CB Fry

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This is just garbage. I would suggest it was the far more the case that Van Dijk was used to get Hoedt to sign for us, as clearly that would be an attractive proposition for him. I am pretty sure that is something Hoedt said at the time. Basically the complete opposite of your idea.

Or, just accept that you're wrong about this one.

I agree with Lighthouse, of course. I still have no idea that you need to pretend there was a "genius move" around Hoedt when that wasn't even a concept at the time, no one breathing air believed he was signed to make Virgil stay. You're using it as proof of a failed idea (including posting up that link) but it wasn't an idea and no one at all thought it was.

You'll have to show me that post. All I can see is this: Where the premise is completely false. Hoedt wasn't bought to keep company with an older Dutch man who had already been living in Britain for four years.

Yes, we know. Thats not the same as Kleber Chala and Imants Bleidelis. Virgil had signed for us two seasons before. The main reason they went big on "he's going to play WITH Virgil" was to counter the rumours that Hoedt was the replacement and proof we were about to sell Van Dijk that window.

Morgan Schneiderlin was an Arsenal player from the very start, just on loan to us in a secret deal. As soon as he gets any good he will join them.

I feel like MLG here but it is not really comparable. Virgil had already been in Scotland for two seasons and with us for two more before Hoedt turned up. He hardly needed a friend to help him settle in. Kleber Chala didn't cost £15m.

So the way to demonstrate that "you don't care" about a particular thing is to boo every single time it happens? Clear.

As the season draws to a close, we can look forward to another summer where this guy can interpret every piece of transfer news for any given club as evidence that one of our players is leaving.

Exactly this: they've basically gone nowhere under Potter. Boring old clunker Chris Hughton secured 9 wins in his two seasons finishing 15th and 17th. Revolutionary, progressive, breath of fresh air, bright young manager Graham Potter has achieved 9 wins in his two seasons finishing 15th aaaand maybe 16th or 17th. With more money than Hughton had. Fair enough if he beats Arsenal on Sunday thats ten wins so I will take it all back and have to admit he is an absolutely breathtakingly fantastic manager after all.

Actually no we are on Sky One so free for those with Virgin or Sky but not Sports subs.

Not all on Sky. BT have some and will probably show ours.

There once was a time that many people believed that Manchester United were only winning multiple league titles because of Brian Kidd.

WE CANNOT FINISH SEVENTEENTH

4 x £28k gets you £112k which don't get you much, even in Derbyshire. And still a stretching loan to pay back on a salary that low. And if you don't like averages, then obviously for a younger person the salary is lower. You can say what you like, but it is very very difficult for young people - and borderline impossible in many areas and at many ages: the average first time buyer is 34, so not even young people in the game now. You've done it with no financial help from anyone at all. Well done. You're not typical.

Derbyshire where I live the average house price is £222k against an average wage of £28k, so 8 times ratio. 15% deposit is 33k so let's try saving that across five years, six grand a year or 550 every single month. Which is pretty much an average rent. So already more than half of your average take home pay gone on rent and saving up for a deposit. But yeah, its just skipping a few luxuries. ChrisPY did that with no help and I admire him.

Yes, what you've done there is a "my uncle smoked 40-a-day all his life and lived until he was 95". So what. Well done you on buying a house on about £700 weekly wage and paying rent too. Takes some doing with zero help at all. But that doesn't negate the basic social economic facts of the matter: wages to house price ratio, rising rents higher than mortgages, house prices driving up deposits, and so on. Average house price is 8 times average earnings. The average age of a first time buyer is now 34, and they need a average deposit of £46 grand. If you've saved up that much by yourself with no help good for you. The facts show it is incredibly difficult and pretty much fuck all to do with "people need to do without some luxuries". It's a structural societal problem where a generation is trapped.

This is absolute horseshit.

I get the piss take but the premise is bullshit. We're not sourcing the best available fucking players in Europe so why would every appointment to our backroom staff be at that level. As Lord D says the buck stops with the manager. Ralph's had a high enough standing in the club to successfully elbow Kelvin into a different/reduced role. Unlike with players that would be pretty easy. He hasn't. Its 100% on him.

I may have missed the point where Kelvin was described as "one of the best available coaches in Europe". Who said this, and when?

Absolutely no idea whatsoever. If you think he is the reason we've had a ropey season, fill your boots sunshine. If Ralph wanted to move him on he could have by now.

The main reason to sack Kelvin Davis is to stop the fanbase fucking moaning about Kelvin Davis.

Well, at least we can take comfort from a decent first half of football.

Never had a dream come true.