In each of the last 4 seasons 2 of the promotion places have gone to parachute payment clubs - from a pool of 5 or 6 clubs - whilst the other 18/19 clubs without parachute payments have only got 1 promotion spot. That indicates the scale of the advantage given by parachute payments. The difference is becoming more pronounced as in the last 2 seasons the parachute payment clubs have taken both the automatic places and it is looking likely that will happen again this season. Additionally the sums received are increasing way beyond the ability of championship clubs to boost their revenue - in 2019 a club in its first season down from the Premier League was getting just under £43m ; this season that is now £55m.

It was intended more as a prediction than as a target. Given that the non-parachute payment clubs will have thin squads injuries will likely play a pretty big part in who actually comes out top.

I'm confident we will be one of the best teams without parachute payments. The Championship is now really 2 divisions, one for the small number of clubs with parachute payments, and one for the others who are attempting to compete at a significant disadvantage. We are the only one of the top 5 clubs in the league who do not have parachute payments and I think those who talk of firing the manager and replacing him with this mysterious unnamed "someone else" are singing loony tunes.

I think your track record in the predictions business is most kindly described as "mixed". Before the Norwich game you were talking about a 5 or 6 goal drubbing.

Yes - and I've also seen the league table.

Why on earth would an owner want to sack a manager who has us in third place, and comfortably the best of the clubs not in receipt of parachute payments ?

3rd place in the table is the reality.

If you are right and we need those 5 players, what sort of budget do you think needs to be made available to the relevant decision makers at the club, and how likely is it that that sort of budget is/will be available ?

What do you suggest ?

If "they are not playing for the manager" how have we got to being 3rd in the table ?

And yet we are 3rd in the table.

I've answered this question above.

JDT's record as a striker speaks for itself, so I would trust his judgement regarding strikers over any poster on here. But who would you pick over Hirst and Markanday ?

I don't think I was asking you.

What makes you think players aren't picked on merit ?

Good thing it's an option to buy, then.

To be fair, Brentford had sold the likes of Watkins, Benrahma, Tarkowski prior to promotion.

The deduction is suspended until the end of next season and only kicks in if Coventry are deemed to be at fault for any further postponements.

Especially when actual game time was about 8 games.

Spot on.

You have just seen one of the greatest football matches ever played but are disillusioned ?

Best World Cup final ever. A magnificent game of football.

Messi The Immortal !

Lionel Messi has been the best player of his generation and deserves to win the World Cup to cap a magnificent career. So - come on Leo.

Correct. It's a goal contribution every 125 minutes which is some way ahead of the next best Brereton with one every 165 minutes. Best in the division is Benson with one for every 80 minutes or so. It's a very good stat for Dolan especially for a player who is still only 20 years old (and who doesn't seem to throw a tantrum if he's not in the starting line up or squad).