stu

So, our first pre-season game is on the 5th of July. If it is correct we are waiting until the 1st of July to sack Ruud then the new person will have less that 5 days training before that game. Obviously the training game doesn't mean anything at all, but what an absolute self-inflicted mess.

Just signed a new England contract. So no longer an option.

Is Gary Megson still managing?

Won't be Carsley then.

Can we have who we think will be and who we want to be appointed as the options? Interested to see the difference in terms of the faith we have in our board in appointing someone who is actually approved by the fans.

The Trees are now frothing that they may get Europa League, rather than Conference.

Yep, hearing minus 6 points was the tweet. Frauds.

No, we said they didn’t have the authority to enforce us to propose a business plan, which was proved correct as by their own rules, they didn’t. They do now, after the rules were created and added recently after they lost.

Ok, we don't 'know' but we can make an highly educated assumption based on the fact we had money to spend last summer and chose not to spend it on manager who was in a job. Fast forward 12 months, we are in an even worse financial position after two failed managerical appointments to add to likely PSR issues for this season. Highly likely we will go for someone out of work.

We all know they aren't considering anyone currently in a job, so I'd be more annoyed at Sean Dyche than Martin, if the club really have backed away.

Spoiler, it’s Martin…

I think that’s certain, however they could have appointed Corberán rather than appointing and then paying off Cooper with potentially the same amount of money to pay his release fee from WBA. There was just no logical sense in appointing Cooper if you truly believe in possession football. People can say what they want, but the fact he was ex-forest meant he was doomed from the start and another reason it was an illogical decision.

Yep. At least it shows they are going back to some sort of strategy and footballing principles again. However, it makes the last two appointments even more bizarre. So it shows their approach is based on luck over judgment. Lets hope luck is with us this time again.

Is this normal in these proceedings that law firms are hired? What ultimately is the purpose if so? At a very high level guess, I’d assume one side representing the premier league presents the evidence why the we should be charged and the other side representing us basically have to decide to challenge or admit it. If so, who actually makes the decision and is all this before any independent panel decides the actual punishment, or is this all the same thing? I appreciate no one may actually know the answers to these. What a spectacular waste of money for everyone as well.

What am I missing? (From the ChatGPT quote above)

I thought we’d already accepted that the PL had jurisdiction over 23/24? It was in our statement that was the case and we were in conversation with them about it. If they really are arguing, what is the point? As the EFL would love to be the ones to suggest the punishment to the panel and then enforce the decision. It’s like arguing with the school bullies which one gets to kick us in the nuts… and then they both do it anyway.

Personally I don't know how winning the play offs can be classed as a fluke, but I assume you mean in relation to not being in the automatic positions, which is a more understandable if a little harsh argument based on the unbeaten run they went on and the strength of the top 4 teams that season, beating 3rd placed Leeds in the final. Either way my point was that people were saying we'd be relegated with him as manager. However much a mess the club is in and his questionable style of football he plays you've just confirmed why that opinion has no foundation and highlighted why anyone without a manager in the championship aspiring to be promoted would be interested in him.

Struggling to understand why people think we'd be relegated again with Martin in charge. I know he isn't a popular appointment, but there is no logic in thinking we'd get relegated from the Championship purely down to him managing us and his style of football that you couldn't also say about any other manager being appointed.

I’ll concede that keeping Ruud would be a better option, however all the noise is that he isn’t going to be the manager next season. Rodgers destroying the club was to do with spending money on crap players and insisting on moving away from being an annual selling club. It’s looking likely that Martin isn’t going to get that option to spend money and will have to work with whatever he have left after gutting the squad. Thats why I think he is the best free manager option, purely because those that remain will be more comfortable with Martin’s style than they will be with Dyche’s.

Suggest you stay clear of the main forum if you think the Southampton obsession is over…

Do I want him, no. However, I think he’s the best option we have if he genuinely wants the job knowing we are up a creek without a paddle He will be the best manager suited to the squad as it is over other free options like Dyche etc.

I don't hate it, at least it will give us an identity again after this seasons tactics shambles of setting the team up and hoping for the best without any plan of how to compete. PL & EFL sanctions depending, he will have the full summer to implement the style that got us promoted last time and the squad will be able to play it. It's not easy on the eye for 90 mins, but it is effective and works in the championship and in all honestly I'd rather Enzo-ball style over anything I've witnessed this season. The concern is (and will be for any manager we are able to attract, Dyche, O'Neil et al) what happens when we get back up as we know that the style of football does not work in the Premier League. Will he be able to adapt is methods to have any chance in avoiding relegation again? However, that is a problem for another time as genuinely think now the top 17 of the premier league is now a closed shop and no-one in the championship will ever establish themselves in the league ever again due to PSR. We could have the best manager in the world and still not be able to complete in the Premier League due to financial regulations. It also makes last summers appointment even more bizarre in that those in power clearly want to play in this method, where as Cooper never has and clearly can not. A cluster mess-up of a season...

Luckily any punishment is set by an independent panel then, rather than some butthurt football authority. So that is pure speculation.