The first 4 fixtures look pretty rough to me. Don't fancy us against WBA/Birmingham/Norwich. Hull, it depends how well they take to their new manager I suppose. Edit: Dire fixtures over Christmas. Middlesbrough and Sheff Wed away. Have to wait until Jan 1st for a home game. I'm not sure if I can ever remember that happening before.

I'm aware of all that. However notwithstanding the advent of sports science etc I wouldn't say our record in recent years of keeping players fit is particularly good. Not sure what the perception is elsewhere or in general. Better get a few more in if they're going to be dropping like flies before we've played a competitive game..

Yet players seem to get injured far more now than back in " the good old days". Can you imagine the top teams playing 60 or 70 games with a squad of 15 players now like they did in the 70's and 80's? Lol.

All that fancy testing by the army of physios on day 1 did the trick then. We're doing well with the fitness record of new signings, Kargbo, this fella.

If you're going to be so contrary in your desperation to defend everything the Club does it's maybe worth pointing out that Batth and Weimann are wanted by at least 2 Clubs, (Derby and us) We've just signed a player only in demand by one Club, us, in Forshaw. Didn't see you scoffing when Forshaw re-signed. You've been effectively endorsing the signing by reproducing previous comments VI made about him. Edit: See Tomphil and Mercer beat me to it.

I think you'll find that's been earmarked for essential running costs. (Apart from transfers)

Yep. Jilted lover stuff.

To paraphrase Paul on Nyambe however, Mum and daughter are probably the best judges of footballing ability in their house. 🙂

I always thought Waggott ran it as though the intention was to run the Club steadily into the ground until there was virtually nothing left.

Generally, £1m doesnt get you much these days. I'd be surprised if Kargbo who we spent roughly that on turns out to be as good as Dolan.

100%. Ditto Lowe, Bennett, Hedges, Gallagher etc etc.

You've pretty much nailed it there. Yes, they shouldn't have got themselves in the position they have with the Indian Authorities in the first place, but they have the wherewithal to work round it and SHOULD have the willingness to do so as well.

Saw some comments on Redditt from Sunderland fans who were basically saying that they hated Bain with a passion and they felt the documentaries were framed in such a way as to shift blame away from him and on to Ellis Short. Didn't realise he'd been at Rangers during an infamous period as well. Extremely worrying.

Look like we've got more fitness staff than players.

Apologies if it came across as a pop at you, it wasn't you who was being objectionable about it.

So basically you're admitting that ( notwithstanding his faults) he is/was still one of our better players? I have to say that people complaining about Dolan when we've got Hedges on the other side is one of the most bizarre things I've seen in my time watching football.

I know you're one of their fiercest critics which is why I'm suggesting dont give them any means, no matter how tenuous, by which some people might think they're being slightly hard done to. The conditions haven't prompted a sale so far, but that was with a Szmodics and Adam Wharton and Raya sell on fee tucked up their sleeve as insurance. The cupboard is practically bare now and the tipping point may arrive after Carter is sold and Brittain/Travis/Tronstad either walk out for nothing or depart for nominal fees due to their contractual situations.

Again, maybe the owners never specifically asked the Court for transfer funding as actually they felt all this was quite a convenient excuse for them not having to send as much over as previously and were rather scared the Court might say "Yes"? Hence just create the impression that funding for transfers would not be allowed. Either way we're not being funded properly so the situation is completely unsatisfactory whichever way up you look at it. It's just a subjective matter of opinion as to which interpretation of events is the worst look. Whether Waggott got told telling a white lie and they can't fund us properly (Upside Down and Ira) or whether there's nothing actually stopping them funding us but they just dont want to. (Me and FB).

I didn't get "taken for mugs" about anything. People can argue until the cows come home whether the conditions imposed by the Court are an "impediment" or not. Either way, the owners haven't been sending over like they used to, but clearly they can if they want, because they've just sent £4.85 million over. So to the extent that they haven't been sending money, it's because they CHOOSE not to, not because the Court has said they can't. That to me is far worse than them wanting to send money but being unfairly blocked by the Court from doing so. As the most vociferous critics of Venkys, I'm surprised you and Ira persist with this fixation about "there's no impediment" then. First of all there clearly isn't in real terms, as money has now been sent over several times. But more importantly, if there was a genuine impediment to them funding us, then that's the kind of thing that those who are mildly sympathetic to them (such as the buffoons/plants on the Club website) latch on to as an excuse to feel sorry for them.

If Dolan is "bang average" what does that make Hedges?

Yes, no surprises for guessing who!

I wouldn't disagree with making Travis top earner and I also wouldn't disagree with giving Dolan £15k p.w. I suspect the figures quoted are in the right ball park. I'd be amazed if we're offering Dolan more than £10k p.w. if that.

Yes we've signed a couple of players who allegedly fit the narrative thats been put about - and one who most certainly doesnt. There's little point discussing signings with you chadster, we could sign literally anyone and you'd be happy with it. If we don't sign anyone that's also always the right decision as well. And you always dismiss any player who signs for another Club as crap. The most recent case in point is Batth/ Weimann / Forshaw. Because we-ve actually gone and re-signed 33 year old Forshaw you're happy with that but you're seemingly not in favour of re-signing 33 year old Weimann or 34 year old Batth on account of their age. However in the unlikely event we did persuade either to re-sign I'm sure you'd be delighted again and declare them excellent signings.

Whatever date his contract expires. He'll want that £600k p.a. for as long as possible. Who do I send my quid to? Lol.

I dont know but I'd wager he's on a very low wage at the moment relatively speaking. I'd assume he was after something like parity with other senior members of the squad and we're trying to lowball him.