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This thread might well bomb completely, but let's give it & go & see what happens.

QPR were fined a whopping £42 million for breaking FFP rules. The settlement includes a transfer embargo in January 2019.

It's not quite what it seems, but it's still a mighty blow, & there must be a chance that The Camel's beloved QPR might just be in freefall now.

Relegation odds? At 5/1, the value ship has long since sailed, but it might be worth getting against them in other markets. It's really hard, to my naïve thinking, to see how they are going to have a good season.

Here's the Champo Relegation markets;

https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/relegation

Despite a change of ownership, all is far from well at Villa, with money problems persisting.

Steve Bruce was rumoured to be under threat, but survived, which is probably a good thing for Villa.

Even so, Grealish is certain to depart very soon, destination unknown, as is James Chester, who is likely to move across to Stoke. 

Think they are too good to go down (12/1 does not tempt, either) but they might well struggle. 

Down in L1, Peterborough are 5/1 to be promoted, & 10/1 to be relegated.

In the Championship, Brentford, in what is may be their last full season at Griffin Park, have become talking horses the last few seasons, and I'm not sure 5/1 to be promoted appeals much. 

Would love it to happen though.

Had one ante-post bet so far , Wigan at 40-1 , top 6 6-1.

Championship wide open , teams coming down from Prem don't inspire.

Forest trying to do a Wolves but not convinced even though their 10s from 20s.

Villa we all know have problems.

Brentford I like but not value.

Will also be getting with Wigan on match bets probably.

good thread idea this will be.  Confidently expect it to be a one season visit for the stokies of blonde however.

Inclined to agree with arb re: Champo. Think Stoke win it.

Wigan not for me, when their marquee signing is the shambles that is Leo de Silva Lopes. His highlights reel on youtube is more like a bloopers reel. Amazing that Fry managed to get seven figures for him.

Champ = no strong views

League One = With Burton in all markets and spreads essentially the same squad that did so well in the champ the fact they stayed up for one season means they are also now in a very good financially position, priced up like a lower mid table team, like a top scorer but waiting for a drift hopefully. With Luton win only

League Two = Lincoln Lincoln and Lincoln No idea why bigger than Notts County should be 5/1 favs for me Akinde and Andrade look tailor made to fit in beautifully upfront

How is Derby new forward who came from you? Good enough to get 20+, have some good young attacking options there now too, don't seem to buy any defenders though.

Marriott is a natural goalscorer. Hope he does well but honestly have no idea.

He's not great at either holding the ball up or with his head, but he's quick and reads the game well.

Good bit of business for Posh, getting 10x investement after just a year, although the Shatters have a decent % coming back.

Agree on Burton. Bookies have priced them to be in the lower half of league which looks an error to me.

Just small bets this season , nothing really stands out at the minute...

Championship         Derby
League One           Fleetwood
League Two           Swindon
National League     Fylde

The season starts at 8pm tonight with Reading at home to Derby, live on Sky Sports.

Derby seem to be splitting opinions at the moment, so maybe some clues will emerge.

Prices?

 https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/reading-v-derby/winner

Or, to save clicking;


Reading - 5/2

Draw - 9/4

Derby - 5/4


I'm quite hopeful Derby will have a good season, as I was a bit of a Lampard fan, & whilst top players rarely develop into top Managers, he has a great work ethic & seems highly regarded in the business.

The bookies  are taking no chances on Derby - 5/4 away from home feels very skinny to me, although Reading had a dismal time last season, narrowly escaping relegation in the very last game. Even so, 5/4 Derby does not appeal.


Score predictions?

0-0

Derby score very late to secure all 3 points, & the Twitter is alive with "Lampard is the GOAT".

So the market was right - just about - but I could never have backed them at 5/4.

With WBA now sponsored by Ideal Boilers, their new mascot is a man in a .......boiler suit.


(http://i.imgur.com/y8Q7EJU.jpg) (https://imgur.com/y8Q7EJU)


(http://i.imgur.com/0Vn1HY9.jpg) (https://imgur.com/0Vn1HY9)

https://mobile.twitter.com/AwayDaysVideos/status/1025819663035449344/video/1

Just way too funny. This is what I love about going to football. You still get random stuff like this going on.

What happens if he needs a leak?

Stoke looked really awful, strange given their experienced squad.

Fletcher, Crouch, Bojan on the bench?!

All well and good being experienced but if you are experienced, average championship players you'll lose against experienced good Championship players more often than not.

Looking forward to Stoke/Brentford this weekend. Will be a much better indication of where the Bees are at this season than beating up a Rotherham team who'll do well not to finish bottom.

What's your view now?

I have not seen the game, but the stats suggest Brentford may have had the best of it. Possession 56% v 44%, shots 17 v 9, shots on target 5 v 3, corners 6 v 2.

Looks quite encouraging to me. Home to Sheffield W next week.

I didn't go but all accounts Brentford dominated the game and should have won. Stoke sure to come on but a good sign for the Bees if we can keep the squad together. To go away to the promotion favourites and dominate possession and chances is a statement even if we only ended up with a point.

Ollie Watkins will go for £20m+ in the next year imo. Class.

A fantastic talent. The Brentford recruitment team really is exceptional. Amongst in the past four/five seasons:

Andre Gray - bought for 0.5mil, sold for £8mil
Scott Hogan - bought for £1mil, sold for £12mil
Jota - bought for £0.75mil, sold for £6.5mil
James Tarkowski - bough for 0.5mil, sold for £6mil

Ryan Woods (bought for 0.5mil), Watkins (£1mil), Sawyers (free) all likely to command £7mil minimum too. With youth teamed Chris Mepham having been subject to a declined £7mil bid from Bournemouth in Jan and Rico Henry injured but very highly rated, it's some record for player development.

Leicester bid £10m for Mepham this window, it was declined

we signed two young continental defenders instead

I like Watkins too, surprised he didn't go up a division this summer as A Traore did,similar talents both sometimes without the right final ball

I was at the match, Brentford were a lot better than us, looked good on the break and deserved all 3 points. Don't think you can take too much from the game as we really didn't provide much of a test.

