longsiders1882

As big as they are they were skint, in big financial trouble is how I’ve read it. He’s gone in, brought through young players and turned them around by all accounts. One thing that intrigues me with the ones negative about Kompany, having looked at the level JDT has managed at what makes anyone think he’s better equipped to navigate the league than Kompany? Nothing on a striker since that one deal fell through - but links persist to a possible loan of Delap. I think Cornet would need to be managed carefully re number of games/minutes if he stays - but again I doubt this very much. I can’t comment on Twine sorry beyond Kompany’s public statement basically suggesting the training was a bit more than he is used to. I doubt that - for a while you were contenders for automatic promotion. Appreciate you faded but you must still have some very god players.

Untested at this level? The Belgian league isn’t exactly a Sunday kick about. As for BFS - not even in your wildest dreams. I’ve had a cheeky bet on us winning it as the odds were so good. He would but it is highly unlikely we keep him beyond this window.

I’m always amazed at how much you know about our finances - though in fairness all your pronouncements so far have been proved wrong. Can we afford 10 million? Of course we can. At that price does he fit the model? Not really is my guess as the sell on potential becomes diminished. I agree on the centre back area, it is a worry - but we have 2 excellent full backs. We also have Cullen, Cork, Brownhill and Bastien as centre mid options. Will Cornet and McNeill go? I’d be amazed if Cornet doesn’t but so far no one has been willing to pay the price - and a strong rumour that the relegation clause in his contract is a media myth. On McNeill, I just don’t know, not a single solid link to him so far. I imagine the biggest danger is the deals are last minute and we can’t bring in replacements quickly enough. As for Barnes and Rodriguez, Jay in particular has recent experience at this level as well as the one above. I think he in particular should do OK - we need another, different striker though IMO. That said Kompany may well start with one Striker and Twine at number 10. I don’t expect to pull up trees, especially early in the season but I do how that the team will grow during the early part. Not all fans are as pragmatic as I am so I’m sure some will be disgruntled but for me I’ll wait and see. It’s unrealistic IMO to expect this team to hit the ground running. Anyway I’m watching Peter Hook and The Light on Friday so I’ll be saved the horror show I’m anticipating until late in the evening.

Amen to that - except of course we come out on top in’t crapico. To be clear, only rumours, I have no facts. Suggestion is big fight involving Gibson and a leading member of the management team which led to Dyche being told to either back his back room member or lose him. Lots of stories of bullying and also heard one where a player, possibly Cornet, was gripped by the throat. General suggestion is things had become quite toxic and Dyche very much believed his own hype. Not certain I believe everything that’s been said but he was sure quite arrogant.

As an aside, some of the stories doing the rounds about Woan and Dyche don’t read well for those 2.

Same people who said relegation would finish us? We are due around 40 million in parachutes this season (35 next, then 15 if we aren’t up?) and we’ve already raised around 35 million in sales, spent around 11 so far plus paid 15 to Dell - so we still have ‘money’ - though cash flow looks like a problem. We’ve lost 15 premier league wages from the wage bill. Financially we are nowhere near the basket case many would love to believe. Fail to get up next season and things then begin to look very challenging.

I feel excited - then again I always do before a ball is kicked. That said this is going to be very different to what we have become accustomed, new style and approach. As for expectations, a real mix of outstanding performances and dire ones. Lots of young players, new to each other and new to the style and club. Of course it is possible they will gel immediately but I don’t expect that. We could finish anywhere but our goal really has to be a minimum top 6 finish - I’m just not sure we will achieve that.

He’s always seemed to have wiring issues to me. Great player but seemed troubled. Kompany must see something in him though because he’s worked with him in Belgium and brought him with him.

So far we’ve signed players from Milton Keynes, Anderlecht, Standard Liege and Oxford and tried to sign another player from Standard Liege and allegedly are trying to sign one from Coventry. But yes we’ve only looked at City. Can’t decide how I feel about this one. Had a very poor loan at forest 3/4 years ago, then again he was only 19 and last season I believe made team of your in Turkey.

Indeed - 15 million plus. I rate him but he will need to do more than he has last season and a half. A change of scenery might do him some good. Be sorry to see him go - and a little surprised because of his recent form - but his name was one of the ‘expected to leave’ list members when we got relegated. Though Chris Boden from the Burnley Express says no truth in it :

This is the article I saw - https://theathletic.com/3423113/2022/07/18/efl-ifollow-streaming-tv/?source=user_shared_article Re-reading it now it seems to mainly impact League 1/2 rather than the championship.

