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Ok, I'll give it a go... When you look at our final position: mid-table, it tells part of a story which is easy to accept. We're in transition, clearing out the old system, building something new. But I read a different story about a gambling addict sporting director, chasing his losses all the way to bankruptcy. Let's forget Dean Smith. Wagner took over a team that had just dropped outside the top 6 and initially put together some incredible performances by taking the style back towards the Farkeball, heavily contingent on the remnants of that Farke squad in Pukki, Dowell, McLean. Goals, but wide open. Then Dowell got injured, Pukki [fell] out of favour, goals dried up, everything fell apart. One win in the last 10 games, 7 points, relegation form. We're not currently a mid-table Championship club, we're in free fall. We won 17 games last season but all but four came in two clusters: Smith won 7 out of 8 then just 3 of his last 13; Wagner won 6 out of 9 then 1 out of 11. I agree that goals come from the team rather than just one or two weapons. I never thought that Buendia was everything, it was as much about Cantwell, Dowell, Vrancic, Stiepermann etc (and obviously Pukki). Without any of them, however, we are lacking the ability to cut through teams. Sara is good. I think he's a better number 10 than 8 but he's got the quality we need. McLean is probably good enough for a top Championship side, but has some limitations. Otherwise our midfield is extremely lacking in both attack and defence. None of Nunez, Hernandez and Tzolis have the required combination of attributes to be a wide midfielder in a balanced side. No one we have is close to being that elusive CDM, a solid number 6 with the ability to receive and pass the ball under pressure when in possession or break up play and snuff out the danger when without the ball. So, right now we're rebuilding from being a bottom 3 Championship club (on form) who just lost to a relegated side and couldn't compete with the mid-table teams let alone the top 6. There's a lot to do to stop the rot before we can really think about competing for promotion. The biggest problem for me is that (what I saw as) the better players have all gone while the weaker ones like Onel and Idah have been given new contracts. I'll accept the accusation of being overly negative. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than get my hopes up only to be disappointed. I'm reasonably happy with half our squad. I just don't see us making the quality of signings needed to sort out the issues and I don't think we have the financial clout to replace the likes of Dowell and Cantwell with players of similar ability.

Plenty enough!? Jeez the expectation level amongst our fans has fallen. That pair isn’t getting us in the play offs. No chance.

I can call you Betty and Betty when you call me you can call me....

Should be banned for life. That is close to match fixing.

This has been on the books for ages Cambridge, if you saw where they’re putting it you’d never believe they’d fit a footie stadium in there let alone all the other things going in there unlike most clubs Luton are using this stadium to regenerate a derelict area of their town centre (much to the annoyance of the mall who tried to block the move and in true Luton style, the club moved their store out of the mall to just outside in retaliation) its slap bang in the middle of both train stations and will be a real asset to the town. It will also kick start more regeneration across the town including the mall there’s been a few hurdles down the line including them having to rotate the design 90 degrees and a river flowing under the proposed new ground but as you say it’s not a boring bowl design and it’s a move the club need as they progress forward should be in within the next 2-3 years

So to breakdown into percentages regarding the season 23/24 ST renewals, they are as follows....allegedly.... * 20% are long term Divorcees.... * 8% are 40 to 60 year old plus Drunkards and some are also divorced (male)....and have an intense dislike of mountaineers.... * 10% are true Virgins (under the age of consent or saving themselves for the right person)....aw so sweet.... * 5% say they aren't Virgins (but oh yes they really are)....like Jay (Inbetweeners) they talk a really good sèx life.... * 16% are in stable relationships, are strictly tee total & who also absolutely fawn over the NCFC Board and love Stu our DoF to bits.... * 5% love Delia like she's their Mum and who unfortunately may also suffer from the Oedipus complex.... * 35% are just normal football supporters who follow their club through thick and thin.... * 1% are sad sacks on here who haven't got a life and are akin to a wheelbarrow full of peas, carrots, cabbages and sugar beet....But I do applaud some with their uncanny ability to type whilst their heads are wedged firmly up their acne addled posteriors.... I'm a ickle bit of everything of the above, apart from the Virgin and Oedipus Complex stuff....and no bleedin' way am I a 'one percent-er!'... Now....What was this thread about again?....