Looks like Leeds have won the league in August for the 10th season in a row.  Must admit i've been carried away before thinking that we had what it takes to challenge for promotion however couldn't be happier with how we've started the season.  El Loco is a bit of a lunatic but he has obviously got a great understanding of the players considering he's only introduced 1 player and we look like a different team.

Be very happy if we can continue playing great football & finish comfortably in the playoffs. 

This is just brilliant from our CEO.  One of our young fans committed suicide a few months ago and the club has fully got behind a campaign to highlight mental heath issues, but this is taking it a step further.

https://twitter.com/CWRyder/status/1029315493172326400

Fantastic.

+1

That's great.

....had the pleasure of teaching his wife at our English language school, whilst he was at Brentford  ;)

https://twitter.com/jessica_bueno90

It's going to be a long, long, season for QPR, and it's hard to see McLaren having the nous to save them.

I'm still struggling to understand the price difference between Barnsley and Sunderland. Both have way too much quality for L1.

Think we should be looking at Kiefer again............

Another test for Brentford later. If we can get a positive result at Villa Park I think we'll truly challenge this season.

Yup. It's televised, too.

Looking forward to it! Been playing some great stuff this season so far.

Absolute monster at that level. He showed last January that it's all about the Championship with him though. Bet within a bet for me this one. If Barnsley are as good as up by January, which they may be, he'll probably stay. Barnsley have a ridiculous squad for L1.

Cummings is similarly too good for L1.

Just one more round of league matches before the window properly shuts. I'll let him run this weekend and then maybe back him next week I think.

stoke to go down?

Couldn't put you off the 33/1 on offer as a small punt.

Villa v Brentford was a great game to watch. The Bees don't park any buses, that's for sure.

I'm not entirely sure who deserved the result.

Villa were well on top early, then Brentford scored a beautifully efficient goal very much against the run of play.

They were leading 2-1 after 95 minutes, then Villa snuck the equaliser. Probably a fair result I suppose.

Brentford certainly have the ability to play some great football.   

I'd say 2-2 was a fair result overall. I thought Villa were excellent first half and didn't let Brentford play at all. Goal was against the run of play. Second half was closer and Brentford could (and should) have stretched their lead in the final 10. However, the ugly injury time goal issue which affected them last season showed up again, costing them an important two points. With a young team, they lack that experience of seeing out a game and that could be the difference between going up and staying down come the end of the season.

Ryan woods due for a medical at Stoke today after a £6.5m fee agreed yesterday. I've heard a few good things about him, anybody care to tell me more?

We seem to have 10 or more central midfielders on our books at the moment, how is woods different?

Rinswun is the best person to ask, but Wiki tells us he's very versatile, & was Brentford POTY twice in the last 3 seasons, though he has not played in the League this season. Probably a decent player by L1 or Champo standards.

Another nice bit of business by Brentford, too, he cost £1,000,000 & they had 3 full seasons out of him. 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Woods_(footballer,_born_1993)

Meanwhile, Brentford have agreed a sponsorship deal with G. Saville & Sons as their "Official Funeral Directors partner".

Can't wait to see that mascot.

Don't think we'll go too far wrong with a Sunderland/Barnsley double every week

I am going to be taking some of that 9/4 QPR at home to Wigan.   Nahki Wells isn't going to fix their defense, but he is going to be very good at this level.   

only 4 games in but look at Barnsley's xg from open play

championship

Woods would be described by Merson as a bits and pieces footballer. Does the simple things very well, and is excellent in transition, which is his biggest asset. Doesn't score or assist many but will free up Joe Allen to do exactly that. Sort of player that is generally loved by fans but I've always been of the opinion that he's a bit over hyped due to the fact that he really stands out as he is ferociously ginger and has a funny run. £6.5mil is about right by modern standards and he's better than most of what Stoke could field at the moment.

That was a great shout, Doobs.

I never commented at the time, but my gut reaction were that you were setting fire to money, & I could not have backed QPR with stolen. 

With Wimbledon having played both now, albeit one away and one at home, it appears to be they are very similar in quality. Still fuming at how we didn't beat Sunderland though - looks as if they have the big team ref effect in play.

.....Crouch still plays for Stoke ;)

Disappointed to have lost to West Ham last night, and fuming that we've been cheated yet again - Hernandez should be ashamed of himself. Superb performance by a young Wimbledon team again though, if we can keep it up for the season we're going to do well :)

Leeds 1st, Brentford 2nd.

Early days, but promising for Brentford. 

How about this unusually candid quote from the opposition manager today Tikay? I love to read this!

Wigan boss Paul Cook said:

"I've got no complaints about the result at all. Brentford were excellent today, created chances and carved us open.

"They are the best team we have met this season by far. If there are positives I'd say they are that our keeper was excellent and we don't have to come here again this season. Having said that, we'll probably get them in the cup."

Great stuff. I've read & heard nothing but rave reviews of Brentford this season.

Long may it last - we've waited long enough.

Brentford now joint favourites to win the Championship. Amazing times.


https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/championship/winner


Tonight, they are odds on AWAY to Ipswich, though of course Ipswich are the current Champo Dunces. 

Fair play to Barnsley for making the right decision here, & to their fans for respecting it.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45529624




(http://i.imgur.com/v3z7Pdq.jpg) (https://imgur.com/v3z7Pdq)



(http://i.imgur.com/NCiLWlk.jpg) (https://imgur.com/NCiLWlk)

Meanwhile, Brentford's bubble burst & they dropped out of the top 6.

Leeds lost too - I'd love to see them back in the EPL, & re-ignite those wonderful games v Man U & Liverpool. They still get gates of around 34,000 most home games, pretty good for a Champo side who have dismally under-performed for donkeys years.

Paging Chompy, paging Chompy.......


Only one club in England's top four divisions has scored over 23 league goals this season.

FACT.

