KrefelderFox666

This scheduling of re-arranged fixtures is a farce by the Premier League. Why are Chelsea, Southampton, Spurs and Utd playing days before a big FA Cup semi. Spurs have an advantage over Utd by playing a day earlier.

Same as this season then and prices were frozen

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as technically it's not a Puel thread. It's a Claude thread...

When we have people on the wing who cannot beat the first man when crossing then what's the point of players like Iheanacho being in the box. Unfortunately our play means strikers have to come almost back to halfway to give options to our non-existent midfield. Strikers are doing two jobs and Iheanacho was definitely not playing like that at Man City where he got chances served on a plate. He has had to adapt but has barely played, not gonna happen immediately. I think once we have a full pre-season with the squad and Puel gets some more players that he wants/needs (certainly a right back that knows what they're doing going forward), then I think people like Iheanacho will come good.

So far this has been a very good season. Getting further in the cups or moving up to 6th would have made it an exceptional season. Let's not kid ourselves, 2015-16 was a miracle and if we actually think that will happen in the near future then we are disillusioned. It's not impossible but would require lots of years of build up. Look at Spurs, they can't win a thing. Man City don't win the league regularly, they have spent many millions and built a team that is now reaping rewards. I would be very happy if we can establish ourselves as a Top 10 team for seasons to come and regularly push for Top 6/7 with some cup runs in between.

I think we should change managers every 10 games, that way we'll win everything. FACT

Champions League last year? In particular Sevilla and Atletico. Hopefully tomorrow the players will leave everything on the pitch and I hope the fans get behind like they did in the title winning season and the CL games

Not quite correct. There have been times when PL games were played on CL nights. Arsenal last season for example, played the same night as Atletico vs Real.

Well no, cause Arsenal won't agree to playing two games that weekend. If we get knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday we will play Wednesday 18th April. If we get through we will play Arsenal 8th/9th May week. If either of Leicester or Southampton get through to the FA Cup semis, then the game between us will be 1st/2nd May or the week after (if we play Arsenal on the 18th April).

They said they will confirm the dates after the FA Cup QF's. I assume if Leicester or Southampton progress, they want to avoid giving them a game 3 days before an FA Cup semi. Also dependant on Arsenal's performance in the Europa League. Think it will be Wednesday 18th April or Wednesday 2nd May.

2,909 is more than we have ever received there isn't it? Or am I making that up, always thought it was like 2,700 odd. Looking forward to this one.

No doubt, not the most glamorous away day.

Looks like this will easily make members, maybe even general sale. Considering it is a lucrative trip and bank holiday weekend, that's surprising.

Seems that way unfortunately, hesitant to blow millions on expanding only for the potential to lose out, a business decision at the end of the day. However, the longer we establish ourselves as a mid-table to top 7 side (hopefully) the more they will start to realistically think about expanding. I agree with your points and would love the option of safe standing and agree that the bowl type ground will be hard to extend aesthetically. The only reason for expansion right now is the fact we sell out every game still (yes we had two cup games that didn't but one was midweek against a League 1 side and the other a Friday night during half term where the Family Stand was half empty) and the fact that many people have no chance of a season ticket. I think we could easily sell 30,000+ season tickets if we had the option, add 3,000 away fans and corporate and we would only have about 7,000 or so tickets going into general sale every game. Anyway, back on topic. Only about 200 tickets left of which about 95% are in the Keith Weller/Walkers Hall.

So you're basing the reason for ground expansion on one cup game?

Agreed, we've been utter shit since winning the league. It's like the success has gone to the players heads.

I think the TV puts some fans off, then the fact we are poor recently. However, I think there will be a lot sold this week and we may even have a sellout by the weekend. I don't expect these remaining tickets to last long. I still have 2/3 more to buy tonight as my ST's and memberships are not enough to cover demand. There's 7/8 of us going in total. Also, some STH's have a ST and literally only use it for the 19 PL home games. They don't bother with any away matches, cup games etc.

And post of the week goes to...

Our biggest problem is that the players still rely on how we played 15/16 (and before for that matter). Unfortunately, most of the team is still here and they are not able to play a different way. Everything revolves around Vardy as the hitman but every team has figured this out and marks him out the game. Defensively we still play deadwood like Morgan and Simpson who are not suited to Puels style. I am happy to give him a summer transfer and full pre-season to get the squad he wants, shift the likes of Simpson, Morgan, even losing Vardy to Everton isn't the end of the world (current rumor). Allows a rebuild of team players and strategies. It could be Iheanacho's chance to get confidence, maybe play him with Slimani. The only loss in the summer will be Mahrez, as he is the only player that can make a miserable game into an OK result, or an OK game into a great result. Sacking managers without a full pre-season is daft. I do think that right now, Puel doesn't know the best way to play this team and the players also don't get his philosophy. The latter cannot be blamed on the manager though. Give him a full season to develop his style and judge him then.

I've always been for the idea of 30 minute halfs with stopping the watch when the ball is out of play. That way every team/game gets the same amount of playing time, level playing field.

To be fair, losing to Bournemouth today, we'll lose against WBA next week or luck a draw. We'll go into the Chelsea game on awful form. That is where Leicester do a Leicester and turn up when it matters beating Chelsea! This season is all about the cup now.

We couldn't do that for Sheffield United either until general sale (as stated above).

Considering there are: 32,000 available 23,500 STH's 4,500 Away fans That leaves 4,000 tickets. Take away some corporate, players, ticket office etc and there should be 3,000 for members and that's if all STH's take up their seats (which won't be the case). I expect about 8/9,000 tickets to be made available tomorrow night. Should get to general sale just about (1/2,000). That is only my prediction.

The only team that deserve to finish 7th and get Europe this season for me is Burnley. They have been average recently but played really well early in the season. They might be boring to watch (one of the best defences and worst attacks combined) but they've got results. We've been OK this season and Puel is trying to change our style a litle without having a proper transfer window (January doesn't really count) and pre-season. Everton are just shite, standard Allardyce team, nothing special. Bournemouth and Watford are both doing better than they should this year but don't think they really are a 7th place team. I think this will be a right old scrap with positions changing regularly and no one pulling clear. It really is a Top 6 league and then best of the rest after, massive gap in quality.

Course it is, they can't even sell out against the Top 6 sides. Gonna be a crap turnout with the form they're on