If Ayala stays and we sign another cb we'll have 

Ayala

Wharton 

Newbie 

Carter 

Phillips as 5th choice. That's not a disaster. He'll get some minutes but we wouldn't be relying on him.

I wonder if there's school of thought that we're not going to keep hold of Phillips long so chuck him in at the deep end, hope he floats and drives his value up rather than lose him for peanuts after a couple of league 1/2 apperances.

13 hours ago, StaffordRover said:

Serious question. Does anyone think it is possible that JDT genuinely (or has had his hand forced to some extent) thinks some of the kids are ready for first team action, so is looking to now consolidate what kitty he has on 2-3 'marquee' signings and the wages required to secure them, so doesn't actually need the 6 or so being suggested on the MB? Could explain why so few names are being linked? He's aiming for the higher rollers and is biding his time/trying to negotiate with those in control of the kitty so they are prepared to sanction higher transfer fees and in turn, review the current wage cap? If he feels we did genuinely miss out on the lad that's gone to Sheffield United because they can offer more wages (assuming the fee was achievable), then this could offer an alternative and potentially more realistic approach to securing a few 'better than we've had' signings. Am just grasping at any hypotehtical scenario that helps me feel a bit better about the current situation.

I think you could be on to something there. I think he's looking to pack the squad with Carter, Phillips, Wharton, Garret and Vale. And then get 2 or 3 more quality players in as a priority. We'll enjoy a season in the bottom half of the table but I reckon we'd have enough to stay safe then hopefully come January or the summer we'll have sorted out our list of players we want. 

20 minutes ago, islander200 said:

Think we will get £20 for him.

I think he's worth more than that🤣

I'd shake up the loan system. PL clubs hoard talent and make a mint loaning them out and then selling them on. I think if you loan a player under a certain age and they make a certain number of appearances for you then you should be entitled to a few % of any sale proceeds. Ludicrous that loaning players costs so much. 

11 minutes ago, Armchair supporter supremo said:

The tour around Sellafield is supposed to be really good

Lucky enough to have had two and it does not disappoint. I find it makes the documentaries even more interesting to watch

Not premier league but also not worthy of a new thread. 

Did anyone see Bales first interview for LA was in Spanish 🤣ultimate shithousery 

On 30/06/2022 at 19:33, jodrell said:

Britaina Nuclear secrets inside Sellafield

Finally got round to this. Absolutely fascinating watch

On 05/07/2022 at 16:39, Mike E said:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMNAM6At1/?k=1

Possibly the funniest story in a while, transcript below but the radio reading above brings it to life. This is a bricklayer's accident report, which was printed in the newsletter of the Australian equivalent of the Workers' Compensation board. This is a true story. Had this guy died, he'd have received a Darwin Award for sure....

 

Dear Sir:

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block 3 of the accident report form. I put "poor planning" as the cause of my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the following details will be sufficient.

I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building. When I completed my work, I found that I had some bricks left over which, when weighed later were found to be slightly in excess of 250kgs.

Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley, which was attached to the side of the building on the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks.

You will note in Block 11 of the accident report form that I weigh 70kgs.

Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel, which was now proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed. This explained the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collar bone, as listed in section 3 of the accident report form.

Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley.

Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of beginning to experience a great deal of pain.

At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, that barrel weighed approximately 20kgs. I refer you again to my weight.

As you can imagine, I began a rapid descent, down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and several lacerations of my legs and lower body.

Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked.

I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope and I lay there watching the empty barrel begin its journey back down onto me. This explains the two broken legs.

I hope this answers your inquiry.

I've got 3 maybe 4 Darwin award books in my spare room and this has made me want to go back and read them 

12 minutes ago, Gav said:

We are now waiting for other clubs with bigger budgets to do there bidding and see whats left

My mate at uni had a similar approach to women on a night out, he was quite successful.... 

I take it this means no fresh transfer rumours / activity today then? 

10 minutes ago, Tricky said:

 

 

he would have been shown the backdoor

I think he might have done some damage...

17 minutes ago, roverstdt said:

Thats why i said our starting 11 is strong but that the squad needs to be re-enforced. One of the first things i wrote was that the starting 11 isn't as depleted as everyone suggest

I'm minded to agree. Sign a RB and we can put out a half decent 11. Trouble is that relies on ayala staying fit for 5 mins so absolutely need a lot more signings for the squad to be able to cope with injuries and suspensions and rotation 

27 minutes ago, Realistic Rover said:

Logical reasoning, but then kaminski catches wind and wants 25k, as does Dack, Wharton wants 15k instead of 10k blah blah etc etc 

When Ayala and Gallagher are up there at 15k or so I'm surprised most of the squad aren't asking for 20k. 

The wage structure is pointless if it allows you to pay Ayala at the top end of it for sitting on the physio table but not allow you to go higher for someone who could get you 40+ games a season. 

It's got to be a little more dynamic. If we keep ayala, we'll pay him 15k a week but we know we can't rely on him and we need another defender to come in of a reasonable quality to cover for him. If you pay him even just 10k, you're basically paying 25k a week to fill one position in the squad. Why not ship Ayala out and get a quality fit centre back in at 25k a week? Technically breaking the wage structure but it's the same cost to the owners and you're not paying the physios overtime. 

Christ the squad needs a lot more work before we start binning off pickering and bringing someone better in.

36 minutes ago, 1864roverite said:

what? Winning team under him win the league twice in the bounce so something must be good about his ability - poor managers dont have winning teams

Mourinho was famously a terrible man manager and has won the lot

2 hours ago, alex l said:

The talk of Ayala playing up top got me thinking - could we have a xi of players completely out of position (joking aside for the likes of Pears in goal and Gally RW)? I can think of the following:

GK - Smallwood, albeit forced. 

RWB - Dolan had a go there I believe.

CB - Johnson

False 9 - Johnson - double duty

RW - Giles

ST - Ayala

Surely there's some more? 

Left back Bennet 

I also remember Downing being the furthest player forward at one point. I couldn't tell you what position it was cos the formation made no sense. I think we may have been playing a box midfield (TMs words) or something like that. It almost like we were playing with wide forwards and no centre forward 

On 29/06/2022 at 15:52, jodrell said:

Then noticed a program on the history of Selafield/ Heysham also very good and interesting

What was the programme? 

Sellafield is very interesting, I've had a couple of tours and it's brilliant. 

Has to be one of my favourite memes

33 minutes ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Genuine question - does anyone feel any sort of emotional attachment to the players these days?

Bentley, Nelson and Samba were my last ones. Whilst my bet was still live Diaz but as soon as goal number 20 went I stopped caring so much 🤣

Is there any news on whether Nyambe is signing a new deal? If he played for another club and he came up on a free, most would ve saying to snap him up

I assume he can take training in the UK but done at risk of the work permit not being granted and his contract of employment therefore being invalid. Nothing stopping him as a holiday maker rocking up and standing in a field saying "you run there, you run here". 

I've no problem with a wage structure but it's got to be sensible. Last season it felt like academy lads were being held back (wage wise) by virtue of the fact they'd come through the academy. 

When ayala is paid 15k a week to chat to the physios, you've got to then pay lenihan who was playing every game and wearing the armband, atleast a comparative wage if not higher. 

It's all part of a master plan. "Appoint" JDT whip the fans up into a state of positivity to buy season tickets. Once waggots targets are met "oh look work permit issues what are we going to do" 

"Don't worry, I'll save the day" said Tony Mowbray. "Gee thanks tone, here's a 5 year contract" said Waggot "phew I can go back to not pating any attention to blackburn" said everyone with Venky DNA