GrahamC

Thought it was effectively that the old company was bankrupt so the only 2 saleable assets that were left (Jan Moller was the other, who joined Toronto) were sold to clear some of the debts. Think the Harford money that Birmingham paid was what we still owed Newcastle & presumably Malmo were owed money for Moller, too.

Think some bloke is caught shouting “I wish you were dead” Cotts’ post match interview was bleeped out as a result, the Press Association reported all this at the time. Every club has tossers that follow them but most don’t bang on about how “loyal & true” their “family club” support is. They’re really weird, said it before they’re like some odd cult.

Joao cost Reading a rumoured £6m, is on telephone numbers & injury prone, he’s only scored 5 this season in 13 starts. A few years back I was a big fan, that ship has sailed now.

Remind me if that ***** ever did anything about the abuse Cotts got? He said it was amongst the worst of his career & I think we all know Steve is neither a whinger about these type of thing or someone who hasn’t heard this type of stuff before, but what he alleges was said to him was truly disgusting & yet they’ve done nothing about it. ******* family club my arse.

Fair enough but wouldn’t that equally apply to McCallum & Buchanan, too? Making someone like the Wimbledon LB far more likely?

I certainly wouldn’t be fretting about anyone who is out of contract in 2024, as the whole power balance has altered. We can decide if they’re going to be worth another deal during next season. Likewise can’t see anyone paying a fee for Weimann or Williams these days. The last time we had money to spend was Rob Atkinson, wasn’t it? Think that went ok.. There is an opportunity to reshape more this summer than last, simply because we are coming to the end of far more contracts & the last of the high earners. I’m fascinated to see what type of signings we make, Tinnion is hinting at lower league players, Pearson seemed to say we need some with Championship experience, going to be hard to do both of those things.

@Davefevs just read this & couple of things; Watched a bit of Werder Bremen on Sky at the weekend Buchanan played the last 30 & did one absolutely brilliant goal saving tackle. Secondly re LBs, very unusually I listened to Radio Bristol yesterday & Gary Owers was repeatedly making the point as to how impressed he was with Ryan Manning whose OoC this summer, 26 & definitely a feisty sort. I know we’ve discussed he’s a bit of a mercenary but good player.

At this stage in his career (12 Championship goals in 30 starts 8 sub appearances last season) then I’d suggest that he was certainly better than Sam Bell, but I don’t think that’s the answer you’re after & 320 minutes spread over 3 starts & 7 sub ones is clearly plenty for you to have made a definitive decision. As has been pointed out by others he actually replaced Chris Martin, who is 34 & now on the way down, but again that’s not the answer you’re after, is it?

Also he has only started a third of their games because Morris & Adebayo were being picked ahead of him. People need to realise Luton are 4th, we’re 14th, so signing their squad players (whatever your opinion of this particular player) is not exactly revelatory.

Went for the first of these, it was the most memorable moment for me. POTY has to be between Scott & Vyner, no one else has started enough games. Can see a case for either but went for Zak based on his improvement whilst Alex has been excellent as well.

Think so, for all the stick Martin got on here, the WSM partnership really worked as all 3 had complementary skill sets plus the absence of Naismith in midfield hasn’t helped, either. James is a very good player but isn’t going to carve a side open with his passing & we can expect to lose Scott this summer so the addition of someone who makes a goal contribution from midfield as well as provides his creativity will be key.

That’s fair. Also worth pointing out Wells is going through a serious goal drought himself, aside from his back to back penalties, (not dismissing those by the way, both were excellent & had to be scored) he’s only netted once in his last 19 games. You could argue we don’t create as many chances as we did when we had Semenyo’s pace & strength, but if you do so then you have to say that’s the same side Cornick is trying to make an impression in. Conway is definitely our jewel in the crown but as the season is going to fizzle out in terms of relegation/playoffs this is a great time for him to return without real pressure.

