The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

Scotland or League Two. Probably the former.

Hard to say. It could also mean they plan to get another player in that area. I don't expect much this summer though, we are obviously brassic. That said the directors have made a rod for their own back by saying the budget is similar to last summer, and by also saying incoming transfer funds don't affect the budget, made it clear what we spent last summer wasn't boosted by the Raya, Gally money etc. So in theory we should be able to spend about 3 million in fees I think it was? Which aye is still shit, but enough to recruit a few positions at a better standard than Markanday.

Out of interest, where do you think Vale will end up? League One / Two, or back to Scotland?

I'm pleased we didn't. Not good enough. Hedges is better for me.

Ffs... hope he finds himself another club promptly.

Did I say it was? I do enjoy when you do your Mr Pedantic routine but actually strengthen the other person’s point. 👌

Markandy is a strange one - came to us with high expectations, with only fleeting glimpses. Prospered on loan, but unlike others hasn't returned to boost our squad. Presume he will be snapped up by a League One team.

About 200-300k, or less than that with a sell on for if he comes good. Still worth triggering though. Not that it matters as nothing adds to the budget anyway, but I'm surprised we didn't activate it. I also don't think he's anywhere near as bad as some suggest. No worse than Hedges.

Bessie Banks - Go Now

But not league position

Obviously he will be bigged up in the media. But is there really much more to come from him? Hes about to turn 30 so its not as if he is a raw prospect. Hes never been someone who offers much going forward and that minimal offering seems if anything to be declining, and off the back of 2 serious hamstring injuries and now an ankle injury, its not really that surprising. We will probably end up bringing in another underwhelming wide man, most likely a kid on loan, Hedges will remain first choice until next summer and then this situation will play itself out again.

57 points, worst return in 15 years. But yeah, get them down, he was about to turn a corner, you know!

Very much a "if we don't land our centre midfield targets, Forshaw is our back up option" type situation here. Essentially we'll keep him hanging for a most of the window and probably end up signing him back up because we've offered peanuts for any other targets we've picked out.

Personally I hope Norwich are relegated for their callous behaviour.

didn't they finish 14th 2017/18 season and the same position 13th in 2022/23 season as this season?

That's because they deliberately didn't submit it. Some people knew.

According to chaddy every manager that has ever been sacked was done so harshly. Except Big Val of course, put him in the bin.

If they need someone to fill in I'd be more than happy to do the job of judge, jury and executioner.

I often think of Hedges assist of an assist of an assist that one time as well, cracking stuff

Oversaw their worst season in fifteen years… ‘Harshly sacked and needed more time’… spot the over-corrector 😅

I remember whe Shearer went to Newcastle and some lad at school turned up with a Newcastle shirt on. Instant loss of any credibility and was excluded from any football related activities (which at 8 years old was pretty much everything). In fact, I think he didn't even really follow football much after that. I remember when I was about 12 or 13 me and a Dingle lad at school absolutely ripping out this other lad who was a United "supporter" for not supporting his local team. I can tell you now that if anyone we'd have know had turned up in a Palace shirt then they'd never be allowed to forget it. That is the most tinpot thing I've ever heard of, and age is absolutely no excuse. If I'd have turned up with something like that on my back my old man wouldn't have let me in the house. I can understand why folk have an interest in following his career but why anyone would want a shitty nothing club like Palace to do well is beyond me. At the end of the day, Wharton left at the very first opportunity entirely for the benefit of his own career. If he wanted to stay he could have.

At the end of the day, I like Hedges and I think he is good squad player for us, can play either wide position and experience which I think we need here. Ismael has said in the LT recently, he thinks there is more to come from Hedges. I don't think he is regular starter but I think starting some games and coming on in others I see as his role this coming season. I still think we need a new right winger and another attacking player who can play up front or wide left.

Perhaps they did. But we'd only have evidence for this if they were picking him over other decent options. Which he wasn't, because we didn't. There definitely are. In fairness to a lot of them (maybe not Lowe!) second division footballers are usually those who can look fine if you play to their strengths, and can look almost semi-pro if you don't. We've had heaps of them at Rovers - our current Head of Football Operations being one! And it's not even as though I think Hedges is without his good points. But he's played well over 100 games now and his numbers have been just as poor in a range of systems, from playing on the counter to more possession based.

Very strange appointment. Was shit at Norwich.