LCFCJohn

No, you just bang on about what people who are pushing for change say regarding those who are against it. With never a comment on how it works both ways. Even when pushed in this reply, you are very vague in your wording rather than actually condemning the actions I outlined by the ‘KP’ lot (term used for ease), in the same way you are quick to come and condemn the fist use of the term ‘happy clapper’. You can tell a lot of an individuals views by the general content and tone of their posts…

Not sure how you work this one out…. Contributed maybe. Biggest culprit for the first goal, Ricardo. Nelson could have been stronger but the mistake had already happened. Second goal, clearly Thomas (thought easily beaten down Ricardo’s side again). Unless you are referring to the defensive line and think he is responsible for playing them on. But again, damage very much done by Thomas. Nelson particularly (more so than Okoli) didn’t have a great second half but the full backs were the main cause of those goals and both need replacing if we are to improve this defensive record.

I think in the context of the post you have quoted, £5mill refers to the wages over the extended contract. Not the bid from Hoffenheim. How much do we think he is on? Even £40k per week over the additional 3 years (not including this season) is £6,240,000. Truly a false economy. The question is, do we think a sensibly run club could have found a better player than Thomas in a lower league or abroad for the same outlay? Let’s say £3mill transfer fee and half the wages, £20k p/w. Easily yes. They’d have some of that saving left over. But our lazy board think wages don’t seem to count in PSR terms and that extending the contract of a player who is not performing is somehow better than actually scouting a replacement!

Bang on. Any other sector you’d be talking liquidation at those levels let alone not actually being critical of those who have presided over it as many of our fans are. I actually wish they’d scrap PSR. Not because it’d mean we would compete again but it would remove the excuse. This has been self inflicted and if we had free reign spend, a) it’d expose Aiyawatt not wanting to and b) it’d be frittered on crap anyway and we’d be in the same position league and position wise. I (and many others likely) would have understood if mistakes had been made and rectified. But they have double down. They think the way to fix it is just not to buy anyone in certain windows whilst wasting shit loads in others (Ayew and Skipp for example). And that’s as someone who likes Skipp but obviously paid far far too much. Also, the Thomas contract on a wage wise. In what way is that a better way of getting back on track that scouting and signing a young left back from the lower leagues/abroad on low wages? False economy. They just think it is a better option as no transfer fee but they clearly think it is just transfer fees and don’t even seemingly understand that wages are what is killing us!

You could definitely see how both parties would agree to this. No doubt Aiyawatt doesn’t want to spend anything so it probably suits him to have the fans think the lack of activity is down to this issue. If it was announced we were clear, it’d out pressure and expectation on him to improve the squad which he won’t want to do.

Oh hi Paul. I realise you never did confirm why is it ‘divisive, unhelpful and arrogant’ to call somebody a happy clapper yet it is ok for those backing the regime to do/say the following regarding those protesting for change; - Calling them part timers, plastics and boo boys. - Spreading misinformation online that if you are unhappy with how the club is run this means you have only supported the club since 2016. - Physical violence towards fellow supporters in the stands who are being vocal about the running of the club. I’m intrigued to know why a simple term like happy clapper you believe is divisive, unhelpful and arrogant whilst the list I have put above is ok?

Yes, they are the positions we are massively weak in. You strengthen by improving the 11 as they say and then your squad improves as a result. We can’t keep playing Ricardo and Thomas at fullback. They are killing us. We need a different kind of centre back, with the skill set of a Morgan/Huth as I say. And striker at the other end speaks for itself. In midfield, as you have said, we have at least youth players coming through there. They are the 4 priorities in my view, not to say other positions couldn’t be strengthened. But if you put a better player in those 4 positions, we’d look immediately better (well if we binned our fraud of a manager as well). Edit - yes, for the purposes of the immediate future, if Choudhury wasn’t needed at fullback, I have no issues him being used to add energy in the midfield and playing to his strengths. He has become a scapegoat due to his off field antics and the fact he is paid far above his ability. But if he isn’t able to be moved on, Sheffield United loved him for a reason.

I knew that. But if we signed him (ha) this window, surely by the summer it is no longer a bridge transfer/same window and could be sold for a profit? Unless the fact the loan doesn’t end until the summer is a factor.

