Unbelievable

If by easier you mean we’d then probably need to scamble around to sell a first team player before June 30 then it probably would. Perfectly happy to go with what we’ve got and focus on bringing in academy players, plus replace whomever we sell if the price is right obviously.

“They project commercial revenue – which is driven by a new sponsorship deal with Sela and the tie-ups with Adidas, Fenwicks and In Post – to rise to £64.3m from £46m.” That’s an almost 40% increase year on year. Remember a few people recently calling me mad for suggesting we would continue to increase commercial revenue by the targeted 30% minimum. it’s going to take time, but there is no doubt this club is moving in the right direction, both on and off the pitch.

As has been said by others, if Botman is physically ready to go (signed off as such by Bunce), but the concern is match fitness then I don't see how that does not apply to Kelly, who has only played one full game six weeks ago (West Ham 2-0 loss) and other than that only had two extra time substitute appearances since September 21st. They're both going to be rusty as hell, which is a major worry in itself.

Aye, there is a distinct possibility that any change will be even more anti-competitive. These (mostly American) hedge funds will stop at nothing to maximise their bottom line.

It does and I think you underestimate the effect of English clubs being on the decline in European competitions. In 20/21 you had four semi finalists in the top two European competitions, in 21/22 this fell to 3, in 22/23 it was 1, and last year there were none. Just like Man U is no longer seen as a top tier club after a decade of steady decline, the same will happen to the PL if this persists. The very best players will choose to play in La Liga over the PL, results will suffer and before you know it the top six will be wondering whether these self imposed restrictions to stop the likes of us from competing are hurting them too.

Can’t wait to see our terminator back in action. If deemed fit I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing how he works with BDB and have Schar compete to win his place back once he’s sat out his suspensions.

Great prospect, but not our priority position is it? I doubt we have the PSR headroom for a big transfer anyway. Hopefully we will at least continue to bring in players for the future.

English clubs not doing well in Europe, falling ever further behind the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern, and some of the top six languishing in midtable in the PL and losing players to foreign clubs (like we are seeing now) will do the trick. Would help if the likes of Villa and us manage to take CL qualification spots from them. In short, they’ve put restrictions in place to stop us. Once they realise they are losing out because of them they will be lifted, probably in a way designed to specifically suit them and harm us.

On that I think we agree. I just don’t think the answer to PSR is to hold on to expensive, old fringe players, but much rather to ensure a conveyor belt of talent coming from the academy. Obviously it is early doors for our academy producing PL level talent on a regular basis, but we should start thinking and acting this way, not least to be seen by prospective young players as a club where there is a pathway from the academy to the first team.

Do suspensions count..?

I don’t understand your point I’m afraid. I’d say Lascelles’ role (playing, not leadership) in the squad should be taken by someone like Alex Murphy, and Krafth’s by someone like Leo Sahar, with Schar, Kelly and Burn deputising as reserve center backs. We need to get promising young players in, develop them and have them in and around the squad to eventually become first team players or sold for decent fees. That makes more sense from a PSR perspective than holding on to aging fringe players too long. I’d hazard a guess that the likes of Lascelles and Krafth command higher wages than out entire U21 team combined.

Aside from Schar none of those players are first team players, let alone critical to our future. Seems like good squad management letting most of their contracts expire and rejuvenating the squad.

Interesting. Which club in SA?

I wouldn’t be too upset if Krafth and Lascelles are offered in year extensions, but I’d prefer us to be a bit more agressive and start to create pathways for young players (current or future) to occupy these “break in case of emergency” squad roles. Since we’re after a first team RCB anyway it should be Schar moving down a place in the pecking order and then youngsters padding out the squad and getting game time when the situation allows.

How have your club allowed that to happen? He’s been one of the few bright sparks hasn’t he?

FT: great performance, fantastic result. Chelsea losing and Villa drawing the cherry on the cake

Bruno

What is Maguire even complaining about there?

Fuck off ref

Those pen calls

Barnes for the sucker punch

We’re playing well and winning..?

Bruno

What was that Fab? Suspended for that ffs. Completely unnecessary