This team is only just getting going too, with Maddison, Walker and Toney, who will all play key roles, only getting first league starts at Gillingham yesterday.

The fat controller keeps saying this is not up with the best Posh teams in terms of quality but that's horsepoo. All the gutless showponies have left the building and there's much more resolve too.

Tafazolli, Woodyard, Dembele, Maddison, Cummings, Godden, Walker, Toney are all Championship class. This team could easily top 100 league goals.

Had a bet last night in championship, my team Sheffield Wednesday to finish in top half of table at 11/4 with BV.

Last season was a nightmare and Carvalhal left us with an under performing, unfit and overpaid ageing playing squad. Had horrific injuries too with 10-12 first team players out injured.

Jos Luhukay came in and steadied the ship last season. This summer we couldn’t sign anyone due to FFP issues and let 6-7 leave at the end of their contracts.  He is in the middle of rebuilding the squad and will lose a bunch of overpaid players we are carrying next summer however he is quietly doing a very good job.

He has brought in a group of young players into the first team squad. Thorniley and Penney are very exciting prospects. Penney in particular playing left back or left wing back will be a premier league player. There are 2 or 3 others too.

Injuries are reducing but we still have two influential players in Hooper and Kieran Lee to come back. Forestieri has hardly played and has been suspended but on his day is top quality. We also have Hector on loan from Chelsea and Onomah on loan from Spurs, both very good players.

So hopefully we will carry on getting it quietly but 11/4 top half is a massive value bet for me. The bookies don’t know what is happening within the club. The win at Villa yesterday shows what the squad can do. Not saying we will compete with the top 2 or 3 but top 12 is very achievable.

More Posh stats.....

Peterborough United have opened the season with 5 straight away wins, (a first for them) which is the best away record in all 4 divisions. 

And another...

Most league assists from 2016/17 (top 4 tiers): 35 Marcus Maddison, 34 De Bruyne, 29 Carey, McConville.

After Macclesfield Town lost 8-2 last night to West Ham, Town's Manager, Mark Yates, said....

"That was not the result we were looking for".

Peterborough are away to Sunderland tonight.

I reckon Posh will go 4-5-1, with;

Chapman, Naismith, Daniel, Taff, Bennett, Woodyard, Ward, Maddison, O'Hara, Walker, Toney.


What you reckon, Chomps?

Haha, hard to know who you stalk harder, me or Becks?

Clicked the 'heart' button yet?

That looks a winning line-up to me but King Steve is a dyed-in-the-wool, 4-4-2 (Classic) kind of fatman.

We're catching the Mackems at a good time here. No Cattermole, no Gooch, possibly no Hume, Maja, Loovens. And Calamity Jack the main man for them at the back. This will not be 0-0. Think I'll wind up playing various goal markets.

Kieffer goal spread tonght and Saturday - 3.5-4.5

If you mean clicked the "Like" button yet, no, never clicked one of those in my life.

I tend to look on Twitter most days, & specifically read half a dozen different accounts, just people I like or they post stuff which I enjoy. No idea how I chanced across your one though.

First time I've wanted to criticise the lumpy Scotchman since he took over tonight. His ridic 4-3-3 in the first half cost us against a very ordinary Sunderland.

Someone changed the shakhtar gaffers wiki to say he was the current Villa manager.  Might be worth a tickle at 4/1.  Wiki has corrected it now.

https://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/aston-villa/next-permanent-manager?selectionName=dean-smith

The Fat Jock went with exactly that team v Barnsley yesterday and we got torn four new ones. I knew!

Kieffer went off injured after about 20 but it didn't look anything too bad. That guy is some unit.

EDIT: Impact injury and expected to be out for two weeks.

I didn’t go but plenty of chat on the fan forums about Evans swearing at our coaching staff, refusing to shake hands, etc.

Quite odd, as the game didn’t appear to have any flashpoints to trigger this.  You got an early penalty, missed it, and it sounds like we dominated things after that.

Worrying to see Keiffer get injured, which means our two main strikers are both out of action short-term, but good to see that we still had goals in the team without him.

A huge win for us today after failing to beat Plymouth on Tuesday, who were much better than their league position suggests.

Evans does that every game. A lot of Posh fans find it embarrassing, but it makes me chuckle.

Drysdale seems to get a lot of top-end L1 games but I've no idea why, as he had no authority at all. The ticking off he gave the two managers before the second half was absurd.

Evans was giving it his usual and Stendel just said he didn't understand what was being said.

It was a Championship squad against an bunch of hard-working L1-level jocks who had an off-day.

Potts and Mowatt ran the show. Your midfield is up there with Wigan's from last season and you'll walk it.

I didn’t go but plenty of chat on the fan forums about Evans swearing at our coaching staff, refusing to shake hands, etc


Sounds about right!

Bradley Dack

We made Plymouth look good this weekend... Writing must be on the wall for Ardley after losing to two of the very few teams below us in the past week. Sad times :(

Go get Gary Bowyer while he's still available imo.

I wonder if Plymouth are about to do what they did last season?

What is it with these west country teams and slow starts? Bristol Rovers every season, Plymouth. Don't see either going down tbh.

I guess this, loosely speaking, counts as "breaking news" these days, though hardly a shock.

"Macclesfield Town are saddened to announce that First Team Manager Mark Yates is to leave the club."

Which is good timing, as only this morning I read that Macclesfield Town have gone 35 league games without a win, which takes some doing. Being as they only got promoted in April of this year, it had me scratching my head for a bit, but eventually I worked it out. I'm good like that. Eventually.

Wednesday played Villa, Stoke, Leeds, West Brom, Forest and Bristol City in last 6 games.

Tough games with all expected to be pushing for promotion in top half of table.

Lost once and now in top 6. Even above Tikay's Brentford.

Getting it quietly hopefully.

As a season ticket holder down at Ashton gate i was there to see us lose to Sheff Wed at the weekend. In my opinion, two very poor teams. Bristol City look devoid of all confidence in front of the goal. Sheff Wed just capitalised on our errors. It kills me to say this but Bristol City arent doing anything this season as i cant see what will inspire us to get in the right frame of mind.

