Blergh

This. The EFL are pretty clearly preparing the ground with the current charges, so the regulator has an oven ready case to assess. I’m not unduly concerned about the legal challenge aspect of this. Any judicial review would be expedited through the courts, it won’t be allowed to drag on for months and months. Also, assuming the regulator puts together a robust case, all chancer could try to challenge is the legislation itself. He’d have to prove that it’s legally irrational or unreasonable. Thats a very high bar for rules approved by Parliament, especially when there are precedents for these types of powers being lawful when used by the HMRC, etc.

110%. There is no universe in which absolutely every single fan was ever going to get on board with one single protest action. The key thing is that the overwhelming majority are pulling the rope, be that voting with their feet, not a pound in the ground, buying scarves, etc. Some will still spend but you only need to see the empty seats, the closed kiosks, and mile long list of embargoes for unpaid bills to see the impact we are having. A few hundred people buying a pint and a pie isn’t going to change that impact.

I’ve been wondering about this. I have no expertise whatsoever in financial law but surely this scenario feels like the absolute definition of trading insolvent.

Give over. No fan deserves this situation or chewing out for Chansiri’s wrongdoings. We’re all angry and scared for our club but folk react to these situations in different ways. Some like you get angry, others can’t cope with it and just shut down. They’re the folk calmly trying to get their luggage out of the overhead storage on plummeting aeroplanes. It doesn’t mean they don’t care, it’s just a different emotional response to a really sh1tty situation. And before you ask, yes I did stand and join the protest but I can also understand how some fans are just so ground down by all of this, especially after the preceding 25 years, that they just don’t feel capable of dealing with the enormity of what’s happening to their club. Maybe try to remember who the real enemy is instead of lashing out at other suffering fans.

One thousand percent! But bring it on!

It happens. I remember it happening to us years ago with Leigh Bromby pulling up with a hammy as he was chasing down a ball over the top and the opposition player ran clean through and scored. Very frustrating when it happens to you but thems the breaks.

I think Valery makes a big difference to the balance. Also having Iorfa in the RCB position makes us less vulnerable to the ball in behind the right wingback. At times we’ve looked a bit vulnerable to balls into that gap but he’s got the legs to cover and is comfortable in that ‘right back’ position. It balances Lowe who does the same thing on the left.

Ta!

Sounded like he did really well today. It takes some doing when you’re giving up quite a bit in strength and build compared to your opponents. Suggests a good footballing brain. Was he playing in the middle of the three? I always think Iorfa is better when he’s in the right hand slot.

Oh get lost with your gaslighting BS. Ive directly said it’s a critique on my part, my very words. I said I’d expect him to be further along in ‘that aspect’ of his develop, i.e. holding up the ball. I haven’t remotely implied that he’s not trying, that I don’t rate him, or that he’s not good enough. I just think it’s an area where he can do better than he is. Nothing controversial about that that I can see. I don’t expect or require you or anyone else to agree with that opinion but I absolutely reserve the right to express it without being shouted down as some sort of traitor to the cause. We are allowed to discuss normal topics like how a player is developing and where they can improve. Anyway, we’ve had a good win today. I intend to enjoy it. I hope you do too.

Where have I pulled him down or given him pelters, let alone complained that he’s not Harry Kane? The general situation around the club doesn’t mean we can’t comment on where our players need to develop or have reasonable expectations of them does it? We all get that he’s a work in progress but it’s also an area of his game where he can do better. I’m sure he will. I absolutely get that there are bigger issue but if that’s all we’re allowed do talk about then we’re all going to go mental. Surely Chansiri can’t be allowed to shut down normal football conversations as well, he’s taken enough from us all already without taking away the ability to talk about our team. We’ve got to be allowed to grab a few moments of normal.

I don’t really get the outcry. I like Cadamarteri and he works very hard. Objectively though, he’s not great at leading the line and holding up the ball. It was an issue on loan at Lincoln last season. I’m not saying he’s useless or that he should be dropped. However, if he’s going to progress his career it’s an area that needs improvement. Given his mobility, size and strength, it’s the one area of his game where I’d expect him to be further along in his development than he is. Are we not allowed to critique the lads game because he’s outperforming Ugbo? He’s in his third pro season now.

Brown’s selection is an absolute indictment of Ugbo and Cadamarteri, and to a lesser extent Lowe. Not one of them has effectively lead the line or held up the ball all season, and you have to include Bailey in that no matter how hard he grafts. It’s the big hole in his otherwise very promising game. The only reason I give Lowe half an excuse is that he’s never really been a #9. He’s mostly played wide left the rest of his career.

Nah, I can’t see it being 4-4-2. Couldn’t even tell you the last time we played one. I prefer a back 4 but it would be a huge ask of Weaver on his league debut. It looks like a 5-3-2.

100%. You’ll get good play from them in bursts but you can easily overdo it.

Agreed. I just can’t wrap my head around this idea that you just say screw it to what’s best for Weaver’s development and the future of the team, throw him to the lions in the hope that he may make a dire situation infinitesimally less dire. Folk complain that we don’t develop young players then want to do things that are likely to actively harm their development.

Playing Earnie Weaver is not going to change the trajectory of this season. I’m absolutely fine with him making the odd appearance but you don’t want to put a very young lad through the mental burden of playing game in, game out this season. Seasoned pros are going to be struggling with it, you don’t want to place the responsibility of endless losing on such young shoulders. He’s hopefully part of the future but that future is not now. Besides it’s fairly predictable what will happen if you play him too often. He’ll inevitably start to make mistakes because he’s young and that’s what young defenders do. Fans will start to get into him, and we’ll have posts demanding that the next young defender MUST play….. The young players need protecting, not throwing to the lions to make us fans feel slightly less crap about the season. Give them chances for sure but you can’t put the full weight of this situation on them.

Iorfa wasn’t even close to being THE problem today. He was more or less a one man defence at times. Otegbayo was the weak link in the back 5 today by a mile, with McNeil being directly responsible for all three goals - twice from failing to clear his lines, and the third from giving the ball away then getting skinned. None of which is to lay the blame at their doors. Too much is being asked of young players who may not be up to Championship standard in the first place. There’s one person to blame and he’s sat in Bangkok,

I’m sure all those slagging other fans got off their arses and went to the post game protest under the south stand right?

The issue on both goals was McNeil not clearing his lines. He did the hard part tracking back but didn’t get any distance on the clearance.

I wouldn’t bother mate. Malek is a genuinely great poster and I for one really appreciate his regular updates on the youth teams. However, once he takes a shine to a kid and that kid doesn’t make it, nothing will shift his mind that it’s a failing by the club, rather than the player perhaps not quite being up to the standard. I’d just let it slide.

Wonder if he’s got his badges? We need coaches and he’s the kind of pro you’d want around a young group of players.

Agreed, and I’m sure it will form part of the consideration.

Thats not what the regulations say at all, in particular about sustainability and behaviour. I’d recommend a proper read of the legislation.

They do but it’s kind of the legalese of govt legislation. Historical behaviour may trigger the regulator to investigate. If they take action however it will be based on their new assessment of the position of the club and ownership. It is therefore a new charge of not meeting the suitability criteria that is in play, rather than a historical offence (if that makes any sense, I’m struggling to articulate it). The cowboy approach of Chansiri will not pass muster. He can’t prove ongoing funding, nor can he show he meets the softer requirements like fan engagement.