Cliches about form and deserving to play etc are all well and good. But if we sign a goalkeeper that cannot maintain form sufficient to oust Pears who isnt very good, then it means that we havent signed a very good keeper. If Eustace decides that he wants Pears as number 1, then its a huge error of judgement on his part. If Eustace chooses to recommend John Ruddy, then I would also consider that to be a lapse in judgement.

Im not sure that is true, both him and Tomasson brought through lots of youngsters. At times having to be overly reliant on them.

It is a big if. As he is, he is a very poor keeper at this level. I dont think hes particularly impressive with his feet either personally.

I dont think he is an average Championship keeper, most keepers dont make the number of mistakes that he makes. Last season him and Wahlstedt were the worst keepers I saw. The third worst was Ruddy.

Header? Was quite a weak backpass, wasnt a bobble, just awful keeping. Not sure what you mean by that. Why specifically do you think that Eustace would not stand for not signing a keeper if he wants one? If we keep Pears as number 1, it might just as easily be down to financial restrictions as a lapse in judgement. Either way, it would be a big lapse in judgement. I have no idea if we are interested in Ruddy either way. It is an easy link, doesnt mean its not plausible. My point is, you went from wanting a new number 1 as a top priority alongside a striker to now defending Pears and suggesting that we just need competition for him. In my opinion, and only my opinion. Youve taken the Ruddy link as gospel, probably realise hes hardly a good enough signing, have assumed we will sign him and are defending in advance the fact that we wont be bringing in a good enough number 1, with Ruddy perhaps on par or slightly better at his old age. You also went from wanting significant price cuts even outlining this per stand to defending the club despite prices well above what you suggested.

He really isnt mid table Championship standard. He isnt playing for a mid table club unless last season mid table was particularly big, but he was as bad as anyone who played regularly. Hyam got loads of criticism for that horrow show. But to say that Pears didnt make as many mistakes all season is absolute nonsense. Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich, Plymouth x 2, Preston, Hull, theres 6 for starters. Wouldnt go that far. You want him out. Im not his biggest fan but we cant afford for him to go.

Lets not make out like it was an unfair agenda or scapegoating against Pears. He made numerous goal costing errors both before and after his injury. Wahlstedt's performances only compounded the fact that we dont have a competent goalkeeper.

All keepers make mistakes and all keepers make mistakes. Its about the quantity. Pears makes far too many mistakes and doesnt tend to win us points with saves he shouldnt be making. Chaddy has tied himself in knots saying that a keeper was a priority signing prior to Wahlstedt rumours. Now there are rumours of John Ruddy, an experienced keeper but ultimately one past his best, thats what we need, because its believed to potentially be happening. We need a number 1, Pears is not good enough, end of.

I dont know, that was referring to Chaddy saying (correctly most likely) that it along with a striker should be a priority. If we are not though then there is something seriously wrong. Again.

Why do we need to sign a keeper so desperately then? Its the quantity of mistakes that is far too high and makes him not up to standard. Hes not good enough to win points either with saves he shouldnt be making. He did make one good save at Leicester but otherwise a Leicester side coasting didnt test him too much. All keepers make saves, the keys are quantity of mistakes and ability to earn points with saves beyond routine. He isnt good enough on either. You must agree hence wanting a new keeper.

That poster was clearly talking rubbish. The season ticket prices were never going to be noticeably cut. Anyone who met the club didnt do well as the end result isnt the change needed to spike attendances, but the club were never going to listen sadly.

He is crap, relative to Championship standard. Not every player playing at a certain standard is good enough for that standard. There are a number of reasons why a player might be at a level beyond his ability. A club might be skint and have no choice. A club might be promoted and a player may find the step up too much. A player may be backup yet injuries/player sales mean that he plays far more at a level than his ability would warrant. A manager might have a lapse in judgement. Poor recruitment may lead to players being signed that arent up to it. In Pears case, he was backup goalkeeper. We sold a considerably better keeper and messed up in signing a terrible replacement, thus almost by default, he became a Championship number 1. Almost certainly the worst in the division, and likely inferior to goalkeepers in the league below. So he is a Championship number 1 but not necessarily of the standard to be a number 1. Other examples. Telalovic is crap for this level, clearly nowhere near level. Most of Rotherhams team last season was crap and nowhere near the standard. Jason Lowe and Hope Akpan played loads of games at this level for us, they were never good enough. The list goes on. The mistake against Wednesday (it wasnt a dodgy backpass, there are no excuses) was so bad that it almost distracts from his general ability. As bad as it was, if it was somewhat of an anomaly, it could be written off. But he has made so many terrible mistakes across the course of the season, and he didnt even play every game. Our issues arent solely Aynslea Pears, we certainly have other problematic areas where we need to improve. But he makes far, far too many unenforced mistakes well beyond the standard of what you would expect from a goalkeeper at this level. Off the top of my head, he made 2 bad mistakes at Plymouth. He made a bad one at home to Ipswich. There was one at home to Hull where a basic positional error made it very easy for them to score a winner. He made a mess of the second at deepdale. He is not good enough, lets not make the Wednesday one to be anything other than one of many, and anything other than solely his fault.

It is not about me as an individual. Or you. I am saying that in general, the only way to make any significant positive change is only by decreasing adult prices. Any other ideas will make very little difference either way and/or cause further problems. I think they should have reduced it by more, so yes I do think it is still too high. As did you, I thought that the prices you suggested previously were good and would have led to an upsurge in attendances with long term benefits. Although since prices have been released significantly higher than what you suggested, you seem reluctant to criticise for that, and only seem to be able to focus on yourself or other individuals. Rather than say, you think the adult prices should have been cut much more (because you do think that, you said prior to the announcement) in order to increase attendances.

