reynard

So does mine but it isn't the same as his. There is also his cultural background in which I'm no expert. I'm not saying he's right just that it isn't quite the same. If I'd seen my father build up the club to achieve the greatest sporting success perhaps of all time and then to see him die in a fireball at the ground I'm not sure I'd want to just sell up. The fact that he looks out of his depth and incompetent and so do the people around him is another matter. I think you and I are on the same page but just don't think his decision would be that straightforward.

His position needs sorting out. it really looks like he hasn't wanted to be here since Enzo left. If so then the DOF needs to get off his backside and move him on to another club. He may be a decent player but if he is creating a negative atmosphere he must be sold.

Yes. Thanks. I think you have phrased it better than I did. We have outstanding loans taken out against premier league income so I suspect we may need some of the parachute payments to be that security now. A bad situation to be in frankly.

Haven't the first lot of parachute payments already been invested in a loan?

PNE played as a team, gave their all and played for the shirt, the fans and the club. There lies the difference.

He's unlikely to sell exactly because of what you say. It is easy for us to say it but we simply don't have the same type of emotional investment in the club that Top will have. I'm not saying I don't think he should sell but just that I think it vey unlikely unless there is a damn good financial need to do so. Nor am I saying that as fans we don't have an emotional investment, just a different one.

The issues are too big to deal with in one or two transfer windows. Quite clearly players don't want to be here and it shows on the pitch. Ayew was a poor signing but probably isn't the worst of our problems. Midfield is just so so poor. We really need so many new faces it can't be done apart from a complete rebuild. Who knows if we have the right manager. He's been left with a terrible squad and no signs of support in recruiting new players. But it will need a really strong and determined character to turn the current useless mob around.

We look like finishing anywhere between 13th and bottom and this league is usually tight so could be anywhere in that range.

Doubt it.

Is that for Preston or Us? We have no attacking threat.

November?

Fair enough. Probably have to play Faes then?

Who would you play at left back out of the fit players we have?

You're probably right but this feels a bit different to me to the last few seasons. At least we looked like we were trying even if we were poor and at least we looked like we might bring in some new players which doesn't look that likely at the moment.

No point in keeping him if his head is already elsewhere. Our overall attitude as a club stinks. We look like a club about to enter freefall.

The real concern here is that the starting XI is probably about as good as we can field. We could swap in and out 1 or 2 players but they probably wouldn't make a lot of difference.

Very poor. Too many players simply not good enough. Soumare, Ayew, Justin. All can be sold and we won't be any worse than we are now. They offer absolutely nothing. Mavididi completely anonymous so far and looks a very average player. Fatawu basically being asked to do everything in an attacking sense with no support at all. We can't press properly because Ayew just can't do it. A midfield with more holes in it than a colander and a defence too easily outmuscled time and time again.

I know you are being a bit tongue in cheek here but actually there isn't much point in signing/releasing anyone until this is sorted. Though selling players who don't want to be here whoever the manager turns out to be should be the number one priority. The longer we continue without a manager the less chance we have of sorting out the squad in time for the start of the season. And that is without any potential transfer embargo we may or may not get.

Transfers are never as simple as handing over cash though. Let's say he's on 60k per week and Rangers only want to pay him half that as he's still contracted to us it is often the case that the selling club foregoes or reduces any small transfer fee so they don't end up having to pay off his wages. 2.5 million is 48k per week basic wage but then you need to add on insurance costs/pensions/employers NI etc etc. So may be worth doing a deal that clears him off the books completely even if it means losing a small amount of transfer fee. But I know you know this anyway.

Free transfer with them covering all his wages is a decent bet?

I'd liked us to at least interviewed Claudio Giraldez.

It isn't really a surprise if Dyche is linked to us is it? He's currently out of work and has experience in both the Championship and the Premier League. Frankly I would consider it remiss of our board not to at least have him in mind and even to interview. Why do people complain he's bland and boring? Does it matter? We need a manger who can turn this sinking ship around. Personally I'm not especially keen on his style of football but would we have been such a mess this season if he had been the manager? I don't believe we would. As to wanting a long term appointment that isn't going to happen. In reality a manager's job life must on average be about three seasons. personally I think we need a manger who can stand up to Top and tell him we can't play the Man city way with the players we have. Who that is I've no idea.

The Pope was certainly a bit quicker.

I'm not advocating for Dyche but frankly I don't see much difference between the football served up this season and what you call his anti-football. The last 8 home games haven't been what you would call entertaining have they? The club needs direction. We need some standards set throughout the club, be that players at the training ground etc etc. Right now we have no identity on the pitch and an apparent lack of cohesion off it. I'd also say that there is too much power with our players at the moment. A sort of collective, we don't really like the manager attitude, that leads to underperformance and poor results. And what is a long term appointment these days? How many managers of clubs outside the top echelon stay much longer than two years in any case? Yes, ideally, I'd like to see a young dynamic manager come in to the club with a vison that includes all the teams of whatever age, with a clear path to first team football for youth team players. Sadly I'm not sure football can or wants to work like that any more. Whoever is chosen will be a risk though.

I think Kristiansen is likely to leave. Thomas is fine for the Championship. At least he tries. We have far greater problem positions than left back.