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Winks did two things better than Skipp that really helped us yesterday. 1. He played the ball accurately between the lines which gave the players around him confidence that he'd make the pass of they made the run. 2. He found the space to receive the ball in more dangerous areas of the pitch. If we are dominant in procession then Winks is the answer. Skipp isn't that physically imposing so will lose out to Soumare and isn't as good on the ball as Winks. He is better when we don't have the ball so much at making interceptions and then recieving the ball in the space afforded by more attacking teams. If you watched Skipp yesterday when we had procession he was often found on the right side with his back to goal in the middle of a square of Sheffield players. Hence 'going missing' as we were reluctant to play him the ball as he hasn't the skill set to keep possession. Winks has the ability to do this, receive the ball and move it on- sometimes by playing a defence splitting pass. Like most of our team Winks, Soumare, Skipp (in the right games) will be fine in this league and we should be up there but it's what happens if we are promoted. None of them are good enough in the Prem where we will go from dominating the ball to being dominated. And that's the biggest problem our whole club has. Apart from Fatawu we don't really have a Premiership ready player. We have players that could do 'jobs' in the right set ups.

I'm afraid Vestergaard and Faas are our best defenders when playing against a low block. Okoli is better than both when we don't have as much possession of the ball. I want to see Nelson in the cup with Okoli. We've also got Souttar to come back. I'm happy to see Faas and Vestergaard play if we are winning and up in the automatic spots for promotion. However, they will both need to be replaced at some point. Either because they can't do it in the Prem or because we can't afford their wages in the Championship. Nelson seems to be an ideal replacement. From what I saw of him at Oxford he is combative and great at playing the ball out as well.

Sheff Wednesday had all 11 in their own penalty area in open play.

Do you think we are waiting until the end of the month so we save a month's wages?

I guess it's the hope that kills you...

Hopefully, the appointment will be made public tomorrow. Looking back now the dust has settled I think Ruud was told his replacement once we were relegated. I also think his replacement was dictating selection over the last few games and talking to our players. I think that's why the youngsters have signed up. I hope it's not Dyche- I've convinced myself it's not. I think it's either Rohl or Carsley. My betting would be Rohl as the press believe he is leaving and wasn't at Wednesday for their pre-season work last week. Whoever it is- all I want is to see us play a style this season that, if we are fortunate enough to be promoted, we can use in the Premier League. I believe Vardy's 'shit show' phrase is about the transition from Maresca' s over playing to Cooper's pragmatism to Ruud's rigidity and inflexibility. Players can't keep adapting. They need a pattern/s of play instilled in pre-season to take into the league games.

I'd rather have Mark Robins than Wellens

I think we are just waiting for his birthday in August.

I'd never previously thought of him as a 9. A 10 maybe. But as many have just pointed out he has a lot of attributes that would work as a 9. Especially, in the modern game where the 9 is expected to link play like 10's did 5/10 years ago.

So when an established Premier League Club (who is expecting to finish in the top half) is relegated how do they survive? You can't sack the players because you have to pay their wages for the duration of their remaining contracts. My understanding is you are basically being forced to sell. But what if the player doesn't want to leave as the club buying them is less favorable in terms of location or wages offered. I just can't see what the club were supposed to do to meet the regulations and stay competitive. Also all three promoted teams have been relegated. Doesn't this prove that with the financial restraints teams have that the league has become fixed. How much do Leeds say need to spend to survive? And what player is going to move there under the present PSR rules?

As Rooney was mentioned earlier as a possible worse manager than RVN I thought I'd add my 10p worth. At Birmingham Rooney has said he was asked to play a particular way. Which he did. He soon went to the board and said, the players are not good enough to play this way. The board told him to keep playing that way and that he'd get new recruits in the transfer window. Just before the transfer window he was sacked. At Plymouth, you are asking managers to manage players who aren't good enough for the championship. We've played them recently and they offered little other than massive resistance. My point is we are expecting miracles from managers. Most mentioned in this thread will be more than competent. And now, quite often, the way teams play isn't the managers choice. I think we transitioned to far style wise from Rodgers to Enzo. The journey back in order to survive in the Prem was too great and we've paid the price this season. We've now got a squad that wants to play in different ways and isn't worried about causing trouble if they don't get there way. We weren't surviving under Enzo either. We'd have been a better Southampton and he'd have dropped us like a stone. Kompany was Enzo's career model. He is where he always wanted to be. At one of the most affluent clubs in Europe. As a club it would have been better to appoint a Cooper type manager for the Championship season. They'd then of had a true chance of keeping us up. Whether it's RVN or someone new I couldn't really care less. As long as there is a plan to survive should we get promoted. This starts with a clear identity and recruitment to fit. We then have to go about this coming season playing that way. It's a massive moment for the club. Get it right and we will have another hero of a manager.

