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Ah, that old chestnut. So not true and so many examples of too young sports men and women being put in adult environments too early - read John Bostock's story on the BBC website, or virtually any teenage gymnast's story from as recently as last year. Not only relating to sport either - look at how many child actors struggle with life. When you get rewards too early, especially these kinds of ultimate rewards, it can be extremely harmful. There is a reason that the age of majority is 18.

3-5-2 with Pope in goal, Alexander-Arnold and Chilwell as the wingbacks, Maguire, Gomez, Coady at the back; Maddison, Henderson and Grealish in the middle, Kane and Rashford up front. Sterling, Sancho, Greenwood, Barnes, Foden, Phillips, Mings, Tarkowski, Henderson, Ings and Rice on the bench.

I don't believe that's true about the word "coloured" or that it has been inappropriate since the 1960s - that's just trying to rewrite history. The term is actually still used acceptably in South Africa by the black community (at least it was when I was last there two years ago) and if you Google it the BBC were still using it descriptively in articles as recently as 2015. It's only a comparatively recent change in the UK, but as ever when such things change, you look back and wonder how the hell we could have got it so wrong for so long. The point you make about Greg Clarke and his apparent lack of media training is pertinent though - how can such an organisation not provide up to date guidance and training for their Chairman?

I appreciate that Bellingham is very highly rated, but deciding to go to Dortmund and not face the intensity of the Premier League was justified by him and his family/agent because he thought he would develop better there. I'm not sure how he can suddenly fit into an England team when he has never even met his teammates, let alone played against or with them. Sancho has already shown how difficult it is to adapt, as have others before him. I confess that if I was an English premier league player performing well week in, week out (like Grealish, Maddison, even Barkley) and not getting picked so that the management could look at a 17 year old who has rejected our top league, I would be pretty unimpressed. It also does Bellingham no favours, just as it did Walcott no favours, to be put under such pressure. I really think that sometimes the people who are at the top of football just completely lose their marbles.

The FA now have a chance to actually employ someone who gets the game at all levels and who fits the current agendas - perhaps an ex-player instead of yet another corporate; perhaps a woman. Whoever they choose, I do hope it's a progressive move rather than more of the same.

We're a point off where I predicted we would be before the start of the season - but I do have us losing the next two games so we have a chance to catch that up.

No generalising there then...... and no, 12 months isn't standard. My last one was three years and I don't use the underground, have a coke habit or a materialistic trophy wife, but I'd quite happily consider all three. 😊

I said on here many times that Godfrey is a gifted footballer but not a great defender, and getting what we got for him was extremely good business. He might become the next Van Dijk though and certainly had huge potential. But are we stronger defensively without him and with Gibson playing - yes. Are we stronger defensively without Gibson playing - no. Gibson is unquestionably a better defender than Godfrey at the moment , but interesting to see Zimbo playing the crossfield passes to Mumba (almost like they knew what they were doing), which kind of replaces Godfrey's ability to hit such a pass.

Athletics has been using the chest crossing the line to split finishers for the last 70 years or so - no one argues with it, even those who would have won if it was the head. It is mind boggling that the people who run football can't come up with a definitive rule which can be easily understood. Whether that is foot, head, arm doesn't matter as long as everyone understands it. That and the handball rule are the two things impacting the game - not VAR or technology; the people who run the game are the ones to blame, because they like us to talk about this stuff - it keeps football in the headlines.

If you think that's an expensive gardening leave you've never worked in the City. They are no longer assets - they are worthless to the club - that's what they've been told. The damage they could do in and around the team would potentially run into the tens of millions. If they don't get a club soon they'll have their contracts paid up - Drmic and Leitner have probably already had the offer. If they reject that offer they'll be paid to the end of their contract but won't play football, so it's up to them what motivates them. They could probably easily get a contract in League One and negotiate a pay off from Norwich to make up the difference in wages.

