Mr Popodopolous

GJ overall did quite well IMO. It wasn't huge expenditure albeit a rising wage bill relative to the time. Got us up, kept us here for a while with 4th, 10th and no true danger of the drop in year 3 when he left. Sorted the drinking culture too. LJ did fine up to a point, but he seemed to struggle to get the best out of players signed from a higher level/starting point, seemed better with players developing or younger ones at times. He also underpinned his spending and MA must take a large chunk of the blame, with the idea of £x in transfer profit, perhaps even rising transfer profit to offset rising fees (amortisation) and wages. That was a huge mistake- eventually you can run out of players to sell, yet are left with a major cost base and additionally, the number in and out under him must have also contributed to the spiralling costs.

There is also a distinct possibility indeed I believe it to be likely that we were outperforming our baseline earlier in the season, let alone the potential for a big bang then inconsistency of a young player like Conway. I calculated in our first 10 League games our strikers scored 16 goals between then and there was a conversion rate of non penalty goals as we don't get penalties, and it was around 22 pct. I can't remember the exact amount. That is a truly elite level, especially when you consider that some of these will have been subs, you are not going to sustain that over months. Now it is lower than it should be and as a team in fact, think we scored 1 goal from 45-50 shots at home which is terrible, even though there were several woodwork strikes. The defence however is performing better in terms of chances we allow- thought WBA goals were well worked tbh but the goals by Stoke were very, very soft. Might have even quicker than 16 in 10, wouls have to go back and calculate better but the conversion rate was fairly stunning what with a lack of penalties.

I suppose when confidence is lacking and the pressure is on, despite some home performances which outstripped results, you have to start somewhere. Tough away game, vs a side in and around the top 6- showed more technical ability and composure in possession in 2nd half but clearly we had gained in confidence from our 1st half display- earning the right to play a bit is sometimes required.

He was before my time but from what many say he was the best- there will be clips on YouTube etc I guess. RIP to an all time great.

I'm not so sure I agree Swansea wise as we seemed to have to absorb some 2nd half- but am a bit conservative with some of my predictions. We got 3 pts from those 5 games, am thinking we should have another 4 minimum. Maybe another 6-8 (3 vs Sheffield United, Stoke another 1-3 and 2 v Watford).

There is a bit of recency bias there. We dominated vs Sheffield United somehat, had the better of things v Watford and vs Stoke 1st half as well as a goal and some phases of pressure, we hit the post at 1 up. Objectively our performances at home, apart from 2nd half Monday, 1st half v QPR and Millwall at home really haven't been so bad.

Decent point- battled first half, passed it better and opened up a bit 2nd half. Semenyo hard working but finishing touch not really there. As a team though, much more like it, hopefully a bit of a benchmark again? For the commitment, the energy- the compactness.

We used to when the redevelopment first happened- now it just seems to be goals and or key incidents.

Team younger, wages and amortisation falling- in particular giving Scott, Conway and to an extent Semenyo their chance. Pring his first proper chance- Benarous would be getting game time were he not injured. Players such as Wilson, Tanner, Atkinson are investments in the now but with scope to grow. Vyner, Wells and earlier season DaSilva he got more than his predecessors. Massengo too pre contact issues was arguably showing something at times.

They certainly are, although stability has helped them greatly I expect. Yes Jones has since gone but the only key player they lost was Naismith. Wonder if more were anticipated to be leaving. Doughty, Freeman, Morris, Woodrow all in plus Hovaeth on loan all helps with strength and competition Macey and Watson adds some more depth too.

Still NP in. He is here to affect change a term he used in a recent press conference. That is never easy and often unpopular. Do I think we will go down with him at the helm? No. Could it be rocky? Yes. He could refine some of his methods, both man management and tactical- I'm still not wholly convinced by the stability of a back 3 team wise, battles in certain zones ie 3 v 2 centrally or 2 v 1 in wide areas, but that's for another thread mostly.

Given who we have available and that we don't have a pure RWB in the absence of Wilson I don't mind that side. Wells being dropped is a bit harsh? Been quite good this season though I guess as a front 3 Weimann-Conway-Semenyo is both (on paper) exciting and perhaps well suited to exploit gaps away from home.

Thanks for the Leicester context. Was under the impression performance outstripped results somewhat. Cambiasso was a bit of a catalyst? Vs Sheffield United 1.8-0.5, better. Woodwork twice, penalty dubiously denied, one of their players wrongly reprieved a red card In fact we were quite good vs Watford but perhaps didn't create the clearcut chances. We put in a good shift and we were not bad in possession 1st half especially, penalty we should have had one, maybe two. Not like we had to absorb any great waves of pressure from Watford but can see how a point maybe seen as fair.

Agree on all of your points tbh. Interesting you should mention Coventry, thought they were in a bit of a false position a) Because of the fixture problem and b) Because I thought they were okay vs us in October, could see the players were still with Robins etc. You only have to read some of the match reports, stats efc from that Leicester season to see that they were generally even when losing playing alright, at home especially and not necessarily getting what they deserved during their bad spells. A bit like the current situation with us, Monday aside. If performances remain solid, generally clubs get their reward and teams kick on from it. Not guaranteed but generally. Likewise if teams are snatching results, playing patchy football but winning, perhaps even somehow winning that also matches up with results in the end. ie Results decline and at times sharply! We have certainly seem that in recent years! 2019-20 and 2020-21 especially.