I think that is a fair assessment. I suspect everyone gets the fact that I am a fan of Farkeball but there are other ways of playing, many of which can be both effective and entertaining as some of our better teams over the past thirty or so years have demonstrated. But given the evidence of this season it is going to be some task to get this squad up to a very different style requiring very different attributes on a shoestring. Time for Webber, Wagner and the analytics team to collectively earn their corn. I have my doubts for the coming season but I'd be more than happy to hold my hands up if they manage it - let's see how it pans out.

He did look jaded, and understandable having played so much, but I think he also suffered from the negative atmosphere. Some players feel it more than others. The sort of player a few big characters in the Barnes visage could help to keep smiling, because when he first came in he looked excellent. Then a few weeks of getting battered in Championshup central midfield and the turning tide seemed to put the spark out for Nunez. Personally, I always thought he looks ready-made for exactly the role Emi had with us.

The commission looking into this cleared him of all match fixing allegations. He is not the first nor will be the last to get addicted to gambling and is getting professional help. An 8 month ban is a long time away from your club and colleagues, so a fitting punishment. I wish him well...

Always going to take these guys the best part of a season to adjust. I expect to see him firing after pre season. People are too quick to write off these players who are always going to take some time to adapt the english game

He's more likely to come good if he's played further forward. He's wasted as a deep-lying playmaker as he's not got the defensive nous, or we don't have enough defensive nous in the midfield structure.

Well, Dowell's injuries and whatever it was that was going on with Todd were the main reasons they missed so many games, rather than them not being good enough. Dowell's injury record is the main reason I'm not completely gutted that he's leaving. Clearly Dowell was not great defensively, so it's probably fair to say he wasn't every going to be good enough for us in the PL. But in the Championship, where you'd hope we'd be dominating more games, he had the knack of scoring goals and creating chances for others. As I said, I'll be pleased if anyone we sign this summer can do either of those things as well. It's probably worth saying that I'm basing much of my liking of Dowell on having watched on TV (and some games as highlights). I think he's a real 'highlights player'. What I mean by that is that if you watch the highlights of our games, he's usually involved in most of our best attacking moments, even in games when people who've been there live at the stadium thought he had a shocker. I think there are two ways of reading this: one is that my view of him is biased because I've seen more of his attacking strengths than his defensive weaknesses. The other is that despite those weaknesses, he's worth finding a place for in the team because he makes things happen. I bet his personal xG and xA stats are pretty decent, and I doubt his powder-puff defending often led to chances/goals against. It was a real shame that he got injured just as Wagner had managed to find a role for him (and improve the defensive side of his game) For me, when Todd, KD and Emi were playing behind Pukki, we probably played our best stuff since the 90s (most obviously in that astonishing win over Huddersfield). All four had great vision and imagination, and none of them are here any more. I just think it's a shame.

When people found out it was not a seat for life there were no takers.

Well the area/town could certainly do with some regeneration. Without doubt one of the biggest sh*tholes in the Uk, and I include a number of highly deprived northern dives in that comparison. No doubt another club we will soon be told we can’t compete with within two or three years due to their new ground and proximity to London. Whilst our owners continue to stifle the growth of our club.

The fanbase deserves better than the dross the club has served up for the past 2 years, that's for damn sure.

