For the record, my tongue was firmly in my cheek. I know how tough the Championship can be but I’m still looking forward to a few local games.

I’m not sure we see you as the competition 😉 Ah right, I thought they did fund transfers etc quite a bit.

I’m sort of thinking if we get Westwood and Cork with Brownhill they can rotate, play 60 mins etc but take your point - and I wouldn’t object to a younger recruit if we could find one. On McNeill, mmm good question. One thing for sure, he hasn’t loved life under Dyche this season. He’s looked better after Dyche left - but faded a touch last few games. He’s still young but needs to find some consistent performances. That might work for us as it could dampen interest. The talent is there, maybe not always the confidence. Sometimes I have wondered about his appetite for it as well. I honestly don’t follow the youth side of it closely at all but I’ve not heard much so I’m doubtful anyone is pushing to start. They have a big job ahead. We all know aiming for an immediate return is the best shout we will have. They are Americans so not averse to a gamble - but will it be the club they bet because get it wrong and there is no billionaire in the background to bail us out. As poor as Venkys have been on many fronts they continue to put up the money.

If we can keep hold of the back four (minus Tarkowski obv) then that is very solid and better than most in the Championship. Despite being old Cork is still playing well alongside Brownhill so again, if he signed an extension that gives us a good engine plus Westwood is better than you are giving him credit there IMO. Cornet will go, McNeill, not sure but if we can keep him that is one side sorted. We’d still need another winger plus a back up. Up front if Weghorst stays then we’d need another striker. Rodriguez is staying and we’ve apparently made contact with Vydra about staying after his injury. Think Vydra and Weghorst could cause problems in the Championship but I think they will both go so we’d need 2 strikers. It’s definitely a challenge - and always was regardless of which league we were in. Money will be tight but with luck and following wind we might be able to get a competitive side out.

No idea if they have a plan to be honest - they say they do but I’m dubious. As for who should be the new manager, lord knows. All sorts of names thrown around recently but the relegation will a little reality to the mix. Maybe Carvalhal? Don’t have many names beyond that, not sure who’s available. Wouldn’t object to Rooney but he seems committed to Derby. Inevitably Barton will get linked but his hothead and history will rule him out for our owners. Had we stayed up and Forest stayed down I’d have liked to try to get Cooper but another one out of reach now after relegation. Mike Duff will no doubt get mentioned. We will probably make the fatal mistake of sticking with Jackson.

Thanks - and I will still be here. I don’t know about optimistic but I spent years and years watching us in Division 4 but in the last 14 years I’ve seen us get promoted to the top division 3 times, I’ve watched us in that division for 6 years and even got a bit of a European adventure. Easily been my best times as a fan so whilst obviously disappointed to go down it’s hardly the end of the world - and a part of me is looking forward to games against your lot, PNE etc.

Win lose or draw I like to keep up my end of the bargain and put in an appearance. Today and over the course of the season we got what we deserved. We can have no complaints - in fact the signs were there last season. on the money front, lots of nonsense and half facts being spouted. The loan CAN be called in or the terms renegotiated - it isn’t a given it will be. Also they didn’t take all the cash, still around 30 million was left in the club. That said we have the 60 million loan to pay/service AND additional payments to the previous owners due so still plenty to pay out. That said we will get good money for a few players, that and the parachutes probably around 200 million. When everything is factored in I doubt we will be pulling any trees up next season - a second relegation seems more likely than an immediate return to me. But we shall see. Anyway I shall see you through the coach windows next season I’m sure 😬

Yeah fair enough, maybe we got lucky with it considering that context.

No he jumped for a ball and caught the player with his elbow accidentally. He only had eyes for the ball.

I thought we’d nicked it at the end there - fair play to Mings for getting across to block.

Can’t see how Barnes’ in Saturday was a penalty and that wasn’t. Also if that is a red card the game really has gone, one footed, not high, wins the ball, minimal contact. Foul throw in the build up to their goal as well, he wasn’t even off the pitch. I don’t think so, think we will need to win.

I’ll take that point, stays in our own hands, cannot ask for more.

They do mate, but it’s important to call them out where we can. - it’s 2022 ffs. Some people just shouldn’t be allowed out .

yes we can win at Villa - doesn’t mean we will but we have enough to do it. Same with Newcastle at home next Sunday. It’s in our own hands, we can’t ask for anymore than that. I’ve no words … I lie, I’ve lots of words. Imbeciles, Neanderthals, dimwits, thickos and many more the profanity filter would pick up. Embarrassments to our club. Thankfully they will no longer be coming to games

Thought we played well over all. If we can give 2 more performances like that I’ll have no complaints at the end of the season, whatever our fate. Haha - they are pushing here for a result still. I’ve always maintained at the end of the season the table doesn’t lie. The worst three go down and the best team win it. Will be true this season as in every other. If we stay up - and that is anything but certain - we’ve earned it. Go down, we’ve deserved that as well.

I’m not sure even within the laws that it is a handball as it was so close. However, if that is a penalty then ‘the law is an ass’

Feel that’s a ridiculous decision, it was a foot away from him. We would never have been given that - nor should we because it wasn’t hand ball. Didn’t expect anything other than a defeat today to be honest, Thursday and Sunday are our targets.

I’d expected 4/4/2 but he’s gone with a 5 at the back. It’s all Spurs as I’d expected. We are praying for a nil nil

I’ll have to question that - and I was there. We had more shots than them and around half the possession. What Villa were is clinical - and pretty cynical as it goes - but considering we were poor they were not all that. Likewise though can’t call the relegation scrap. Us or Leeds 🤷‍♂️

I pray you are right - it actually wouldn’t surprise me if no more points were gained by us, Leeds or Everton.

I’m not sure. I could easily see them not getting anymore points - but as they have Brentford and Palace at home they have the best chance. Can’t see us getting anything Sunday and if Brighton are at it Leeds will struggle but that being at home has to be their best shout. Both of them face Brentford who have been playing really well. Likewise for us Newcastle at home last game has to be our best shout but that has ‘Trippier from the right, Wood header, bash, Burnley are down’ written all over it. I’m not confident after our last outing.

He’s a strange one. Was brilliant for us as a player. Definitely one people love when they play for your team and hate in the opposition line up. His managerial career has been beset with issues away from the pitch. Shame as that’s where he’s done quite well but he has a self destruct switch. Not a chance our chairman would recruit him. Whilst I did love him playing for us I don’t want him back as manager.

A reputation for putting it about that was never deserved - just salty fans who hated losing to little old Burnley. Our disciplinary record is actually excellent and amongst the best over our time in the league.

As it goes I believe it’s between us and Leeds - if we play like the last game we will be relying on Leeds picking up no more points because we won’t. Then again play like the 4 games before and we should be able to get the needed points. All that said Everton are not safe. Only 2 points ahead of us with 3 tricky games. It would massively surprise me if they didn’t pick more points up. We have a tough game Sunday and expect nothing from that. Villa weren’t all that at ours, we were just woeful and then Newcastle who had a decent run but lost the last 2. I expect it to go to the last day and right now I can’t call it between us or Leeds. That didn’t work out but I didn’t see them being that woeful. Not sure how Philips stayed on the pitch either.

Only through a window on a bus I imagine 😂