What's happened to Mo Eisa this season?

hes been injured. Due back soon. However i did see him come on as sub in one game. Basically he spent 20 minutes looking up at the sky as we lumped balls sixty foot over his head. When we get the ball down we're good, but as we get more desperate the higher the ball goes.

Very happy to get 3 points when not at our best. This league is a grind. Cardiff and Huddersfield have proved that you don’t have to the best squad or the best football to get promoted.

Brentford's Dean Smith is appointed Aston Villa manager, with John Terry as his assistant.

In the last 15 minutes, Thomas Frank has gone from 6/1 to 1/4 to be the next @BrentfordFC head coach

He's the current Assistant Coach, so I guess it makes sense. It was already known he would be temporarily in charge.

With impeccable timing, just as a new chapter starts at Aston Villa, an old one closes, as Sir Doug Ellis passed away this morning.

He was not too popular with Villa fans, but he seemed a decent enough chap to me, & I believe The Camel was especially fond of him.

RIP Doug.


 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Ellis


(http://i.imgur.com/l7CWLMY.jpg) (https://imgur.com/l7CWLMY)

Roberto di Matteo is attracting a bit of money now, 7/2 from 12/1, with Frank eased to 1/2.

It took longer than it should but the third longest-serving manager in the league has left Wimbledon today. Needed doing but it still makes me sad :(

Shrewsbury have also parted with their manager today.

Paving the way for a swift Paul Hurst return perhaps, or is that just too convenient all round?

Think Paul Hurst ran particularly good last season, and it was more down to personnel than him.

He'd probably reintroduce the old style if he goes back but he'd do well to get this lot much higher than 20th.

Villa 5, Forest 5

Pretty rare score, that.

Wimbledon legends Wally Downes and Glyn Hodges appointed manager and assistant manager at Wimbledon: https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/december/club-statement2/

Not much managerial experience but a massive amount of coaching experience between them. Fingers crossed they don't tarnish their legendary status!

Barry Fry the latest to be charged by the FA for betting on football.

Wonder if he tried for £5,000 on Sturridge to West Brom at 66-1 like Daniel's mate?

Fatty Tomlin is back! All is right with the world.

By popular demand, here's the championship Table in Serbian. You are welcome.


(http://i.imgur.com/7Lol8dS.jpg) (https://imgur.com/7Lol8dS)

Sheffield Wednesday appoint Steve Bruce as Manager.

Fans must be thrilled to bits.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46660813

Amazed he has took the job Tikay.

We appear to have a £15-20m FFP hole to fill by the end of the season.

Rather curiously, he does not start until February 1st.

Presumably, he can't start sooner without jeopardising part of his severance payment from Villa? Generally, new Managers start immediately.

All aboard the last train......

He had already planned a family holiday for a month and didn't want to let them down so would only come in if he started in Feb,

with such a good record Wednesday said fine Steve, amazing really. Villa would probably be delighted if he started two weeks ago he could have still sent them down! Bullen down a lovely job so far

Thought you were going to crack my gag about his multi year topless picture contract on the beach in Barbados with the Daily Mail showing off his wonderful physique in his speedos before he could take the SW job!

I don't want to steal your material Arb :)

Has he seriously got a holiday in January and that is the proper reason why he won't start until Feb?  Wasn't sure if you were taking the piss!

I think it’s because he’s gone through a tough time personally in last 12 months. Both his parents passed away, think he was committed to time with his family.

Seen on Twitter;


It appears as if Steve Bruce’s arrival as new #swfc boss has been delayed as he wants to tick off an item on his bucket list: seeing an England cricket test in West Indies (they play in Barbados starting on January 23)

.

 rotflmfao

The Forest Green Rovers chairman doesn't hold back on Bolton's handling of Christian Doidge's collapsed transfer.

https://twitter.com/DaleVince/status/1082012087147204608

The general concensus of the Bolton fans appears to confirm that Bolton chairman, Ken Anderson, is in the Owen Oyston category of club owners.

Amazing that Forest Green had to pay his wages as well for the 4 months

Could get messy this they were not short of buyers for him in the summer

Stoke sack Rowett;


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46794337

David Moyes was immediately installed as favourite as "Next Stoke Manager", but was quickly displaced by Nathan Jones, who is now as short as 1/2.


 https://www.oddschecker.com/football/manager-specials/stoke/next-permanent-manager


Nathan is currently Manager of Luton Town.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Jones_(Welsh_footballer)

Nathan Jones has been gone too long.

The Fenlands correspondent and lower league expert is probably the best man to tell us more about NJ.  Over to you lord chomps.  Interested in your thoughts.  I would much prefer taking that gamble (and the club clearing out the CEO/Director of recruitment) and having a total clean start with an unexposed type rather than a Moyes or Big sam.

Luton fans I've spoken to weren't convinced to start with but he's built a really good squad and they play the right way. Not sure why he'd want to leave now tbh.

To say the richest and highest paid woman in England is his boss?  Surely that makes sense?

Even these days not all of them are all about the money thank fk.

Tisdale had numerous opportunities to leave before he actually did, same with Jonesboy. It wouldn't be great for seasonal Luton bets if he goes.

Luton a bigger club anyways.

Jones confirmed new Stoke gaffer.

Amazing scenes. Good football coming to Coates central for the first time.

Jones is without doubt promising

Massive step up though has he ever dealt with big egos/earners before? not that I can see. He was a bit of a slow burner at Luton can see this taking time if indeed it does work

Very good :)

Very surprised to see Karanka leave Forest today.

Presumably it's not related to performance on the field as they're performing well above expectations this season.

Thoughts, redsimon?

Multiple media reports state that Karanka asked to leave, rather than was forced to.

Maybe he has a job lined up.

Martin O'Neill gets the Nottingham Forest gig;


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46864924

Sentimental decision probably not the right man imho

JOb offer assisting Mourinho is the big suggestion on fans groups

https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2019/january/dejphon-chansiri-statement/

Statement from Wednesday’s Chairman.

