Fuber

I won't speak for WSM. But HH invited me on a while back and the timing due to my work schedule was completely unfeasible. Otherwise I would've absolutely loved shutting down some of Ian's made up references and anecdotes.

No issue with others nor myself being 'knocked' if and when blatantly being contradictory or non-objective, if the content of others doesn't keep views of other in check then what's the point of forum debate. Could make the counter point of contradicting yourself in that one post. You knock some on here as if we consider ourselves better than Ian (we don't, just differing views), then do the same yourself calling a portion of the same posters childish. Literally pot kettle. Ironically.

Cracking result against Barrow in midweek.

Think it would be more likely that we sign a free agent on lesser wages than James to save money who has progression chance, to compete with TGH and Williams. Noticed the other day Shandon Baptiste is out of contract at Brentford end of the season- another Oxford connection (for example) if we chose to go that way. Signed in the Championship for them and had no promotion wage rise clause. So not a long shot salary wise - rumoured to be on £12kpw. Unlikely, but just highlighting where the clubs thought process could be.

It was the three following Soton fouls by Armstrong (twice) and Mara had me tilting my head in confusion like A German Shepherd.

Think it's more the marketing element to help cover costs of the Heritage and Archive initiative - they've just used the Leeds game as some foundation for the release and it enables inclusion and revisiting of the clubs history. Think some are reading a slight too much into it - and not taking into account that at the time it was quite a big event. No different to us theoretically beating Man Utd in the FA Cup in SAFs final season in terms of scale - Leeds won the league that season and had been top 3 the precious 5 dating back to '68.

He's slightly inconsistent. But it's worth pointing out that, rather than age, for the period in his career he is at that he actually doesn't have that many first team appearances. Inconsistency would reflect that, Imo.

Speaking of - some hilarious comments from Derby fans since he 'signed' for us. Apparently gone up a level.

The exact profile of player (age, technical ability, fee, and salary) we need to aim for going forward imo. No stupid fees, just smart business.

Bugger. A tiny pessimistic part of me wanted him to remain a free agent in case the worst happens with Manning. Hopefully we pick up League form sooner rather than later.

Appointed Wealdstone boss in the National league. Moving up from St Albans the division below. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68098601 Missed this happening at the time a couple of weeks ago.

Wept that's a bit of a drop. Always felt he was going to end up in League One Luton with the timber he'd put on, but that's a bit worse than I expected.

Always sad to read a fellow red fighting the long fight with cancer and losing. However, equally enriching to read of the spirit he fought tooth and nail with on a well documented basis. Sleep well fellow Red. Sorry for your loss Russell.

This is bait.

From what I recall Pearsons point was more communication than the lack of deal, the whole 'ask the people upstairs' presser springs to mind.

Not joking, it's reminding me of the kind of signings that Ipswich made under Hurst in their rebuild with their 'stable'cost-cutting owner Evans. Now where did they finish again? Oh.

I mean, sure. Doesn't address the return versus players available element and my main point, but sure.

*with a (near) fully fit squad. Not an injury crisis.

Not sure why people are facepalming this - this division is unpredictable.

Really? Because the message from our board is otherwise.

Caused by the board deciding to change leadership structure after Gould left, resultant in Alexander being sacked only months into his position, then Pearson as a consequence as they had to deal with a more 'honest' individual directly. The instability came from above NP. I'd have preferred it if Alexander was kept in post rather than the inexperienced front we have now - as would've meant less turnover. But we're here now, so... For the second part in bold - stability matters naught without some ability.

I mean. If you still can't see the results in the accounts in context of the league position(s) at this stage with the clarity of hindsight. Then sure, OK. Others, myself included, saw a manager who got results while under severe cost cutting restrictions lowering the wage bill by 30% and sorting perhaps the most toxic playing staff culture the club has had - in a long time. This a forum, can agree to disagree. Alternatively, if you want to see where we could have ended up without Pearson, look at QPR the last 15 months. Huddersfield. Blackburn. Swansea. Cutting costs and falling down the league season after season. No momentum nor culture. Gist of it. We were stable. I prefer underpromising and overachieving. No we've lined up four signings (Mebude, Murphy, Stokes, Bird) for next season in what looks to be a changing of the guard, TGH clause activated. Twine TBD No money remember, but if sources are correct, between the first five of the above, we're talking £3m+ spent. Just grates of what could have been, this season. Now we have to see for next, instead, outside of something utterly remarkable and out of nowhere.

He's also pointed out that even Manning doesn't really do 'Formations' to be fair. More akin to systems.

Think it comes down to squad balance. As a whole we don't have a creative enough squad - that applies to all of Williams, James, Mehmet, Bell, among others. Namely because we, under NP, were more interested in focusing transitions and counter attacks. Don't need creativity if the opposition are over committed. None of them consistently have the vision or ability to thread thirty yard through ball or beat a man. We have five players out of contract out of season allowing some changing of the guard. It's then that Tinns will need to earn his keep. Based on the evidence this window - that's not something I have any faith is going to happen. Yet.

Agree with this... up to the last 20-30 yards. The one element Manning needs to solve is patterns to use in the final third to break down defences and try to eliminate some of our poorer decision making - something NP didn't have to worry about with his transitory style when we played on the break (and part of the reason he used it). We're still three scored in seven. We need to turn some of this momentum into more chance creation.