Sold to a holding company that also owns the club remember. Big difference between that, and simply “selling it”. You know that.

This picture + amount of developing players we’ve got. For the bellyaching about pricing, the academy is booming,

One of the main “fortunate” scenarios we’ve had so far (touch wood) is we’ve managed to keep the defence relatively fit, or at least when one has been out, another has returned. The recruitment of Pickering and Van Hecke has also stepped this up. This will be key to sustaining those clean sheets, and I’m also quite impressed that Pears has stepped up too. Would prefer Kaminski back in ASAP though.

What you say isn’t even a simple opinion or your own version either - the manager has said many times that the only way our club (with its turnover) can compete in this division (with the teams on parachute wages) is through “polishing up” players and building the squad with the proceeds. Ofcourse there are ways around FFP, the Leicesters, the wolves, the timing.. I don’t believe those at the top of our club wish to spend “as much as it takes” or “leave no stones unturned”… but I do believe there is more common sense and pragmatic long term planning, as opposed to reading, Derby, Sheff wednesday etc

Some skill to kick a ball off the bar, purposely cannoning off the preston gobshites face into the net.

Enjoying this stage of “the journey”

The absolute priority has to be squad and contracts.

Would also add with Scott - never shuts up, and that’s a great attribute for a Centreback and future potential captain! What are the chances we will have two lads called Wharton on the team sheet in the near future.

Do you remember when the argument was “he cost 7 Million, you don’t sign for low wages with that fee…” 😂

That fact in its isolation (price) is a valid one that I agree with, however I think it’s been a difficult scenario to manage with turnover / expenditure- an area I’m not even remotely savvy or educated enough to understand. The results will always be priority. There is obviously a ceiling people will and should be asked to pay, but the higher we get, the more people will get involved. This also not wholly his or TMs remit - there’s obviously been some fantastic work over the past 5 seasons within the club, my own personal “most important” factor for improvement in attendance through winning, is the development of young players through the club. Seeing players these lads do well, like Wharton, Lenihan, Buckley, Nyambe, Travis etc - supplemented by young signings, 100% hard working players like Dolan etc - that’ll really sell our club to another generation.

Still remember Jal, Mercer et al suggesting the lad is a “dud” before that game though. Multiply those voices through Twitter / FB, the murmurs of “waste of money” in the ground, even in the first 12 months. I’d be a liar to say I am not surprised by what he’s achieved this season, but I the way he’s gained confidence so rapidly through “love” and being wanted by chile - it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch to suggest the 19 year old variety really struggled with being written off. Do you think we should cash in?

Yea it’s a strange mentality to have one of the hottest prospects in football at the minute, only to want rid. It’s probably justifiable from certain viewpoints, because he’d been written off here before he’d even started a game.

Or…. Perhaps, just maybe…rather than just blaming someone… hear me out…. 10 Years of never finishing above 8th (I think) in the second tier maybe, played it’s part…? 2 or 3 years of improvement on the pitch might see thousands return? I only started in 1990 when I was 6, but I’m making the assumption the amount we sold went up quite a bit 1991-1996?

eh? ”They crawl out after a win”… “There are those who will stick with TM/Venkys” Those comments are just taking a swipe at anyone who doesn’t parrot your narrative.

18000+ Potentially proof once more that it’s not price, it’s performances. My only argument to that would be to suggest it could’ve been 25k at £15 a ticket. The accountants can’t justify this however. Also - to add, not sure if this is the right place. The service / Sodexo bar regime is a complete joke.

18,000 fans make a big difference to Saturday afternoons!

Being annoyed that someone says “Blackburn” as opposed to “Rovers”… potentially a sign that you’re average reactions are quite extreme?

More like training in a zorb

Whatever you do - DON’T LOOK 😂

Thing is 22m in 1998/99… What’s that the equivalence of now? 100m?

Different system, different ideas, different roles potentially bring out something different. Personally - not hugely expectant, and would’ve preferred Butterworth and Garrett given their opportunities- but I’m not convinced that 500 minutes out of a potential total of 2,880 between them is enough to judge what they’re capable of for the rest of the season. I know it’s reactive - but Khadra wound me up massively on Saturday with his positioning and game reading, and the stupid freekick he gave away could’ve cost us 2 points - I still think there is some value in having him however. Perhaps more when we’re chasing a goal as opposed to holding a lead!

Really is starting to reach his potential. How many goals do we think he will finish with? He’s no Mitrovic, clever, devastating and a guarantee for goals… where does his limit lie?

Ideally would’ve like to have seen more already but, as I’ve acquired a luxury cushion for the fence these days, I’d say both deserve more time to judge.

Out of interest JBN, what’s the combined minute total of both that you allowed before coming to this opinion? I haven’t been away, but from memory vs Reading, Poveda’s energy and movement helped change the game.