Dolan had that shock factor of a young signing from Preston that no one expected, a bundle of energy and tricks but that wasn't a consistent theme of his performances. It is to be expected at his age and he does seem to be maturing, in the main he does less unnecessary tricks and is starting to produce more end product, that has been an ongoing development hence why he has had spells out of the team. Especially under Tomasson but before too he often features up front which doesnt suit him and it isnt a big surprise that he has been more effective out wide. His poorest game recently I thought was v Blackpool when he regularly gave the ball away loads through over elaborating but he also scored a brilliant goal. A mixture of in the main effective performances but also goals and assists whether he plays well in general or not is exactly what he needs to do and is doing. The key now is to keep playing him wide and to get him signed up long term.

Even if there would have been such negative fan reaction, which is nonsense. You don't run a football club like that, and they dont otherwise appointing Owen Coyle would never have crossed their mind. The key is to reinvest that money, we could have been so much better off with a big chunk of £12m+ reinvested rather than the alternative of 6 months of a disinterested Rothwell and a year of Brereton.

Circumventing FFP is not what is needed, although legally I don't see how the Kamara deal is anything but clever use of a loophole. The key to keeping within FFP is not having owners that prevent player sales to allow for reinvestment.

Merely "running around" and pressing is not enough to make a good player, you need to accompany it with quality. Bennett used to run around loads and he was shit when he actually had the ball. The thing that has impressed me lately with Szmodics has been the difference he has made on the ball. He came from Peterborough where he wasn't even a guaranteed starter at Championship level, having failed to make the grade at Bristol City in the past at this level too, despite always standing out in League 1. His finish at QPR, his composure for the goal at Leicester and even scoring almost a brilliant goal at the weekend shows quality that accompanies that work rate to make a player who is a guaranteed starter at the moment. He could have had more goals lately especially at Leicester but he is playing very well at the moment.

I always found the comments at the start of the new season about a "new dawn" regarding the contracts we did get signed to be very premature. Over the last few years, we still regularly got deals done, no different to this year, and worryingly there has been a lull lately. Rankin Costello even aside from the nonsensical idea that "people would have moaned" is a strange one in that there was no value in signing him up prior to his recent run. That being said, it should be a priority along with the likes of Dolan, Carter etc.

I dont get how it is a "disgrace" or a case of not learning a lesson when a club has a high turnover of managers. There seems to be an unwritten rule to some that managers should have to stay for a certain period of time. If Watford dont feel like they will get promoted as it stands or that they are progessing and getting the best from their talented squad, why not change in the hope of improving? Bilic will be well compensated so hardly a "disgrace." Having patience does not automatically lead to success, patience has to be earnt. We have often gone down the other route of going beyond patience. Watford have been more successful in the last 10 years with their ruthless side and Chelsea have regularly changed managers and look at their trophy cabinet.

The question was aimed at you, I personally would reduce prices. It's not as simple with numbers in that there are added considerations, notably the potential to have those holders back attending regularly beyond one season, the potential to make more from them within the ground and even with potential shop sales although we are also lacking on that front hence the lack of availability regarding shirts. Also, a bigger crowd will lead to a better atmosphere which improves the experience. I don't think that it is value for money, shown by the poor sales.

So if you was in charge, would you increase/maintain/decrease prices? Presumably maintain if you think they are value for money?

Havent you said before that you think Waggott should reduce prices? I may be mistaken. One of the higher prices in the division in one of the less affluent areas, leaving the stadium usually over half empty. Many clearly not seeing the value.

Fixed. (I wasn't directly blaming them for the O'Brien fiasco, even though this isn't the first time staff they employ mess up and get away with it. I just don't see how a very conditional deal that fell through signifies what you have implied)

Seems strange to use a signing that literally we ran out of time to complete to try to display a more proactive approach from the owners!

Yeah, it was in the minutes from a fans forum. They had decided not to fund a planned total pitch revamp that hadnt been done in 30 years.

The 2 are linked. Before considering FFP, that £12m+ would only be seen as an act of ambition if it wasn't considered that at least some of that money is to be reinvested in the playing squad, which some of it should. And FFP is constantly trotted up as a reason/excuse for no more reinvestment, therefore even if sales arent considered out of ambition and as an aside to available funds, it isnt as simple as that anyway when we need to at least be self sustainable enough to come under FFP guidelines. The manager at any time (or director of football, whatever) should have the autonomy to make decisions regarding player sales.

Especially assuming we are in this division, it would be crazy not to have him here next season.

Not sure it is an "exceptionally hard league." It is relentless in terms of scheduling but the quality is poor.

Stoke are in a strange situation where they have 7 loanees and you can only put 5 in a squad. They have Sarkic in net, both Sterling and Hoever as full backs, Pearson and Smallbone who are both important midfielders and Tuanzebe and Celina, both January recruits.

That comes down to our negligent owners for doing what they did regarding Rothwell and wouldnt sell. Makes most of what happens around that seem like small fry in relative terms.

I was more referring to a month ago when he was our only goal threat.

I just think that as opposed to being near the bottom, draws at the top aren't as helpful with the likelihood of a couple of rivals getting a 2 point advantage over the weekend. Wouldn't be a disaster of course, but we are in such form that hopefully we can strike whilst the iron is hot.

We are in the thick of a top 6 push, having won 5 on the bounce. Stoke away especially in reasonable form won't be easy but I wouldn't "take a draw" now, even though that may well turn into a decent one should it materialise.

Its important not to have short memories on Dack, he was our best player for the month prior to his injury. Also, there are games to play between now and again. If Szmodics carries on as he has played lately then of course, no brainer, he stays in the team. Dack will probably have to come in from the bench initially anyway due to having not played for a bit. I very much doubt we pay anyone 25k but I think we have to keep him, especially assuming that we don't go up. He is a leader in a squad not full of leadership and it would be an area of the team with him and Szmodics that would be sorted before making a signing.

It just seems very cryptic and absent in detail. To call someone a "maggot" and to say that Donald Duck could do better is even beyond a professional judgement, I have always seen him as incompetent but I would probably stop short at going that far. It would take a hell of a lot to have such a changearound in opinion, yet as Mattyblue asks, what has changed commercially?

Following your return to the board so you still stand by the above comments?

They might be playing well, getting good results and creating a connection. But the value for price v the standard of football baring in mind the cost of living crisis is not there.

"Not bothered" if we get to a FA cup semi final at Wembley. Mind boggling. The fans do back the team, the atmosphere was excellent today. If the tickets notably season ticket prices were more resonaably priced then we would have bigger turnouts.