Probably cos he's virtually our only source of goals? Of course he needs to be replaced. The defence is a serious problem too, but we can't fail to replace someone who just notched 29 goals. The defence wasn't as bad last season with Kaminski behind it, and if Wharton comes back in similar form that will improve it from the majority of last season. We also signed Pickering, we will see how that turns out. Obviously if the club had done and continued to do good business, we could be strengthening both areas from the Armstrong fee. Instead we will get less than we should and give a huge chunk of it straight to Newcastle, at a time where gate receipts are down due to SW's incompetence. But not replacing Armstrong at all simply shouldn't be an option.

There's nothing like clawing for a positive spin. It's the same operation that took on that same 'deadwood' (deadwood that found us Kaminski btw) and lauded how magical this European scouting network, that apparently took years to set up, and are now seemingly dismantling it.

Getting ridiculous this. Another sure sign we have no money to spend this summer.

Where'd you get that number? I'd prefer a million Chileans, has a better ring to it.

Thing is, that's exactly why you should post on it. They live in their own little echo chamber in that group (as do we of course). The lack of sufficient challenge on there is a factor in why a lot of the fanbase think everything is fine. The power of Group Think is real.

First I've heard of him even being linked.

I think Elliott is a really strange example to use. Liverpool are very happy with how we used him and I'm pretty sure his reputation was indeed enhanced. THB is a weird one to mention too. Both players were success stories here, that's not really in doubt. Branthwaite not so much, but the experience will still have been valuable for him. We have too much of a need for numbers to rely on our own u23s. Some of our u23s should be good enough to step up into the gaps, but about 10 of them? Nah. We need to bring in some better players. I don't want to keep borrowing any more than anyone else does, but 5 quality loans of the standard of the 2 you oddly criticised...if that's how it has to be, with our own players filling the squad gaps for the other 5 ish spots we need filling, until they can show they're up to being regular starters, is probably about as good as it could get at this point sadly.

I'll be honest mate, it's hard to care right now. Aside from how bad things are at the club in general, the fact we are told there may be no permanent incomings means that even if we get a few pearlers, it won't be enough for anything more than mid table and repeating the hunt to develop another club's youngsters again next summer.

Christ, can we not just all agree that the owners AND the management team are responsible for our plight?

We only just got done upsizing the recruitment team! I'm sure the new head of recruitment is delighted with that. Such things are minimal costs in the scheme of a football club, and yet if we are as fucked as we look, clever recruitment is now more important than ever.

Some of them didn't forget, they just didn't think it was a problem in the first place...

1. Well, I think he will probably go if Tony goes, but I can also see him trying to cling on for the dosh. So it's a tough one, but on balance I'll go with no. 2. No. This season is going to go terribly, and I think even Venkys will have had enough, or the live crowds may even force him out. I'm expecting he will be gone around Christmas time. If we have to give an exact date I'll say 30/12/21, and that will be much later than it should be (obviously it should be last season but I mean that even his current fans will want him gone before then). If they stick with him all season, we will be relegated, and though they might think 'he got us back up before', I think it will signal too much regression and they won't renew his deal. Not sure why you picked 2nd Feb though for Tony but July for SW? Are those your departure predictions? 3. Sam Gallagher 🤣 I don't particularly believe it, but still, with Arma going, BB probably going if he doesn't sign a new deal (spose we might hang on til the summer and go the compo route cos of his age though), I can see him actually getting game time in the middle. Where I think he can be reasonably effective, and the contrast to his previous performances could then earn him disproportionate praise. If BB stays all season I actually think he will win it, whereas I'm just saying Gally as a wild card really! Kaminski also likely to be a contender again, but his performances will look less impressive this time since we didn't just spend a season watching Walton. 4. This will depend largely on number 2. If we keep TM, relegation. If we twist early enough, possibly somewhere in the 12th to 21st region. If you're pushing me to pick where I think we will finish rather than 'if this', then...21st. Mostly since I think Tony will go at some point but the new manager won't have funds to work with. I always reassess all this after our transfer business though. I will (reluctantly) admit that I've taken advantage of some free bets to back us for the drop though. The odds are far more generous than they should be, we are in trouble. 5. Don't really care but let's say Fulham.

The LT claimed that the most we contributed to a wage last season was 10k pw.

No guarantee of ANY funds to use from selling our best player. Not even in replacing him. Strap in lads, it's going to be a rough ride this season.

A lot of people saying yes, and I'm sure this won't be popular, but no. And if the ads become too annoying, I'll just stop coming. Sorry. It's not to demean anyone's work, and I know the site costs to run, etc etc. But I'm neither going to pay for a forum I contribute to, nor put up with invasive ads. I don't mind there being ads, I just don't want them to be intrusive (I'm not going to read or click them either way, so them popping up in my face doesn't help the ad companies). They've been mostly fine in the past, out in the sidelines as banners etc. And if I remember rightly there is merchandise for those who want to contribute further? Again this isn't to criticise you or be ungrateful, I'm just being honest about the reality of how I'm willing to spend my time and money. My browser is blocking them without me having done anything anyway, but it still brings up an annoying box about it to click off. As I say, I'm sure I'll catch flak for this but have my honesty.

Replacement? Yes, a row of houses is being lined up right now...

No plans here, only journeys. The road to nowhere, a big ole circle.

No Ayala, Chapman, Travis or Rothwell tonight. So not narrowing it too much.

Depends on the injury. Anything which might reduce his pace I'd be very wary of. Also depends on the contract terms.

Only just seen this, so I dunno if it was before or after your comment, but he literally did say something like this. I forget the exact wording now but it was something like 'training with Chile is a different proposition to training with us'. He didn't say which was the harder, more professional training, but I still feel like 'fucking clown' is the only appropriate response.

For that kind of money they can.

Then we would probably still stump up the bumper deal...

Then they can never play him like with Kipre.

Founded by the same company is the flimsiest of grounds anyway. The club is the club, not the company that owns it. We aren't Venkys, just ran (ruined) by them. I guess Tesla were founded whenever PayPal was founded too. Your argument is spot on too. AFC Darwen don't officially get to claim to be Darwen FC anymore because of some money problems and a very short spell out of business, so Palace can definitely get to fuck with a 29-year gap!!

We can't really afford to lose anyone yet who we aren't already aware we are likely losing (Armstrong). The season starts very soon and our squad is absolutely threadbare. Even if someone comes in at the same time that's not really good enough as we need to bolster numbers not go sideways on them. (Obviously unlikely exceptions apply, ie if Ayala was off and a good CB coming in)