He certainly has a unique way of addressing fans.

Basically we are screwed under FFP in the summer.  God knows how he persuaded Bruce to take the job.

One simple solution is to sell 2-3 players. He seems very reluctant to do that.

He would probably get £10m for Adam Reach if he swallows his pride.

Good read, that, &, unless I'm being whooshed by his words, he seems an exceptional Chairman.

He's spent a lot of money but has been badly advised by Doyen Sports who must have made fortunes in fees from us. They have had his pants down big time.

He has recruited badly, paying ageing players big money who have not performed but taking £20-30k a week plus and are worthless at the end of their contracts.

It was a classic Championship club gamble to get promoted which has failed.

He should have recruited younger, hungrier players that would have re-sale value later. Also seems very stubborn about selling players which seems crazy to me. Every club needs to sell players when their values have increased from time to time. Our neighbours at Sheff Utd have done this rather successfully selling Brookes in the summer and bringing in excellent signings with a team spirit we can only dream about currently.

https://mobile.twitter.com/AlexBruce84/status/1089625572282691584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1089625572282691584&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.owlstalk.co.uk%2Fforums%2Findex.php%3Fapp%3Dcore%26module%3Dsystem%26controller%3Dembed%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Falexbruce84%2Fstatus%2F1089625572282691584%3Fs%3D21

BBC pundits getting some stick from Alex Bruce about their comments about his dad.

Seems he’d committed to taking time off until Feb after the deaths of his parents.

Richard, I am going to have to pull you up on some of this. Only just seen it.

You can't for one minute blame just Doyen, the chairman is more responsible than them and I know some inside information on Doyen/Chansiri and perhaps then it would change your mind.

You can get advised all you want, but the chairman has the last say. His last say in all of this has been horrific. Carlos sacked too late, Jos sacked too late, budgets, tickets, team colours, sponsorship and so on. The fans have put their heart on their sleeve regarding the tickets, but HE still continues with the ticket pricing.

As for this membership scheme, well it is the worst thing ever, AGAIN. Nobody is interested in a free season ticket (T&C's apply), I get the feeling more people are interested in discounts or a package as a whole. I think the best scheme for the big would to discount multi-year season tickets. So, for example a £500 ST, you buy it for 2 years (10% off), 3 years (20% off), 5 years (30% off). If you go for 5 year season ticket, with such a discount, you would get it for £1050. I genuinely think people would go for this.

If this isn't acceptable, how about a fan package? ST, shirt, free cup games, 1 x drink each game? And a suitable price, but this only if multi-year.

But this won't happen. The chairman is deluded. As for Bruce - He came for the money, he's getting paid more here, than at Aston Villa.

I didn't say it was all Doyen's fault. Of course the Chairman has to take overall responsibility but his use of Doyen as advisers has been a big mistake IMO.

The recruitment has been horrific. We became the last pay day Club for too many average footballers willing to free wheel the last 2-3 years of their careers on big money and take the Club for a ride.

Thank God there are 7 or 8 big earners out of contract in the summer.

Agents and advisers now are taking massive chunks of cash out of football and its not healthy.

Notts County owner accidentally tweets photo of his penis then puts club up for sale. Guess he's had better weekends!

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/notts-county-owner-alan-hardy-13915901

Just as a matter of interest, how exactly does anyone "accidentally tweet a photo of their penis". What exactly was he intending to do at that moment?

And these are two of the more intelligent Posh fans tbf

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vGt-ZfW_M0

Only managed 3 minutes, but reminded me of Pete & Dud.

It's worth doing the whole thing. Gets funnier and funnier. Comedians could never do it this well.

He posted a screenshot of an abusive message someone had sent him, without noticing that his camera roll was on display at the bottom of the screen.

Understood, I'm just curious why he happened to take a photo of his penis. What exactly did he intend to do with the photo?

All very odd.

My interpretation of the story was the the picture was one of the abusive messages received showing in his camera roll, so wasn't 'a selfie' as such.

Ahh, gotcha, that makes perfect sense now.

Some reports say it was 'a penis', others say 'his penis': https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8291406/notts-county-penis-twitter-alan-hardy/

And yes, if it was his own it is very odd!

The cross-eyed leopards?

Just got home from seeing bristol city beat qpr. Not our best performance but another 3 pts. It's got to the point that we feel we can beat anyone. We re on such a charge. Steve mclaren lost his head at the end... hilarious !

Is that 9 straight wins now?

#BristolCity form:
9️⃣ consecutive wins
7️⃣ consecutive lge wins
15 unbeaten
3 goals conceded in last 9
6 consecutive home wins
✅ only side in top 4 div’s with 100% winning record in 2019
5 pts behind #Leeds. The #Robins were 19 pts behind on Boxing Day

#bcfctweets

Gotta love Barry Fry.....


Fry told the panel he knew he had "been a prat" and the panel did not disagree



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11764/11638494/barry-fry-resigns-as-peterborough-director-after-accepting-betting-charge

Donut :D

He's a character that Barry Fry!

Obviously not a TfT lurker, though, or he'd have taken the PUFC petty cash tin to Ladbrokes Bedford and got the 40-1 instead.

What next for Joey?


(http://i.imgur.com/GPwObWo.jpg) (https://imgur.com/GPwObWo)

TEST

My thanks to the Gentleman who reported this was locked.

Think Ironside or Tighty must have locked it. Or Red-Dog. He'll all over Champo stuff, & is a Barnsley lad after all. 

Apologies to the thousands of you waiting to post on the thread.

Still awaiting a reliable version of events surrounding this.  Initially the talk was of a punch or headbutt, but today seems to be pointing more towards Stendel being pushed from behind and falling face first into a metal barrier, or handrail.

What seems to be fairly consistent so far is that he had blood pouring from his face and some damage to his teeth arising from the incident.

