It was the wrong decision, and also it wasnt like it was at the start of the season. Maybe Tomasson weighed up the impact in the dressing room, the message it would set, he didnt want to change the team, whatever it was, it was the wrong decision. Kaminski appeared to be the likely first choice again in the friendlies leading up to the season but then he was sold. Pears is crap, and I think people think Wahlstedt might have a "higher ceiling" because of his more alternative background and that hes more continental in how he plays, but he was playing in a poor league and seemingly might go back to one. They are both poor.

These ideas are nice enough but are flawed, for example a flexi season ticket would devalue and reduce people buying full season tickets. Blue light discounts etc, its strings attached niche targetting, needs to be across the board. Reducing kids prices, adults will be buying their ticket anyway so if their own price is too high its of little use. Anything bar reducing adult prices by a reasonably decent amount is pissing in the wind. Do that, obviously numbers go up, if its more affordable even people who might miss games would still be more likely to get one. And crucially, they are then in the tent, they may get season tickets for a number of years, you create a feel good factor and it also leads to indirect income, whether it be merchandice, food, drink etc. We seem to be in the same cycle, people with good intentions see Waggott, he talks them into agreeing with him, he might take on board a couple of their other ideas to appese him and people come away thinking its a success. Hes clearly a smooth talker. But the only real difference of any note is to reduce adult prices. The focus is all on the next year. It may even work out that there is a risk of ticket income reducing slightly in that first year, its one of them thats impossible to gauge. But with additional season ticket holders back in the habit, with more of a feel good factor and with the indirect income, in the longer term it certainly would be of huge benefit.

Its so difficult to compare international managers because the format is so different whereas at club level youve all played the same teams home and away. A big factor is the luck of the draw you get and England's knockout games in the last 3 tournaments have been very fortunate. Had Sven for example who we all agree underachieved got a Ukraine in a quarter with a potential semi final against Denmark or a last 16 game v Colombia followed by a quarter final v Sweden, as oppposed to Brazil and then Portugal twice, he would likely have also got through.

Iversen did really well at Preston although his career has stalled since. Not sure if he would be available for a reasonable fee either. I imagine Ryan will get a new deal at AZ. Ruddy IMO would be the result of a lack of scouting infrastructure and potentially finance should we go down that route. Bit like at 5 a side if a couple of the usual lads are unavailable, you are scrambling around to make up the numbers and someone says one of their mates can play. He comes, he is shit but he at least means the game is on. Eustace knows Ruddy, I will get him down if we cant get anyone decent.

Again, im not on about yourself. My point is, in terms of general attendances and attempts at getting as many tickets sold as possible, adult season tickets are considerably higher than the prices you suggested to remidy this. Therefore, I presume you are disappointed at the club for this. Again, not personally, I know you would have got one regardless, I mean in terms of getting attendances up.

You suggested him in your list of players we should target to be fair. I never said we are or arent skint. I said IF we sign him, huge if. It might be driven by financial constraints, ie it might not be as simple as Eustace going I want him. Most will presumably feel able to not just assume that he must be suitable if Eustace wants him. You are right in saying a few years ago he would have been a good signing. Not now. Hopefully amidst very mixed rumours, he isnt a target and we have plan to actually sign a good Championship keeper. Technical guru. Sounds nice and business like but bizarre if it is a totally different role to Broughton and another "change of direction." If he ever comes.

These were the prices you wanted and they are considerably higher so I am surprised (or not) that you arent unhappy.

Not specific to anyone. Do you think the prices are suitable in general (considering you cheerleaded for much lower prices) or do you think they are too high? (Not for you, in general, I know you find it ok individually) IMO, until the focus is specifically on reducing adult prices, whatever is tried is not going to make much difference.

How do you know who will be dealing with negotiations? Surely it will whoever comes in for Broughton. If someone ever joins. Eustace might have an opinion but that doesnt mean that hes right. Plus if he is even a target which we dont even know, and say he signs, that might be because we are skint and a free pensioner is all we can get, rather than what he wants. My opinion regardless of what Eustace thinks is that Ruddy would be a poor signing and I hope we dont go near him. What would you think personally about signing Ruddy?

