deep blue

Not only passive, but paying in massive numbers to attend the games. I just can't understand anyone doing that when you know beforehand what rubbish will be served up. I can't help but feel that the only way Top will take notice is when our attendances drop down to single figures. By attending the match you aren't supporting the club, but encouraging and financing Top to preside over its continued demise.

This. Employing him was bad enough; a 3 year contract was insane.

Wouldn't Aluko fit the bill there? Surprised he hasn't been tried at CB so far, given how appallingly our current contenders have been performing in that position..

That's a bold statement. Any evidence that there's any truth in it?

I don't understand where this bit comes from - "There simply won't be any patience from the fans". You're referring to the same fans that clap the players off after an unacceptably poor performance? Our owners may or may not take note of any adverse reaction from fans in the ground (or reduced attendances, if that happened), but they certainly don't respond to criticism from forums such as this or from reputable fan representation groups such as Foxes Trust.

As far as I recall Rodgers heaped praise on him for that performance and rewarded him by dropping him for the next game (and subsequent games). Equally, I agree that his aggression and speed could give us something we currently lack in midfield. I'd like to see him given the chance.

Interesting suggestions I've seen so far in this thread are Aluko at CB and playing Hamza for his agression. Given our current weakness at CB it's surprising we've not seen Aluko tried there as I seem to remember a game last season where he was pushed in there for part of a game and fared very well. I think he also played there sometimes in the academy. His speed, aggression and ability on the ball would definitely be positives in that position. The suggestion of Hamza to give our midfield more strength and aggression may affront many of our supporters but I see Hamza as someone who's lost his way over the last few seasons but who might not be beyond rehabilitation if given a go, and responsibility, in a role that suits his abilities. It's a good forum for having lots of deep but spurious thoughts, none of which ever appear to go through the minds of our recent managers

Maybe they arrived too late to be up to speed

You forgot to mention the profit on Tielemans, and many others...

Sorry, but that takes no account of unpredictable events, not covered by the manifesto, that crop up during a parliament and which require a response. Two of the obvious recent examples - COVID and the Iran war. .... Sorry, didn't see the reply and other responses that cover this.

I'm not convinced about Milliband, but the increase in energy bills isn't because of zero carbon, it's to do with an inadequate national network and the link between gas and electricity price. The underinvestment in the network occurred under the Tories. The link between gas and electricity prices needs to be broken, and I would criticise Milliband for not acting with more urgency on that. I also suspect that his keenness in progressing òn ways to remove carbon from the air will not be cost-effective.

LibDems

I think that applies to all of our good young prospects over the last few years. What have we got at the moment to help the final development stage for our promising youngsters? An inability to secure suitable loans, an unwillingness to integrate them into our playing squad, and a training and playing environment which doesn't nurture them (lack of fitness, low standards, poor discipline, bad on-field management etc).

Good and interesting post, but I find your view that the LibDems ever had economic policies that were anywhere near to Thatcher's rather weird.

Interesting. What area of Manchester are you? I'm with the LibDems in Stockport where we did a good job of holding off the Reform challenge in the recent local elections.

We probably came close to having that in the Champ last year. Look where that got us. We don't have a bigger wage bill because we have better quality players ... it's precisely the poor recruitment that has hamstrung us with an overpaid, lazy and uncommmitted squad. What makes you think any of that is going to change in div1?

I suppose he wouldn't have signed without that.

That should be the case, but that presupposes that the board have an ounce of football and financial nous, and use their position to consider all the stats available before making a decision. With KP we know that isn't the case and, sadly, many of the supporters have more relevant knowledge and acumen that those responsible for making the key decisions. Here's just one example ... the decision makers have shown over the last few seasons that they think it a better strategy to pay peanuts for managers and then spend a fortune on garbage players rather than believing that getting the best manager in is the most important starting-off point.

You can stop right there.

Him or Farage ... it's a hard call to make.

Will they be able to afford to do that?

I'm intrigued with this statement as I see no justification at all for making that assumption. There will be a limited number of players left from last season, most of whom were well below par last season. The rest will be made up of players from our development teams (however promising they may be it's expecting a lot that they will immediately be able to slot into div 1 action) and new signings/loanees (our record on those over the last couple of seasons has been abysmal). So what do you base your assumption on?

Just like to add my thanks to the Trust team. You've given an awful lot of your personal time to this over the last few months. Your work appears to have been very professional and thorough in your approach. It raises hopes of being effective, too, and I hope you manage to keep on pushing at the club to get better communication from "those that count" to the fans. Thanks again.

A travesty he never played for England. Even though he was competing with several good midfielders for a place I would put him as arguably th most complete midfielder in the English league in his prime.

I don't think it's a two tier approach either, nor do I think you can be too harsh on the police as it was a very confusing situation with so many conflicting allegations being spouted. But the one thing I do find inexplicable, and indefensible, is why the police felt the need to handcuff someone who was on the ground and showing no indication of being a threat.