San Fran Van Rams

Surely even if we, as fans with no detailed knowledge of the clubs financial position, make irresponsible requests the blame still sits with the owner/board. It is their responsibility to ignore/turn down any such irresponsible requests (ideally with an explanation). 

But we didn’t have a choice in terms of who we trust to run the club, we did not elect them did we…

I think the main point from the game is there is no evidence at all so far that things are any different from last season. Slow, ponderous, lots of playing between centre halves and defenders, lots of sideways and backwards. No intensity out of possession, no quick transition when winning the ball back. Didn't ever really stretch or get behind them. 
When Salford sat off us first half we looked ok but much like last season, we offered very little in the final third. Couple of outside the box shots and our best chance fell to Baldock, who inexplicably when one on one with the keeper tried to pass square to a marked Morrison and the danger passed.
I'd said last season my biggest concern was going into this season with Rosenior and Walker as the coaching team behind Rooney, and that he needed some experience and improvement around him. It hasn't happened and I'm afraid the status quo off the pitch is being reflected as a status quo on it. 
 
 

Can we calm down a little? This is an early preseason game where we need to both try out trialists as we can only sign four and attempt to change our woeful playing style from last season. Rooney said after ManU that this game was going to be how we deal with more possession with a different style from the season before. Bird said in an interview it's a change up. Can someone who watched the game give me some idea of what this lookes like today without just shouting we lost 2-1 to a league two side?

Can we calm down a little? This is an early preseason game where we need to both try out trialists as we can only sign four and attempt to change our woeful playing style from last season. Rooney said after ManU that this game was going to be how we deal with more possession with a different style from the season before. Bird said in an interview it's a change up. Can someone who watched the game give me some idea of what this lookes like today without just shouting we lost 2-1 to a league two side?

OK, a real mixed bag. The result obviously wasn't good but a good exercise against a team who pressed high, were competitive & keen to game manage - very similar to sides we'll be playing this season. Lets also not forget Salford are highly likely to be finishing top 3 in League Two this coming season (one of the biggest budgets in bottom 2 divisions) so not a massive difference quality wise.
First half we were unfortunate to go in behind. Totally dominated before the goal & even with their tails up after their goal (and pressing higher), we were still able to play through them. Bird was particularly good first half - they struggled to press us effectively because he controlled the tempo & was unafraid to pass through the lines. Carroll & Morrison also had moments of breaking through Salford's midfield but as an overall unit, the intensity wasn't good enough - too many touches, too pedestrian & not enough movement from those further forward. That said, still had a few chances - Aluko should have scored, Morrison unfortunate with header, Carroll should have got his effort on target & there were other instances of decent delivery but not enough bodies in the box.
Poor goal to concede start of the second half (first goal just a fluke - Morrison really unfortunate to concede a penalty) - poor pass from Shinnie & whilst Elliott is good in the air, to rise so easily between McDonald & Wisdom was not good enough - even if you factor in they'd only been on 6/7 mins. Thereafter, we still created chances - Baldock did well with one effort but an atrocious decision to try & pass to Morrison for the near open goal
Positives - felt Jagielka & Stearman looked very solid & rarely troubled, Sibley looked really bright when he came on, good to see Bird playing with such confidence, Forsyth put in some great delivery from left side second half (as did Byrne first half)
As a takeaway, I like how we're trying to play but we need to work on the intensity of our attacking play & one touch stuff - we're not going to open disciplined teams up otherwise. Some of that will be pre-season rustiness & a lot of new faces - we can improve & we will improve.

Thought Bird played quite well going forward, he made loads of really nice incisive passes forward in to the front four, not his fault they didn't do anything with it. He looked slightly lightweight defensively though. 
Forsyth played well when he came on, by far our best crosser of the ball. Buchanan really needs to learn from him how to do that. Sibley was bright and Ebosele looked exciting,while Morrison seemed inventive. 
The rest of them... Meh

We looked a largely carbon copy of last seasons side 
Decent tidy Possession in comfortable Areas of the pitch where the opposition allowed us to have or didn’t press so intensely.
tried to do the right things higher up but ultimately had no one with the ability to make a difference in tight areas or where it mattered 
then concede two very avoidable goals albeit one was a cracking header but the build up to it was typically clsssic soft Derby 
with little over two weeks away and zero clarity on anything off the pitch I am v concerned with how this season is shaping up 
Am hoping .. praying things get sorted imminently 
 

Nothing when we got near their penalty box. Their players looked  stronger and faster and had more self belief. We struggled when they closed down our defenders when passing out from the back. 

Can we calm down a little? This is an early preseason game where we need to both try out trialists as we can only sign four and attempt to change our woeful playing style from last season. Rooney said after ManU that this game was going to be how we deal with more possession with a different style from the season before. Bird said in an interview it's a change up. Can someone who watched the game give me some idea of what this lookes like today without just shouting we lost 2-1 to a league two side?

