Dan

Never in doubt was it.

Congratulations. I envy you massively.

Think he's got most of the bigger calls right this time. No idea how Maddison not going was even that big a story. I don't think it was even remotely controversial? Branthwaite on the other hand for me is an error. You've already got a bit of a weakness on the left hand side with a lot of emphasis being put in Shaw's fitness. So if he plays the Pep / Maresca system he's eliminated probably the obvious left back / left centre back and, while doing the same if we just play a back four anyway. I don't get that one at all, particularly when he's kept Dunk in who has been massively unconvincing for England. As ever with England under Southgate I think we'll get by everybody we're better than and falter when we aren't. What this probably means is a semi final exit to France. 7 points in the group involving a 0-0 draw with Denmark in the second game.

It's all been very cosy here for years really. We had it good on the pitch so nobody bar a minority ever pulled the club up on anything. Now that things have evidently gone to pot off the field the piss poor fan engagement is finally being addressed. I've real doubts on whether they'll actually address this though. Keep thinking back to Top's statement after relegation and the rhetoric around the points deduction. Self-reflection never their strong point.

Not that interesting but a slightly peculiar one here was being put onto some work experience thing when out of work ages ago that was utterly hopeless, sneaking out of it hoping nobody would notice, remember going home that day and applying for a job, got it, and still there today nearly a decade later so that worked out. Wonder what happens if I don't just sneak out. Maybe I'd have just applied for that job when I got home, but that's nowhere near as fun a story.

Utter disgrace yet totally predictable. Forest the biggest cucks of all going to that level last season and then voting in favour. Shame on us as well. Really do fear we're stuck with this shite forever.

Fantastic post. Agree with every word. I think this fanbase wants quick football and responds to that in a way it simply won't respond to control and possession no matter how hard we try. I don't think it's unique to us though I think we're particularly of this persuasion after 2016. For that reason I think this should be what we look for. I think we'd really respond to a Klopp-lite.

Corberan reminds me a bit of a poor mans Unai Emery.

My gripe with the style is less Pep and more the amount who try and mimic it with a much worse version. I also don't get how few see the success of Real Madrid and Ancelotti and don't promote more playing with freedom which is what they do, with admittedly, superb recruitment and class all over the pitch.

Which will of course be the line given for justifying keeping them all in place. Very convenient get out for them.

Easy to forget he's essentially the club owner.

McAteer going on a Chelsea podcast is wild. How have we allowed that?

He was pretty quiet in the latter knockout rounds and I do think that's an indicator that he's probably not quite ready to carry England to a tournament win but there's no reason he can't get there in time. Vinicius was similar a few years ago and now he's the absolute real deal. Haven't watched enough of Brazil to know why but Vinicius only has 3 goals for them in 28 appearances. Has he just been a huge victim of Neymar? Seems a complete waste of abundantly obvious talent. He's probably my favourite player to watch since Messi.

Because they're generally clueless. I've a lot of criticisms of Maresca but I think he knows the score a bit more than they do even if he has done us over a bit here. It does seem quite peculiar to me. Two narratives being played - one that we're not that impressed with his performance then another that we're not that impressed he's leaving

Good analysis as usual from him. Real Madrid genuinely don't get enough credit. There's a lot of bitterness and jealousy. I hit the point a few years ago where I started kind of admiring it. Yes they are obviously well resourced but plenty of other well resourced sides don't have that same ability of doing this that they do. Soon as that final got to half time at 0-0 I was pretty confident Dortmund's chance had gone and Real Madrid would end up winning it. I know people will point to the Adeyemi and Fullkrug missed chances (one of which was offside anyway) but are we really going to pretend Dortmund just win that from there if they score? I've no doubt Real would've come back. There's only so many times they can do this before people concede this is far more than luck. They're ruthless and they'll stop at nothing for success. I don't think there is enough of that in the game now. I think they're brilliant at avoiding the traps lots of other clubs, not naming names (Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chelsea) are falling into. Got to say I've found them easier to get on board with since Ronaldo went I feel a bit dirty for it all but they're a juggernaut. 6 Champions Leagues in 11 years is ridiculous. I cannot believe the amount of narrative I read about them not being very good - I'm still reading it now!!!

It is pretty mental when you weigh up some of the fees we've taken in for players... Maguire £80mil Fofana £70mil Mahrez £60mil Chilwell £50mil Maddison £40mil Barnes £40mil Drinkwater £35mil Kante £30mil Sure there are others I've missed. How can you do all of that and end up in this sort of financial situation. ****ing unbelievable.

Because we're likely to have a points deduction and likely to have to sell key players in the next month. It's not an impossible job. But we're favourites to drop for a fairly good reason.

I don't really expect massive loyalty from an Italian who while we did give him an opportunity he was arguably fortunate to get, we messed around and large parts of the fanbase never truly bought into. It works both ways. I assume we'll leave Corberan well alone for his loyalty to West Brom no?

I'm pretty deflated about LCFC in general really. I hit a realisation some time around August/September 2022 about Top and Rudkin that I've never been able to shake and I've seen next to nothing since it to convince me I'm wrong.

Maresca going to Chelsea is a pretty convenient get out for the board. Doesn't make them look bad as he'd have likely gone anyway, and the one person putting any pressure on them gone.

You are correct, but even despite this we are not a strong proposition. I'd say even if we heard news tomorrow of the points deductions being dropped it's the weakest we've entered a PL season probably since 2003.

I'm not the sort to see survival as an achievement, but we are right up against it this season. We have this far harder than Everton or Forest did. We don't have three teams as bad as last years promoted trio likely to prop us up. The more I think about it the more I fancy Corberan. He isn't alien to working in tricky circumstances.

People who genuinely tout the likes of Amorim and De Zerbi really haven't understood the scale of the damage our board have done to us. The bookies have us 20th. We were fancied more going into 2014/15!

Which is usually a sign that you're completely right of course.

Don't want Rosenior. He's another possession for possession merchant. Edwards I thought up until January had done really well with Luton, but their tail off was quite dramatic.