All I want is a style that can get us back up and then keep us up. If Ruud can do that... ok. I can forgive this season. Just. If he can't. Who can? And get them in now.

We would if El Khannouss departs for decent money. But we've got no chance of purchasing him. He isn't dropping down to the Championship. And he isn't sticking around under RVN. While I don't disagree about our youth. I'm really excited to (hopefully) see them come through. But I've watched Alves at Cardiff 3 times and I don't think he is enough for a top Championship side at the moment. I think we will be in the market for a 9 and a 10 over the summer.

I thought he was great today. More like he was at the beginning of the season. It's a shame there is no agreement in place for us to purchase him. Surely, a season ripping up the Championship and then back to the Prem would do him the world of good. 😂 His celebration clearly was all about putting himself in the shop window.

I agree. The issue is we can't get the ball through the lines without him doing it. Prem quality opposition are simply to good positionally. Forest are forcing us to move the ball to Vardy to break their lines because they know he isn't good enough at it.

Short term yes. Long term no. He has a ceiling and it's not high enough for our expectations as fans and hopefully the club. That said how many teams have a manager that has done more than 3 seasons?

I'd imagine he is on good money here, which will be why he resigned rather than moved on. I also think he has enjoyed his time playing for us. 9 million would be great business for the club. I'd imagine he will be on a reduced wage in the Championship so it will be easier for him to move on. Ndidi has been a great player. Often we've been a much better team with him in it. I'll be sad to see him go but I feel 9 million would be more beneficial to the club.

This. Plus he has played at RB a lot for Sheffield United. If we are going to transition back to the RB becoming a midfielder when we've got the ball he will be a useful player as Ricardo can't play every game and Justin can't do that role. Also we don't know how many midfielders will be exiting. Soumare clearly doesn't want to play Championship football (or has a clause in his contract that we have to loan him out), I think Ndidi has had enough and will be looking to move on. Winks has clearly fell out with Ruud. I don't like the thought of Hamza and Skipp but it might be what we have left!

While I don't think he'd get 20 goals I do think he will do well in the Championship. I'd also rather start him over Daka as a 9. My fear is we play both. Together.

We might be in a situation where all we need to buy is a goalkeeper (or two). If we can dip into the academy, our loans out come back and players can't be shifted due to wages we will be absolutely stacked for the Championship. The problem is the transition from Championship to Premiership. The elephant in the room is PSR. It's so unclear as to what the financial implications will be. Vardy is the answer and the problem. If we get him to sign another contract for a year we move the problem of replacing him on another year. I'd be happy to do that. Having Daka, Ayew and Evans in the ranks is enough if Vardy starts scoring. The sad fact is we actually need him gone. His wages, lack of legs and style of play don't fit anymore.

It's got to be about money. I imagine we don't pay him as much compensation if we are relegated. I guess we've just got to see this terrible season to it's conclusion. That said I'd love him to walk. How he can justify compensation is beyond me. In any other profession he'd be gone by now with nothing for gross incompetence. It's a deeply depressing watch.

There has to be a reason for this. Is he told he can't play certain players because we want them to leave? Are players refusing to play? Is it because of bonus payments for appearances? I just don't get it. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and over again.

I totally get your response. But I don't believe this will happen because we have to many players that have already proved they are top Championship players. Take Mavididi- he can't cut it in the Prem but we know what a real asset he is in the Championship. Part of our problem this season is we have players who were to good for the Championship but aren't good enough for the Premiership. I do what to see players change as we need to be Prem ready for when we are promoted again. Therefore we need younger players that have a higher ceiling than some of the oldies we currently have.

For the exact reason many supporters want Top and King Power gone is why we will come straight back up. They will simply throw enough money at it. Even if we have a 10 point deduction with the players we have, the academy, the experience of being in the Championship etc will see us ok. The problem is what happens next. Arguably we had a stronger squad on the Championship than in the Premiership. We had clear identity and a strategy. What's screwed us is our success meant key personal were offered brighter opportunities. The the threat of FFP during two transfer windows. Having to replace the manager under the threat of FFP and the enormous gulf between the Championship and Premier League. I didn't believe the gap was that great until I've seen it this season. Mads aside our best players in the Championship haven't been anywhere near the level required in the Premiership. I think FFP is going to literally fix the leagues over the next ten years. The same teams will be consistently promoted and relegated. Unless something is done to the rules so competition can once more exist. I'm not a happy fox. I don't like how we are run. I'd love to see change. But I fear that ownership change won't fast track success. And I'd rather we constantly throw the dice than become a static Championship or bottom of the Premier League side. It's the gamble that might just pay off for a few years. We just need the right manager and successful transfer windows and our Youth (which we are all excited about) making a successful transition into the side.

My hope is the improvement is coming. Not with the current team but with the youth coming through. If we can keep them that is.