That statement is worded to make it seem like we have no problems with finance. Specifically that we have enough cash to see us through to the end of the season. If that’s the case and the court date was adjourned, then I am flummoxed. Everything you could read about it was that we were only being enough cash to get to the next court hearing. Can we anymore hazard a guess at the financial position at all? Either we’re all utterly stupid (we’re not) or there’s a lie/deception in that statement. EDIT: Felt the need to add that I am actively discounting the possibility that the commercial department have ramped up the revenue in recent weeks, for obvious reasons.

As mentioned in the HMRC thread, I’m keen to explore the Indian press as a means of protest. Their most prized asset is their (thoroughly undeserved) sense of personal pride. Hazy memory that some forum members have contacts within Indian press, at the very least we could make initial enquiries there to understand scope and start to plot it out. Fully support those planning to protest within the ground, but I don’t think this hinders or distracts that and two-fronts is something that can be effective. Visibility in each country would only help.

Seem to remember wording that the funds had to be sent in line with “contractual obligations” meaning parent company to BRFC & Athletic as an entity. So the court delay puts them in breach, I understand, although would stand to be corrected entirely. Like to think I have a good nose for when I’m about to get fucked and believe me, my nose is twitching. Only thing that springs to mind is an extremely factual, full-page ad in the most-read newspaper(s) in India, in English and regional dialects, outlining the situation, signed on behalf of concerned fans. That paid media coverage should lead to a lot of earned media coverage and - so long as it remains factual - avoid whatever the libel laws are over there. There are enough of us here to work towards crowdfunding it and to put together the message itself. Protests don’t echo in India. We need to fight this on their own patch.

Link? Just gone through the 75 people he follows (follows Nixon, weirdly enough) and can’t find her.

Really difficult to argue with this, sad as it would be to lose him at this time. Think with Rak-Sakyi; try for permanent coming the other way, with a relatively cheap buy-back or something. But if you could invest all £18m across 3-4 positions, it could be huge for us. Incidentally don’t think Palace is the worst move for him at 20. If he backs himself to perform at the level, he’ll be being showcased on MOTD each week and if he impresses, he’ll get picked up. True, he could go to a top 6 side and quickly be on close-to six figures a week, but you’re competing with other, perennial academy prospects and owners/managers constantly splurging on quick fixes for positions. He does need a club that provides him a real pathway. Newcastle the only ones of the financial big hitters that probably, just about still have that, but once they crack their FFP conundrum, they’ll be dropping big fees on international players. Your Dan Burns and Shaun Longstaffs will be cycled out soon enough. Bellingham comparisons are inappropriate but a move abroad like his to Dortmund could really polish him up.

Wharton being pushed out the door this window is madness on any number of levels. It’s a relative gamble to keep any player and develop them, as an innocuous challenge could hugely impact their career and value, as we saw with Dack. But we have to gamble on that with Wharton, who is a starter and is performing well, contributing a lot and maturing with each performance. I can only see the value going up. I think Premiership clubs keeping tabs on high-potential players is common and if Palace have made a move, there would usually be some encouragement on the player/agent front, so let’s see. If anyone in the club hierarchy is actively touting our prized asset, that individual should be hounded out of the club, unless it’s to set the market value, in some convoluted way. The prospect of actually selling him seems especially nonsensical with the Indian courts mess still active and hopelessly unresolved. We can all see it a mile off: “you’ve sold an asset to the tune of your annual losses, why do you need to send money overseas for the sake of expenses?”

O’Riordan movement (if happening) has clearly been provoked by Carter’s injury. They’ve found money in the budget for it, so expect a cut somewhere else or for the Raya money to be partially advanced by Brentford or a third party (seem to recall financing options against future transfer fees available for clubs from lenders). Fine by me, I - as many of us on here - do not have the time to comprehensively scout players and the recruitment team do, so I’m happy to see how he gets on, if it happens. All the more an indictment of the idea we’re being left to make do with what we have out of spite/stubbornness, though, it feels. Manoeuvres and chicanery only possible in a pinch. We should be trying every possible avenue at all times to progress. If I ever do meet Waggott, he’ll be left in no doubt as to what I make of his efforts.

