cityexile

Brighton have not only a very wealthy owner, it happens to have come from building a leading edge analytics company, which is clearly leveraged for their benefit. Others will catch up, but almost a unique set of circumstances.

Yep, the Flint one still annoys. Real risk pushing him up front, actually go ahead….then leave him there. Even at the time it was a ‘what even are we doing’ going through my mind. A real sliding doors moment.

First three league games all a bit similar for us. Three teams I would expect to be in the middle third come the end of the season, all established and never give us an easy game. More of the same from the first two I would expect. A month or two ago I thought Preston and Birmingham would struggle. Preston have made since then some solid signings and Birmingham fans confidence pre season much higher with new owners and a bit of cash from the Bellingham sale. Birmingham won on Saturday with a 91st minute winner, us in the 94th. Identical records, albeit on two games, and in the table ‘as it stands’ they sneak ahead of us by being one of the few teams to beat us alphabetically, damn them. Anything other than a close game will be a shock, fingers crossed we sneak it. If a BCFC comes out of this match with 7 points from the first 3, they will be delighted! Should have sent them down a few seasons back.

FFP is in essence what we are allowed to lose over a three year cycle, to the limited extent I understand it. Losses still need to be funded however, we have no divine right for SL to fund it for ever. The strategic risk is if SL does not fancy, for whatever reason, funding £12m per year for the foreseeable future. He is getting older and has expressed softly the wish for others to become involved. Whatever one thinks of the successes and failures of SLs tenure we should not doubt his financial commitment over the years. Others maybe too easily just assume that ‘allowable FFP losses’ translates to ‘yea, that’s SLs contribution’. He may be looking for some wriggle room.. Time will tell as always.

I mean, the right thing to say for sure. Would be very surprised if we did not add at least one however. Not a market to appear desperate in, and for what it is worth, I don’t think we are.

Exactly this. Kind of result we have given away often over the seasons to hard working well drilled sides at AG who do a job on us. Was shown just before our goal, when Max makes his best save of the game and Cornick gets in a cracking block. These games can so easily go the other way. We are not great quite clicking going forward, but hard to beat and break down. Always gives us a chance. Would have taken the 0-0 as welooked better than last week, but bloody delighted with the win.

Love a last minute winner. Just about deserved and good performance overall. Brightens up the weekend!

Always a bit of a battle there, but done ok, solid enough. Always feel Millwall are the masters of squeezing 1-0s out of this type of match, but we are competitive without really in any way dominating.

Yes. Couple of bonkers pen shoot outs this cup.

He could technically win his first trophy tomorrow if registered in time, the Super Cup. The memes if ‘1 day at BM, one cup, x days at Spurs…’.if it happens.

On Saturday, completely invisible on the pitch. Not one worthwhile contribution.

SL being clear they met our valuation. Sucks, but got to wish him well. Some teams have gone past us, lots have gone the other way and would have killed for this kind of deal.

I mean possible…but then he really should be on the stage.

Northern Section Tranmere Rovers vs Leicester City Salford City vs Leeds Harrogate Town vs Blackburn Rovers Stoke vs Rotherham Wrexham vs Bradford Doncaster vs Everton Bolton vs Middlesbrough Port Vale vs Crewe Nottingham Forest vs Burnley Sheffield Wednesday vs Mansfield Wolves vs Blackpool Sheffield United vs Lincoln Southern Section: Bristol City vs QPR or Norwich Plymouth vs Crystal Palace Reading vs Ipswich Portsmouth vs Peterborough Luton vs Gillingham Swansea vs Bournemouth Fulham vs Tottenham Exeter vs Stevenage Wycombe vs Sutton United Birmingham vs Cardiff Newport vs Brentford Chelsea vs AFC Wimbledon

The reaction of Pearson is the biggest concern for me. Clearly not been in the loop it feels and is (rightly you would think) somewhat pissed off by it. Rather naively assumed he was in the inner circle for these things and we would be ready to go with Plan B.

Home v QPR or Norwich. Dull, but a home tie I suppose.

Lots of players who could ‘do with a goal’ getting one or two tonight. Millwall away a much higher bar, but did all we could and needed too tonight. Onwards and upwards.

Great Scott. Good Knight.

Turning in to a good Knight.

Odds on 2-2 89th min, lose on pens? Would not mind getting a third.

We held out for £25m as long as we dare I guess. Complete speculation. but if Scott has let it be known he actually wanted this chance, then very little left to do other than get the best price we could. Nothing about City letting the fans down.

Funny old game. Lucky to be ahead really, but will take it.

Going to be one of those.

Headless chicken scores.

Sod it. Nothing else to say.