stb1996

I believe it'll be 12 months going forward, but our accounting date will always be end of July rather than June. So the 12 month period has shifted back by a month, and we had the one 13th month period to bridge the gap

It's a total guessing game at the moment. It would be a vindictive move from the PL/EFL to try and spin our defence for the breach in 22/23, but I certainly wouldn't put it past them to consider it

Think this was based on the wording of the rules being very ambiguous, and that the £35m is based on only being in the EFL for 1 season. But if we'd (successfully) argued we were an EFL club for the 22/23 period, then that's 2 seasons consecutively and therefore we're liable for the reduced allowable losses?

Is there danger that our defence of being a championship club for the breach in 22/23, combined with definitely being a championship club in 23/24 mean we're liable for T-1, and therefore subject to the £83m allowable losses rather than £105m?

Finding the new system really interesting to watch, and think we’re getting to the stage where different personnel really start to make a difference. Think KDH pushes too far wide to take space away from Mavididi in the 1v1, which we know Maresca likes to play for out wide. I think the first half also showed that at times we could struggle against the low block with a combination of Vardy, KDH and Ndidi as it seemed there was consistently a large hole in the false-9 position. This would usually be filled by Iheanacho dropping deep (either to receive from Hermansen or Vestergaard), or by one of the roaming 8’s pushing forward to get closer to the forward (or often both of these happening, with the 8 making a third-man run into the space vacated by Iheanacho). Think the 2 we started today are our best at turnovers and winning the ball high, but can see some combinations between KDH, Ndidi, Akgun and Casadei being trialled over the next few games. Don’t want to take away from a great performance, but definitely don’t see Vardy as the starting striker for the length of this season. Rotation will always be key, but I think today really showed how iheanacho brings the midfield and the wingers into the game

6.49

Can't stop playing with the table predictor to see all the permutations. I keep circling round to 34 points being enough to keep us up based on goal difference. I've tried to be as pessimist (but realistic, not us getting pumped every game) and it always comes down to the last game of the season. Assuming: Forest beat Southampton, draw to Chelsea, draw to Arsenal, beat Palace Everton lose to Brighton, draw to Man City, draw to Wolves, beat Bournemouth Leeds lose to Man City, lose to Newcastle, draw to West Ham, beat Spurs We draw to Fulham, lose to Liverpool, lose to Newcastle, beat West Ham we stay up on goal difference. I know it's optimistic to suggest we can actually handle the pressure of needing to win on the final day, but any of the others drop points in the (I'd say generous) predictions I have for them to get points and we're fine. Plus I'm naturally an optimist

Don't think Iheanacho works as a 10 with Maddison off the right, they'll both occupy the same spaces and get in each other's way. Also not convinced about the high praise from some on Vardy - he made 2 good runs all game, and we looked a lot more solid when he was off the pitch. Iversen Castagne Faes Soyuncu Kristiansen Tielemans Soumare Tete Maddison Barnes Iheanacho Leaves plenty on the bench to freshen things up. Tete off for Praet, Daka/Vardy for Iheanacho/Barnes depending on state of the game, KDH and mendy if we need control

Always thought there was a solid player in there - somewhat of a hybrid between a KDH and Mendy. It's obvious he has the physical and technical attributes to succeed, but you've got to question what Rodgers was telling him. Seemed clear he wasn't a Rodgers signing, and probably took its toll on him. Always liked that he would constantly show for the ball from the CBs, and play little first-time passes out to fullbacks. It's the easiest way out of a high press, and second to Mendy he's a player I feel confident with on the ball in the defensive 3rd. Be very interesting to see a midfield of him and Tielemans (who still should be starting, the one mistake aside) with Maddison further up. Should dominate the midfield at home against weaker opposition.

You're assuming he would want that position though. He's a goalkeeping coach by trade, seems to get on with the players and has a history of caretaking for a spell - successfully - and then stepping aside for the new man to take charge. Sounds more beneficial than getting Benitez for 18 months

Anyone suggesting either an ex-player, ex-manager or some has-been "relegation saving specialist" needs their head checking. The coming summer is the most important in recent years in terms of a rebuild, and you need a manager at the helm fitting to that challenge. Someone who can build an identity and a club. Would you really trust Rafa Benitez or Chris Wilder with this? Because if you appoint them and they keep us up, they'd be the ones in charge and we'd be right back in this position next year. Stowell and Sadler should have enough of a fresh approach (especially Stowell based on his previous caretaking experience here) to keep us up, purely on the methods of not being Rodgers and unleashing the unquestionable talent in the squad. A couple of wins to see us through to survival, and then go all out for Hutter/Potter (or an equivalent young, hungry manager willing to build his reputation and club) in the summer. But for the love of god please stay away from Pearson/Allerdyce/Benitez et al.

A lot more optimistic for this one following the weekend. Can see the logic in dropping KDH/Tielemans for a defensive midfield, but not sure that's necessary. Buendia had all the space behind our midfield, but Son/Kane/Kulusevski don't really operate in that space in the same way. Think our defence is well-equipped to handle that - Souttar free man for aerial challenges, Faes more aggressive when Kane drops deep, VK and Castagne 1v1 the wingers. Same team as Villa, have the engine of KDH buzzing round to drive us forward. From looking at the tactics of the Villa game (and a Dominic Wells twitter thread), seems he enables both Iheanacho and Maddison to operate in the same team without getting in each other's way. Think it'll be a proper end-to-end game, but not looking forward to Son scoring his trademark "cut in on his left and curl one in" from 25 yards as he's done the last 6 times we've played these.

Wouldn't surprise me to see the midfield diamond return for this one; Ward Castagne Fofana Evans Justin Ndidi Tielemans KDH Maddison Daka/Iheanacho Vardy Wouldn't usually predict Daka Vardy up top, but after the weekend who knows. If we had a competent RW we could exploit the space left by Zinchenko on that side

Whilst Stowell is a quality GK coach, he's running sessions not taking part in them with the keepers. Smithies is an experienced keeper in the modern game that can pass his knowledge on. By your argument, we shouldn't sign another CB as we've got Kolo Toure in the staff?

I suppose this would make sense if true - sell one or both of Ward/Iversen next year and go in for a proper Schmeichel replacement (Lafont et al) but keep Smithies No.3 for a few years to get some continuity