Number 6

I just don't really get the logic that he'd walk because of lack of transfers to go somewhere with players who don't necessarily fit his very specific style. Plus lots of clubs are going to be more wary of spending now.

The way we were run by Vichai versus Top is much closer than is being made out on here today.

It feels like we're just asking them to follow the process defined by themselves? This is just a retaliation because of the business plan stuff, which we were found to be in the right on.

Be interesting to see how the "obligation" in a contract would be dealt with within this. Though again, not sure if we fall outside of jurisdiction should we go up.

This is a performative punishment isn't it? They couldn't force their business plan on us so trying to enforce one this way. Until we've been proved guilty of anything then it all seems rather rash from the EFL.

The clappers are so counter productive. Creates a din which drowns out any chanting. So many near me will use them as the lowest entry point to joining in, but it prevents anything meaningful getting going.

Last 9 games of 14/15?

Are Middlesbrough and QPR tough games now? As I said, if we win the league then we've bottled nothing. If we limp to 95 points and come second, then we have. That would be just 33 points from 21 games this year. In fact I think how we finish defines it now, if we hit 100 points but get second then I won't grumble too much.

I do think start of the season deductions are way better though. Remember the Leeds 15 pointer. Was a siege mentality. Let's get promoted and give these ****ers a real headache.

It doesn't seem like too big an ask to plan for tweaks for certain scenarios. So an option against fast strikers where we play a bit deeper and maybe the role of Ndidi or Winks is tweaked. Maybe a set up where we don't invert the full back. Maybe a way of playing with 2 strikers on the pitch, or Ndidi a bit deeper. I'm fine with it being our plan A, and not expecting us to completely change the way we play, but it sounds too rigid to not compromise a little where appropriate.

They can equate the points and claim fairness if they like, but getting the deduction in a season where the league is weaker and another team also has a deduction is favourable in itself. If we get a 4/6 point deduction in a season where nobody else does then the punishment is effectively harsher, even if the points total is the same.

Mate this league is dogshit. Look at where the 3 relegated teams sit. Not going up would be a massive failure with the resources we had. Not arrogance, just the realities of the gap between divisions. Running at 2.5ppg and dropping form to 1.5ppg and surrendering a large lead is pretty much the dictionary definition of bottling something...unless you think our actual true level is 1.5ppg. The only real counter to saying we've bottled it at this stage is that the season isn't over. If we rectify the form over the remainder of the season and take 1st the we've bottled nothing.

That's why I said 2ppg. Dropping to form that is around 6th is bottling it. There's a big gap there. I definitely wouldn't have taken 6th at the start of the season either.

I don't get the confidence some seem to have that that gets reduced on appeal. Seems more structured than the arbitrary 10 Everton got.

It's a bit of both isn't it? Leeds form has been ridiculous but if we'd stuck around promotion form of 2ppg then we'd still be clear despite this. If that had been the case and people were saying "we've bottled it, the gap's only 5 now" then you'd be spot on.

Feel like how Ipswich fare against Southampton and Norwich will determine their fate. We really need to open the gap back up over these games.

I don't think the rules, as they are currently, work. It imposes some really odd things around selling academy players being so lucrative - which seems wrong. And I don't really know how you combat some of it either...keep your assets by offering good contracts but screw yourself on the wagebill, or don't offer new contracts and lose the players for cheap/free. You'd basically need to consistently buy great talent at cheap prices, and sell them on for good profit, while also bringing through great academy players to make money. It's just not possible. Might as well assign league positions based on turnover from the last financial year. Having said all that it does feel like signing more than the number of players you can have in a squad probably does show recklessness. I'm not just saying this due to them being rivals, but it feels like whatever rules are in place should be there to stop some of the behaviour that has gone on at Forest. Not sure 4 points will do it. Feel like spending caps make more sense, but then I guess financial loopholes will be found anyway.

This is the major issue I think. The whole keeping the ball, and not overcommitting to counter attacks is in theory to protect us at the back. Without that solid foundation I think it falls apart a bit. Might as well be a bit more gung ho in attack.

I don't want to brag, but I occasionally played as a striker at an extremely low level - but even there you know that in Jackson's position you get yourself between the goal and the defender because any contact is a foul.

I know they're a "pretty average side" but a lot of that comment I think stems from how much they have spent. They're likely to finish in and around those Europa league spots and we are at least a few decent years off competing at that level again. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man City all had to be content with a point from Stamford bridge this season. I don't think it was a foregone conclusion that we would lose yesterday, but clearly we'd have needed Chelsea to be putting in one of their lesser performances for us to get a result.

Really hard to make out what we're likely to face from their results. There's some bang average results in there but recently given Ipswich a scare, beaten Southampton 3-1, and Leeds only won 1-0 there. Feel like this is one that needs to be 3 points with the fixtures we have remaining.

Can't see a world in which 105 points doesn't get us 1st.

This is roughly my thoughts. I think we land around 100 points which should be plenty for autos. Whether we win the title or not depends on Leeds form. If they keep it up and surpass 100 points they'll deserve it. I think there's a slip or two in there though so I've voted first.

They were just starting to get some half chances. Very wasteful final third though.

Think there's another goal in this, don't know which way though.