The biggest reason why Pears has been exposed is not because Kaminski left. Even if he did learn from him, he wont have forgotten what he learnt. He has been exposed being our number 1 because he just isnt very good, all well and good covering for a few games but over the course of a season he costs us loads of points because he isnt very good. I dont think he would improve just because Ruddy is here. Theres no alternative to getting a new worthy number 1 considering how poor Pears is and the money weve received. I agree though that we probably wont get someone who is any good, so Pears will cost us points again. Ruddy mentioned living in Norwich so if he comes I imagine he will be expecting to play.

We dont need a number 2/coach hybrid to help Pears as if he is a really young but really talented number 1. Hes crap. We need a first choice and if we dont get one then it will be infuriating. Especially if any club is foolish enough to give us money for Wahlstedt, there is no excuse. Ruddy is past it.

You do but my point comes back to the main thing being adult prices. An adult will be paying for the child, yet it likely would be their own adult ticket that is too expensive, not the childs. You suggested much more aggressive cuts in price before they were announced so im surprised you are not a bit disappointed at only a £30 cut.

As good as it is to see the reduction in concession prices, the main headline is always going to be the adult pricds. Our focus always seems to avoid this. All well and good giving kids really cheap tickets but the likelihood is an adult is buying it for them and that main issue of the price of their own ticket remains. The only way we make a significant movement is by a reasonable movement in the adult price. Anything else feels like somewhat of a token gesture.

Its not just whether they can afford it at once, although people have had issues in even getting one on finance using the third party Rovers use. But it is still a lot of money even if its spread across a year. Especially if you are buying more than 1. This is moving away slightly specifically from our tickets specifically, I am just not keen on the £15 per game line to suggest that its cheap. You wouldnt say about anything else that something is cheap if the only way it was that cheap is if you buy 23 of them. But many people wont be able to attend all 23 games anyway, whether its missing one or two on holiday or being unable to do the night games, or the moved kick offs with the stupid sky deal. Im not having that there is a big chunk of people who are boycotting, nor that Preston level sales are an unreasonable aim.

£15 a game it may be, on the assumption that you can make every game. Many cant. But it shows to be quite out of touch you must because it makes it sounds as if its £15 for a one off game, when in fact its a £350 expense just for one person, which is a lot of bloody money to many especially in not a well off area in the current economy. So yes, it will put off quite a few who cant (or wont) pay that amount.

Midfield is the least of our priorites and would really be an improvement?

Rice is top class. Wharton is a classy player but too early to say that, he cant be compared to the best midfielders. Mainoo im not as convinced on, certainly not at the moment. Gallagher bang average. Trent is such an attacking threat but playing in a midfield 2 (or midfield at all) is still alien to him, seems like if he gets the nod its based on what in theory he could do in there rather than what we know he can in the absence of anyone standing out next to Rice.

Listening to the football ramble podcast, the reaction has been very negative in France to the draw. The English media is obviously focused on the English team, it isnt an agenda. You are right that Friday means little. But our concerns dont come from that

It perhaps is in that people judge it and our chances based solely on those brilliant attacking talents. Those players arent overated, they are excellent. When there are areas of big weakness. Its a brilliant front 4, one quality central midfielder then mainly around that its the unfit or the untested. Some of those players you mention would be nowhere near other big nations either. Sterling isnt a regular for Chelsea, hes past it and gets booed by his own fans. White would be starting if it werent for a fall out.

True, but I dont think there is any chance we got anywhere near to the figures you mention. Suppose we will never know.

As @KentExile said, he likely was paid off. Even if we only pay £5k a week it is still a saving for them. You say there was a few quid knocking around. I know Fleck didnt cost a fee but Venkys blocked any permanent Maguire deal because they wouldnt spend.

There was clearly a personal issue but there was also clearly instruction to reduce costs as much as possible as was evident all season so probably a bit of both.

It is hardly unbelievable that in a season where the cuts got gradually more and more aggressive, that we loaned out a senior player to save money. That being said, there was maybe a personal issue with Tomasson thrown in. Im still not having that Fleck came in on big wages. We had no money.

Where did it say that? Doesn't make sense to me considering the owners were so tight fisted in spite of the incoming millions.

People have said he was on 15-20k. No chance.