Some reports suggest Stendel called him a "fucking scally" in the lead up to it but, having heard him speak English a few times, I just can't see this being likely as it's a phrase which I'd consider beyond his knowledge of English, and it's various localised insults.

The social media clampdown has been pretty effective, to be fair.  Two of our players, Cauley Woodrow and Dimitre Cavare, had their eye-witness tweets taken down pretty quickly and I suspect there's a decent amount of video footage available, none of which is currently in the public domain.  The post-game scenes are quite often filmed for social media by the club's employees (you can see Andy White, our social media guy, doing this in the footage of Stendel and Barton shaking hands after the match) so I suspect this is all now being reviewed by SYP before they decide how to proceed.

Regardless, it seems to have gone beyond the usual touchline/tunnel handbags you see between managers on a fairly regular basis.  All the blame appears to be pointed at Barton so far, and there does seem to have been an attempt to get him swiftly out of Oakwell, which the police prevented from happening until they'd spoken to him and arranged a 'voluntary interview' later this week.  Assuming so, I hope this will result in the book being thrown at him by the football authorities, alongside another criminal complaint against him.

There were com scenes in the car park afterwards, as police "forcibly prevented Barton from leaving".



(http://i.imgur.com/KzQwwaB.jpg) (https://imgur.com/KzQwwaB)

The footage (filmed by someone I know) got stopped shortly after this, but by all accounts, he was allowed to leave a couple of minutes after this.

Barnsley lodge official complaint.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47948155

Not surprising, lol.

He'll have to go back to playing with Twatter, after his community service.

Barton responds:

https://twitter.com/Joey7Barton/status/1118807568506290176?s=20

Worth reading for the comments alone.

Saturday and Tuesday = an unbelievably perfect set of results, so without kicking a ball tonight THE REDS ARE GOING UP.

Very relieved that Saturday has now become a shootout with Luton for the League One title without the prospect of playoffs still lurking for either of us.  Congratulations to Luton Town too on a well deserved promotion.

You're welcome :)

Ivan Toney has played a part in two Barnsley promotions from League One now.

One of the craziest games I've seen in a long time tonight. Sure there were a few Lutoners and Tykes watching on ifollow too.

Like the good old days under Fergie. Didn't want him back initially but it feels right again. The two were meant to be together.

Next season...

Don't give up on this season just yet.  Coventry are a tough side to beat, so no guarantees that Donny will get 3 points.

As recently as February Wimbledon were 10 points from safety in League One with a worse goal difference than anyone. Scunthorpe were 13th, Plymouth 15th. What Wally Downes and Glyn Hodges have achieved since then is unbelievable - I still can't believe we have stayed up!

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5v458dW0AIUyZz.png)

Barnsley only spent a fortnight outside the top six in League 1 this season.

Oxford secured a top half finish despite spending 151 days in the relegation zone, while Wimbledon were in there for 189 days and survived.

(From @Experimental361 on Twitter)

Kudos to Mike Dean for not just sitting in the director's box or a corporate seat.

And the annual Barnsley FC firesale continues with the departure of our player of the season, Ethan Pinnock, to Brentford.

So, having got promoted back to the Championship with the best defence in League One we've now lost the goalkeeper, and both centre backs to other Championship clubs, plus the backup centre back.

I fear we'll soon be losing Daniel Stendel via the same disillusionment that saw Heckingbottom leave a couple of seasons ago.  Regardless of the replacements he's allowed to bring in, we're already pulling the rug from under him with regard to this season's Championship campaign.

I see you signed a replacement from us in Toby Sibbick - think most Wimbledon fans are surprised a Championship club has gone for him, although he does have a lot of potential. Will be interesting to see where you play him as we had him as a right back, but he is far better going forwards than defensively. Hoping his departure means we get Seddon back from Brum, he was instrumental in our Great Escape.

Tough times ahead for Barnsley. You can't let players like Pinnock go and hope to make the step up.

I can't offer
I can't offer much hope for them in the shape of their new CB Aapo Halme either i'm afraid having watched him in the Under 23s a lot for Leeds last year.

Amazing in the air, positionally ok, average on the ball but very very slow and ponderous

Doesn't look like we'll be getting Seddon as he has signed a new contract at Brum :( Happy with our replacement for Sibbick though in Luke O'Neill from Gills.

Steve Bruce off to Newcastle.

Gets offered opportunity with Wednesday, club accept his personal issues & accept he needs a break until February. Fans embrace him as manager despite links with United.

Chooses to go to Newcastle despite fans not wanting him, Mike Ashley being owner & ex-Sunderland.

Typical example of no morals or loyalty in this game.

He's from Newcastle!

Hardly going to stay at Wednesday is he?

Rafa Benitez is from Spain, I doubt he’d go to Spain to become a waiter.

For all its issues, its a Premier League club

If Ashley sells, its a plum position

lets try to leave the bias to one side, yes?

You’d be mad to want to manage it. Whole thing wants burning to the ground. PL should be kicking us out.

William Hill disagree. They've got them scrapping it out with Leicester, Wolfs and Everton for seventh.

https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/football/competitions/OB_TY295/English-Premier-League/outrights/OB_MG14070673/WO-Man-City,-Liverpool,-Tottenham,-Chelsea,-Arsenal-and-Man-Utd

Couldn't make this shit up!

They missed a zero off the end?   That has to be one of theeeee worst prices in history.   Looking forward to their WH v Newcastle season match bet.   Would happily take evens but hills make it look like you might get odds against.

Wheelbarrow bet that at odds against.

I requested prices. 1-3 West Ham, 9-4 Newcastle.

Bruce resigns at Wednesday.

Of course he’s always going to go but the clause in his contract says £4m compo.

Guess what, Mike Ashley wants him on the cheap and offers a reported £1m.

Wednesday say no (with very good reason) so Bruce resigns anyway and clears off.

What’s pissing people off is that Wednesdays chairman showd Bruce and his family situation great respect and waiting 2 months for him to join the club. Feels like the respect only goes one way.  