Yes, many times. I think you must have had your eyes closed when you went there. Huge supporter base in Reading - maybe all those people need some relief from their "over-priced commuter huts". The riverside area is very similar to the same one in Norwich and the town centres themselves are quite similar. Norwich has more history but Berkshire as a county is a similar size, and as it is much nearer than Norfolk to other major conurbations they have a lot more outliers as supporters. Derby certainly has some industrial character and history, but the catchment isn't there because of the number of local teams, so it's ultimate potential appears to be limited. Hence why I wouldn't invest there if I was a billionaire. Wycombe would be better than both though.

Does anyone think it's remotely possible that this chap may have approached a number of clubs before finally being accepted by Derby? Or did he just choose Derby? I think that's unlikely. I think it's possible that he has tried some others, possibly even Norwich, before ending up at Derby because they were the most desperate. If I were a billionaire with no affiliations in football but wanted to spend several billion on massaging my ego, personally I'd choose a club like Wycombe - massive catchment area, no EPL club within 50 miles, huge opportunity to build something - or Reading, great ground, good supporter base, real potential. Derby? Meh....

I agree with the OP. Seldom that anyone gets below a 6, even when they have an absolute stinker. Conversely, if Krul doesn't have a lot to do, but does everything he is asked to do perfectly, why does he still get a 6?

This isn't a Sunday League side. They're not playing with their mates. They are professional footballers and their boss has told them they are no longer required to work. There is a contract in place which has to be honoured but why would you want people around who are no longer part of the firm's plans? It's a shame in some ways that all three have been moved on, but they have. But we should feel sorry for them picking up their £20 or £30k a week for doing nothing? I don't think I do.

I do think though that in quality of performance terms he went backwards towards the end of last season and we did very well to get the fee we did. Jacob Murphy is starting to turn it around though, so maybe Lewis will too. I never thought Lewis was good enough at being strong to be a top class fullback. I still think he'd make a better wingback.

I think the OP raises a decent point. Grealish has matured (a little) into a very decent player who influences almost every game he appears in. Can Cantwell do that? Not sure. I don't think his social media presence is at all relevant. He needs to show on the pitch how influential he can be. It may be that his ego took a hit when no one came in for him despite his agents apparent work to make it happen, and at 22, knuckling down to prove yourself with hard work and commitment certainly wasn't top of my list. I trust Farke to understand him and his motivations. When he gets picked I expect him to give everything. If he doesn't, not only will he not turn into Grealish, he will end up in League Two on loan.

So you think a club can't catch up 12 points in 46 games or to 6th place from where they are now, with 36 games to go? I beg to differ. I know a couple of Wednesday fans and they certainly never thought they couldn't make the playoffs - I would say that now they are pretty positive they can.

I've only just received my copy in the post, and at first glance they do seem to be very badly presented. I can't see an explanation as to why there are two Balance Sheets (pages 14 and 15) for the same period showing different figures - anyone enlighten me?

You've never actually run a company have you?

Are you sure it wasn't £300m, what with all the prize money we got for finishing bottom? Delia's new house must be enormous.

Correct - and yet Farke still took him off when he was our MOM by a country mile.

I'm going for a 0-0 draw, with us having 27 attempts but not really looking like scoring.

Well, Brentford made £28m up front for Watkins so that probably helped a bit and another potential £20m odd for Benrahma gives them some further insurance. You think Toney would have joined us to be a back up striker? And you also think Buendia, Vrancic, Rupp etc can't cross a ball? You really also think that Hugill is "not that good with his back to goal, not particularly good in the air?" Have you seen Hugill play before this season?

A small point, but no one is immune from confirmation basis...........even those who claim they are. And while I'm here, playing Skipp at right wing back and taking Rupp off were both stupid moves. I love Farke, but the man's not infallible.

He's a shell politician looking for a cause, desperate to stay relevant. He should have just retired gracefully having delivered his life's work.