Mr Popodopolous

Man City have sold out their allocation. It's unclear though if the earlier tweet means 20k net or 20k from our side alone. Either way it'll certainly sell out.

Hmm, I'm still thinking no unfortunately. Yet to catch up with the last 2-3 post and pre game stuff but. It's a major ask. After the round of fixtures on and just after Boxing Day we were 8 points off the play9ffs. 24 games (6th place Millwall had played 23). After a League only run of 12 pts from 6 games, GD +4 the gap is 7 pts. In effect we've had top two or three PPG and still only cut the gap by one point although unlike after Boxing Day it is us with the game in hand as opposed to the game more. Doubt it though- top 2 are gone, Middlesbrough look strong, very strong, WBA dip or slump- time will tell, Sunderland look strong albeit Simms out Geldhardt in plus crucially Stewart out, hmm. Hull don't lose often under Rosenior although we could be closing on them, Millwall have a game in hand and given they play Luton one or both may benefit. Blackburn, Norwich, Watford and Preston all stalling however.

As for the here and now, the following accounts are due at the end of the month- to last season! This will include clubs who were and remain Championship clubs, ones who were promoted from the Championship last season and ones who were relegated last season from the Championship plus promoted to the level and relegated from the PL in 2021-22. These are accounts made up to end of May 2022. 1. Barnsley 2. Cardiff 3. Coventry 4. QPR 5. Stoke- although maybe a little can be extrapolated. We of course released back in November after an early nod at the Fans Forum. The following are due at the end of March or so... 1. Birmingham- although the BSH segmented results give us a fair idea. 2. Blackburn- although VLL gives us fair idea. 3. Blackpool 4. Bournemouth 5. Fulham 6. Huddersfield 7. Hull 8. Luton 9. Nottingham Forest 10. Peterborough 11. Reading 12. Rotherham 13. Sheffield United 14. Watford 15. West Brom 16. Wigan Middlesbrough, Millwall, Norwich and Preston, all due end of March have already released. Burnley, Sunderland and Swansea all due at end of April. Some of the above will include Holding companies, subsidiaries etc. Derby due to Covid and insolvency issues etc didn't release any accounts in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 (for 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21) and the same applies here- nothing due until next year for this season. Maybe Sheffield Wednesday also worth a look as quite large losses in 2019-20.and 2020-21...how woukd the £39m carry over with the combined Covid season as T-2 and T-3 average. They too are end of April. All can release to the EFL and indeed their fans whenever they want so long as it's not later than 1st March 2023 and 9 months after reporting period respectively but a huge lack of candour to date! See also PL clubs still there from last season. Only Arsenal, Man City, Man United, Tottenham and West Ham have released to date! Man United release was due to US Stock Exchange rules and their 1st quarter for this season looks bad- 2nd due end of this month. Plus Norwich of those relegated.

It also raises an interesting issue because if they (Sheffield United) get promoted still under embargo- well past the 30 days I mean- then they go up in breach of obligations. One potential sanction is unable to sign anyone for a fee for 18 months so presumably summer 2024 but if promoted that no longer holds?? That'd be an appalling message to send but otoh Sheffield United going up would instantly see it resolvable via PL cash but again a terrible message to send.

Page 62-64. Worth a read, a few a bit annoyed. Can't quote the link on here but Blue Moon forum, Matchday thread page 62-64. Didn't appreciate the 3 Lions banter banner.

Two bits of football finance news. Both involving the top two. 1) Appears that Burnley may have paid off MSD. 2) 30 day rule for embargo to he settled or it may progress. Sheffield United depending of when it begun, ie was it two Business days before or the day that it appeared on EFL website? Anyway it still shows Sheffield United as under embargo- first report of this was 20th January 2023, 6 or 7 days to get it removed...ie resolve. Does the clock start two days before or from the day it is 'live' on the EFL site.

Interesting post I saw online. Glad to see that a) They are aware of any potential issued and b) Are getting the message out there early, could be useful for nipping in the bud. Sure the majority and certainly the leaders are decent and passionate but there will be a few idiots among those who go there...bit of self-policing may help?

I asked this as soon as or the day after draw was made- still notice it went unanswered in fact that section us looking a bit unanswered as a whole in recent weeks.

3,414 is their allocation. No home fans in Atyeo though so...they'll sell their allocation but there will still be about 800 unsold/unavailable seats in the Atyeo.

Capacity a bit less both overall and home ends. Forget what Man City's final allocation was but it was a bit under 4k. Ground holds 27k, of that the Atyeo capacity is about 4.2k or so-one site says 4,240. Indeed just checked and it says the Man City allocation is 3,414 so about 800 spare seats in the Atyeo. Which means maximum attendance at most we could have is 26.2k, give or take a little. Dunno if 10 pct reduction for unreserved seating bit still holds too- thinking the Singing Section had this for a while?

Worth bearing in mind that a) There are more penalties per game in average in the PL than this level b) VAR will further help go inflate and c) The more attack minded and dominant a side, the more penalties they get. From the gap to the last one, reckon that we have been wrongly denied between 5 and 7, watching the clips and that seems about right, maybe add in Scott v Forest in October 2021 as well although we got one subsequent o that of course. On Grealish one Sunday, if that is a standard for a penalty then we would see a lot more awarded across the board.

If anything I expect that it might galvanise them- these sorts of issues can work both ways.

? https://www.footballinsider247.com/man-city-planted-false-story-as-counterpunch-claim-issued-sources/

There will be peaks and troughs but think it is sliding overall. League only, source Fotmob. 2016- 17...157 penalties. 2017-18...111 penalties. 2018-19...134 penalties. 2019-20...143 penalties. 2020-21...144 penalties. 2021-22...99 penalties. 2022-23...62 penalties.* *Approaching 2/3 of season gone, latest figures as they stand. Maybe it'll fluctuate, 157 was a high water mark, most recent completed season of 99 was rather low.

VAR might be one reason, the number of penalties being awarded in the Championship has been falling in general in recent years that's another.

One thst does surprise me I guess though is Burnley only awarded two- given they are such a dominant side this season then that is unusually low? Some of the midtable and lower sides badly outstripping us or those with similar or worse records over recenf seasons is odd.

VAR upheld/awarded this one...benchmark as set against some of our non awards?

Always thought Williams cost about £2m. Mehmeti? Maybe £1.5-1.7m? He had a buyout clause iirc.

Over what time period and do we want League only or verbatim? League only is easiest. Anyway League only I believe from 2018-19 to present it is 8 for and 26 against.

Hindsight is wonderful etc but I was never really so concerned about the drop. Because we were often competitive, playing well in fact- at home certainly. Tough but not necessarily flowing on the road. Generally when that happens results turn, the two start to match up. At the same time though momentum can take us forward, I don't see us as top six. Not yet anyway- in the same way I wasn't especially worried about the drop, I'm not getting carried away about the chances of us crashing the top 6 either. Always had faith in NP though, what a tough job he inherited, what a tough remit he has had.

Thought 1st half v QPR and in general Millwall at home were in different ways rather poor too but generally agree with this- might add 1st half v WBA on Boxing Day very little in it.and certainly not a poor one IMO- 2nd half it got away from us badly, WBA were just better anyway.

A number of experienced stewards left post Covid and didn't come back- that doesn't help, specific issues aside. Don't think they do need to be SIA trained with the possible exception of Senior Stewards/Supervisors and above.

That relates more to remuneration IMO.

One if we win the FA Cup! That'd be the only other outcome other than promotion that might keep Scott here IMO.

Been a while since we have but 2007-08, Brooker a late winner in the rain and I think 2008-09 although wasn't st that one.