There is no decency in football and Mike Ashley thinks he can do what he likes. I hope Wednesday sue both Bruce and Newcastle.

A friend of mine sent me this message about Bruce. Sums football up rather well I think.

“No sleep lost here, think he is very one dimensional but agree with the ‘what a twat’ bit. When compared with the way that Federer and the Kiwis behaved yesterday in absolute adversity football seems to have a different code of ethics to most other sports?
I thought Guptil and Stokes showed real class yesterday when the stakes could not have been higher. Great to see.”

Boydy is BACK. At he's spiritual home.

Monday 15 July.

The best day of the year, end off.

I genuinely thought considering what we did for him & the situation at Newcastle, that he’d think twice. Pretty stupid to think that considering what we see in football.

But what I’ve read via twitter and media is that Wednesday can only demand £1m compensation. I also read that Wednesday fucked his contract up, which means resigning might be the better option & considering he’s done that today, it seems very likely. Especially considering our incompetent owner.

Bit of a disgrace tbf

Not street legal, surely?

Am I being whooshed by a prank? There are regulations as to maximum logo size.

Needs a Sky Bet logo too. ;)

 

Tried to pay £50 for it, they said the max charge was 23p.

:)

Seems to be genuine.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9523217/huddersfield-town-new-kit-2019-20-home-shirt-paddy-power-logo-fans-reaction-stunned/

Slippery slope.

🤣🤣 Very good Doobs

:D

Phew!

Someone's gotta keep bookmaking's answer to FHM in check.

Definitely serious

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBDz4vtxRAY

meanwhile, I assume the sponsor logo rules don't apply in a friendly.

https://www.givemesport.com/1490579-huddersfield-wore-paddy-power-kit-in-preseason-friendly-against-rochdale (https://www.givemesport.com/1490579-huddersfield-wore-paddy-power-kit-in-preseason-friendly-against-rochdale)

At a time when gaming companies sponsoring football teams has become something of a hot potato, think that's all pretty I'll-advised.

The video is funny though, tbf.

Story has legs.....


https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/1152125963901329409

So good at marketing but they have to be because they are so poor at doing what their business is supposed to do.  Taking bets.

Stoke in for a long season.

Wednesday impressive, but still need two+ additions to avoid mid table.

Going to be a fun packed season in the championship.

Surprised to see Stoke keep on with the current manager, the stats really aren't great.

Wednesday been OK, but beaten relegation fodder in Reading and Barnsley.

Surprised Bowen hasn't been picked up from Hull.

Fulham not been as good as expected, play-offs only.

Think all three promoed to Champ will stay up and possibility of all three that has come down that all three stay down.

Bury expelled from the Football League: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49451896

Sad day for football. Feel for the fans who have lost so much through no fault of their own - shows how toothless the EFL are when it comes to preventing the mismanagement of clubs.

All the money sloshing around in Footy today, its an absolute disgrace.

A week of Ozils wages would have kept them afloat I suspect.......

Suspect it is pretty hard to resolve.   On my understanding, the ground has multiple loans/leases secured against it, at least one with extortionate interest.   The owner's son in law picked up some distressed debt at 1% of its value, he may get 25% on the CVA.   So assuming you can get hold of Ozil's wages, you end up paying millions to some serious charlatans.  So there is a real moral hazard here to add to the shitstorm.  If you pay millions to the current and previous owners, then it isn't going to put off anybody else.

I think the EFL are in a pretty horrid position and can't win.  They seem to have been asking questions/making demands about Dale from day 1, but they aren't the police or the judiciary, do they are limited in what they can do.  Seems that if someone is determined to flout the law, good people will suffer. 

Good write up and plenty there I was unaware of.

Thanks.

Still stinks though.

Some good news, Bolton saved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48906359 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48906359)

I wonder if Parkinson comes back.   Presumably there will be a few decent enough out of contract players that can be signed.   Even if this season is a dead loss, giving the fans something to cheer about should sell some tickets.  Presumably they will get a lot of goodwill from Bolton fans for ridding them of Anderson?

My son and I had our first trip to see Wimbledon this season on Saturday. Initial thoughts are that we are in big trouble. The way we play and the current players means we have no creativity in midfield and the strikers have no service, plus when they do get the ball they look lacklustre and bereft of confidence. Plus points though - our defence looks solid with Nightingale back but any more injuries and we're in trouble there too. Also, Alec Guinness' great-grandson Nesta Guinness-Walker looks a fantastic find from non-league Met Police - exciting wingback play down the left and deserved MOTM. Luke O'Neill looks a good RB too, and Calum Reilly has added some bite to the midfield that we've been lacking for ages. Hopefully Wordsworth returning to midfield will add creativity, and there are rumours of a couple of signings today so fingers crossed there too.

Three new signings, ever so slightly more optimistic now!

I want to change teams. Can't take much more of this. Probably end up scoring 100 league goals and finishing eighth.

Hopefully our owners will soon realise that trying to field a team of inexperienced youngsters in the Championship isn't a recipe for success.  League One a certainty at this rate.

Looks like they heard you Curtis.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49966021

Judging by the reaction on social media, I'm not alone among our fanbase in feeling utter disgust at the way Stendel has been treated.  It's unclear whether he's been sacked or has quit himself, but absolutely no-one can blame him for having the rug pulled from under him this season.

In contrast to the 21 word disgrace of a statement issued by BFC, Southend's statement today feels like a case of TMI.

https://www.southendunited.co.uk/news/2019/october/club-statement/

Seems a fair enough statement to me if the facts are correct.   A club should want to appoint a management team who can work well together.   If one cog becomes unavailable then i get why they might want to pull the plug totally and appoint another 'team'.

Sunderland take all that time and then come up with Phil Parkinson!?

Lolambitious club.

I think Parkinson is a pretty good manager, not sure I'd be bringing him in to play attractive football mind (as claimed in one article I saw).

It says something about the long-term ambitions of the club that they couldn't tempt away Mark Robins or Gareth Ainsworth from their positions at shambolic Cov and shoestring Wycombe.

