Alessandro

Out of likes today - as I say, one area trending in the right direction, solid if not spectacular. We’ll see if that’s good enough for the ultimate goal.

Good post and fair comment, the recruitment feels like it has, on the whole, improved. We seem to have fewer misses - the churn is probably less on the pure fact we’ve signed less? The lack of loans very much a NP thing, as he publicly said often he didn’t want pointless loans - then 2 loans as soon as he goes… Twine has somewhat rescued what was a slightly underwhelming Jan IMO (in terms of for this season at least) I’ve been critical of Tinnion, feel like you’ve mellowed - even warmed perhaps to him…!? Has he reached out to you too or just the results helped But joking aside, credit Tinnion and his team for some good signings. Very solid, but not spectacular. No £1-2m’s looking like going for £10-15m plus yet.. I’m still interested to see how a larger sample over a longer period of windows pans out…especially as we won’t have the academy products at the same rate for at least a season or two…

I’d also like to see it again if it’s on the highlights, but felt like if Anis hadn’t tried to walk it past their whole defence and keeper into the net in the first half, Twine was close by with a better chance to shoot.

He did - and also add I feel like I’ve noticed him making good runs into the box off the ball and getting into good positions on a number of occasions, only not to be found by a team mate - he could and should well have added several more goals to his tally if he was picked out more often.

Is Bird not the likely replacement of James? ‘Central 3’ of Bird, Knight and Twine (possibly)

I don’t think it’s worth over analysing the price. If the club want to make the deal happen, I have a feeling they will (obviously within reason) The nest egg and FFP room are there. The number 9 and 10 are our 2 most important signings this summer. I think they’ll back Manning well.

Yep this season could be classed by some as progression - but that is only really progression in terms of the curve going up after several years of going down. A little bit like Sunak saying, look I’m great I cut inflation…well how did it get so high in the first place?! Either way, at least we are, for now, trending in the right direction thanks to both Pearson and Manning this season.

Yep very true: James, Williams, Conway, Twine and King could all be gone. That’s 4 starters today that were the midfield/forward spine of our team. Add in potential bids for others like Pring. Big summer ahead (again)

We all want to go into next season and the summer with some positivity - we now can. Over to Tinnion and JL to deliver what we need to kick in the transfer market

Good half - albeit against very deflated and weak opposition. Could, should be 2,3 up which is positive. Twine, surprisingly to me written off by so many already, showing what he can do in that 10 position. Set up Mehmeti for a very good chance he tries to walk in and Conway for the run and pen. Let’s hope for some more goals second half.

For me NP could well be saying, if JL had a problem with the training schedule - fine, you’ve sacked the medical team - but maybe also have a chat with your TD as he was fully aware of it and signed off on it too.

I thought he was past his best, but very happy to stand corrected - he’s really upped his levels and fitness, seems a no brainer for next season, if he doesn’t end up with better offers…

Spot on - surprised how many think it’s a bad decision. Absolutely clear there, his left arm is up and out as he’s flung and twisted his body at the cross = making his body unnaturally bigger = penalty.

If that’s the case it’s vitally important our recruitment is top notch for the next few years. If they’re serious about the top 6 we can’t have repeats of last January’s window, for example, IMO. Fascinated to see if the wallet opens or not and by how much, in the summer.

I was very surprised yesterday with the lack of academy player minutes. Manning’s seeming reluctance to use them is not going to endear him to his bosses IMO. Again, as with the discussions of ‘footballing style’ - you feel something will need to give here too…

I’ve agreed that under Manning we’ve been in a patch of what could be called ‘relegation form’ not so long ago - so only fair to acknowledge we’ve been in a patch of what could be called ‘promotion form’ recently. Feels the sample of ‘poor’ was longer than ‘good’ - but perhaps we’ve turned a corner….Yesterday will likely fall into either category depending on our next few results though.

Think this angle is pretty key. IMO that lunge there, with the extension of his left arm, has made his body unnaturally bigger. That is the handball law - so in my view that’s a penalty.

What did it hit then?

And a rightful penalty not awarded giving Huddersfield 3 points they shouldn’t have would have kept Birmingham in the relegation zone, wrongly. Would Birmingham fans accept that as common sense?

I think what your referring to in this case is his right arm which protects his fall? The ball hits his left, which was flailing has he did a bit of a clumsy twist of the body to protect himself from the ball. (He dived with his left instead or right foot which turned his body) IMO - by the modern, current handball rules - it’s a penalty. Is it a ‘harsh’ pen, probably yes by old standards, but that’s the rules these days. Hence why in those positions players often choose not to dive in and instead try and block whilst holding arms behind backs.

He will get that now - you can argue if he’s earned it or not - but it’s the only logical move for the club. I suspect he won’t have that many games though, from the fans especially, to show he can have us up there (top 10) competing before he’s under massive pressure again though!

Perhaps a few of these things but for me, simplistically, I feel what’s changed is the message, not the delivery of the message.

Ha mate - well if you haven’t, then you seem to have got yourself in a right old lather with multiple posters for no reason!

So you agree then, at some points during this season, we have been in the form that would, some seasons in the championship, be relegation form?

@transfer reader - so if @Silvio Dante had said - during some seasons over the last 10 years, that period of PPG extrapolated over a season would be ‘relegation form’ - would that be acceptable?