Phileas Fogg

I know it's all part of your brand, but there's no need to belittle people as often as you do.

Exactly - pick options that look fairly realistic but also have fanbases who'll respond in uproar.

What an unambitious take ?

No actually - it’s quite interesting. Think that’s a clue.

My post wasn't on the OS so I'm not quite sure why you've replied……..……..

I know someone who knows Scott and speaks to him regularly (I know, I know). This won’t shock anyone, but Scott has fully embraced leaving this summer and taking the next step of his career. He knows there’s substantial interest from clubs in England and overseas. The rumoured Wolves interest was apparently very real, but Scott knew and/or was advised that he could do better. Spurs seems his preferred move apparently, but he’s got a substantial amount of options and is very open to going abroad. The Man City game made a huge impact on him, and their players weren’t just being sporting - they were genuinely impressed.

I think it's partly because people like to go to football for a release. I would like to think most supporters are well aware that it's foolish to criticise a new signing after just a handful of games.. or a young player who's still developing - but that's not as interesting for some. They'd rather the instant gratification of being able to vent and criticise. What I find tends to happen is some people make a flash negative opinion about a player very early - and then try to see a reflection of that opinion in everything they do from then on.

Yes apologies, meant Chris *Hughton

Houghton - on paper, I can see why it was appealing. I just don't think he'd have worked here. Our fans tend to warm to more salt-of-the-earth types (GJ, SC, NP) - and don't warm to people who aren't naturally charismatic and/or talk in fluffy detail (SO'D, LJ, Coppell). With that in mind, I don't think Houghton would've been a good fit.

It’s all a bit of a joke now - but this started out simply because you hate the idea of people knowing things about the club that you don’t.

I think this is actually a fairly astute decision from that mad Chelsea board. This season is pretty much a write-off for them now, the CL is a free hit, but besides that their season is basically done. I feel sorry for Potter. I rate him, and can completely understand why he took the opportunity, but he just wasn't the right fit. Especially when you consider all the big-money players that may not have actually been his choices. A club with Chelsea comes with huge expectations too - Potter probably needed a season or two to get things as he wants and he was never going to get that at Chelsea. This buys the Chelsea board time to actually get the permanent manager right. They could have rushed into it, but this gives them a couple of months to do the process properly and make sure they're getting the right person for the job. Lampard is, obviously, popular with the fanbase. Lots of the players already know him from his previous tenure, and those that don't will respect him due to his playing career. It's a sticking-plaster solution but I think it's a pretty good one in the circumstances.

When teams are established in the prem - the usual rotation of lower league managers isn't a consideration. Bournemouth, Fulham, Watford and other yo-yo clubs perhaps - but not Leicester. They'll have higher profile targets in mind as Wolves did with Lopetegui. If Leicester were in the Championship, given the historical connection, it would probably be a realistic proposition - but at present, no way. As we know the full context of our situation, generally our fanbase likes him. Outside of BS3 however, Pearson's reputation has dropped significantly.

I think this answers both, but my perception is that Leicester fans are a bit more sensible than most Prem clubs. They, and the club as a whole, gave Rodgers plenty of time. Despite being a middling Prem club in terms of stature (ie in the sort of position they should be in), they aren't as reactionary as Leeds fans. I'm aware I've directly compared Leicester (the club) to Leeds (the club + fans) - but I think it's valid. I view Leeds as one of a minority of clubs whereby the fans directly influence how the board act with regard to management. Within the UK, I'd probably include Man United, Liverpool, Celtic, Rangers, Villa, Newcastle (dirsregarding Mike Ashley) the Sheffield clubs and actually us too. Others also, but off the top of my head these are the clubs I thought of. I think that Leeds fans, and perhaps rightly so, see themselves as a genuinely big club. In league with the likes of Villa and Newcastle. My perception is that Leicester fans view themselves in that same sort of group as Southampton, Wolves and to an extent Everton (in their current situation, not historically). Clubs that (theoretically) shouldn't be relegated - but at the same time can't quite get into the top 6 with consistency. I've been a fan of Marsch for a while and think he is a better manager than his spell at Leeds suggested. Given the high risk/reward ratio in the Prem - they had to make a decision about him as soon as relegation became a genuine concern. If he was allowed time at the right club, I think he'd be one of the best managers in the league. Difficult to prove, given his record at Leeds, but that's my view.

I've read their forum and Twitter chat - It's not rumoured as such, more fans harking back at the "good times". It's a bit like when there's a vacancy here and people moot the idea of taking Cotterill back. In theory - sounds like a reasonable idea, but when you're a fan of the club and know the full context - you know it won't happen. Leicester will go for a more glamorous manager - I doubt he'd be top of their list, but someone like Jesse Marsch would probably be a good fit if given time. Wasn't quite the right person for Leeds in my view.

They don’t look very different - and not a great deal would change in the space of a few weeks anyway

Good thread. I'm sure I've had absolutely loads over the years. A few off the top of my head.. Cotterill - I was really against Cotterill's appointment at the time. I bought into the myth that he was a dinosaur who played poor football. McInnes -I thought Del McInnes would be a great success. Euro 2012 - for some reason, I thought England would be competitive (!?). Johnson - I kept patience with Johnson for a lot longer than most. In hindsight, he probably should've got the sack far earlier than he did. These are the main 4 that came to mind.. lots more I'll think of I'm sure.

You must've watched a great deal of Angel Gomes, James Garner, Tommy Doyle and James McAtee to be able to say that with confidence.

Excellent to see him included - well deserved. It's going to sound a really rogue thing to say given how proven he is, but I feel that Toney has more of a willing mentality than Kane. I'd have much more confidence in him to have scored that penalty against France. I had a horrible feeling about it when I saw Kane preparing - there's just something about him which doesn't fill me with confidence 100% of the time as you'd expect for a striker of his ilk.

It's difficult to say - the AG redevelopment looks quite a lot like the base design in that video. I don't love the AG redevelopment personally, but I can see why it was necessary. It's obviously a far better all round stadium than the old AG, but something about it feels a bit hollow. Can't put my finger on what it is. I think lots of that is just nostalgia though.

They're a bit of an anomaly because you tend to find German clubs fans (in general) are better behaved than English clubs. Frankfurt seem a real exception, as you said; caused issues everywhere recently.

What is it about Frankfurt's support? Are they historically quite a problematic club ie Millwall or is this a recent thing?

Not bothered by this result. Luton are doing well, we're not going to get relegated or make the playoffs. A small squad that's still developing with loads of young players - exactly the sort of game we'd struggle in annoyingly. I am hoping that by this time next year, we'll be winning more games like this and have a realistic chance of playoffs by mid-March.

I appreciate this will no doubt sound unnecessarily grumpy - but does this really require a new thread when there's already a huge one, discussing all of this, in existence already?

I am surprised at the desire to make a judgement so quickly. In addition to being in a new team and system, it's also a young man moving to a totally new city. There's so much more to consider when a player moves teams. Some adapt quicker than others. It may well take a pre-season to get him where he needs to be.. or, if we end up with a group of nothing matches towards the end of the season then that time could be useful. The idea that Pearson might be playing him to try and justify his transfer is just mad..

It's not really worth replying when he does this - it's his forum party trick. State an opinion which is technically true and always fundementally flawed - but is at least plausible to argue. Ensure this opinion factors in 0 nuance and 0 context. When you are inevitably picked up on it, use reductio ad absurdum exclusively. Repeat this reductio ad absurdum argument, rearranging the words slightly, to any subsequent replies. Ensure you miss their point and refuse to elaborate further. The best example is the ludicrous "I didn't see that on the OS........" routine.