It was the wrong decision, and also it wasnt like it was at the start of the season. Maybe Tomasson weighed up the impact in the dressing room, the message it would set, he didnt want to change the team, whatever it was, it was the wrong decision. Kaminski appeared to be the likely first choice again in the friendlies leading up to the season but then he was sold. Pears is crap, and I think people think Wahlstedt might have a "higher ceiling" because of his more alternative background and that hes more continental in how he plays, but he was playing in a poor league and seemingly might go back to one. They are both poor.

These ideas are nice enough but are flawed, for example a flexi season ticket would devalue and reduce people buying full season tickets. Blue light discounts etc, its strings attached niche targetting, needs to be across the board. Reducing kids prices, adults will be buying their ticket anyway so if their own price is too high its of little use. Anything bar reducing adult prices by a reasonably decent amount is pissing in the wind. Do that, obviously numbers go up, if its more affordable even people who might miss games would still be more likely to get one. And crucially, they are then in the tent, they may get season tickets for a number of years, you create a feel good factor and it also leads to indirect income, whether it be merchandice, food, drink etc. We seem to be in the same cycle, people with good intentions see Waggott, he talks them into agreeing with him, he might take on board a couple of their other ideas to appese him and people come away thinking its a success. Hes clearly a smooth talker. But the only real difference of any note is to reduce adult prices. The focus is all on the next year. It may even work out that there is a risk of ticket income reducing slightly in that first year, its one of them thats impossible to gauge. But with additional season ticket holders back in the habit, with more of a feel good factor and with the indirect income, in the longer term it certainly would be of huge benefit.

Its so difficult to compare international managers because the format is so different whereas at club level youve all played the same teams home and away. A big factor is the luck of the draw you get and England's knockout games in the last 3 tournaments have been very fortunate. Had Sven for example who we all agree underachieved got a Ukraine in a quarter with a potential semi final against Denmark or a last 16 game v Colombia followed by a quarter final v Sweden, as oppposed to Brazil and then Portugal twice, he would likely have also got through.

Iversen did really well at Preston although his career has stalled since. Not sure if he would be available for a reasonable fee either. I imagine Ryan will get a new deal at AZ. Ruddy IMO would be the result of a lack of scouting infrastructure and potentially finance should we go down that route. Bit like at 5 a side if a couple of the usual lads are unavailable, you are scrambling around to make up the numbers and someone says one of their mates can play. He comes, he is shit but he at least means the game is on. Eustace knows Ruddy, I will get him down if we cant get anyone decent.

Again, im not on about yourself. My point is, in terms of general attendances and attempts at getting as many tickets sold as possible, adult season tickets are considerably higher than the prices you suggested to remidy this. Therefore, I presume you are disappointed at the club for this. Again, not personally, I know you would have got one regardless, I mean in terms of getting attendances up.

You suggested him in your list of players we should target to be fair. I never said we are or arent skint. I said IF we sign him, huge if. It might be driven by financial constraints, ie it might not be as simple as Eustace going I want him. Most will presumably feel able to not just assume that he must be suitable if Eustace wants him. You are right in saying a few years ago he would have been a good signing. Not now. Hopefully amidst very mixed rumours, he isnt a target and we have plan to actually sign a good Championship keeper. Technical guru. Sounds nice and business like but bizarre if it is a totally different role to Broughton and another "change of direction." If he ever comes.

These were the prices you wanted and they are considerably higher so I am surprised (or not) that you arent unhappy.

Not specific to anyone. Do you think the prices are suitable in general (considering you cheerleaded for much lower prices) or do you think they are too high? (Not for you, in general, I know you find it ok individually) IMO, until the focus is specifically on reducing adult prices, whatever is tried is not going to make much difference.

How do you know who will be dealing with negotiations? Surely it will whoever comes in for Broughton. If someone ever joins. Eustace might have an opinion but that doesnt mean that hes right. Plus if he is even a target which we dont even know, and say he signs, that might be because we are skint and a free pensioner is all we can get, rather than what he wants. My opinion regardless of what Eustace thinks is that Ruddy would be a poor signing and I hope we dont go near him. What would you think personally about signing Ruddy?

The biggest reason why Pears has been exposed is not because Kaminski left. Even if he did learn from him, he wont have forgotten what he learnt. He has been exposed being our number 1 because he just isnt very good, all well and good covering for a few games but over the course of a season he costs us loads of points because he isnt very good. I dont think he would improve just because Ruddy is here. Theres no alternative to getting a new worthy number 1 considering how poor Pears is and the money weve received. I agree though that we probably wont get someone who is any good, so Pears will cost us points again. Ruddy mentioned living in Norwich so if he comes I imagine he will be expecting to play.

We dont need a number 2/coach hybrid to help Pears as if he is a really young but really talented number 1. Hes crap. We need a first choice and if we dont get one then it will be infuriating. Especially if any club is foolish enough to give us money for Wahlstedt, there is no excuse. Ruddy is past it.

You do but my point comes back to the main thing being adult prices. An adult will be paying for the child, yet it likely would be their own adult ticket that is too expensive, not the childs. You suggested much more aggressive cuts in price before they were announced so im surprised you are not a bit disappointed at only a £30 cut.