It’s a good loan for O’Riordan - League 1 and will be playing against better players week-in-week-out. As Kent says, Carter and Wharton both did really well out on loan and it aided their progression immensely.

I'm not particularly bothered who has control as long as they're all on the same page. From the outside, it would appear that was the problem with the last 2 coaches. As far as Eustace goes, I'd say he got the positions covered he wanted, but didn't get to choose which players filled them. The situation needs clarification or we'll end up with another unhappy coach. Just another point, it does seem that Ismael has the backing of most on here, much more so than when he came in.

There are definitely downsides to how most if not all football clubs now run. You get power mad director of footballs who are ultimately not solely working on getting the best team possible for that season. There regularly seems to be instances of disagreements and ultimately the manager/head coach is always best placed to know what his team needs, yet can be overruled. Teams also seem overly reliant on data which is limited in what it can do. There are certain things, for example intangibles like leadership/experience/personality, that it cant possibly measure. The Sheffield United situation is a good example. I dislike Wilder but he just accumulated 92 points and lost to a last minute play off final winner. Surely he is better placed to know what that team needs to get promoted as he has done before as opposed to relying on AI and a manager who hasnt really achieved much.

In fairness, his view is as valid as yours, just because you don’t agree with it. It’s not about what I enjoy, everyone has a right to a voice, whether on here, or otherwise. Just keep scrolling, or ignore people you don’t agree with, not that difficult.

He’s got a point to prove

This move must have been on the cards for a while? He got less than a week of Pre-season in. He's gotta go there and do well.

Wasn’t ismael specific just used him as a reference as he’s the current manager it’s the problem with football at the minute with directors of football or whatever fancy title they are given I’m old school in regards to this I think the manager should have full control of transfers in terms of player choice and who they want (within a budget provided) I’m not a fan of we need pace power under 30 then they come back with a list going we like him…I think the manager should have full control over that perfect example at present is Arsenal - arteta wants sesko berta (if that’s his name) wants gyokeres

Of course it's pandering. I honestly don't care whether or not it is used in other sports so that to me is irrelevant. It doesn't matter who they are speaking to it's the traditions and values which should be protected. You intensely dislike VAR but you are happy to accept something like this. It adds absolutely no value to the game.

Doesn't someone on here volunteer for wateraid?

We cant I agree although I dont think I have seen people suggest that they aren't Ismael signings. Its clear that the last 2 managers didnt get what they wanted in the market so they clearly werent aligned hence them leaving. Ismael, we dont know either way. How is it a conspiracy theory? We dont know either way whether these 2 so far are Ismael endorsed. Im not saying they arent.

Argument works both way you can’t confidently say he does either we simply don’t know

more conspiracy theories here How do you know that Ismael doesn't sign off every signing and trusts his scouting staff, Gestede and Owen to bring the right profile of players?

I’d argue there isn’t much choice, take what we can get in regardless of ability. 2 players in, peanuts spent, squad weaker than last year. (So far)

I suppose the hope is that like Wharton & Carter, who were both still getting loans out at his age, a few lower league loans gets him ready eventually. Although personally see him falling behind both Atcheson & Litherland this year (2 players who the club would have been aware of when they signed O'Riordan as it was only a year and a half ago)

We don’t unless your in the room but the argument works both ways posters can’t say ‘that’s not a ismael signing’ based on negative assumption and poster can’t say that’s a manager signing based on blind positivity we don’t know

How can we know whether a manager signs off on every signing or not?

Now three managers that clearly don't rate him or think he's got the potential. Bizarre move. Good luck to him

You act like it was just Eustace making the calls on transfers last summer which wasn't the case. It was joint effort between Gestede, Owen, Eustace and Park in terms of transfers. Eustace signed off every transfer we signed. Just like it is now between Gestede, Owen, Ismael and the senior scouts Just for the record, I don't reply to Mercer and I don't read them either. I sometimes reply to the others but I will try to limit the responses if I can

its realistic to believe we'll be weaker next season and probably weaker still the next season after that, given our owners expect us to fund ourselves via sales, low transfer fees and low wages. Do you agree with that?

I mean, I havent predicted relegation or said either signing is shit. And I havent said that "all our best players will be sold" although the ones with 1 year left are obviously at risk. But if it helps your point.

Every football message board around will have their version of all the posters mentioned. We're actually not so hard done to given that our fan base is relatively small. Imagine the Leeds message board with 10 or more Chaddy-esque posters on, I'd have to call it a do at that point.....

It's alright, he's not that good anyway

I don’t think so as any training compensation and solidarity payments due under FIFA regulations only covers transfers up to the season in which a player turns 23. If he’d moved last season (or earlier) we’d have been due a (small) percentage of the fee.

The most pertinent point must be, 90% of what ?

Not sure if it's been mentioned but looks like Flavien-Enzo Boyomo is on the move, will we get any sort of fee seeing as he came through our ranks?