Mr Popodopolous

Just talking about the Croatia v Brazil game again, I think some of the apparent claims of negativity were harsh. Watched some highlights. They were somewhat cautious yes although technically excellent but what frequently happened was that the final ball...was lacking. The final shot...failed to get it away, a Brazil defender made a little block whatever. The shot count was therefore perhaps a little misleadingly low, in the sense that they creativity and positivity was let down by the aforementioned factors.

No Wilson, Vyner, Kalas, Dasilva, Benarous. No problem. Our away record has unlike prior years been a bit of an issue this season- this is a great start post break, Naismith back is welcome he gives us a real extra dimension. Hopefully guves us the confidence to go on and strng some results together yet for all the patchy results, 2 or 3 of the home performances we definitely deserved more- Swansea to some extent, Sheffield United and Watford most definitely. First win there since 1995 it said on the radio too, that's excellent tbh.

Ah just checked, yeah he was from their academy.

Just seen the third- lovely stuff. Well done Pring, 1st goal. Hopefully the first of a good few over the years Scott-Pring-GOAL #MadeinBristol (Yes I know Scott is from Guernsey).

Nope it's his 2nd. This season in fact (although don't think he scored last season).

It's a bit of a cliche tbh. Heard this for years, read it for years on varied sites- fans of club x, manager or senior coach an ex defender and questionable defensively. Different style of players, different era of football with abilities and expectations to defend- different laws of the game. So many variables.

Well that was some match, but was obviously strongly leaning towards the Dutch. Was a shame, always good when Argentina lose- two of my first WC memories were 1998 Owen fantastic breakout goal, Beckham red and the dreaded penalties!! Then the redemption- for England and for Beckham- in 2002.

The thing that irritates me about Brazil I reckon, some of it isn't even their fault. Not so much Brazil themselves as their lackey pundits, media types- casual fans who like a reflex reaction swoon over them. Yeah they can play beautiful football but can mix it too. 20 fouls today! Their style has become a bit more pragmatic this century, bit more European perhaps.

Well well...what a shock!! Had a feeling Croatia one way or another would make a strong game of it but that Brazil would eventually win out.

I also maintain that if Croatia still had a prime Mandzukic, Suker, Boksic, or perhaps even Olic, Eduadro or even Prso, they would have had more punch up front, be it shots or making the ball stick.

It's a strange sort of game, been very comfortable in possession but really not much up top. If it goes to penalties they've timed that equaliser to near perfection. I say strange, I of course should add enjoyed it without doubt too as a neutral.

Lack a focal point post Mandzukic, a bit punchless in the final third although Petkovic seems to have his uses.

Fair play. Their possession game has been strong although Brazil have had a lot more chances.. I thought he had overrun it, a number of times today their final ball was lacking. Not there however! Excellent goal by Neymar also.

Great midfield always gives a chance. Post Mandzukic they lack a focal point up front IMO. They've never fully replaced him. Small nation though, who through injury or retirement have since last WC been without Subasic, Vrsaljko, Vida, Corluka, Rakitic, Mandzukic- 4 or 5 starters and the remainder reserves.

For Home Tickets- unsure how this impacts on away Tickets. Presumably charged the same. Plus a list of games by Category.. If we were Category B like they were here, it would in fact be only a couple of quid more expensive.

Agreed. Although what did we charge for the return fixture? We have more categories so it muddied the water a bit but for equivalent. £28- Adult £10- U12 I don't know if this is inclusive of booking fees? If it isn't that rises to £29 and £11 respectively. We are better for sure but I also read on Twitter that we have the highest at this level and that claim, it surprises me! This for reference was for a Category B game. Which our game v Coventry in October was deemed.

Croatia have an excellent CM 3 tbh even if Modric is aging and if you have that as a starting point, you certainly have a chance.

