It's a lose-lose scenario so it doesn't really matter. We sell him now and he's replaced by an inferior player. Money won't get reinvested. We wait a year and he goes on a free, same situation just one year later. We also have a player in the team not fully committed because he's already mentally detached. Just the usual where we get shafted either way.

Terrible news. Heartbroken for his family, especially with his brother passing away in the same accident.

I mean, we've all seen how 'insightful' ex and current footballers are as pundits - and that's with time to prepare. Banal platitudes might be optimistic. Let's say a player does kick off in the heat of the moment - what does that achieve beyond titillating the redtop crowd? It's a terrible idea with little to no redeemable qualities. Just another step in transforming sport into pantomime.

Football has always been a primary driver of Sky subscriptions - and with those subscriptions falling, I suppose they are trying to come up with increasingly desperate gimmicks to try and boost numbers. I think I read PL viewing figures were down 10% last season. That will largely be due to the fact the title race and relegation spots were basically done and dusted by February, but nonetheless, Sky can't control that. They can just try these little gimmicks to try and make otherwise mundane games more interesting. It won't work, but I'd assume they're just throwing crap at the wall at this point to see if anything sticks. When Sky first brought PL coverage in they had American traditions like cheerleaders (the head-to-head team logo clash graphic was also ripped off from US American Football coverage). They ditched it all very quickly because the UK public weren't partial to any of that nonsense and it was a waste of time and money. I imagine this will go the same way.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how old Keith does at Brentford. It'll look like a monumentally stupid decision if they go down, as they're in a position now where they'd be attractive to a range of decent, experienced managers. If they stay up and have an OK season then fair enough, it'll vindicate a process which - to be fair to them - has worked really well so far.

If he aspires to be head of football and/or CEO, though, then he's all good.

Plymouth have appointed Tom Cleverley. Their fans seem overall extremely happy with the appointment. Seems like a good opportunity for Cleverley to prove himself, and potentially get back into the Championship as a manager.

Aren't quotes normally cleaned up a bit in articles to read in an easier fashion? That article is more like reading a stream of consciousness. Anyway, whatever. He played in competitive matches and continued to be our best player until he was sold.

If Buckley doesn't have the physical tools to handle the Championship he certainly won't be able to hack it in League 1. A similarly technically gifted player like Dack was a decent blend of both which is why he was able to handle both the Championship and League 1, and probably could have stepped up to be useful in the PL if injuries hadn't wrecked his opportunity to do so. Idk, feels like Buckley's skillset would be better suited abroad. Or as he is now - a second string Championship player who can give something different from the bench when players are tiring and the game is a bit less physical.

Indeed, we saw it first hand with Mulgrew, who was younger than Batth when his legs went. A year with an option is reasonable from the club's perspective.

The Europa league was ultimately contested for by two of the worst teams in the PL. Winning a trophy is obviously an achievement, but the Spurs board likely saw it for what it was. Their league campaign, injuries or not, was diabolical. If they'd finished 10th - 12th I think Ange would be staying, but 17th is horrific. They would have legitimately been in a relegation scrap if any of the bottom three were PL quality.

Plymouth's manager is off to Schalke. Initially was a bit shocked, but then saw Schalke are not what they used to be - to say the least. Finished 14th in the German second division this season. The Argyle board's statement is... somewhat emotional. Reminds me a little bit of ours when Eustace left.

Let's see how he gets on next season, if he's given the chance. Flexibility over the long term is much more than just "defend and counter attack" for the odd cup game.

I very much hope Spurs keep Ange and United keep Amorim. Two very tactically inflexible managers who will continue to keep both teams mired in mediocrity at best.

Newcastle failing into 5th sums up the PL this year. Ref obviously had a mare in the United/Villa game, but Villa should still have been beating that awful United team comfortably. I think they may regret throwing away such a golden opportunity this season - Forest too, although their good season was much more unexpected. Meanwhile one of next season's PL "Champions" League representatives loses their final game 4-1 at home to Brighton, completing a season of domestic humiliation. Took a look at the Spurs forum and they all seem to want Ange gone. Give 'em hell Chadster.

Congrats to Sunderland. An ambitious managerial appointment, backed by the board and owners. Could have been us with both JDT and Eustace. Until we get rid of Venky's, however, we'll just have to repeatedly watch other teams succeed instead.

Lol. Another example to throw in the face of people at the club who claim parachute payments are the be all and end all. A bit of ambition can do the job as well.