Interesting to hear Neil Warnock say on Sky tonight that he tried to sign Sam Gallagher “a couple of seasons ago… but we couldn’t afford him.” Was praiseworthy of Gallagher and said it made sense for Ipswich to pursue. Who can even say the person negotiating with Warnock at the time, but I would love to know what the asking price was.

With Carter and Pickering likely both out for a while, I expect to see some movement on the transfer front shortly. Chrisene isn’t ready for 90 mins and we now only have Scott Wharton, Hyam and untested youth prospects at centre back. Hyam himself is still on a road to full fitness. There simply has to be at least one CB incoming before the next game. Would love it to be Hill, but we can’t afford to play the waiting game with Bournemouth. Somewhat perplexed by the mathematics of our finances. If we’re continuously spending £20m of the owners’ money to cover losses every season, despite budget cut after budget cut, what exactly are the CEO and commercial dept doing to grow revenue? Envious of those of you who have managed to get a meeting with him, I’ve been palmed off every time I’ve asked, although haven’t for a while. I’d have thought some of the Phillips and Kaminski money could have been reinvested by now and maybe it all was between Leo, Moran, Hill, Ayari and Chrisene. It that is the case, I think the transfer policy is essentially a constantly reactive crisis where we’re gambling on unearthing hidden gems from the Academy Industrial Complex and them having their breakout season with us. We’ve had it before with Elliott and Van Hecke and it happened with Mason Mount at Derby, Sturridge and Wilshere at Bolton. Common thread with all three of those clubs acting as platforms is they never made it to the promised land. I don’t think loading your team up with expensive loans can practically get you out of this league. I’ve genuinely enjoyed JDT’s style of play in moments, there are flashes of excellence and some real stand-outs (goal of the season last season being a specific one). But we visibly need someone capable of winning a header in midfield before booting the opposition’s number 10 into the Riverside from the centre circle and I don’t think we’re going to find that in a premier league academy.

That livened up at the end and it’s because our forward play became more instinctive and urgent. We break down the more we think about what we’re doing. Everything good about what we do (not that we’ve done much of it lately) is based on quick play and “first pass is best pass.” JRC and Wharton are key instigators of that and we looked good when we were pressing early. Surely the coaches are watching the same games we are.

This is champagne football on white cider budget, essentially.

First time I’ve really felt the apathy this season. Don’t back us to find another goal here, bracing for a goal against, but even still, it’s apathy in the main.

Just coasting about. Seems to have lost interest in recent weeks.

Good save Pears.

Looks a bad one

Excellent move on the edge of the box, just doesn’t come off. Huddersfield are parking the bus and offering little, but they have the assurance that we will provide a gaffe or two and be weak on set pieces. Fair enough, it’s a game plan and on our current form, it may work. Something needs tweaking, we look considerably weaker since Carter went off.

Not even sure what we’re asking Garrett to do here. Seems very Harry-Redknapp-saying-“Just fucking run about a bit.”

Some bollocks on a player having that shit of a barnet when he misses open goals like that.

VAR gives that.

Chrisene looks athletic and occupies good space, but his touch/decisions are a bit off. Obviously he’s young and probably a touch nervous starting his first game, but can see him contributing.

Never once saw him deliver a ball as well as he did that corner.

There’re four headers on the pitch, so what’s the set piece excuse this week?

Pleasing. Press is much more effective, as evidenced there. Not getting too excited, despite the evidence a few weeks ago, we should be beating sides like Huddersfield handsomely. Let’s do that now.

Always sceptical of TeamTalk gossip. Don’t see how he fits into the way we play, but if we do take a Plan B approach when chasing a game/defending a lead, maybe there’s something in a player like him. As I did in September, I’ve taken Transfer Deadline Day off work. Fully anticipate us to be actively trying to make something work in the loan market right up to the wire, based on nothing other than what is publicly known already and I’d rather be anxiously refreshing the forum in the comfort of my own home.

Honestly never been able to understand it from a supply/demand perspective. Supply is massively up for tickets, so drop the price. When demand increases, raise the prices in line with the demand. I get that there are lots of contextual arguments either way, but I’m confident a good atmosphere and matchday experience will trump a lot of the things they might suggest as threats to the demand