Having looked into it a bit further, a Bournemouth fan who has forecasted and does forecast their finances anticipated a pre tax loss of £40m last season. That would be within P&S limits of £72m probably, he certainly thinks so and I think it might- rather depends on Covid and how much they truly lost. Pre tax figures if he's right: 2018-19 -£32m 2019-20 -£60m 2020-21 £17m 2021-22 -£40m *Forecasted £125m in pre tax losses but... Adjusted for the Covid roll-up. 2018-19 -£32m 2019-20 and 2020-21 -£21.5m 2021-22- -£40m *Forecasted £93.5m as a starting point but... A) What are their usual allowances? Not so high IMO- remember that they don't have much in the way of infrastructure, didn't are much in the PL and have a Category C Academy. Wouldn't surprise me if £4-5m per year only. B) Covid losses and costs? £15m in 2 years perhaps? Plus the £2.5m in 2021-22. A rebate to the PL would be a factor, all PL clubs had to do this. C) Would that forecast be inclusive of or before Promotion Bonuses? If indeed they were a factor! Suggested too a while back that Parker basically managed to persuade a lot.of their players to take a 20 percent pay cut when he joined. That would help any club a lot...would free up some headroom for sure. In conclusion, I think that they're probably within the £72m but it could be interesting.

I should also add that if some clubs have notably larger losses than others, the EFL might naturally hone in on their Covid numbers set against their loss limits. For example, Stoke recorded pre tax losses of £142m to 2020-21 from 2017-18. 1 PL season, 3 Championship- that would be £96m if on a 4 u3sr period and with the Covid averaging that is £93.5m to 2020-21 vs an Upper Loss limit of £61m or maybe with the add 4 Upper Tariff up /4 x 3. Alternatively to 2021-22, the position is: £112m in 3 years and counting between 2018-19 and 2020-21. Or £63.5m and counting to 2020-21 once the aggregation and halving kicked in, in the period of 2018-19 and 2020-21. Cannot be bothered to go in and round etc. By way of comparison we were: 2017-18 to 2020-21 £63m in total pre tax losses. Once the aggregation and halving kicks in, we were at £39m. 2018-19 to 2020-21 £38m. Indeed to 2021-22 we were £66.5m in total and once aggregation and halving kicked in, £42.5m. Better than Stoke on a great many metrics as a very basic starting point. We await their 2021-22 accounts with some interest.. City specific, if we come out again for a 2nd year running post Covid with one of the worst sets of figures ie 2021-22 following on from 2020-21 where we were the worst and the 3rd worst for Operating Losses, the EFL would be quite entitled to ask why and pertaining to the validity of our Covid losses ie the transfer add-backs if indeed we have used them.

£72m is the Upper Loss Limit for Bournemouth. Their aggregated losses before Tax in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 were before rounding £75m. Clearly 2019-20 and 2020-21 aggregated and halved. Think that came to a pre tax loss of £32m and £21.5m. This is before a) FFP allowances- they have a Category 3 Academy though and no major infrastructure- £4-5m per year maybe in allowables? That £12m profit was inflated for 2 reasons- a) The delay to the season meant some TV income from PL was recognised in 2020-21 and b) £50m in profit on disposal of players. Unlike say Fulham, no big claim of Covid Impairment. Losses may be £15m in 2 years? Hard to say. Their 2021-22 accounts could be interesting albeit certainly not as much as Fulham. On a side note, would make some sense from a Governing body if the real big pre tax losses by clubs were honed in on first and then work way through. Wonder about Nottingham Forest too for their new starting point was a £25m pre tax loss in 2018-19!! Albeit they have stated their compliance with all financial regs.

Well done for trying Dave. Seems transparency from the EFL- or more accurately the clubs who comprise it- has its limits! Does seem strange that the League or perhaps more likely the clubs who vote on these issues want to keep that aspect so locked down- does it raise suspicions that perhaps the League/Clubs are trying to fudge it so that everyone is within £39m to last and this season one way or another, a combination of Covid-19 and the regulatory changes that are upcoming.

Not specifically related to us, Bristol but seems a useful place for it. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2022/12/06/rfu-rejects-wasps-worcester-pleas-spared-relegation/ Automatic relegation and or suspension for going into administration? We knew already but rubber stamped. Excessive or could football learn from it.

Any update on this one, unless I missed it what with the current enjoyment of the WC?

Great goal by Leao to finish that off. Portugal remained clinical in this game, 6 goals from 15 shots (non penalty, non own goals). 12 from 54 in the tournament overall, adjusted for non penalty goals is 10 from 52. Can be a strength and a weakness. Game itself, thought they were bright, incisive, sharp and yes fairly clinical- but can be got at.. watertight they aren't.

Even that 'making up the numbers' side have a top midfield. Kovacic-Modric-Brozovic finally settled on their preferred 4-3-3 can't lightly dismiss a side with that CM platform. Are Croatia a superior side to Holland? Possibly yes, certainly Holland with their back 3 a bit cautious at times.