Mr Popodopolous

? Now you mention it, the seagull might steal it for their nest!

I suppose to an outsider they might have thought. "Okay, tricky time on the pitch with a shedload of injuries and home advantage removed (as fot everyone) no fans. "Nezt season, injuries reasonably resolved, fans back. "Good infrastructure- academy, ground, HPC nearing completion. Lots of experienced players including a number of internationals. Give them some structure, injures reduce massively and off we go. 3 year plan with some changes!" Rot was of course much deeper, the legacy of the injures much worse- wonder how up front we were about just what a financial hole we were in! Otoh if too rosey a picture painted maybe he'd have walked.

How did football get like this anyway. Sitting eagerly awaiting accounts for the prior 12 months and for the last 6 months in HK$!! Indeed with Man United it's quarterly- their 2nd Quarter due tomorrow or Wednesday. How did football end up here- mad isn't it! ??

QPR accounts- both club and Holdings! Submitted to CH, says next 10 days as standard message but should drop by Wednesday if not sooner. We will also probably hy this time tomorrow, see Birmingham and their 6 month accounts made up to end of December 2022, albeit in HK$. Technically due tomorrow as well are Barnsley, Cardiff (and associated companies), Coventry and Stoke (with associated companies).

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/02/27/nigel-pearson-course-mellowed-used-award-winning-ballroom/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11799207/Nigel-Pearson-admits-time-charge-Bristol-City-really-tough.html

It helps tbh. To an extent anyway. Combination of contacts and location helps Reading obtain PL loaness from Chelsea on favourable terms.

Their Appeal/Hearing is tomorrow apparently. Dunno if it is the judgement day or it goes Hearing then to Appeal if either side unhappy.

O'Leary, Vyner, Wells all fall into the redemption. Pring too? DaSilva and Massengo had some encouraging early games too but haven't maintained for quite different reasons.

His distribution feels variable tbh. The longer the distribution the more erratic basically, feels a good way to put it. Man in possession right now but whether he will remain so or back to first reserve remains to be seen beyond this season but it's a positive problem to have.

He's come in, he's stepped up- well deserved. Vyner next please and subject to fitness and salary, wouldn't be against keeping Kalas- see how available he is between now and May perhaps.

Over history QPR have been in the top flight far longer than us but we have superior turnover, at the moment a superior plan and structure- the two are aligned..moving into a better FFP position too. He surely won't be off so soon in the summer and certainly not for that fee.

Energy and continuity midfield perhaps more thab goals and end product tbh. Definitely best suited to a true 3...not bad technically, has energy good pros- lack of end product and variable positional discipline a downside. Plenty of time to develop still though.

Knight would be a strong addition certainly. Gut feeling is that he'll stay with Derby for a bit longer however. Is anyone else a bit surprised that Derby despite relegation, administration and near bankruptcy managed to retain Bird, Knight, ans Sibley? Possibly Cashin too although he's younger. I'd add Bieilk to that although he technically is on loan at Championship level.

I'd say Ligue 1 is the fourth or fifth best in Europe. Probably the latter. They produce a lot of talent clearly, how well it is held onto is another issue. Monaco were fantastic in 2016-17..then half the squad went, maybe more! Had such potential for growth etc too with the age range. Could be one of the best, consistently I mean had they kept big hitters. Lille won the title 2 seasons ago...then lots of the squad left and the manager also quit that summer- had they kept it together maybe they'd have done alright in the CL in 2021-22 as well. Reached Round 2 as it is! Lyon reached the CL semis 3 years ago, seem to have had a decent record v Man City too. Ligue 1 is reasonable, probably has some untapped potential like Serie A but for different reasons. I digress, Massengo should have a reasonable career IMO, France or Europe probably- a 4-3-3...ironically the current setup we have would probably suit him moreso than any we've had before, a more orthodox and consistent 4-3-3.

Grounds for cautious optimism? Maybe it could hasten a better redistribution than we currently have. One thing that could be done is pool Parachute Payments with Solidarity into one pot and distribute accordingly- that would smooth the gaps in the Championship for one. That's a starting point, an easy win. I can understand more easily the PL concerns about wider redistribution but it's all PL money anyway the Parachute Payments and Solidarity Payments, should have been done when Covid hit.

One game at a time, see where it takes us seems the best way still IMO.

17 pts from 9 games in fact. Never mind playoff form, that is usually top 2 pushing returns.

Saw a report today. A report suggests that PSG as part of agreement with UEFA have to cut their wage bill by 30 pct- think the owners might be keen to do so anyway. About time- are PSG finally set to be reined in somewhat by UEFA and or the French League?? Read that the latter have quite strict domestic FFP regs or have done but there is one club who seem unhindered. France does strike me as the sort of country that would have fairly stringent FFP or financial regs for football domestically so why PSG were permitted to spend so much and for so long...

The results were poor towards the end of 2022 but the performances? Not always IMO. I enjoyed the displays v Sheffield United and Watford, parts of the Stoke game although the whole thing felt a bit flat and 1st half v West Brom at home we were fine. Only real poor performances at home IMO were QPR 1st half, Millwall verbatim and 2nd half v West Brom got away from us. Stoke at home had some good things but a terrible error on HT undid hard work. Away from home, Birmingham and Reading were shockers with few redeeming features.

Clear pen watching it that way.

They didn't create a huge amount but I suppose one bad moment for us, good for them could have undone our hard work. After 1-0 did we drop back a bit..they hit woodwork I seem to remember, thought we were more dominant v say Sheffield United and Watford...yeah we were worthy winners. Regardless a good win as I sort of feared a decent but slightly frustrating draw today.

Thought we shaded it today, had some of the better chances including one from 18 yards. Hull a decent side, certainly have an away record where they haven't lost much in months- look compact. I was cautious when people were talking about them for an outside playoff push. Wasn't in agreement with those who (on other platforms) saw it as an easy win in waiting. Saw a few 3-0 shouts! Earlier in the season 3 pts may have been 1 or even 0...not that we played terribly at those times, more individual errors and variable luck. Was a decent win today, keeps us ticking over and we dug it out.

I remember earlier season we actually had some good games dominating games, controlling possession but not getting what we deserved. 1 point and goal from home games v Sheffield United, Watford and Stoke for example- well we merited more for a range of reasons. Vs Luton at home we were 2 up and probably would have piled more on too if not for the Sykes red. We actually has a but less possession and shots in the end but deserved it comfortably. Some other games we've had more possession but less control and vice versa- mixed bag.

If he likes it here, perhaps he'll stay on wages that we can justify moving forward. His passing stats are actually alright at times but probably much shorter range, more conservative and less ability to carry forward than others. Wonder if injuries have impacted the latter point too.

Was a big influence and pusher in our ultimately unsuccessful push for Ashton Vale, never met him but struck me as very much City. RIP.