Fuber

Dont think anybody had what would be called a good season at QPR to be fair. Fresh start needed perhaps.

They actually really don't have a young squad to be honest. Harry Clarke is 22 and basically their youngest first teamer from last season. Average age of their midfield is around 28-29. To contrast that, we have 6 players younger than that (Mehmeti, Bell, Conway, Scott, Taylor-Clarke, Benarous) we can expect play some first team minutes in the Championship this coming season. Only balanced by the fact we have King, James, Weimann, and Wells in the squad.

Just point out, if that's your qualifying factor, City - historically - miss out on some fantastic strikers. Thierry Henry had 3 in 16 before joining Arsenal. Just saying. Secondly, on Semenyos rate of 1 in 4, had he stayed - he would have, in theory, got 12 this season. Although I would qualify that by saying, it depends on your definition of striker. He's by no means a poacher - but that role is basically irrelevant in the modern Championship and EPL.

Preston another if I recall correctly, ourselves, Millwall, and Plymouth - the four biggest.

For every Foster, there's a Paul Hartley.

All increased their wage spending at the right time due to being well managed in general but especially around COVID to suite their own plans and progression. All have recruited well. Those relegated (especially Norwich and WBA) didn't reset their playing rosters enough when yoyoing, and are now paying the price. Webber for Norwich is their very own MA - his recruitment has been shocking and overpriced. Sounds remarkably familiar.

If I recall correctly our wage spending was slightly higher than Sheffield United that season; as we were only in our second season in League One - whereas Sheffield United were in their fourth. Low fees meant we could afford the like of Ayling and Freeman on longer and bigger contracts for nominal expenditure, so we did indeed offset the Baldock funds on running costs due to the stadium situation. I'd also be amazed if any League 2 size had anywhere near their turnover - their shirt sales and sponsorship must be huge for their relative level.

Generally, trend is upwards - and I'd personally hope for that to continue. I.e. if we better our proportionate points tally, improve defensively and offensively, even if marginally, I'd take it as long as performances are maintained or better - so less soft goals conceded and lapses of concentration. Hypothetically, lets say we finish 12th next season - but lost key players to injury, conceded less, and new signings have bedded in; I'd take it - just some stability where we're not selling and buying buckets loads of players for the sake of it, and we can keep seeing an identity on the pitch. If there isn't any injury issues or other unexpected problems that arise - anything below 13th next season I'd consider disappointing - and possibly consider letting Nige leave at the end of his contract and review options to take over. On balance I'd probably agree with TR - I'm an advocate and always have been for NP, but this is Nige's first proper window when he should have resources to build with - if there's any season we should be improving, even if marginally, it should be this season. But hey - opinions etc. There is an element re to the ins-and-outs element, but even if Scott stays we should have some headroom for one or two fees with the reduction in wages of TK and JD, along with Taylor Moore etc leaving. I'd be surprised if we didn't try looking abroad as well - but can't say I agree with the general statement here at least in respect of the loans element. Not that I'm against loans completely, but they hamstring you with regards to replacement cost when you lose them end of season. What are Boro going to do end of season? - They arguably only work if you make it up, which we simply can't afford. If properly scouted, there are some complete gems in the lower leagues and teams that have got the PL have had an eclectic mix regarding recruitment, for example, if you look at the core of Brentfords promotion winning team as a sample; David Raya (£3m, Blackburn), Mads Roerslav (Nom. Fee, Copenhagen), Pontus Jansson (£5m Leeds), Ethan Pinnock (£3m, Barnsley), Rico Henry (£1m - rising to £5m with add-ons, Walsall), Matthias Jenson (3m, Fiorentina), Josh DaSilva (Free, Arsenal), Shandon Baptiste (£2m, Oxford), Marcus Forss (Free, WBA), Bryan Mbuemo (£5,8m, Troyes), and Ivan Toney (£5m, Peterborough). This was able to happen due to reinvestment of players sold - but with a strict wage cap. Whats notable is that a portion of players came from abroad (Roerslav, Jensen, Mbuemo) but a bigger portion came from academy releases or nominal fee purchases (Roerslav again, DaSilva, Forss) and investment in Championship and League One players (Raya, Jansson, for experience the latter from CH; then Pinnock, Henry, Baptiste, and Ivan Toney) Other members of their squad signed from lower in the football league pyramid or former academy players include Konsa signed from Charlton (sold for £12.5m), Mepham from their academy having been released by Chelsea (sold for £12m), Sawyers signed from Walsall alongside Henry (sold for £3m), Watkins signed from Exeter (sold to Villa for £20m+) as examples. Where a player is playing shouldn't matter if they're good enough technically, motivated, and our coaching team are effective.

I was unfortunately passed it on a WhatsApp group and found it humourous so reposted here - I had the same difficulty tracking it, can only assume it may have been renamed re the thread or deleted by the poster.

Meanwhile at Portman Road. I'll have whatever they're sniffing.

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.