Mr Popodopolous

It could be protests against the ownership and current mismanagement but the article doesn't make it fully clear. It is a protest at the stadium according to the Reading forum too.

Tbh I've been looking at social media and their forum last couple of years since their FFP issues came to light and generally when you compare it to Derby fans or a lot of their fans between say 2019 and 2021, they've taken the FFP stuff on the chin relatively speaking. Not really looked into this one. Perhaps they're trying to reduce a sanction based on mitigating factors but surely an Agreed Decision would be the best way to proceed there. Interesting post from their forum too. Think they basically said they would raise £12m in profit on disposal last season to avoid the extra-6 being applied instantly to 2021-22. Hence the suspended deduction element. Mentions loanees wages unpaid- wonder if the league have pulled them up pertaining to very cheap or free loans from Chelsea in the last year or 2??

Watford have also claimed in a Fans Forum that no issue with the Kamara deal. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23595484.watford-owner-pozzo-quizzed-fans-working-bayat/ Said it's part of the usual checks etc. Time will tell but in any case I would expect even a downward adjustment should it occur not to tip them into FFP default which is the true test really in this context. They also said it was all arms-length, aspects of media hype etc. (Pozzo, Duxbury and one or 2 others taking the questions).

Interesting, seems Reading are prepared to defend it which isn't usually how it plays out in such cases. https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/23595654.reading-fc-prepared-defend-efl-charge-late-payment/

That's fair, a good point. Experience vs new things to the table. Yeah new managers can make a real impact- there are some with certain accomplishments and experience though who I don't think have got the breaks or opportunities that they merit. Pearson e.g. strikes me as superior to a number in bottom third PL or top half of Championship in the last year or 2. Big Sam and his work at Bolton probably merited a bigger opportunity than he eventually ended up at, Newcastle circa mid 2000s or so were not that. Could Mowbray have got a bigger role or 2- would Robins merit one? Corberan absolutely I like. Schumacher has taken on Lowe's good work and gone further. Arteta has eventually turned Arsenal around and in some style but he was afforded patience which is quite a rare commodity these days. Maresca- we shall wait and see, I'm sure he will seek to play attacking, possession but steady at the back football but let's see how many loanees he takes from Man City and Brighton. Contacts again- Man City obviously and friendly with De Zerbi who is at Brighton.

Probably better off without Parker tbh but the system of football management appointment seems to be getting more and more random. Prior achievements, track record don't seem to get the recognition- the very top aside. It's an increasingly random and strange thing, football management criteria and appointments. Expect Leicester finances permitting to he able to tap Man City and perhaps Brighton for decent loan opportunities, read that Maresca is friends with De Zerbi.

Depends on the size of the deficit. There was a thread on their forum that intimated that they had a £50m FFP shortfall, that would be before any signings I assume. If they sell for strong profits it can change but John Percy seemed to suggest that they would be targeting signings in the £8-15m bracket.

Wolves can't afford as it stands, FFP a problem there. Brighton, £30m on Joao Pedro and pushing for Colwill for £40m now. Says they're keen on Alcaraz, Southampton. 20 years old, midfield- £25m asking price. Will Scott outcompete him?

I've noticed that. Still thinking £25m tbh but time will tell.

Well tbh the Wolves budgetary constraints are quite well documented and Percy is very reliable (some of it was sourced from that article, in fact maybe Jones sourced it from my post on this thread ha) but yes nobody knows for sure.

I assumed he may have a little more insight especially into the Wolves aspect as their financial position is questionable- he seems to be a West Midlands correspondent. However yes now you mention it. Still not wholly convinced we will receive a £25m bid this summer but the market moves quickly.

I'm thinking more, his record at Swansea. Nottingham Forest had a wage bill and spent some, promotion bonuses pushed it up by £20m more. On the fence about Cooper. Definitely more worthy to be poached than Potter or Martin however. Well I say poached, he had resigned but sure Swansea still got some compensation out of it Forest were bottom with 1 point from 7 games iirc. This was their wage bill however albeit I believe it included £20m in promotion bonuses. Underlying wage bill of about £37.7m.