The last two seasons have been failures - not judged by my metric, yours or any other fans - but by the club themselves. The stated aim was to stay in the Premier League. We failed to do so. The stated aim was to go up this season. We failed to do so. I'm sorry Google Bot but that's just wrong. Webber has been with us for 6 seasons now. One Championship 14th, 2 promotions, 2 in the Prem and one Championship 13th. The previous 6 seasons before Webber? 4 years in the Prem, one getting promoted and one Championship 8th. Any expectations were there before he arrived - he created nothing. Our form was dropping off before the 3 key injuries at the end of the season. In the four games before Kenny was injured we lost 2 and drew 2. We were not an 'in-form' team. Was the drop off even worse once all 3 were out? Absolutely. But the direction of travel was already going one way. Respect your opinion Google Bot but I don't think the facts back it up. OTBC

Saw this quite brilliant ‘genuine fake’ whilst on holiday in Turkey a few years back. It’s quite good other than the badge

That'll be the Sargent that got 13 league goals last season despite spending considerable swathes of it planted out on a wing to accommodate Pukki. He should be the spearhead next season. If he stays fit, he'll go past 13 next time out. Might even hit 20. Barnes won't get as many, but from what Burnley fans are saying he's excellent at bringing others into play when he's not scoring. Don't need to get into a bidding war for someone who is probably a bench player at best. Can spend that money wisely elsewhere. A couple of good centre-halves and a defensive mid for starters.

It's not a news channel, it should be compared with other non-news channels. How does it do against the welsh language version of Paw Patrol?

So did ten other Peterborough players.

There might be new signings too. And whatever team starts the first game is rarely the one that works best in the coming season. It's a squad game now, not first eleven plus reserves.

Truss wouldn't have got anywhere near the top job if it hadn't been for brexit. That and Johnson cleared off the competent tory politicians.

Lovely Jubbly.

Reading the whole article I actually think the ban is very very lenient and he is lucky not to have been banned for longer.

Im just going to focus on the ones I think Sam's got wrong: Hanley - There's no way we'd be able to sell him given his injury, we'll be keeping him for better or worse. Kamara - Keep, because there's no way we'll buy 2 new strikers after Barnes, and see below. Idah - Loan away from Carrow Road. Needs game time, an opportunity away from the crowd to find some goalscoring form. His confidence is shot to pieces. Sargent - Sam thinks sell, I think he's off his rocker. We've lost Pukki already and he wants to cash in on the only other player who for a period this season knew where the net was? Crazy. Sarge needs to be the tip of the spear this season.

https://tradingeconomics.com/euro-area/interest-rate The eurozone has the same problem, as does the US.

Who’s AL? Lol : D

So I tried chatGPT which was a bit more realistic, although we have to forgive that its knowledge cutoff point is two years out of date. As an AI language model, I can provide you with some general suggestions for potential transfer targets for Norwich City FC. However, please note that I don't have access to the latest transfer news or specific team needs beyond my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. It's always best to consult up-to-date sources and the club's official announcements for the most accurate information. That said, here are some types of players Norwich City FC might consider: Championship Standouts: Look for talented players who have performed well in the Championship, as Norwich City has returned to the Premier League after promotion. This could include players like Ivan Toney (Brentford) or Arnaut Danjuma (Bournemouth). Loan Signings: Premier League clubs often loan out talented young players to gain experience. Norwich City could explore loan deals for promising talents from bigger clubs who might benefit from regular game time. For example, a player like Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) or Billy Gilmour (Chelsea) could be considered. Experienced Premier League Players: Adding players with Premier League experience can provide leadership and stability. Look for players who may be available on free transfers or reasonable fees due to contract situations or relegation clauses. For instance, players like Danny Rose (unattached) or Josh King (unattached as of my knowledge cutoff) might be worth considering. Foreign Markets: Norwich City could explore the foreign transfer market for relatively unknown talents who could make an impact. Scandinavian leagues and other European markets have produced some gems in recent years. Scouting young players with potential could pay off in the long run. Defensive Reinforcements: Norwich City might want to strengthen their defense, considering the competitiveness of the Premier League. Look for versatile defenders who can adapt to different systems and potentially provide cover across multiple positions.

Thank god Sam seaman is just a journo. Total muppet selling the entire defence and sarge. Bloke is deluded to think people are going to want to come here after last season. Sam Seaman : sell. Free transfer to first available home for crap writers

Typical brain-washed happy-clapper Norwich City fan setting your sights way too low.