On here you'll find many who see through the veil, but generally? I think he's been able to convince the majority at Ewood that all is in hand. Let's face it, for most little more is needed than a handful of victories on the pitch for all to be forgiven, get behind the lads ffs, etc. I did like that JDT needled him about his stupid leased coach comment repeatedly, but I also saw a lot of our fans right after that interview posting about how much sense Waggott was making (on Twitter/X, granted, but that's sadly probably more representative of the average fan than the people who post on here and other more detailed football forums). I don't think Suhail and Rudy can even present a facade of respectability, though. Certain fans with the blinkers on will parrot the upper management's nonsense regardless of how vapid it is, but I think even a lot of casuals found Rudy's interviews in particular to be absolute nonsense.

"Financially viable" ffs. Our owners are billionaires. If you don't want to support all areas of the club properly then SELL THE CLUB. Don't cry poverty whilst sitting in your mansions, jets and limos.

Don't think it really makes much difference as long as Venky's & Suhail are around, but lol @ that statement, or lack thereof. Might as well have just read "GTFO". Waggott was the only one of the terrible trio who had any idea of how to speak to the media or fans without sounding exceptionally arrogant and/or totally clueless. Most of what he said was waffle, but it was - for the most part - the kind of waffle that experienced execs specialise in. Stuff that has no value, but on the surface sounds reasonable. Words that over tea and biscuits lead some people to declare that bright things are on the horizon for Rovers. It's a basic requirement if you need to do PR or stakeholder meetings somewhat regularly, but neither Suhail nor Rudy are any good at it judging from the recent interviews. Idk who comes in to replace him, nor do I care. All that matters is Venky's being removed.

I'd be curious to know how Spurs fans are feeling about this season. Very weird situation they've found themselves in. An abominable PL campaign which may well see them finish as the 4th worst team in the division over 38 games - although theoretically they could still finish as "high" as 14th, owing to actually having remarkably solid GD for a club in 17th position. When you factor in that the three relegated clubs are just Championship level sides LARPing as PL teams for a season, though, it's still an embarrassing position to be in. They've also lost the most games in the division as it stands outside of the bottom three (Spurs 21 lost, Ipswich 23, Leicester 24, Soton 29). Yet, the league campaign effectively means nothing and was arguably pointless, as they've qualified for the "Champions" League regardless, thanks to the Europa League 'Get Out of Jail Free Card'. So, if you're a Spurs fan who basically wasted a ton of money to mostly watch your team lose week in and week out, does winning the Europa League and therefore qualifying for the CL make up for it? Or is there still some resentment there? Particularly as far from all Spurs fans who attended the league games will have been able to attend many or any of the Europa League games. As for Man Utd fans, well... they get to look forward to moving into a gigantic circus tent in the not-too-distant future.

Didn't someone from WATR say that Venky's quite literally told them they don't need or want to hear what the fans think?

Probably adequate for a 2nd/3rd choice midfield backup, and we are assumedly not breaking the bank on him wage-wise. Just a case of whether he's happy to be that far down the pecking order. I don't think Buckley's a bad player - he's just developed into a very average player, with the exception of his passing which can be excellent at times. As an aside, reading the posts on this page I was baffled by the positive comments about JRC until I realised they were from April 2024. Some fall that lad has had.

We hear all of the time how charitable our billionaire owners are. Apparently not charitable enough to support women and girls trying to make their way in a game dominated by men since its' inception. Let's be clear - any loss being made by the women's team is peanuts to our owners. They could easily choose to support Rovers women rather than abandon them. It wouldn't hurt them in the slightest. Hopefully Glen is making that point in his communications to India.

Assuming Sunderland progress they've been solid this season, despite putting their feet up at the proverbial beach about a month before the season ended. Won't matter if they can flick the switch and start playing well again though - aside from the fans who wasted their time and money going to watch those pre-playoff matches, obviously. Still, I'd expect them to give Sheff Utd a game in the final. Bristol City and Coventry were always going to be rank outsiders simply based on how low their points totals were. Sheff Utd and Sunderland can, at the very least, both legitimately claim they were better than the majority of the division over the course of a season. The other two were very marginally the best of the rest. If either somehow snuck up through the playoffs they would, much like in a hypothetical scenario where we go up under Venky ownership, be absolutely annihilated in the PL. If clubs weren't so desperately in need of the coin that the PL provides, staying in the Championship wouldn't be so bad. From a fan perspective at least, it's no fun getting completely wrecked every week. The Ipswich fans around me have been utterly miserable this season, arguing amongst each other as they see the team get battered repeatedly and paying a lot for the privilege.