Mr Popodopolous

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.

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

Coaching badges are one thing but okay and players are another but a basic reading.. 3-5-2 vs 4-3-3. Your 2 v 1 can really pin baxk the wingbacks. Wide forward plus attacking fullback. 3 v 3 in central areas. If you can get the service to the 2 strikers, 2 CBs can match up- if an attacking mid one can drop back but 2 CBs can assist v the lone striker. Wingbacks are intetgal often to the 3-5-2. Pulling across to even the score 2 v 1 wise can leave 3 v 2 in the centre and exposed again. Overloading, flooding key areas. 3-4-3 vs 4-3-3 2 v 1 in wide areas is less of a concern but 2 v 3 in central areas can also become 6 v 5 or 4 v 5 and unless the spare man is very good another tactical dilemma. Wide man or wide striker tucks in, you then have 2 v 1 to exploit on one flank and a possible imbalance to boot. Coaching badges? No. I watch or have watched a lot of football however, as we all have- not just English League but other Leagues- there is no perfect setup but I have reservations about the back 3 as it stands.

You for manager @Davefevs I reckon..only if Manning goes of course but your scouting, use of data off your own bat- well it would be intriguing.

Bird and Knight in a 3-4-3? With two 10s...James has played in some of our best games this season.

4-3-3 ish. I'm slightly biased towards it as a setup, it is more clearly defined, more cover in wide areas and the middle, we clearly played towards and were built towards it between January and end of October last year. One of my critiques is that a back 3 with wingbacks if you can pin them back then the side are bang in trouble. We have changed shape seemingly after all the stuff of last October.

Yeah, it does but I don't really have faith in us. Releasing James isn't a great start- however given we have one of the non Parachute top incomes it should assist a fair amount yes or could do anyway.

WBA actually only had 2 years as yoyo clubs only get 55%, 45% and then 20% See also Norwich if they stay down and Watford- only does a 2nd successive year or more qualify a club for the 3rd and final. Ergo Norwich if they stay down will be from Year 2 Parachutes to EFL cash, WBA will be Year 2 Parachutes, EFL cash Year 1, EFL cash Year 2.

Who is going to be first choice then- or who would have been Bird is, will be good but still has it to prove. The shape is flawed, we're going nowhere fast.

One of the highest earners and frankly he is worth it if so but I'm sceptical and probably he is closer to £15,000 than £20,000. He maybe one of the highest earners now but that was only after 2 years of restraint on expenditure and reduction of the cost base.

£2.5-3m tops or is even that a bit much? Would be a slap in the face given the events of Summer 2023 onwards too.

We definitely won't get Twine for £2m, £5m is excessive.

Agree wirh a lot of this but that £124m owed but that may not be repaid any time soon.. Securing against Parachute Payments could do it, albeit I haven't for a while checked what is and isn't secured already. Mind you in a remotely normal industry how many clubs would still be viable businesses, perhaps I'm overstating.

You could be right but the leveraged buyout may have changed the calculus, time will tell. Yeah Burnley will have all that but FFP no issue, it is some of the Cash items that make me wonder a bit. If Twine was deemed surplus combined with that it could be to the advantage of a buying club..their owners have put next to nothing equity and cash wise in. One to keep an eye on at least, whether it will help with Twine that is in turn another issue.

Don't like some of Burnley's cash position although this was the position at end of July 2023 so maybe outdated. That sounds great but an issue is that the £124m owed to them maybe paper only ie no intention of repaying any time soon or ability to do so. Factoring is basically bringing forward proceeds of debt. This method is perhaps to sell your future Receivables (Transfer fee instalments) in order to get them now and pay a fee or interest and they go directly to the lender as they fall due. Perhaps they will be hemmed in or to a degree, distressed sellers.

Honestly think it is a bit of A and a bit of B. They all need equity/cash injections, it just varies. Our trading model was somewhat flawed, as was backing the wrong horse in Lee Johnson. They also have a much lower commercial income which reduces both cost and income, likewise Depreciation which indicates less expensive Infrastructure. However the Championship is a moneypit for many, a matter of degree but I don't see what makes the Lansdowns so special in respect of being the only ones who could pay the bills.

Could that assist us for Twine?

Query how well they can, clubs who lose between x and y have to submit by 31st March of the existing season their following 2 seasons forecast to the EFL. I won't go Chapter and Verse but the EFL/CFRU can intervene in more restrictive ways if clubs are being difficult or resistant but the idea is to keep clubs compliant at all times, prevent breaches before they occur ideally by club and League working together.

On one level yes, on another level maybe not. They will be going from £61m in Upper Loss limit and £35m or so in Parachute Payments to £39m (okay £41.5m) Upper Loss Limit and EFL money. That is a rapidly shrinking headroom base. Clubs who yoyo only get Year 1 (55%) and Year 2 (45%) of the Central Award but there is no 20% for 3rd year, straight down to EFL cash.

Plus the extra £22m in headroom (£61m vs £39m). Plus the £2.5m Cost of Living FFP increase which I just remembered but that lifts all clubs. Albeit both them and Sheffield United, the financial trajectory is questionable from an angle of Cash Pile, borrowed money etc.

Hard to say, their financials are questionable (not FFP but more generally speaking).

Thank you Matty and all the best (except vs us). Important signing and like King, Weimann, Wells- young players will have learnt in particular some good habits.

I was with you until the relegation battle next season point- I'm not so certain there, but I do share concerns, experience and leadership to fall back on in tough periods, or with what to do next in strong runs is vital.

James? Midlands, could make sense on one level.