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.

Well Shirley let me tell you. I’m not sure about optimism or expectation. Excitement sure but mixed with trepidation. Our squad is 70% new, young and somewhat unproven at this level. I can foresee a topsy turvy season where a fantastic result is followed by a shocker. As fo’t ‘el crapico’ - honestly not a clue how it will go beyond a section of both sets of fans will be bells who smash toilets and the bill will stop sensible folks like me make our own way there - meaning I’ll give the away game a miss again. One positive is the first game isn’t until November so at least our squad should have adapted to the system and each other by then. Im looking forward to all the local games though, PNE, Blackpool, Wigan as well as you lot. Whilst I obviously want us to beat you all home and away and finish highest in the league I do want all the Lancs teams to do well. There is a lot to enjoy about the Premier League but our last couple of seasons were not the most enjoyable so let’s see how we enjoy our first one for a while in the Championship. Also only just occurred to me there’s no VAR so we can enjoy a goal scored like we used to - though I’m sure after a few poor calls I’ll be wishing we had it again.

Suggestion is he’s had a medical today - happy with that signing if it happens. Those players that are going I’d like us to get done as early as possible. Collins always looked likely to happen, Cornet another (though somethings he’s said suggest he’s happy to stay 🤷‍♂️) McNeill, Roberts, Brownhill if they are happening need sorting. We still need a keeper, a striker and replacements for McNeill/Cornet/Roberts if they go. So yes we are active but we’ve got a bigger rebuild on than you so we needed to be quicker than you.

A steal for Wolves IMO I’d be disappointed but was expecting it. We will need to bring in an experienced centre half.

Not sure what to make of this. Always seemed like a loose cannon to me, great player but one or two wiring issues. That said he was with Kompany at Anderlecht so he must know him and rate him. Strong links to Josh Cullen now, suggestions it’s all but done. I’d be happy with this signing, exactly the type of player we’ve needed / but makes me think Brownhill could be on his way.