I wouldn't have them on my mind for promotion markets in L1. Their squad is way over-rated anyway.

Beat lowly Stoke tonight. Very surprised at their lack of away support. Would have thought they’d bring 1k min

Welcome to our new head coach, Hans Gruber.

Sorry, Hubert Gruber.

Sorry, Gerhard Struber.

I could tell you more about the first two than the last one named.

Good luck to him.  He's going to need it.

https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2019/december/club-statement/

Wednesday chairman, Chansiri, basically tells the EFL they are talking bollocks and go fuck themselves.

If he has proof (which he says he has) then the EFL are going to look like bigger clowns than they already are.

considering how incompotent our chairman is, i'd be surprised if it's overturned

We are now facing a fairly realistic prospect of Play-offs, but no chance if we get this expected points deduction

I was just catching up On Macc Town and came across this from earlier in the year. 

#CreweAlex were the third lowest payers in league two to football agents last season.

In a table published today it showed the Alex shelled out just over £10,000.

#Bury and #MacclesfieldTown were the lowest spenders.


https://twitter.com/GMcGarrySport/status/1113798143462772737 (https://twitter.com/GMcGarrySport/status/1113798143462772737)

Seems that if you want your club to survive the season, it is best to keep on shovelling potlaods of cash to agents?   ;carlocitrone;

Remarkable airing of dirty laundry developing at Oakwell.  First of all, the Board finally break their silence over the departure of Daniel Stendel.

https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2019/december/clubstatement0912/

A few hours later, Hearts (who've now appointed him as manager) issue a statement of their own.

https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-1-2-3-4-5

Then Stendel himself issues his own statement via his Facebook page.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2378650895732001&id=1922240871373008

So after weeks of interminable silence, we're now getting a bit of a soap opera to accompany our descent back into League One.

I wonder if it was Wednesday that tried to appoint him? It did tke us ages to get a new manager.

Reading and Stoke managed zero shots on target yesterday, seven years since that last happened in the Championship. I can see both of us doing the same again in L1 next season.

What's going to happen to the football? Non League has apparently been cancelled and it must set a precedent.

This non-existing season would be Wednesday's best in recent year. Sheffield United missing out on Europe, Liverpool on the league and Leeds on promotion

Under National league right?

Posh getting relegated from the Championship with a record points total was bad enough. What's about to happen in L1 though is genuine what the absolute fk.

The best squad, with the best goal difference, best record against the other top teams, the momentum pre-Covid and an easy run-in, is about to get kicked out of the top six. A different way of finishing each of the three EFL leagues. Joke.

Wycombe could end up getting promoted if they can't stage playoffs having been outside the playoff positions. Because they had a game in hand, away at runaway leaders Coventry. Which they'd have been odds-on to lose. Had Coventry not gone so deep in the FA Cup and that match not been postponed...pfft.

Tough times all round though.

"Luke Prosser PFA rep at Colchester on Radio 5 saying that feeling amongst him and the 1000 or so free agents in EFL this summer is very few will get contracts in EFL, as they believe many clubs with no crowds and limited revenue will make do with the squads they have,16-20 players.
His case and 4 other senior pros at Colchester was they were offered contract extensions that they were due to sign, then the postponement came and the contracts were torn up. He said at 31 he has a young family and cant uproot from area so will almost certainly be forced to retire. Gone from captaining Colchester away at Old Trafford in Cup to a few months later unemployed. Been told even if Colchester go up they will not be in a position to offer any new contracts."

Just two cases of Covid in the Championship today and both play for Hull. I mean, what are the odds?

Have they jogged the season on, or they got ongoing meetings?

Season will restart 20th June. Play off final is July 30th. Gonna be a tight squeeze.
That's in the Championship.

There's now no excuse for L1 and L2 not to come back tbh.

Chance at grimming Tikay is still live!

Not a chance anything happens in tomorrow's L1 vote other than the season gets pulled bar play-offs. Maybe two-thirds will vote that way, meaning Posh miss out on the top six and Tranmere go down.

The EFL are a fking joke.

There was no point delaying it. Literally everything that's happened in the past couple of weeks has been conducive towards a resumption, but it's still not going to happen. Mid-table clubs see no point in continuing, so we're left in a position whereby Wycombe will vote to stop the season, so they can then move third on PPG (worst system possible) and then start playing again. Total bullshit.

I can't fathom how they can come to a different conclusion from one league/tier to the next. Play on in the Championship but call the two leagues below? It surely makes their position indefensible when individual clubs raise their legitimate concerns.
My biggest sympathy is for those who find themselves relegated without the opportunity to play their way to safety.

Others will be a lot better informed than me, but In regards to league 1/2.
With no fans, therefore very little income,  yet still having to pay players straight way. Isn’t this a straight road to bustville? Can imagine a lot of clubs books on a knife edge.
Also contracts are more commonly year to year, one of the teams(the team slipped my mind Right now) has only a handful of players after end of June.

Anyone who backed Ivan Toney top L1 scorer, or Eion Doyle top L2 scorer with the green clowns ain't getting paid.

Hills settle Posh Promo as a loser, too.

They've all done this. Would have been an obvious spot for a bit of good PR bet voidance.

Top six, to make the playoffs, to win the playoffs, EW for the league, promotion all up in smoke here thanks to the twats of the EFL.

Obv grabbing every penny they can.

I cannot find the post, but to whoever put up Leeds to win the Championship on Handicap @ 18/1

 :)up

Was it with Sky? I think I posted something about Sky having a compressed handicap in every league and that they were better on their handicap than outright. Did I back it though...

I assumed Brentford of chokesville woud've won it tbh.

An amazing, incredible, unbelievable day for Wimbledon today, mixed with huge disappointment that we fans can't be there, but at last, after almost 30 years, we play a home game back at Plough Lane!

Not L2, but meh...

Guess I better be a Wrexham fan now that Mac has bought the club ;D

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Em88JGlXIAAKR6o?format=jpg&name=small)