Davefevs

Yes. I always thought Massengo seemed a bit lonely in previous seasons, but he is always filmed with this young bunch.

Wish City would do something like this, but I guess without filling AG this isn’t necessary.

The salary cap proposal had a moratorium on existing contracts. As does SCMP (Lg1/2 FFP). It’s not perfect, they should cap those players wages at Championship average wage, or something like that. The concept has legs.

That’s a very good way of looking at it.

Nor does anyone speculate how Derby might’ve done in their “cheating” seasons had they not cheated. Had they complied they might not have got Rooney as manager (player- manager initially), they might’ve not been able to sign Lawrence, or Bielik, or whoever else. They might’ve had to sell Bird or Buchanan or whoever. In any of those scenarios they might’ve got relegated last season. They cheated, they lost the points this season instead of previous seasons. The real league table is the current one published with points deductions. We might struggle next season, we might do ok. Who’s to say someone like Stoke might also get points deductions next season, maybe Boro and Forest are forced into sales if they don’t go up. Its all an unknown.

Good to see Swiss Ramble have updated their templates to includes the average 2 years. Interesting that promotion bonuses are included for Cardiff as excludables, because I can find nothing in the current rules about it, but they were mentioned in an old version….Shaun Harvey copy and paste error again?

Since 2015/16 here is a list of all clubs that have either received PPs or have been promoted (some clubs haven’t been relegated back down….yet). (inc Fulham’s latest promotion) Cardiff, Fulham, QPR and West Brom have each had 4 years worth of PPs in the 7 years, inc this year. Still very possible that Bournemouth are joined by Sheff Utd or Huddersfield….might even be Boro or Blackburn…all clubs to have received PPs in this 7 year period. Can Luton or Forest buck the trend?

That’s £34m more the PL clubs get next season. If Bournemouth go up, that’s another £15m….and if Sheff Utd do so too. That’s another £34m also. If Watford and Norwich come down, that’s only 2 years worth of PPs they get, so a bit more pressure on them to go back up quickly. Burnley or Everton in a bad way financially, whichever one comes down. Might we see a slight chink in the yoyo’ing of clubs going forward….I doubt it….but we might see the odd one plummet too, like Sunderland.

Think @billywedlockand @Dr Ballshave given you the pluses. To add to that, he never really had any pace, so there’s not much to have lost (Ala Teddy Sheringham). Downsides / Other Considerations: where would that leave Matty James? I don’t think you could play both together. I think both Williams and Massengo (if he stays) would benefit from him….always available, calm in possession, etc. Was discussing with @Harryand @redcherryberryyesterday about back 4 and 4141 type stuff. Pack would fit that nicely. Perm any 4 in front of that. I guess we will have to wait and see. It’s a kind of “romantic” suggestion. In an ideal world, we should be trying to identify the next Marlon Pack, but it’s not an easy position to pick out watching tv highlights, and trying a data based approach can lead you up blind alleys. DM screens don’t tend to jump out at you unless you are watching specifically for that. For info, I looked at the stats of quite a few (realistic Champ) players with the traits to be a good screen….I finally came up with Romal Palmer at Barnsley. So I sat down and watched some video of him, but he doesn’t screen. He just gets similar stats from a different role. Therefore “eyes” so important.

Wow.

Sad emoji….wanted the shocked one. I thought £60k p.w was bad enough.

I can’t say I know the fees of all the recent signings, or some of the ones who’ve failed, but it feels a bit like the old Liverpool, buying with a succession plan, e.g. Steve Nicol, 1 or 2 years in the reserves before suddenly coming in seamlessly. Keita, Thiago, Konate, Joto, Dias come in, not for astronomical fees, small time to acclimatise and boom. Minamino the outlier. Joto £40m to fit the way Liverpool play…evolving from Firminho false 9 style…or Werner, deemed to dear at £50m. Im sure it’s not as black and white as I paint it, but it’s good.

Great save from Will Buse.

Or tweet

He told me he was the best player at City. (he did say it tongue in cheek though in front of some of the younger players who’d not seen him play)

Good points….always the dilemma about how quickly you move to your preferred way of playing, and how much pain you’re prepared to take to get there. Still remember the old post-World Cup stuff / fall-out - bomb out the old players, start bringing in the young’uns….ready for the Euros, then fail to qualify. If you’re lucky most of the players are already here….it doesn’t feel like it though….however sometimes it only takes 1 or 2 players to make it click.

For me, the most important player in a back 4 is the one that plays in front of it!!! ??? Get that player right, the world is your oyster.

As I said I think he’s done a good job.

Atkinson definitely shoved by Berge!

Comments above. If Derby put out this team v us and you ignore finances / points deduction etc Roos Byrne / Jagielka / Davies / Buchanan Knight / Shinnie / Bird Eboseke / CKR / Lawrence Subs (from): Morrison, Joswiak, Stearman, Marshall, Sibley, Forsyth etc might you argue that’s better than City? I didn’t include Bielik. All about opinions though, but I think that’s a tad stronger than us….not much, admittedly….but I don’t think it’s weak either. Bottom end of middle-eight, just like us.

If the tables stay as they are, would we play Coventry at home?

I don’t think it does….just signifies who makes the playoffs. @Lrrr will confirm.

Couple of games to go.