S-Clarke

I somewhat agree with what you say, let's just see where we finish first though. If we do manage to finish in the mid 40's points wise then it wouldn't be a shambolic season for me, it would be perfectly acceptable one for this squad. Like you said, the lack of quality beyond two or 3 is glaring. It's freighting how much we've regressed over the last 5 or so years in terms of starting quality anf depth. I certainly do feel that the injuries had a big impact on us, smaller clubs at this level like ourselves, Burnley, Newcastle etc cannot absorb injuries to key players. Look at the cluster fuck Burnley endured when they had all their injuries at the start, similar to Newcastle when they are within St Maximan and Wilson. The injuries to our key players is highlighted even more because we have no depth. Having to revert to square pegs in round holes just to fulfil a fixture is self defeating and has been a major problem for us. We're probably on course for a normal season with a squad such as ours, so it'll be hard to call it shambolic overall.

I'm certain I heard this from the club, either in an interview or a pre-match feature. I don't think I've made it up! But Davis as one of our coaches full stop has never felt right tbh.

That's my fear, think we need another forward even if Ings stays, but I know that won't happen. If we lose ings though and try and be clever/cheap with a replacement, then we're done for.

Yeah, that's my main frustration from tonight. They were gettable but we just didn't have the quality to do anything about it. Worked ourselves into good possessions through our decent players, such as JWP/Armstrong/KWP etc but we are blunt as hell.

Keep Ings and cross your fingers he stays fit!

I thought Tella played well to be fair, stretched them and got in behind well. He just lacks that final touch, he's still very raw and you can't put expectations on him yet. It's a shame it all has to fall on him as we have nothing else. I think there is a player there though, one of the big pluses to come out of this season for me.

I waiver so much between yes, and no with him. At the moment it's a no, but I think we are all pretty much accepting that it's happening. The club seem to have tied this up already, so there's no debate here anymore. He's ours for probably the next two years, so we've got to suck it up I guess. For free this is about all we can do until we get investment. He was absolutely awful today though, passing dreadful, touch poor. Ineffective press, poor decision making. It's like playing with 10 men when he's like that, sadly it's been more often than not.

He's never going to get you many goals, but he brings other things to the table. Needs a clinical partner and he's pretty effective with his movement and hold up play. I will add though that his finishing is just diabolical for a player at this level, he's got to be better. Although he won't get many goals, he's still got to finish better than he is. Davis is coaching him apparently, well we need to stop that and invest in some actual coaching.

Pretty harsh result in the context, but generally a massive lack of any quality in the final third for us. That's what makes the difference and without Ings fit/on form/scoring, we are blunt. Adams is getting coaching from Davis on finishing apparently, well it's not helping so scrap that idea and get a proper coach in. Very frustrating because there is so much right, but ultimately just not enough quality in this team to be competitive over a season.

If we're skint, where's the money coming from?? The club were pretty candid on the forum the other night. There is no investment, we get no money or assistance from the owners. Anything we spend is self generated, either through commercial, match day revenues, player transfers etc. Of course this model will relegate us eventually, it's not sustainable in terms of competitiveness. But we have no option until we get investment avenues from elsewhere. I think the new sponsorship deal gives us a little bit of flex, but we're primarily relying on getting as much as we can for Hoedt, Lemina, maybe Elyonoussi etc. Those are the players who will generate the funds for us in the main. Or...if we have a big sale or two. That's how we'd generate the funds for the likes of Armstrong or Toney etc.

I think most of our budget will be spent on full backs. I don't think we'll be looking for a striker if Ings stays.

Sadly a little bit out of our price range I think, I read that Blackburn were looking for 25m+ for him. No chance we can afford that.

Probably the most unfair result. Rotherham should have won their game 3 or 4, they tossed their chances away. Sheff Wednesday would have stayed up if it was not for the boardroom mess. Nothing to be proud of for Derby, they snuck over the line. Rooney is not a manager, not sure why he's now being lauded as someone who saved them. He should be looked at as someone who almost relegated them.

To be honest, you'll be out there on your own.

I think they want to, they're not going to avoid doing it themselves. I don't have a problem with this board. It's just where the funds come from, we either manage to sell a couple or some investment comes in time. It's clear it's never coming from Gao, so we just need to get that chapter done and dusted as quick as we can.

I'm a little bit nervous for next season, for sure. But let's see what we do with the squad in the summer. I have a feeling there will be more changes than we expect, the club have 100% acknowledged that we are not strong enough depth wise.

Leicester's remaining 3.... Away at Man Utd Away at Chelsea (FA Cup Final just before) Home to Spurs. I think they've fucked it, again.

Too much money tied up in the 'Istanbul 2021' branding and sponsorships IMO. No chance it will change, it's all about money not common sense.

I dunno, I think we'd have beaten them to be honest. We started the game really well, goal disallowed and Tella with what should have been a goal. Leicester looked as off it at the start of that game as they do tonight, so we'd have had more chances. We had to pretty much shut up shop and let them come at us, but let's be honest they didn't really do anything then either.

There were a couple of things he mentioned which stood out... 'Attitudes and desire all wrong'' ''Players not been made to work hard enough, they are just given the opportunity''. ''Players not good enough - being put in out of necessity''

That's pretty much how I saw it. I was actually surprised how candid Matt Crocker was in particular, didn't hold any punches. None of them really held back, no excuses made and some genuine recognition for things we haven't been doing too great over the last few years. They all speak a lot of sense to be honest, they seem to have the same feelings as we do so no doubt they are as frustrated. Doesn't make any sense to rip up the book and start again, there's clearly a plan here and they're trying to correct the mistakes and bulk the squad up in order to try and make it sustainable over a season.

What I think we'll do is sign a new first choice left back, someone ready to come in and start every week. Then the 2nd signing will be cover who can play at RB and LB IMO. Most sensible approach I think, certainly in terms of financials. No denying he has been a good left back for us, great servant. I'm not too fussed he's going though as I think he is someone we should be looking to evolve from now. We need a KWP style on the left, Bertrand just doesn't have the legs anymore.

Based on the fans forum yesterday, there is genuine recognition from Martin, Crocker, Ralph etc in terms of the awful results. Matt Crocker was quite scathing in some comments. ''Recruitment hasn't been good enough'' ''Some players simply won't make it''. Some fair reasons provided in terms of players being pumped into the U18's before they were ready, all came down to lack of depth again (at all levels). But yeah, Matt Crocker didn't seem too impressed with the state of the academy when he came in.

Leicester have just been off it, not close enough, too slow on and off the ball. We'd have comfortably beaten them last week if we had 11 men IMO. Cheers officials.

From what I could gauge, he was surprised the investment/takeover hadn't happened already and was sure a change is coming in the near future and stuff is on-going.