would stop assuming any criticism of LJ is somehow being heightist - odd tangent. I have never insulted LJ personally in reviews of his terms as manager. Fact of the matter is, we blew nearly £35m of which only a small portion will be recouped, Kalas, Baker, Bentley, Palmer, DaSilva; alone nearly £22m in fees. That's indefensible.

Nige has effectively spent £3.5m on Atkinson, Tanner, Mehmeti, and Cornick. LJ spent more than that on Engvall and O'Dowda.

My only reason to disagree with Sutton - is that too often managers don't get enough time. We've cleared the deadwood now and improved upon last season. Let's see where momentum building now takes us into next season, especially regarding recruitment -would be remiss to sack Pearson now. Nige's contract ends next season anyhow.

My general personal view with LJ is that spending and performances, irrespective of league position, were woeful. I was all for countering the opposition, the problem with it, is that when you can't counter the opposition - you look a bit stupid. Que the zero shots on target etc, and our general lack of having any idea what to do with the ball at the end of his tenure. I'd take the current football under Pearson over anything LJ served up in his final 24 months in charge. Namely because I actually see us trying to play with an identity, irrespective of opposition, with an academy pathway, something much mooted under LJ that never actually happened, Kelly aside being the only example. We're on task to finish 14th, roughly 4 point behind LJs 63 point finish in 2020. Signing fees of LJs 18 most played players - circa £46m. Pearson - £9m, of which £6m was two LJs signings (Weimann, Wells). Wages, £34m per annum vs £25m per annum (circa 26% reduction in playing staff cost). On another note - Ryan Dilks of the Second Tier pod really needs to do some research before spouting some utter bollucks. Not sure why you'd put out an opinion on a club without basic fact checking or feedback and be surprised when you get pilloried for it. Had us favourites to go down, we're midtable, still insist we need a 'young and upcoming manager' without providing a viable name as an example and reckons we need a complete squad overhaul and new identity. Then the next second praises the younger players. I... what?? How does it not click that part of the the reason academy players have integrated so well is because of NP?

Realise this is said in jest but I can't help myself. Actually it's not - BlackBoy Hill, at least, is a nickname of Charles II.

Think based on his last 5-6 games - I genuinely fail see how Weimann keeps a first team spot next season. Need fairly sweeping recruitment in the Summer; GK, CB, CM, RW, AM, and ST.

Simple. They (MA and LJ) spunked it, and more, up the wall on wages than Boro did. End of Story. 123% of turnover wasn't just Championship norm, but stupidity.

In other words, we now have confirmation the player trading strategy came from Ashton. At least he got it right with Webster for us, but that was about it. It's not sustainable, as we found out the hard way.