Forester

Brought in by George Burley from memory when trying to steady the ship after Redknapp departure. Very sad news.

Just got back and feel a lot less positive about that point than driving back from Brum. Fair play to Lincoln for making it to championship but thank god it didn’t piss it down located in uncovered temporary stand. I don’t buy the overreaction about bringing Wood on, which was logical given their long ball assault, late on. Thought JWP and Downes were decent, and a wonder goal from Welington. I think there are two major problems to worry about, one of which I think will change but other am less certain. 1. We have several of our match winners out of form. Azaz and Scienza are not anywhere near the levels they hit last season, and we are yet to see Jander feature at all. You have to hope and believe this won’t continue for too long. Neither Bree nor Manning are at their best yet either. 2. As was painfully evident today, there is too big a drop in quality between starting lineup and subs bench. It reminded me of the horror 12 points season where we competed for an hour and then looked awful when changes were made. We are really missing not adequately replacing Stewart, as it was crying out for someone to be able to hold the ball up and give us time to get out in that last period of the game. Am worried Larin will break down at some point and we will really struggle.

For me, this analysis fails in the first sentence. As Fulham a few years back and Sunderland last season showed, there is a gulf between “getting into” and “staying in” the Premier League. We need every minute of focus on the first of these challenges, particularly given a four points deficit. We love to look back lovingly on the promotion under Adkins where Fonte, Schneiderlin, Lambert and Lallana were effective in both divisions. The reality is we had to bring in lots of quality that summer in Boruc, Clyde, Yoshida, Davis, Ramirez, Rodrigues etc. Then last time we went up the major problem was that our team looked too similar to the promoted version. Baz, Bree, both centre backs, Manning, Downes, Armstrong all couldn’t cope with the new division. So focus on getting up. If JWP can help us do that, next season is another thing

I remember either a 5-4 or 4-3 win for us a few years back

Matsuki (spell it correctly) was a key component of a team that was unbeaten over twenty plus matches, and Dobbin has played one game. Are you aged 12?

I don’t know if you noticed but we have bought three players already in Larin, Perez and Dobbin? So if you need to make up £70 million and you are spending fees on bringing players in, where do you imagine that comes from? Let’s assume you are right that we could take in £20 million for Archer, Baz, BBD, Edozie and Sugawara. That is £50 million including Charles, plus £10 million for Fernandes. Then take off the fees we have spent on bringing three in. Where do you find the gap? I go home and away and don’t want to see our best players leave, but it is importantly to be able to count!

A hopefully balanced view: - I believe we have been targeting bringing in £70 million this summer based on loss of revenue. We already have over half that bagged through Charles and Fernandes sell-on. It is going to be hard to generate the other half of that without selling one of THB, Jander or Scienza. Ramsdale value has fallen, Sugawara, BBD and others like Edozie will not touch the sides. And many on here still want a replacement for Charles brought in. - If we sell THB I don’t want to sell him to West Ham or any other direct rival. Benicia are a massive club in their country, managed by Silva, and it gives the player Champions League football. So it’s perfectly possible he hasn’t been “pushing for a move” but then this arrives, what would you do? - I thought Wood was excellent in the final months of the season including cup games against top class opposition. I am fine with him and Stephens starting, Quarshie improved and clearly we will bring in a replacement. So I’d rather keep THB but anyone shouting needs to come up with the extra £30 million solution.

I also thought he was poor when QPR played us

Do you have next week’s lottery winning numbers?

Still silent on inflation, energy costs, falling income from TV. Babbling on about Bazanu and Romeu is utterly off topic. Your comment “the first four are expenditure”! I am drawing the conclusion these topics are a bit nuanced and complicated to confront…

Thanks for the bellend comment. But I notice that I made five specific bulleted comments. You haven’t felt able to engage with any of them. Not one. So suggest you have another go rather than throw childish remarks. By the way, my family and I attended over 50 games last season. Go on, have a go at the five, or alternatively chuck another mindless word out there.

Don’t wish to single you out but this is fairly typical of a lazy victim type response from a section of our fans. In return I would point out: - inflation and tax changes mean it costs the club, like any business, more than last year - we are already making a loss - the energy consumption needs of a stadium and training facilities mean even more price sensitive - have you heard of financial fair play? Where do you think revenue comes from? - were you not entertained last season? Saying “I can’t afford it” is a totally different position which sadly applies to some fans. But an anti club rant without addressing these facts is just lazy I am afraid

You are far too sensible for this place. The meatheads will be after you!

I think Spors hasn’t got the credit he deserves since joining. He has made two mistakes so far, Still and Downs. Set against that, are Peretz, Azaz, Latin, Scienza, Fellows and Jander all clear success plus of course Tonda (on field!). I haven’t given up yet either on Quarshie and Roeslev but they would be in jury out space. Not only has he set us up well on the field with those signings but we have very sellable assets if needed for the future.

No, but I am under the impression that many seem not to have factored in that the investigation could take weeks or months. What I want to avoid is a situation where we have the players back, and then Tonda is banned for months and needs to be fired. That would be chaotic on eve of season starting. Bigger picture for me is that if we move on quickly we are one of only four clubs with parachute payments and four points deduction is negligible over 46 games. So a quick reset is best, as sad as it is to lose Tonda.