Yay, someone else other than me sees it! Spot on. Did it in the first half and got away with it. Endless times under Maresca we were punished down that side. You can look at Nelson and Thomas (re the first goal) as well. But sometimes you have to look at how the defence comes to be in that position. By being so far out of position and making no effort to get out to his man and put pressure on him, the opposition are given the freedom of the stadium, hell the city, to stroll into the area or pick a cross out under no pressure, with all the time in the world and then the defence being as frail as it is, fails to deal with it thereafter. Thomas deserve all the stick he gets. Diabolical player. But one of the criticisms he gets is how he is beaten easily and allows balls into the box. But Ricardo gets none for being out of position and allowing the same result? The full backs needs replacing. Nelson and Okoli have potential to still be good but I am unsure whether that’s together. Nelson looked better with Vestergaardto be fair. But ideally we bring in a Morgan or Huth type defender with that will go defend and that mentality that they brought.

I do think the manager and situation within the club are making it seem worse (in terms of what we need). But I would say 4 sounds about right. RB, LB, CB and ST. I do feel like Aluko could be the RB though. We really need a Morgan/Huth and a Fuchs type. Professional, experienced and strong defensively. If we had that and the defence could be the following, I think we’d be good; Aluko - New - Nelson - New Experience at RCB and LB would offset the inexperience at RB and LCB. A midfield of James - Skipp - Page is absolutely not our problem if picked and in the 8’s breaking style. We do have talent on the wings but it is stifled by the managers lack of ability.

To make your mind blow, these are some comments of a particular SM page after full time. Notice the lack of coherent English in most of them though. Points stolen. Great perfomance , Okoli was outstanding. Coventry got out of jail. Well done fox's. Good performance for 60 mins should never have lost Wasn’t a bad game to be fair. Can’t expect them to be the worst one week and beating the league leaders at home the next. It was a positive performance and it should be noted as one. Unlucky foxes worth minimum point, dont think anyone had a really bad game, played well against current leaders just few unfortunate things against us. And as for cov never seen so much diving and play acting Decent game , hard luck Leicester , good manager build for next season , don’t want to be in the play offs … Best performance in my humble opinion

So what is it, a player has to be at a club for a full season between signing permanently and leaving on a permanent deal elsewhere?

Ballard, Tolaj at Plymouth and Salech at Cardiff would all be good options.

I think the system as it was a similar story under Maresca when we were exposed regularly down our right side. There’s a reason our best ever sides have had defences like Simpson, Morgan, Huth and Fuchs and Elliott, Taggart, Walsh etc before. It doesn’t matter what fancy tactics you are playing the other end. If you conceded 2 per game because your defenders can’t defend, you aren’t achieving anything….

Not doubting his character. But as a right back, get out to your man and stop putting your defence under pressure by giving opposition the freedom to put balls into the box and stroll into the area without challenge.

My point is more than as bad as Ricardo can be, he never gets mentioned due to positive bias whereas others get called out for less.

Fair. I don’t know why Ricardo gets such a pass from fans. Yes he is a good pro and been fantastic in the past for us but now he is a liability. Not to Thomas extremes but still a weak link.

Ricardo was at fault for their first for me. He come so far in field, he leaves his winger with the freedom of the pitch to come into our box which immediately puts us and the rest of the defence under huge pressure. He did it in the first half as well which led to their best chance I think it was. Nelson and Okoli were both equal in my view so you name check both or neither. Thomas is a disgrace.

How can you name Nelson but not Ricardo and Okoli?

I can only assume our oh so glorious leader was there today….you know, closer

Problem is we need Aluko in at right back as Ricardo is also out his depth and needs to go!

Full backs are out of their depth. Ricardo shocking for the first goal. Thomas embarrassing for the second. I missed the first half so actually don’t believe we even played that well. Presumably our standards are so low that not shit = good. Cov deserved it from the second half. Remember, Marti, Thomas, Ayew etc are symptoms. The disease is Aiyawatt.

Probably. If you consider both technical and physical ability, even if he reached a level where technically he is better, he would still get physically bullied at any level and has a weak mindset as well.

Can’t say they don’t deserve it. Awful second half from us yet again.

That’s on Ricardo. Why does he sit so central and give his winger bags of space? Full backs are so weak for us.