I mean we have a higher income base than Sheffield Wednesday, unlike Derby we would have no embargo restrictions. How FFP would carry over between the two divisions is hard to say but Sheffield Wednesday retained players such as to name some Iorfa, Bannan, Windass, Paterson and a clutch of others on relegation. Derby despite being at deaths door almost financially retained players such as Knight, Bird, Sibley. Bielik could also yet return. I would argue that all of these are Championship standard players. Unlike us both have signed PL or Championship loanees The high off-field revenue yes it would take a hit but not a huge one. Why should we be in a position where we are significantly wrecked vs those two for example? Wigan came up while not being able to spend an awful lot. That said relegation would be a disaster and needless IMO.

On a non FFP note, I have read as I thought maybe the case, that Cardiff ate asking for the embargo to be paused/put on hold while they explore other legal avenues. Proceedings stayed in other words.

Yeah I can see, maybe they would sell but I do wonder if they are being given more leeway given the size of their losses vs ours, the fall in income forecasted to last season (Parachute Year 3 to Champ cash) then again maybe I should wait until early 2023, Christmas period as you say.

It's hard to say, we have players who can probably fill in here and there without much problem but when it becomes a prolonged run of games..plus more young players will lead to more inconsistency in performance. In theory, if we must stick with the back 3: O'Leary Kalas Naismith Atkinson Wilson James/Williams Scott Pring Weimann Conway Wells Not too bad IMO. Problem is when form dips or medium to long term injuries kick in you are having to compromise. King e.g. is fine as a filler, not a prolonged starter. Tanner and Pring can fill in at CB in a back 3 but not for long. Likewise if you go for a back 4, maybe Tanner-Kalas-Atkinson-Pring...Not a huge fan but you could switch in game between 3 and 4 at the back if Naismith was to be beyween the defence and the midfield- some phases he could drop, others he could form part of a CM 3. Fit and firing Semenyo would be like a new signing. DaSilva started the season quite well but has faded? Feels like we are compromising somewhat unless we have a settled 11 in play.

What was Hughton wanting out of interest, would be interested to know if indeed you have more insight. Besides which his next job at Nottingham Forest, he hardly achieved great things albeit they change managers often.

From memory Stoke post £112m pre tax across 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. We lost £38m by comparison. Clearly with Covid averaging that is £14m for us and £62m for Stoke.

On FFP again, accounts still not out for Birmingham, Millwall and Stoke. All are due by the end of the year but in the case of Stoke this would merely be Bet365 which would contain March 31st 2021 to March 30th 2022 so would take a bit of extrapolation! Blackburn extrapolation from VLL to club is easier. Extrapolation for these maybe merely with Operating costs, amortisation, profit etc. Birmingham based on HK accounts lost maybe £26m last season. UK ones show the finer detail. Stoke linked with Ross Stewart?? Or at least Alex Neil reportedly has an interest, is FFP not a factor. Meanwhile I still wonder how Reading can sign Hendrick on loan under FFP, he was reportedly on £50k per week at Newcastle, albeit the parent club are covering a good chunk. What's your take @Davefevs if Stoke are genuinely interested in Ross Stewart despite aggregated pre tax losses of £97m in the two Covid years and we are walking this tightrope are we receiving equitable treatment? I have long had scepticism on this point. I struggle to see how they are in an FFP position to do so, post Parachutes.

Point is that if (thinking at home mainly) performances are not so bad, results should turn in due course. Something similar happened in his PL season at Leicester- the performances were often good, at home especially but they were often losing narrowly but then something clicked. Just clicked. 9 games, 22 pts and probably 2 goals a game and maybe more , can't remember without checking. If @Ostrich is still on here they may be able to add bit of detail.

I think performances have actually improved, at home especially. The question is have results necessarily reflected this? Jury is out. Away from home yeah it's been harder. Wigan away for example though we drew we could easily have lost, Middlesbrough even more so chances and lack of the ball, even West Brom away we were great 1at half but had to absorb some pressure in the 2nd, they also hit woodwork twice. However did we merit only one point from Sheffield United and Watford? Absolutely not- these were positive displays and luck was not on our side, between 4 and 6 would have been fair IMO. The Stoke game was disappointing but even then, woodwork at 1-0. Score that and we may well win- draw at worst probably. Even that said about Wigan away, Bennett should have been off, penalties denied at home in the 2 aforementioned November games, red card that should have been given to Norwood that never was. Could go on. We deserved to lose Monday but let's say in one of our intermittent 1st half spells of pressure that WBA instead of hitting their own woodwork, score an own goal in that period, think they headed against their own bar. How does that change things? It might!

You need a manager who buys in however. Someone like Parker wouldn't even look twice "I want this, and this and that- oh and that shiny one there". Only Parachute Payment clubs or PL clubs need apply for my services... Granted that is two ends of the spectrum but you do need a manager who will buy in and not kick off etc. Who understands and accepts the situation for what it is. Someone like Parker would ask for a big wage and a £10m transfer budget or expensive loans I imagine. Just one example- certainly wouldn't agree with reducing the amortisation and wage bills. Hence someone like Parker wouldn't join us- a lot of managers would chafe against the FFP restrictions we are under.

Still don't see us as top 6 even with that but I see your point, momentum and confidence etc. More likely we would feel secure at the level. Its not like we at home haven't been competing. West Brom the first full game, and obviously 1st half v QPR and probably most of game v Millwall tbh. Fine margins certainly.