MGLCFC

Yeah being top of the league, in a FA quarter final, players who look like they want to be here and are enjoying football again, I can see your point!

Sorry if this has been mentioned, but in the unlikely event of winning the FA Cup, but failing to secure promotion, I'm not sure we'd cope next year with the extra mid week games in Europe!

But that's my point - it was Rudkin that gave them these ridiculous lucrative contracts in the first place. That's the reason we are stuck with them. As another poster alluded to, why would you uproot for less money when you can just sit it out and run your contract down.

When you say Rodgers signing, there is a difference between a manager wanting someone and the DofF agreeing to a silly transfer fee, the length of contract and their weekly salaries. Like I've said I'm not trying to defend Rodgers, I'm just pointing out that I feel at times our DofF has made some pretty rash decisions.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying Rodgers wasn't backed, I'm saying that in two consecutive January windows we didn't strengthen and that may have been the difference between Champions League football and not. Furthermore, I'd say his backing should have ended before the end of the January 2023 transfer window with his sacking. I believe we may have stayed up with a new manager with 3 months to improve the results rather than 6 games.

I think Sensi turning up at the training ground, passing a medical on deadline day is pretty conclusive evidence Enzo wanted him here. Secondly, so who's fault is it for giving these players inflated wages that means no one wants to or can afford to buy them. You seem to to be able to defend everything that suits you, so I'll just try to turn it around to my thinking. How do you know Bennett was a Rodgers signing? Praet has wanted to leave for at least 3 windows, why is he still here, if it's down to wages it us us that have put him out of the shop window, not the manager's fault? Why have players been allowed to get into the last 6 months of a contract with no sell on value, not the manager's fault? Why have we paid stupid money for Championship players and a back up goalkeeper from Liverpool, not the manager's fault? And lastly have you an insight into our financial position now, if we didn't know our financial position then, because unless the club makes a statement or we are definitely charged, then it's all paper speculation? I'm not wanting to pick a fight, just trying to see the other side of the coin. I take your points on board and fully accept your points of view, I'm just trying to give an alternative perspective, which obviously differs from yours.

I'll say it again, I'm not defending Rodgers, but at crucial times he wasn't backed, particular the January window when we only signed Bennett. As for Enzo, he wanted one signing only in January, Sensi, and we couldn't get that done because Rudkin couldn't get one of Ward, Souttar, Iheanacho, Praet off the books, yet again. The question that needs asking is how on earth has the club been allowed to get in a position when a manager who is pushing for promotion wishes to acquire one player for peanuts but is turned down. Luckily, I think we'll get across the line.

I understand your view point, as from where we were at Christmas probably no one was expecting anything other than strolling the league. However, I remember the sad state we were in at the end of last season ant the poll on this forum at the beginning of this one. The majority felt making the play offs would be a great achievement. So for me, 2nd if it happens will be the goal many thought unlikely in August and I will applaud the players and manager for the massive strides forward made by a relative new group of players, under a new manager, in a short space of time.

I'm trying to suggest that in recent times neither manager was backed when it mattered. The fact Enzo couldn't sign a single player in January could be costly. Similarly, Rodgers only signed Bennett in January, which probably cost us champions league place.

I just see similarities that neither manager was backed by Rudkin in the transfer windows

Thought they did well playing alongside each against Bournemouth and kept a clen sheet v a Prem team.

OK you're probably correct, so relatively young and inexperienced in relation to the English game. I agree his end product and decision making need to improve vastly. Not playing regularly makes it difficult to gain that consistency and improvement.

When people say we have alot of knackered players, isn't that the case for all the other 23 teams. I'd have hoped the quality of our knackered players is better than that of Hull's knackered players?

I accept that we are not good at killing off games and that we seem to have a frail mentality when put under pressure, but an honest question for you, is it Enzo's fault that the numerous guilt edge chances we create in games are not put away. We should have been 3 or 4 up last night in the first 15 minutes, the same at Leeds away, Hull at home, Boro home and away. If we take half our chances, the panic would not need to arise.

I don't necessarily see the tactics as an issue. Apart from QPR at home, the games we've lost have been through the personnel on the field not taking gilt edge chances, not the lack of chances being created. For me the manager has, in the main got the tactics right, it's the implementation of these that has been the issue.

Amazing reaction on here again - there are 23 teams in this league that would be delighted to swap places with us.

Still very young and like Fatawu there is lots of opportunity and time to improve. I think he could develop into a very useful addition with Enzo's coaching and guidance.

He wouldn't be playing for us

Birmingham in the cup - I believe

We've lost 5 games only - 3 of those through OUR own inability to convert good chances and one through having to play 45 minutes with 10 men. The Leeds game at home was tight, could have gone either way, but I have to say I haven't seen us crumble in any game.

Made 5 or 6 runs into the channels, put decent balls into the box. Tidy in his defensive capabilities. Led the press well down the right. As I said, better than most today, but that wasn't hard.

Thought he was one of our more creative players today. There were others far worse.

For me he's the best alternative as the right sided 8 whilst Wilf is out.

Seems similar to how we messed Inter around with Sensi and Turkish clubs we have loaned players from. I know it feels like we are always the victim, but we've started to play the same game too.

True, although Southampton may cut the gap to 8 points with their game in hand.