Mr Popodopolous

10 minutes ago, Cityboy1954 said:

Thats what im getting at these guys they brought in they might aswel l have signed me or you .

It is a curious signing and extension.

45 minutes ago, Cityboy1954 said:

Well he played well tell me when did you see him play ? 

He didn't sign on loan for one thing.

I think he signed in September, October 2023 on a free made up until the end if this season or January or something then was extended a fee months in until the end of next season.

4 minutes ago, Cityboy1954 said:

Didnt we sign one from  forest green on loan ?

Lewis Thomas?

Think he was signed on a free and latterly extended until 2025.

Loaned out to (Conference) Bromley in the Spring.

It seems like everyone and their dog are bending over backwards to avoid Everton going into administration and especially at a time whereby they would be at serious risk of the drop ie had it happened in March or early April plus the 2nd FFP case on the way that would have been a serious blow plus morale boost for those around.

Infantino is worse than Sepp in some ways. He was quite belligerent about things like breakaway Leagues, overseas League games, even excessive tech in football.

16 hours ago, steviestevieneville said:

I know but I’ve just lost the football bug because of it . I’ll always be a city fan & will go back when I’ve had a bit of a break . The club just seemed with Gould & nige in charge we were in good hands & I thought we were building again . We then get another CEO who seemed the right fit , only for **** ups from above again . One step forward & two back all the time with them in charge. 

I completely get this.

NP, Gould- Tinnion in his correct position to the current flux.

At best we can say they seem intent on doing things the hard way..to add to your post, I have big doubts about (seemingly) them not pushing harder to keep James, the lack of King coaching potential- for context Ipswich reportedly were looking to keep Aluko on post retirement in some capacity and King is far better qualified for this on many levels.

There are some fundamental flaws in respect of the Lansdowns and Tinnion. Unsure what to make of Marshall and Rawcliffe either, the former seems to he spread thin if he is a Group CEO.

2 hours ago, Ronnie Sinclair said:

What about Walton from Ipswich he’s always looked the part, granted he’s been injured but he’s fit now

Decent shout that- he is out of contract and hasn't played much this season yet is of a good age with good experience for the level.

In respect of the actual budget v Wage Bill, ie turnover and there are variables for all clubs as to FFP headroom, risk averse vs gambling I would say most years 10th at worst, perhaps even one of the top 2 or 3 outside of Parachute clubs. We may have had the 6th or 7th highest turnover in 2022-23.

FFP permitting at any given time, surely we should be looking to spend at least close to that.

6 hours ago, ExiledAjax said:

General consensus seems to be that we are likely around 10th(ish).

Regardless, we know there's no way we have a wage budget in the top 6 (mainly due to parachute payments), and it's in the top 6 that we need to finish in order to get promoted.

So even if we generously say we have the 7th or 8th highest wage budget, we still need to out-perform it, and finish higher than at least one team that pays more than us.

5 hours ago, Davefevs said:

23-24’s accounts will be a better guide as it will be a 12 month period, unlike 22-23’s which was 13 months.

I just wish our “other costs” were more equivalent to other clubs.  I think they make us look like we have a bigger “playing” budget than we actually do.

My thinking fwiw is probably somewhere between 10th-14th year just gone.

I'm talking the club specific not the AGL stuff.

I suppose big Commercial Revenue comes with big overheads to a degree- doubt it is the sole issue however.

19 hours ago, Tim Monaghan said:

I keep saying it. It’s going to be a bigger summer than people think. 
 

I’ll save you all the bother >>  

That could be taken one of two ways.

It could if we are being positive mean some strong icing of the quite well done cake ie a bit more depth and proven/rising quality in key positions to build on a solid base.

Or it could mean an overhaul, another revamp- with multiple ins and outs, thereby risking inevitably setting us back in respect of timeframes or even sending us backwards undoing hard won gains.

You might be interested in this @W-S-M Seagull (and anyone else who vaguely follows this stuff).

Had they closed the loophole in unision with the Football League as we emerged from Covid this would be so moot.

Ah that one thanks, I was still stuck in the 3 year Rolling mindset.

Chelsea I get, Man United I've been tracking their Accounts with some interest- Q3 is due out soon.

Liverpool though?? That is hard to fathom how they could've gone from low risk to risk just like that.

Cat 1 Academy, Ladies Team, Community Expenditure also deductible as well as the obvious £11,362,000 and £12,137,000 in Depreciation.

A classy manager, a classy man.

Wish him all the best personally and professionally and glad that the health of NP is on the mend.

Our hierarchy (not Manning but those above) don't know when they're onto a positive thing and I include the James call in that respect. Arguably King and coaching potential this year overlooked too.

21 minutes ago, petehinton said:

I personally see Cornick being shifted on. Bell will probably do well to play this side of Christmas, same with Benarous. 
 

