M_B

I disagree on that, if the situation is that the coach coaches the players provided, then the coach has to be totally on board. It needs to be understood from day one. To me it's the ambiguity of the situation which has been the main problem with the last 2 coaches. If you look at the transfer business done in January, Eustace got covered more or less the positions everyone was calling out for. It isn't the "what" he got, it's the "who" he got which seems to be the problem. I'm not saying it's the right way to go, but if that's how it is then all parties need to be on board or it definitely won't work. I can't say it's how I'd be thinking, but I'm sure there are many examples of clubs where it works successfully.

I do think Ismael has got a lot on this summer, to say the least, the turnaround is going to be huge. Unless he jumps ship, he isn't going anywhere whether I like it or not, so let's see what him and the club do over the summer. I do think he's using this period to see what he's got,but the squad is woefully short on options. The club has been slaughtered for not backing Eustace in the transfer market, yet Ismael has had a poor selection of even that squad at his disposal. As with Eustace taking over late last season, I'm just hoping this period stands him in good stead for next season.

I was thinking the same against Plymouth, his lack of animation during what was a very insipid display seemed like it was by design. If it is his strategy, he needs an extremely strong start to next season.

Same price for us in the jwl. Personally speaking, i couldn't imagine not renewing.

Yeah, my mistake, I was thinking £30 million overall.

It's a fine balance,Bellingham went from Birmingham for an initial £25 million, with only a 5% sell on clause. Wharton went for £30 million, but with a reported 15% clause. If an auction ends up taking place, the club could yet do very well from the higher sell on percentage.

Have to wait and see what the final fee is with all the add ons and sell on fee. Like with Raya, despite all the criticism, the club has ended up banking more than the club had any chance of receiving from a higher straight transfer fee.

Looks like Stokegate has been replaced by Baggiegate.

We're keeping ours just in case, if Venkys do sell you'll never get a seat, there'll be about 150000 banging the doors down 🙄

I didn't think Eustace was crap or otherwise, it was always the sensible thing to do to get last season out of the way and give him a clean slate going into this season.

I just hope that Ismael, Gestede, Waggott and whoever else are in agreement who gets the final say on potential signings.

I'm not defending the performances, they've been dire, but the comparisons have been way off. Eustace didn't have this squad available to Ismael in the play offs, it's been decimated. Everyone agrees Eustace was let down in the January window, he supposedly left because of it, yet Ismael has been left with a shell of even Eustace's squad. I just hope that the time he has left this season, stands him in good stead for the start of next season,as was the case under Eustace.

Spot on, to just compare form right now to other times in the season is as pointless as it is ridiculous. That isn't to excuse some of the dross served up over the last 4 games. I actually think he's looking more to next season, let's face it he needs to. Like Eustace coming in when he did, I'm hoping this period will stand him in good stead for next season.

I get that, but surely having someone on the pitch who knows where the net is, would increase the chance of getting into a goalscoring position, hence affecting the xg.

I don't normally take any notice of all that expected goals malarkey, but for a team which doesn't score many, I'd expect the loss of our top scorer to have an effect.

So it's Swanseagate then? At least Eustace was at the ground 🤣

How many in 10 or 15? How about the last game before he took over? Once again,the performances have been woeful, carrying on from the Swansea debacle,,but it's a lot more nuanced than just keeping on quoting 3 in 5.

We've lost our top scorer and both left sided forwards. Hyam looks like he's only playing because there's nobody else. I'm not defending the performances, they've been terrible, but to just trot out those figures as if they're gospel, without any context, doesn't tell the full story.

We had, but the fact also is that he hasn't got the same players at his disposal.

Where's Hedges when you need him.

You keep saying that, where's our top scorer? And that's just one example.

I think you're painting a rosier picture with that last paragraph than is true to be honest. The rot had well and truly set in, and the squad Ismael has to work with is down to its bare bones. It isn't a fair comparison.

When he failed to control the ball and lost it, I said he looks like our 5 year old grandson kicking a balloon round our front room, but with less control.

This situation is 4 months in the making, not 4 games.

Can't remember exactly but the run under Eustace before he left was something like 2 wins in 11. The league position belied the fact that we were on a terrible run. Then again, it doesn't really matter what formation is used if the players fail to turn up.