Can we calm down a little? This is an early preseason game where we need to both try out trialists as we can only sign four and attempt to change our woeful playing style from last season. Rooney said after ManU that this game was going to be how we deal with more possession with a different style from the season before. Bird said in an interview it's a change up. Can someone who watched the game give me some idea of what this lookes like today without just shouting we lost 2-1 to a league two side?

Seems to me, when you can only sign four. You better make sure those four will add some type of value. Only way to sort that is by giving them game time. Giving game time in a meaningless friendly (as far as the regular season is concerned). Seems perfect. 
 
Yes, Sibbo’s better. Everybody is getting plenty of minutes this championship season. 
 
I’d rather find out early on who of the only four we can sign will help us along the way too. 
 
coyr!
 

Agreed we're light if we get injuries.In fact, if we get any injuries in any position we're going to struggle. We're paper thin, just saying that a fully fit squad doesn't look that bad on said thin paper.

Agree. 
A side with Bielik, a fully functioning Morrison/Sibley, Carroll/ Knight, Jozwiak/Aluko, Lawrence and CKR isn't a bad attacking force at all. Defense still a worry but Jags and Wisdom would be a pretty potent pairing too. Its not looking all that bad this season if we can actually sign these lads.

Don't believe in second team nonsense, how can you have a second team? It's weird, it's adultery.

Aha you plastic fan you with your sanctimonious excuses.....don't you realise you're just hurting the club you support ?

Here's my take on Players of Professional Standing and Established Players.
Note: I'm not sure I have Bobby Duncan and Courtney Clarke's statistics correct, nor whether Clarke's FA Cup appearances for Whyteleafe in rounds before the First Round Proper actually count or not.

To be fair on Charlotte Ram, its extremely difficult to get into the US without having an existing US visa. Getting a US visa (e.g. H1B, B1, L1 etc.) was made difficult by Trump, who then suspended the visa programs for sometime. This created a big backlog so even when Biden came in and released the brakes, it still takes a long time to get one. This is on top of the COVID restrictions which mean that even if you have a visa you still can't enter if you've been in certain countries 14 days prior (this incl. UK, EU etc.).
That being said, Mel may already have a US visa or green card (I wouldn't be surprised if he did) so the only real blocker to him getting into the US would be travelling from a banned country. Even then, a quick two week stop over in Mexico or the Caribbean would mean he could get in.

To be fair on Charlotte Ram, its extremely difficult to get into the US without having an existing US visa. Getting a US visa (e.g. H1B, B1, L1 etc.) was made difficult by Trump, who then suspended the visa programs for sometime. This created a big backlog so even when Biden came in and released the brakes, it still takes a long time to get one. This is on top of the COVID restrictions which mean that even if you have a visa you still can't enter if you've been in certain countries 14 days prior (this incl. UK, EU etc.).
That being said, Mel may already have a US visa or green card (I wouldn't be surprised if he did) so the only real blocker to him getting into the US would be travelling from a banned country. Even then, a quick two week stop over in Mexico or the Caribbean would mean he could get in.

My remarks were not aimed at you and I apologise if it came across as such, my comments were aimed at the board in general whereby there is an almost total lack of understanding on the mechanics of a business sale and purchase, but posters pontificate on the subject as if they are experts.
My final comment is that club did not have enough cash for wages in their bank account but as soon as Mel knew the situation he paid them, given this was over a holiday period he may not have been initially contactable for a variety of reasons. 

Completely disagree. There were historical examples of BZI not pulling through on similar deals. We should have made sure we had sufficient liquidity in the event that happened again. 
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But that wasn't hindsight, it was blind optimism.

I’m merely playing devils advocate 

Completely disagree. There were historical examples of BZI not pulling through on similar deals. We should have made sure we had sufficient liquidity in the event that happened again. 
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But that wasn't hindsight, it was blind optimism.

On its own, I actually agree with the 3 point suspended penalty. Not paying staff should never happen unless administration has been entered and even then it should be a last resort. 
The issue here is that there are historical examples of other clubs doing similar and going un punished, and Sheff Wed getting a seemingly a lesser penalty for a more severe crime. That doesn't sit right.
The fact this also impacts two clubs who have been in the EFL spot light in the last season speaks volumes too. This is the EFL waving it's 'big' (read small) dick around.
I also think Derby didn't appeal this as they probably didn't know what the Wednesday punishment was when they accepted it to get some breathing space. 
Out of interest, was it the EFL or the DC that set the punishment?

On its own, I actually agree with the 3 point suspended penalty. Not paying staff should never happen unless administration has been entered and even then it should be a last resort. 
The issue here is that there are historical examples of other clubs doing similar and going un punished, and Sheff Wed getting a seemingly a lesser penalty for a more severe crime. That doesn't sit right.
The fact this also impacts two clubs who have been in the EFL spot light in the last season speaks volumes too. This is the EFL waving it's 'big' (read small) dick around.
I also think Derby didn't appeal this as they probably didn't know what the Wednesday punishment was when they accepted it to get some breathing space. 
Out of interest, was it the EFL or the DC that set the punishment?