I’ll give you a proper response when I’ve got 5 mins : )

You can only sell if someone is buying. I agree with much of what you are saying but we have to be realistic that if a lot are on contracts and they don't want to move, you are stuck with them.

Managing egos and different personalities is the key job of any manager, regardless of profession. The problem is some real top performers will often have egos and personalities that need managing. I’m sorry but your two options are inherently flawed. Just because bigger stars often have bigger egos doesn’t mean stars at all levels aren’t similar. If you can’t or won’t manage talented people because they require more work you lose out on a bunch of talent and diversity in a team that can help you. Because guess what, the sort of personality who is going to have the guts to stand up and tell the manager things, who is openly frustrated when things are going wrong, who has differing opinions etc. is a similar set of traits to one that’s going to hold their teammates to account and push them, who hates losing, who will fight against the odds and run into brick walls through sheer stubbornness. There are no good or bad personalities despite popular belief, personality traits can be good or bad depending on how they are managed and leveraged. I’m not convinced Farke was good at this despite all the many other talents he had, and it’s key to most top managers success.

Dealing with Legos? Don't walk barefoot. 😉

Only if they’re hot-headed divorcees….

Get yerself one o' these....

Your are an utter moron. It’s ok not to like women’s football, but the rest of your post is just the ramblings of a disgruntled incel. Fortunately your predictions about Tzolis show that your last comment ‘we’ll succeed’ is (like your predictions about Tzolis) going to be proven wrong too. You’re an embarrassment

I'm a bit baffled by the drag thing. Just dressing up as a woman doesn't seem particularly funny to me. The only ones that have ever made me laugh are Paul O'Grady and Karl Minns who are /were exceptionally funny people.

Unless that sexual harassment is taking place in places like Rotherham, then it is much worse these days.

Unfortunately was driving but I do have a dash cam so will see if I can fish it out

Proof or it never happened : D

Isn't that what we've been trying (and spectacularly failing at) for two years now? I'm not sure how this miraculous 'direct' football is supposed to differ from the periods of lumping the ball long for Idah and Sargent to chase into the channels or why it might suddenly work this time. It's pretty obvious to me that, with the departures of Cantwell, Pukki and Dowell, we're looking at a vastly less skillful NCFC next season. Let's not forget that they were 3 of our first choice attacking 4 in our best Championship season ever. People like to pretend it was all Buendia but we've now shipped out the rest of them too and we're significantly worse as a result. Whereas I'd much rather have Sara, Cantwell and Dowell in attacking midfield with Onel nowhere near the first team, based on ability. Unless we make some seriously good signings, I think we're going to have a far worse season next year.

Funny how you didn't want comparisons with Germany at one time. And its not how much more prices are in the EU. Its the rate of increase. Food prices have always been higher in many EU countries.

Oh Yare...you're probably right...

You would be hyper grumpy if you were told to sit back for 8 months when you naturally want to go forward.

Yeah I mean the following signings were all diabolical and didn't help us at all: Zimmerman Vrancic Krul Hanley Skipp Trybull Leitner Stiepermann Onel Etc etc.

He has phrased it very tactfully and gone out of his way to be considerate to the staff who deal with him, but if he wasn't frustrated then he wouldn't have written the letter. Just at face value, being uprooted each week if you don't want to be seems unfair and discriminatory given that able-bodied season ticket holders don't have that problem. If there are FA rules that are forcing this situation (anybody have any idea why?) then it sounds like a bit of wider understanding of the rules would be worthwhile. Regardless of the motives for the OP, I think it's a fair question worth considering on its own merits for Colin's benefit.

He's still not over it

Nope....Our current DoF bloke in my opinion is still a smug Charlatan...

His comments reflect badly on the club - he's part of the PR machinery. I know his main role is to direct all aspects of football at NCFC but a "family friendly" club can't be doing with comments from a bloke who talks as if he is half-tanked at the local boozer and spoiling for a scrap. Someone from the board (not the missus) needs to give him a telling off.