Number 6

You can't have a couple of years at -£180m, followed by a Champ season and be comfortably clear of the limits. We're going to be in and around the limit at best. But the latest year has big sales in it, two with £0 book value, and Maresca money. There's probably c£100m in there. Spending covered by parachute payments for the season would put us about -£80m for the 3 years, with the limit at -£83m. You'd like the think the KDH sale, with back scratching transfer of Golding, means we were making sure we'd be ok there though. Edit: plus some COVID allowances in that -£180m maybe?

From a somewhat neutral point of view the top 4/5 race could be very interesting. Liverpool and Arsenal will have it wrapped up but the rest could be anyone's guess. Forest, Chelsea, Newcastle, Villa, Man City, will all fancy their chances.

I like him but I feel like we'd be better off buying a big bastard. Not enough physicality in this side and someone who could hold the ball up would give us a good outlet. Ruud hasn't been adverse to having two striker on the pitch either, so a big strong physical striker could work well alongside Vardy.

Sure, he'll be loaned to us for the remainder of the season, but he won't be registered and won't be able to play (if there is another loan in we want).

"Premier league clubs may not register more than two loan players on loan at any one time. The maximum number of loans registerable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time". So there's a financial impact to it, and it prevents us loaning more then 2 more or any from Palace, but that's a pretty small impact.

It's entirely in our gift to use him or not though. We can leave him unregistered and loan another so there's a financial impact to it, but it shouldn't hold anything else up. If there's another loan we want in then this is the route we should take.

Has to be a Forest win. More teams in the mix potentially helps us out. As galling as it is to see Forest continue to do well.

I think the only way to combat it would be via some sort of bonus point system which could be tweaked every year. Something new that may not be contained in all the datasets. Seems a bit gimmicky I know, but otherwise there's only one way we're heading.

My background is in analytics so I find that side of sport interesting, but I think it's unquestionably made sport in general more dull. There was an interesting graphic on shot positions in basketball: not too long ago a wide spread of shot locations, now there's like 5 clusters. I don't know how we resist it but it's made spot in general more boring. With football you add in the mega money, TV schedules, ticket prices, and you can see why it's a completely different experience now. The atmosphere at the KP is terrible, but it's a wider issue too as you say.

That's fair. To be honest my working assumption is that Ruud sticks around. I think that gives us the best chance and to be honest he'd need to have a good season for his own reputation. Admittedly we need to make a fist of it in the Prem for him to get that chance I think.

Decent game. Fair result.

If you take out the impending sense of doom I've felt throughout, this has actually been an enjoyable game.

7 added on too. Not over yet.

That's a pen

One thing they have done well is take the lead more often. They haven't held on to as many leads as they would have liked, but it allows you to defend deep and counter.

Let's wait until the full time whistle before we shit the bed shall we?

Yeh I think it has to be immediately put in the goal following the handball for it to be ruled out. But it's such a grey area at the moment I could see either team being annoyed yesterday whichever way it was given.

Still think we'd be able to put together one of the better sides in the division next season. A points deduction would probably make automatics a step too far but we should still be looking at top 6. Transfer embargo doesn't mean you can't sign anyone either. The gap between divisions has widened because the Prem has got stronger in part, but also because the Champ is significantly weaker. If Burnley, Leeds, Sheff Utd come up this season then I think that only aids our cause too.

Need to sort his staff out too. Can't bring the guy in and not give him the platform to potentially succeed. Got his hands tied behind his back. Manager is the front man, but he needs the band.

I think this is a good chance for us to assess Ruud to be honest. Been up against it in terms of fixtures and injuries, but we'll go into this as favourites and it's a chance to see what sort of style he will look to implement when we have the ball. Given the run of defeats I'd prefer to see us go strong for this. Got and put in a performance that builds a bit of confidence ahead of more winnable PL games.

I think the crumb of comfort re: survival is that there are more than 3 shit teams in the division.

Not sure what the point of a new manager would be given everyone slates them so quickly. Cooper barely got a chance to breathe before he was slated and Ruud is getting the same short thrift. 7 games which has included Villa, Newcastle, Liverpool, Man City, plus injuries to key personnel. Give the guy a chance.

Enzo's at the wheel...

Never thought that Derby 11 would be under threat, but somehow Saints are managing it.

One thing I was annoyed at under Cooper was our inability to low block and frustrate opponents. Instead we would low block and gift easy chances. Last few games under Ruud I think we've seen a much better defensive shape and structure. No idea where this one ends but I find it encouraging.