CM is a worry for me too. 

Wow really, that bad?? Benarous I can understand moreso but Bell?

Perhaps a 6 month loan, with an option to extend it make permanent could be one avenue if Bell and Benarous still out for months to come.

We just feel a bit light, not so much on Manning but while the recruitment has been good post 2021 and good value I just have these nagging doubts about an overall cohesive strategy.

The possible wide player target was a new one.

Cornick, Sykes

Bell, Mehmeti

Benarous can play along the midfield too.

Clearly quality for the right price shouldn't be dismissed but is it a priority position- who goes?

Midfield, Knight, Bird, TGH, Williams just feels one too light although Naismith can play there too..feels like we are taking chances again with depth, versatility etc.

2 minutes ago, ProfitInMyPocket said:

Ahh maybe it was pre-cardiff but i'm 100% sure we had the second best in this division, remember mentioning it on here at the time. 

Still the defence was our best part of the team prior to Manning's appointment. 

Perhaps it was prior to when the injuries started to pile up ie mid September (it was 6 in 7, 7 in 8 up to Plymouth Home and Leicester Away) bit it was joint 4th along witn a few others around the time of changes.

28 minutes ago, Jobi said:

Defence comes first. 

To be fair it’s better now. 

Is it?

After NP final game in 1, after Fleming game in 2.

26 minutes ago, ProfitInMyPocket said:

We had the second best defensive record in the division when NP was moved on. We ended with the fourth best in the division. Still good, not better.

Was it 2nd best? Not sure.

Thinks it was joint 4th.

15 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Is that for the hotel that they sold but have retained the management of and keeping all the profits from? 

It is, something car park related too.

On that point, I don't see how they fan have their cake and eat it..

A) If they sell but still want the revenue, Commercial Lease? Sale and leaseback basically.

B) If they want to sell it, sure bank a profit and derecognise the asset(s) from the Balance Sheet..but that cannot then be Revenue Less costs in the entity accounts.

C) If they sell it from one to the other e.g. say Ashton Gate Limited sold an added to Bristol City FC Limited it would have to cancel out at the Group level. The individual subsidiary accounts would show it but the Group Accounts not.

Then there is the debate about whether it is Fair Value which can prove to be material for FFP.

Talk that Chelsea may once again be selling or selling and leasing back- this time in respect of Cobham (Training Ground).

3 hours ago, redsquirrel said:

that funny manager bloke at man u said this tonight.

"You need players who have confidence to play there, we have players playing in positions who are not used to them and then you make mistakes.

"At a high level you are punished. Or you have to play players who are not fit. That's the situation we are in."

cardiff and stoke spring to mind although i do think  stoke had a smidge of on the beach aswell

Yep, agreed. One out of position you can get away with, multiple as we had- yeah but problems. Having to shuffle round positions, or playing players at LB, CB, or deeper midfielder or CB- it can wreck continuity.

Agreed on both albeit the situation seemed worse at Stoke relative to the greater availability. We had at 6 out..Atkinson, Pring, Naismith, James, Benarous and Bell- Vyner not fully fit hence the bench.

A bit on the beach but Sykes at LWB when a mere 6 or 7 at worst out..feels a bit far.

2 hours ago, RedorDead BCFC said:

When we played Cardiff Nige played Sykes LWB. I know we had player availability issues. But he still played him there. 

Player availability issues is glossing over just how fecked we were..just checked.

Tanner, McCrorie

Vyner, Atkinson

Roberts

Naismith, Williams, James, King

Benarous

Wells

We had Pring at CB, Sykes at LB and J.James at RB.

Sykes as LWB at Stoke was just shoe horning by comparison.

Perhaps we start JKL to keep Pring at LB, Sykes in favoured RWish but we are really struggling.

11 minutes ago, Fuber said:

In order -

- Has funded millions in club losses, that he himself caused in the MA/LJ period with nepotism with regards to important appointments and his own errors.

- Built the ground and training ground. Dawe oversaw the ground work as Chairman, SL signed the cheques, for which we can thank him but means nothing without club progression.

- Who are 7th. With whom he's evidently interfering with.

I would point out and your post I mostly agree on, that the Championship is a bit of a money pit too but his decisions did extend the amount we needed to shell out- IMO.

Had we backed Cotts moreso or met him halfway in summer 2015 perhaps we save more in the long run.

Element of penny wise pound foolish under the Lansdowns tbh.

Matty James to Coventry again seems not a bad shout.

Just the kind of senior player you need as you grow and push on with some mid range age and younger players.

22 minutes ago, Jobi said:

Pros and cons to every formation. 

I'd suggest that with the current personnel we are somewhat swimming vs the tide with the current set-up but..