I think it’s a consequence of trying to run this season on such low numbers. We have basically flogged the same 12/13 players for almost a month now & although I didn’t see the game so won’t comment on the marks, we simply had no one else to play bar King, who wouldn’t be expected to start 4 consecutive games in centre mid at 34 having barely featured even as a sub since Xmas. I don’t think we’ll be signing in anywhere near the volume that some posters do, but we badly need to add a couple of experienced players to our core this summer. As for the front three Wells is struggling of late so I get why he’s dipping in & out. I’m not starting the whole Cornick debate again but I understand why as we have little to play for we’re trying to get him bedded in.

Missed the FA Cup games prior to Man City.

Interested to know what you’re basing Bajic “doing well” on. He’s played 9 games in the French second division (a very poor standard) & kept one clean sheet, let in 2 yesterday v Caen. He might come back to compete but nothing so far suggests he’ll be first choice.

This season? Dasilva has been available throughout, 24 starts & on the bench for 13, so 37/38, he was ill so missed Rotherham away, that’s the only one. Weimann missed 2 league games with injury (Birmingham & Blackburn home), he was ill earlier in the season & so also missed Swansea home but has been in the squad for 35/38. Huge contrast with 20/21 Weimann was out injured for 39/46 games & Dasilva for 32/46. Plus the likes of Williams (played 1 league game), Adelakun, Brunt, Martin, Watkins, Pring, Walsh, Paterson, Baker all out long term. Transfermarkt has this data.

I’m sure someone can come up with the stats but my hunch is overall significantly improved (people forget under Holden we were missing about 8 players for almost the entire season) but when we reach pinch points like the last few games that hits us hard. Naismith has been a bit of a disappointment to only be available 20/38 but Kalas was an known issue & Benarous & Baker both extremely unlucky. Does need to be a big factor in our recruitment, bluntly we need more Sykes, Scott, Wells & Vyners, so players who regularly are available for 40 plus games.

I rather got the impression we were shocked how rusty he was when signed & don’t think his only appearance for the 21s was particularly great, either. Think we are forming an opinion of him as the weeks go by, I doubt very much he’ll face Reading but if he doesn’t get a chance before the season ends I doubt we’ll offer him anything.

I know nothing but think it would be extremely odd either of us not to offer him anything or to know that he’s going to reject it & then name him as captain today. I would expect a three year deal will be offered & signed before the QPR game.

Kane Wilson has played 84 minutes of Championship football spread over 5 sub appearances, so I think I might just reserve judgement yet..

I think he’s referring to Swansea re no wins & clean sheets actually.. Still a lot of relentless negativity with absolutely no context on here (for balance).

Think getting Kane Wilson back on the pitch finally might be another but not too many of them. Seems we were denied a clear penalty at 1-0 & had a goal chalked off for offside but we’re punchless at present. Need Conway back & having Naismith & James back will certainly help. As for Haikin I’m not sure we see him as a long term part of the squad, if he doesn’t get an opportunity with so few games left I won’t be surprised if we look elsewhere this summer.

Don’t usually listen to Radio Bristol but can someone tell the commentator that Mark Sykes plays for the Republic not Northern Ireland as he said & describing him as a “Northern Irishman” whilst technically correct, probably isn’t right as a result. Really short of options with James & Naismith still out but the forward goal drought is a worry. Would expect the obvious 3 subs (Weimann, Mehmeti & Wells) on before too long.

In Spain when it is re-arranged they restart any abandoned match at the same score & just play the time that’s remaining. Anyone who paid for the first game also gets in for free. Always thought that was the fairest solution & even though I’d always want Cardiff to lose, that makes a lot of sense to me.

All 3 games this season against them have been 1-1 at 90 minutes & although they’re in poor form, I’d take that again tomorrow. Looks like Tanner is feeling better so he should return & if James is available too, we are certainly stronger than midweek. Be good to go into the international break having added another point to our tally.