I’ve just seen an article about how clubs now have to stream non 3 pm Saturday games for £10 a game? How did you guys find that last season? Does it impact attendances? Are the streams generally any good?

My view is we have some good players, and some that have potential. Assuming as I am that we will at least lose Cornet but bring in a wide replacement and a younger striker then in all honesty I suspect we will have games where we are very good and others where we get turned over - I just hope our two games against you are the former.

Not sure Robins gets to decide. He’s annoyed about Kompany’s comments apparently. It’s not done but sounds close but if not we will need to look elsewhere as we need wide attackers unless Cornet and McNeill stay with Cornet now heavily linked ti Newcastle. I’ve been at Beatherder this weekend and reckon you must be on what so many seem to be there 😂. He was hot property when we signed him but seems to have lost his way 🤷‍♂️. Anyway we just came down to give you another chance or two to reset that clock 😉😬

Yeah we’ve signed the player from Chelsea on a season loan. Not heard anything definite on Taylor but can see him going soon. Still need a keeper, O’Hare seems to be edging nearer - and a still nothing on a striker.

All fans are fickle - if he goes back and does well they’ll be fine. He’s a very good and experienced player - and we’ve just signed a kid from Chelsea on loan m, though he was at Coventry last season. It’s beginning to look a lot like a 2 year plan to me.

It is the model the owners want but to replace a squad of experienced players with ‘kids’ is a risk. Our financial position was never as bad as the likes of the media and Chaddy would have you believe - and maybe our owners were happy to let the story run to keep prices down? The 65 million that required a ‘significant’ amount to be repaid on relegation. Well that turned out to be about 15 million. Yes a decent chunk but factoring in the money from Wood, parachutes etc plus cash in the bank not as disastrous as predicted. Its a gamble though. We do have experience in midfield - and if by some miracle both McNeill and Cornet stay then that gives us a potentially very potent attack with Twine. And if Delap comes in that really adds to that. I do fear that our lack of experience, naivety if you like, will cost us as the season unfolds. Potentially exciting but ultimately less than successful. Then again it could be next season is the big promotion target and we are building now for that 🤷‍♂️

Rumours doing the rounds that Taylor is on his way out the door - not heard who to, just that he looks likely to be going soon. We could be playing a defence with an average age of around 21. A worrying lack of experience.

Not sure - believe Southampton want a permanent deal so maybe City will prefer that.

Yeah definitely - although on the Friday I’m at a many times rearranged Peter Hook and The Light gig in Manchester so will have to rely on text updates. Can’t comment on this link but I had seen a few sources saying we’d moved on from Muric. In Muric’s defence I believe he’s coming off the back of a decent season in Turkey.

I hope so - but since we had the work permit problems with Muleka I haven’t seen any others linked - maybe we should offer your lads a half chewed refresher and an open packet of wotsits for Brereton? 😉

I’ve heard we’ve moved on from Muric, possibly City want to much but not sure. In terms of formation, so far he’s largely used the games as fitness outings with under 23s coming on at half time etc. Mainly 442 - or 4411. Hoping we will get a clearer picture in the next game what he’s thinking for the season.

Hennessy still with us - heard we’d said no move unless/until we have a replacement. Other Keeper is Bailey Peacock-Farell.

You did - and they’ve stumped up a decent amount though I feel we could/should have pushed it towards 30, I honestly believe he will become that good. Best signing? I’m happy with them all BUT we need some experience. As such I think I’m happiest with Cullen, reading around about him he sounds like he has real quality. Also excited to see how Twine does. Think Cornet himself seems pretty relaxed so far but I still expect him to go. With selling Collins we don’t need to sell anymore so let’s see what offers actually materialise. If he does start the season for us I think he will cause opposition players a lot of problems . Quiet so far on McNeill so if we want to sell we will have to lower our price. Depends how much he’s pushing for a move. Quiet on Roberts again. I suspect Brownhill will go. 6 so far, likely 4 more, maybe 6 depending on other sales. Even though the season starts early I think the window shuts at the same time?

He struggled when he came back from the cup of nations. Might find 46 game seasons a bit much so maybe used carefully - IF he stays. Collins deal going through today it seems. So we’ve more money to spend but another squad space to fill.