aletheia

Good posts. But on the point above. As I'm sure you know, it was working until promises were broken and the usual shenanigans went on. Close with JDT, close with JE, even Mowbray, all with dsysfuntion all around -not backed when it mattered. Some with plans that are remarkably similar to the new one. And so we have a volte face of sorts -money even tighter but a plan that all -well the unholy trintiy -agree to. The rest will follow (as in the best dictatorships) knowing full well the consequences of dissent. I don't really see how even further reduction in expenditure can lead to promotion but who knows? I do see that there won't be competing voices or power battles when it comes to transfers (SWAG v Pasha/RG etc) but that just means that all will accept less money spent and the mine will be in certain leagues.

That's fair. But those who like the new cost downgrade (or er, the new singing from the same hymn sheet/all travelling in the same direction) are likely to say after 10, if it's not going well, that more timeis required for bedding in. It has been suggested that it doesn't matter where we end up in this league.

What?.....no Lewandowski? We did everything we could....

Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo all by next Monday. 😉

I’m sure there are many who share your views. I guess there will be those who feel that a football club is part of the social fabric of a town/city but increasingly, given the gentrification of the game, football has become just another commodity to be consumed like a Big Mac without thinking too much. . As for control, well I wonder why clubs hire an army of voices to manufacture and massage public opinion. And why certain fan actions at many clubs around the world have caused change. And of course there are plenty who just like ‘debating’ –hence a lively messagboard. 🙂

Gestede should be on his way then.

Frankly, that is distinctly underwhelming and vague and hardly new.

JDT had a plan as did JE. Achieved nothing? Right. And did it with hands tied behind backs? Expect miracles then with this new plan.

Re the clearing of the old guard (who now appear to have been an impediment to success), will the agents be next?

Legends? Sam Gallagher scored more goals than BBD, MGP, SS, Andy Cole, Mike Newell, Damien Duff, RSC, Derek Dougan..... ;-))

Can't disagree -but will it happen?

So, we all done this window? Loans? Hyam, Pears, Tronstad next windows? Maybe Euros 5m to play with?

Happy to concur.

Got to 7th last year with no support from Jan onwards.

So Pasha next then. Jolly good.

? Totally agree and always have with this.

But we are now, er, all singing from the hymn sheet 😉

Of course, we both are sensible and know that. My point is a) you should always look to improve but I think there is no intention of this - the intention is budget cuts and league table mediocrity will do. To be more blunt, those castigating leaving players and JE should wind their necks in and remember the league position last season. b) your points will be held by many and of course provide a perfect excuse/cover for budget cuts and the hierarchy -ie if we do well then it's all on VI and RG, the plan was a masterstroke; if we are in the bottom third, well we are in transition, so many sqaud changes etc what can you expect?

Look forward to us improving our league postition then.

Would that apply for the following season or the one after that? Is there any point at which it would become relevant?

For the nearly whole game recently, the scoreboard had Wharton playing...I certainly didn't see him...

Run a book on how many players left on the pitch? How many minutes on the clock before Trav gets a yellow?

The article does seem to appear reasonably balanced -it's the headline that beautifully shifts the blame to the player without being aggressive.

I'm not setting expectations at anything (RG does that I think-he suggested promotion is not of interest to him). I'm suggesting that in difficult circumstances JE got the team to 7th. Given that those difficult circumstances seem to have gone ie. everybody is working to the same plan (not getting fined by Rev), optimism is high, we have younger, speedier, more athletic giants, then you would expect to equal or improve on 7th.

Depends how you use it. 😉