Took a side with significant resources (by Championship standards) with Year 1 of Parachute Payments to midtable. Nice football though. Clearly in Sweden he had taken that side up the standings, done it the hard way and he made solid year on year progress at Brighton but his rise to a PL club entering 3rd year was a bit of a lucky dip tbh.

Probably the Swansea effect. They had a reputation of managers leaving there or catching the eye there to good effect in the past. (Arguably Martinez, Rodgers, Laudrup perhaps had he left at the right time). However Potter based on his work at Swansea did little to justify his rise, Martin likewise. Cooper maybe maybe not.

More problems at Reading. https://www.efl.com/news/2023/june/efl-statement-reading-fc/ Bit of context. Shades of Wigan here. ?

Do largely agree with this. Brighton comparison is interddting. They were turbocharged by infrastructure coinciding with promotion. Their attendances e.g. shot up in the Championship by 2.5-3 which coincided with the move to Amex- major boost to both income, momentum and I guess profile too. For years sub 10k at Amex, suddenly over 20k weekly! 7,352 vs 20,038. Turnover almost trebling overnight can't hurt either.

He can play along the front Mbappe. Will be interesting to see how they solve thst one- he wants to play for Real Madrid who in turn vastly want him.

The other factor too is that Real Madrid are and have been for some years, keen on Mbappe. He is also keen on them seemingly. Mbappe also 24, 25- could be the face of Madrid for the next decade along with Vinicius Jr and Bellingham of course. Surely they wouldn't try to sign both Mbappe and Kane?? For fees in the one summer. If they did though, what a stacked squad. Their attack with Asensio, Benzema and Hazard leaving has thinned out a little in attacking areas.

I would like to think so, the market moves quickly though. Can work both ways, moves can come around quickly again or it's the case that sides can think "£25m? Hmm- bit of a risk". Expect Levy to lowball us or try to- at least initially. He has form for it. Reportedly preparing a bid for Maddisonn and Barnes. £50m the pair.

Well done Tommy.

In respect of Scott, doesn't directly concern but news from Wolves- via Percy who is excellent. Unsure they will be bidding £25m or above for him as it stands. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/06/15/wolves-manager-news-julen-lopetegui-stay-future/ Starting point. That alone as it stands rules out Scott to Wolves- well below our aksing price. The present and the future- Future Financial Information requirements perhaps kicking in. Yet Scott rather fits that- the young talent, albeit the price is a real mismatch. This is a factor- huge incoming fees and the dial may move albeit they will have to balance that with the cost base not rising again. which may give pause. Worth noting too that the mooted potential £80m+ is still gross not net- the net figure is the profit and will be tied to their current book value. Fee - Current Net Book Value=Profit or Loss on Disposal. Plus net of any sell-on fees. Then new additions although spread out will bring their own costs. Condensed Version Wolves while not maxing out, certainly stretched their credit card quite far which means a move for Scott looks less than likely at our preferred price.

Just checked, at age 19/20, Scott ahead of Gallagher in his development. Gallagher currently 23, will turn 24 in February. His first team break wasn't until 2019-20, age 19.5 ir thereabouts. Scott was first team ready age 17/18. I suppose if you are Brighton however you look at a player age 23, to turn 24- who can still grow but with PL and crucially for them European experience as well as Championsip obviously.

Good video albeit a bit long. Half hour or so just found it, started watching and saved for later.

I have a theory on this, not doubting @Bcfcshags for one moment and his track record to date has been impeccable but. Could given the conflicting reports on Knight, be a bit of a false flag. A leak of a bid for Knight or a case of that fed to one set of potential suspects and in the Derby paper about no bid yet- this would help to narrow down a potential leaker. One of them true, one of them false.