DraytonBoy

There are obviously several ways to look at the same statistics, two years ago City averaged 2 goals a game but so far this season it's 1.35, does this mean City have struggled for goals or are teams that much harder to break down now?

Is the standard of the Championship lower than two years ago?

Leeds have several injuries, three out of the four first team signings are out and Philips has also missed the last two games. Apart from Raphinha the current first XI is last years Championship side so it's no surprise they're struggling.

Big game on Friday against the runaway leaders.😀

If you're not naturally quick no amount of modern training is going to change that, the likes of Iwan Roberts couldn't be transformed from carthorse to greyhound for example, he was suited to a style of play that was effective at the time but would just look out of place now.

The game is so quick now many of the players I watched in the 70's and 80's just wouldn't be able to keep up.

Brentford had to replace Watkins but given they got £28 million+ for him spending a fraction of that was not a massive financial gamble. As things have turned out who would you rather have Hugill or Toney?

Norwich City.😀

Not in a million years, Aarons is valued at £20 million max with Buendia less than that.

Despite the current poor run of results City are still top and averaging two points a game which is promotion form, given the next few games are against lower opposition I'd start Idah to see what he can do as Pukki looks devoid of confidence at the moment.

I have no doubt that City will be promoted, the real concern is how will this squad will fare next season especially up front. Pukki will be 32 in a year's time, Idah is only really a 'prospect' and Hughill isn't exactly prolific.

The piece actually says they're £90 million worse off, given that they had cash reserves of over £40 million at the end of the last financial year that would leave a current debt level of around £50 million. With tv money of £100 million+ and one of the lowest wage bills in the PL I don't see they're in too bad a position providing they stay up which is looking likely so overall it's not too bad an investment, what is perhaps questionable is the method of financing the takeover.

The big difference for me is that City still don't have enough PL standard players whereas Palace and Newcastle do but can't find a level of consistency. For example, assuming they go up where are the goals going to come from?

That's quite a statement SG, I'd agree with W Brom, Sheff Utd and Fulham but Palace, Wolves and Newcastle?

How many current City players do you think will achieve more?

I think Bamford has finally matured into the decent player many thought he could be and the stats so far confirm that, 11 goals and 4 assists in 20 games.

I think the result highlights how poor Man Utd can be rather than an indication that Sheff Utd have a chance of staying up.

Burnley's recent longevity in the PL should give hope to every Championship club fighting for promotion.

Sheff Utd really struggled after the re-start last season and spent poorly in the summer so it's not really a surprise they're at the bottom, similarly W Brom who only just scraped promotion didn't improve their squad and are now getting hammered regularly. I think those two are certainties for the drop along with either Fulham, Burnley or Brighton.

Leeds have got two crucial games coming up (Burnley at home and W Brom away), 6 points will mean only needing around 18 more from the last 22 games to stay up, lose both though and Bielsa will be under pressure. Way too soon to be worried about relegation but the defence is a concern.

Nothing I've read suggests Cantwell was ever seriously on the Leeds radar and I just don't see him as a direct replacement for Hernandez .

If he was going to be sacked it should have been done at the end of last season, anyone coming in now would have to work with the same group of players possibly minus Cantwell, Aarons and Buendia. The squad ought to be good enough to challenge for the top six as a minimum but there is clearly a complete lack in confidence at the moment and Farke has to inject some sort of belief in the players. On the plus side it's only four games in so there is months to turn this around.

Has anyone actually put a bid in for Cantwell, Leeds certainly haven't?

£20 million - cheap? https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/22/barcelona-and-norwich-hold-talks-over-max-aarons-transfer

I saw a clip of fans at Blackpool yesterday, no masks and there were small groups singing, didn't think that was allowed?