Longlostfan

I remember after one dismal showing his report had the headline 'what a load of rubbish' For some years my sister had a laminated copy of it on her wall at university

I think many clubs which fall out of the EFL are in a pretty bad way. It isn't so surprising that it takes time to recover (if they recover at all). Mr Shanklys analysis shows it is harder than many will assume. If relegation coincides/ prompts new ownership then there will be new owner hype/ expectations Fans- some of ours included- still think they re better than the previous seasons results. There aren't too many clubs yo-yoing between league 2 and national league. Perhaps that says a well organised club promoted from the national league is plenty competitive with the failing bottom half of league 2. And most seasons I'd expect there to be 4 or 5 giving it a good go for the two promotion slots. So I'd agree- many underestimate how hard it can be down here.

literally everywhere where there is a mass with a velocity

now that would be something special(s)

you might be overthinking this Monty. Previous years we have started August with 5 or fewer, scrambled to get bodies in, wasted half a season waiting for them to gel under their third manager of the season. This year we have a core of a squad under contract- this should be a no news story. The players who definitely won't be here know early and can get their agents working etc to find their next place. Some of those under contract may well move on before the start of next season. We won't know what was said unless the player chooses to tweet it etc but one could imagine something like ' look son you don't really feature in my plans, your my 4th choice for x position , I'd be happy for you to move on, won't stand in your way if your agent finds you something else...... but if you stay and prove me wrong I'm OK with that' As stated above bonuses, appearance fees, playing regularly all help get the next contract so a move might be in their best interests.

I'm not party to this contract so couldn't say for sure in this case. However I have seen reports of other transfer contracts with clauses that cover subsequent sales assuming of course that the selling club includes such a clause for themselves. I think an Exeter example was quoted on here a couple of months back. Imagine for example we have a 20% sell on clause including subsequent gains Hull sell for £10m to Moneybags FC - we get £2m and Hull have included a 20% sell on clause for their benefit Moneybags then sell him for £60m, so Hull get £12m of which we then get 20% ie another £2.4m. That would look like a decent bit of business and that investment would make a real difference to the team. If such a scenario came to pass I could live without seeing him in a Latics shirt again. Of course it is entirely possible he sees his entire career out a Hull or leaves on a free in which case Yarddog's suggestion of keeping better players becomes more compelling. Time will tell. In the time he was with us he tried to make a difference and provided some excitement, and on that basis I wish him well apart from when we have to knock him out in the 5th round of the FA Cup in a couple of years.

Good luck to the lad. I hope he does well- be handy if he moved every two years for increasingly stupid amounts of money with Frank getting a smaller portion of a bigger pot each time.

Both GMR and York commentaries on the Beeb for anyone not there tonight https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/64098356

could we loan them Unsworth for a month as caretaker?

I think 39% win record would put him in the top ten of the god knows how many since Big Joe. Add a few draws from the remaining 60% and it would look like a good season. Not saying I'd want him here, and 39% is nearly twice what he did here but how many 65 point seasons have we had this century?

Willie Donachie 'recently' stopped managing Montserrat according to the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62926483

Nice one BP- good hunting Though if I were you I might try and arrange a game to view every Saturday rather than enduring our current home form.

Not sure it is that weird tbh. There will be efl players on half season loans who will possibly available in the new year. Perhaps the club is working their contacts to get someone currently playing elsewhere. Be great to have a better team now but I'd take his planning in advance as a positive for now.

but a big chunk of that is that we are operating two divisions below

He was certainly one of the first. I think by the time it was settled he might technically have been the second. Afraid I cant remember who so can't give due credit but someone recently posted an interview with him. https://www.lcfc.com/history/players Casts a different light on things compared to my small boy disappointment.

Different times, I remember going with my dad to collect early bird season tickets and it was a surprise to learn one or two had been released, the team evolved rather than 15 new faces every time. Felt like when Alan Young left he was doing the dirty on the club. We didn't get much insight into the goings on back then. If the recently posted interview is accurate one can't really blame him for doubling his pay. I remember being annoyed by the manner of his departure. Stainrod's departure - though inevitable was genuinely upsetting.

I don't think Milligan was unsung BP. I think he was recognised as being a vital part of that great side. In my opinion he was one of the less gifted players, but like many players when playing with better players they too look better. He and Henry had relatively simple jobs- get the ball knock it five yards to one of the many runners be it winger or attacking full back. They did that job well.

I'll cross 'em over, you head 'em in !! Can you both bring your boots today please.

thanks for the insight Bobledgersheart. My sympathies to his family and friends. Pete could you explain this concept of making a profit on a player please. Its possibly something that would be useful to the current owners.

Before my time but if wiki is correct 8 goals in 12. Looks like he dropped from first division to third for a part of a season before leaving us to go the second division. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Kinnell

I think I was at all the 1980's ones might have missed the simod cup. Was the Orient game the one in the snow- think I remember wearing two pairs of trousers and still being freezing in a thinly populated Chaddy.

Of the following which announcement would have made you happy? -Connor has turned down our offer and will seek opportunities elsewhere -Out of contract ex-player joins local rivals -Connor joins ambitious local side in preference to our car crash of a club but we would like to thank him for last year and wish him every success in the next stage of his career. In an age where large parts of squads are not contracted for the following season I don't expect updates on every subsequent player move. Maybe something like the below? A released/ sold list- for those on contract - with appropriate recognition of past service A list of players whose contract has ended and a new one is not under discussion- again with appropriate recognition where derserved A list of ongoing negotiations which should be updated as talks conclude either sucessfully or otherwise.

Thanks and well done for taking the lead on this. I might have missed it but couldn't see any detail on how it works. Clearly Clubforce take a cut, perhaps there are other expenses too. After expenses how are the takings split- what percentage goes to the foundation fund vs the prize pot?

Thought that was a well written piece. Rowe has goals in him- just needs to be used right. Not sure we did but he still scored a few beauties. I was disappointed when he went, but there are more goals in this side than I expected. Thanks for the memories Dan, good luck.

ah- Ok. I thought he had only been contracted until 2019.