His behaviour has been on the cards since he was refused the McGuire money last summer, and he was refused a resignation. In that time, this apparently snide individual has seen us perform at a level above the sum of our parts, with many players offering their thanks for his positive impact on their careers. When was the last time you praised someone who left you in the lurch? Or is our squad uniquely thick as mince? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy at how he’s left, but he has done so completely within the bounds of his contract, while continuing to perform well for us. If Suhail and Waggott had upheld promises to him, AND he behaved this way, I’d be piling it on him.

None, the loans take it up to 14.

My fat fingers 😅

A good day to protest. Seems they’re trying to quell it by bringing King Kenny onto the pitch

Nor me. You only have to look at Ewood to know the state of Brockhall.

Players who arrive aren’t going to slag off the training facilities are they?

… Gary?

I agree to an extent, but also remember the most common name people wanted to replace Allardyce was Martin fucking Jol 😅

Available managers I would be ok with: Allardyce, Dyche, Gerrard, O’Neil, Harris. Left field: Might someone like Brian Priske be interested?

Wife came home from a day of teaching. A child has introduced the class to ‘I believe in Joe Hendry’. She is annoyed. That child is a legend.

Lots of players congratulating Eustace on Instagram and thankful for his help. That’s not normal when a manager asks to leave. They clearly understand as we do: Waggott and Suhail are idiots.

Can someone paste this?

If you know, you know. If you don’t know, don’t worry about it 😅

To the tune of ‘I believe in Joe Hendry’: Say his name and he appears. I believe in Makhtar Gueye. I believe in Makhtar Gueye. Our smiling giant, for a million, from Molenbeek Is causing chaos, for defences, every week. They say I believe in Makhtar Gueye, I believe in Makhtar Gueye. (I don’t waste my evenings…)

Re: Gary O’Neil, just like when Eustace was appointed for me. A bit underwhelming but not terrible. But that’s all anyone at the club wants: ‘Not terrible’. As such we end up nowhere.

He tried to. And still dragged us up to the playoff places when he was forced to stay. That’s not a man who gave up or even had his head turned. For him to perform like this, with THIS bunch of players while NOT MOTIVATED is a testament to his potential while here, and a damning indictment on Venkys or the club’s refusal to back him or any of the team.

That’s exactly what he did. He worked for a boss he didn’t like or trust. He didn’t quit, because he needed a job, and kept his responsibility to his team (even going to bat for them on their contracts). I also don’t think he has misled anyone as to his intentions, unless you believe he’d have been better telling everyone that ‘if another club wants me I’ll look at it and give you one last chance to hold your promise to me and leave if you do not.’ He did everything you claim as the right thing to do.

Doesn’t make any sense. That means the reciprocal must also apply: Clubs can never sack managers.

Great episode, as usual. My thoughts (even contradictory ones) nicely espoused.

Could I be the ‘stay away’? Albeit I had a brief return for Bowyer’s final season, and gave up again post-Lambert (and then joined RT board in 2016).

Nonsense talk. That £500k has probably already vanished up some nostrils.

I read that in Cloughie’s voice for some reason. Maybe because of Derby. Or have you got a cold?

Do you know how I could listen to that?

I don’t think it makes you a bellend, but I completely understand the position Eustace is in from an employment POV. Supervision reneging on assurances is the most common reason anyone leaves any job. He is no different.

The contract situation makes me wish we still had someone like Broughton. Whatever his failings, he could at least see beyond six months.