chinapig

Couldn't they just use dummies to fill 75% of the stand? It's not as if anyone would notice the difference.

Manning is obviously a deep thinker about the game but that can lead to over thinking things. A characteristic of modern coaches at times I think. I tend to agree that the change of formation doesn't make us stronger in any part of the pitch. So why do it, especially if you are going to complain that you haven't had enough coaching time?

Nuno's Wolves team actually set up in a 3-4-3 shape.

To be fair to Liam, perhaps because that is what Tinnion said we wanted! Front foot football (whatever that means) that would have us challenging for the top 6 with our top end squad. So the Technical Director dictates the style of play and the Head Coach is expected to deliver it.

Ah, the classic "I'm not a racist but..." . Which immediately tells you the person is in fact a racist.

But what criteria do we judge him on other than the ones set out by the club? Of course he won't be sacked and nor should he be. As I said it's not his fault but if we finish 14th will Jon and Brian accept responsibility and admit they were wrong? I think not, more than likely Liam will take the heat.

Fair comment and it's not Liam's fault but that isn't the way the change was sold. Like it or not he is going to be judged by the claims JL and BT made - top end squad, front foot football and so on. If they say,as they did, that we should be challenging for the playoffs now, not at some unspecified point in the future, it seems reasonable for us to expect that to happen. If it doesn't Liam will take the rap and the gruesome twosome will likely disappear into the shadows again.

According to the Guardian Man United's debt has increased to £773m and an additional £364m is owed in unpaid transfer fee instalments. This despite the self-styled biggest club in the world having vast revenues. Which reinforces your case. If this is evidence of the success of the Premier League I dread to think what failure looks like.

Good piece by Ewan Murray. Not that Newcastle fans will give a toss. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2024/jan/20/sport-cant-afford-to-look-away-from-damage-done-by-deals-with-saudi-arabia

The Premier League's PR, enthusiastically backed up by the media, focuses on the huge revenue it generates. But Kieran Maguire points out that 18 of the 20 clubs are losing money on a daily basis. Oddly enough that doesn't get mentioned in the PR. Yet fans complain about P&S sanctions rather than their club's owners getting them into this mess. We know the PL plans to change the regulations. My guess is that it will finesse them to make it look like the problem has gone away.

Quite and it's to his credit if he has.

Or Eustace because Birmingham wanted a big name and promised they would play "fearless football". Which may or may not be the same as " front foot football ".

It seems that if you don't have VAR and you lose it's because you don't have VAR. And if you have VAR and you lose it's because you have VAR.

Entirely agree and we'd likely be in a better state now if we had done this. Historically we've been a bit snobbish about non league players. Us oldies remember when the Gas had a reputation for picking up gems from non league clubs. Peterborough have also been good at that but we seemed to think it was beneath us. Tinnion produced another hostage to fortune when he said the next crop from the Academy were even better than the last mind you so you could legitimately ask why we are signing young players if that's true. But as you say you need a balanced approach.

Irrigating? Is that a reference to the famous Championship ready sprinklers?

Typical Prem fans, constantly wanting VAR scrapped (though less so when a decision goes their way) then complaining when it's not there.

No, I ticked the no publicity box!

Yep, I knew his Dad and often chatted to him before games and young JP was usually in tow.

Imagine how good he will be when has had his League 2 loan.

Can't say I'm shocked. Are Watford fans surprised at all? If he is convicted I wonder if the EFL can disqualify him as an owner and force a sale of the club?

Yes, a very good piece by Ollie Kay. Should be compulsory reading for Everton and Forest fans who, as Kay suggests, should be angry at their owners not the Premier League. Certainly if we had breached FFP, as we almost certainly would have without the Gould/Pearson rescue job, I would have been angry with Steve not the EFL.

And you can't even detour via Winterstoke Toad. I'm hopping mad.

One of those rare players I find myself admiring everything about, much of it to do with his personal qualities not just his football skills. I'm not sure I can remember a better pro in all my years following City. Thank you Andi.

Fair comment but what irritates me is pundits and journalists pronouncing on the subject who clearly have no idea of the regulations. Much as they appear to have never read the laws of the game.

I listen to the Football Weekly so I heard this and came to the same conclusions. Plus if he is only using the most expensive transfers he will likely be guilty of recency bias. It may not be realistic to include all transfers over a sufficiently extended period but were I his tutor I'd advise him go away and learn about statistical sampling before starting again!