May Contain Nuts

It really isn't. Tribalism is a stain on football.
I used to think it's what football was about, but then I grew up. 
Tribalism leads to hate, leads to violence, leads to sad old men shouting disgusting things at other people.
Enjoy the game, enjoy supporting your team, enjoy cheering them on, but not at the expense of daft "anti-the other" sentiment.
I want England to win, sure, but if they don't, it's no matter. Other things are more important. Representing your nation well, respecting the game, the opposition, the officials, other supporters.
One love.

Really.
The intense tribalism I felt as a kid has definitely waned. It's a sport to be enjoyed now rather than any extension of me. 
I love the Olympics and watching a Usain Bolt win gives me pleasure even if he's not English. Same with the Tour de France, great when Froome was winning (even though he himself never felt British) but I still watch and enjoy it regardless. 
So..yes it adds spice if they are English but it's not the be all anymore. 
My kids are also much less bothered than I am...they like watching Mbappe or Neymar do tricks, they love Juventus kits...the world seems a smaller place to them. 

Sheik Khaled, Henry Gabay, Surviving on the final day.
Erik Alonso, Points deduction? Steve Gibson's self-combustion.
EFL hate us, Rotherham too, Wycombe might even try to sue.
In the Championship we will play, only fined a hundred k.
We didn't start the fire...

Unless that advantage was being one of the top 3 spenders on wages in each of the seasons being looked at we haven’t pished it anywhere.
We’ve ran an (unsustainable) wage bill that has probably ranged from top 4 to top 10 in the division and have more often than not been a top 6 team in that time period. Few unlucky defeats in play off games to teams that have spent more than us / have gamed the system to a greater extent than we have (delete as appropriate) has meant we haven’t gone up, so be it. When football comes down to one off games it can at times be luck based and that’s why we all love it. We’ve now tightened that wage bill, understandably, but I get the feeling that won’t or indeed hasn’t stopped you moaning that we will be less competitive in the league now.
Don’t think we are “victims” as such but it is curious that just winning one of those set of play offs would see our strategy highlighted as a great success story and have fans of other clubs saying “wow look how well Derby are run” like you see from some on here re. Leeds, Villa, Wolves, Bournemouth and so on.
Unfortunately by not going up due to these fine margins we have found ourselves in the cross hairs of the EFL who’s rules are so clear that they are now seeking to change or clarify the rules that supposedly found us guilty. We are not victims of other teams cheating, in my opinion, but we have been victim of the EFL going on a crusade after the football club and creating a narrative that we are the villains of football with their vindictive, unclear statements and obvious leaks to the press.
Yesterday’s news should have been celebrated across football, that no precedent was set to retrospectively relegate a team for off field matters that were signed off for three years by an organisation that didn’t understand their own rules. I get the feeling it wasn’t though, because a narrative has been created that if you push spending limits and do not get promoted, you are worse than those who push limits and do.

Or ask Gibson if he wants decking 

Should’ve told him to make sure he amortises his pint in a straight line. No sipping at the start and downing the last half at the end.

Ignoring 'poppa pumps his own because nobody else will', I had to laugh at this one
 

Literally the opposite of what happened. There was no exam until someone outside of the process called foul, besides even if there were any questions they were written in invisible ink.
We wrote down some answers, they poured some lemon juice on the invisible ink and then decreed that our answers were wrong and tried to punish us for writing whatever it was we wrote, and demanded that we state in great depth why we answered the questions (which we couldn't predict) in the way that we chose to. They weren't asked to explain in anywhere near the same detail  why they wrote the rules in invisible ink in the first place.
One set of adjudicators decided that we had no real case to answer and that if rules were supposed to be followed, they should have been written down.
The examination board reviewed it and claimed that we should have been able to assume the correct answers based on the subject of the quiz,
On a second hearing the first set of adjudicators better explained their position, so the examination board weren't called into action.

The most concerning part of all of this really does come down to the IQ of the average football fan. I've seen no end of people, and by no end I mean at least 90%, not able to understand WHY we were even in court against the EFL. 
In fact, I would say at least 80% believe it was the EFL that has let us off lightly. It's quite concerning how quickly people will jump on something without even reading any of the actual story. Wycombe fans were demanding their owner to sue the EFL and Derby for letting us off. I mean, you would think Wycombe with their investment in this case would at least read the story (some did, and were quick to point it out) but the large majority didn't. 
It's honestly baffled me and made me wonder exactly what things do we hear, where we don't have this level of investment and do similar things? For the Forest and Leeds fans, I just assumed they can't read. It was at least 98% of their comments which still believe we're up against the EFL for the stadium. I'm surprised the daft twits can even conjure the intelligence to open their eyes in the morning. 

We should check with Bris. 

Ignoring 'poppa pumps his own because nobody else will', I had to laugh at this one
 

Literally the opposite of what happened. There was no exam until someone outside of the process called foul, besides even if there were any questions they were written in invisible ink.
We wrote down some answers, they poured some lemon juice on the invisible ink and then decreed that our answers were wrong and tried to punish us for writing whatever it was we wrote, and demanded that we state in great depth why we answered the questions (which we couldn't predict) in the way that we chose to. They weren't asked to explain in anywhere near the same detail  why they wrote the rules in invisible ink in the first place.
One set of adjudicators decided that we had no real case to answer and that if rules were supposed to be followed, they should have been written down.
The examination board reviewed it and claimed that we should have been able to assume the correct answers based on the subject of the quiz,
On a second hearing the first set of adjudicators better explained their position, so the examination board weren't called into action.

Ignoring 'poppa pumps his own because nobody else will', I had to laugh at this one
 

Literally the opposite of what happened. There was no exam until someone outside of the process called foul, besides even if there were any questions they were written in invisible ink.
We wrote down some answers, they poured some lemon juice on the invisible ink and then decreed that our answers were wrong and tried to punish us for writing whatever it was we wrote, and demanded that we state in great depth why we answered the questions (which we couldn't predict) in the way that we chose to. They weren't asked to explain in anywhere near the same detail  why they wrote the rules in invisible ink in the first place.
One set of adjudicators decided that we had no real case to answer and that if rules were supposed to be followed, they should have been written down.
The examination board reviewed it and claimed that we should have been able to assume the correct answers based on the subject of the quiz,
On a second hearing the first set of adjudicators better explained their position, so the examination board weren't called into action.

Spare a thought for Morecambe, who are now unable to sell their £80mil stadium. They should have taken the opportunity quickly when it was revealed that the EFL's 'expert' valued it the same last year.

I think it was more down to him being only half fit, 34, and in some squads at the time our only recognised centre forward.
I disagree with it tactically, but could understand why it might be being done, it's just that when half fit he was losing a lot of the physical battles he'd previously been winning, his actual heading ability is not the the greatest so playing as a target man didn't really work, and it meant he stopped being of much use outside the box as well.
However that was probably better than asking him to do too much and ending up with nobody to play there at all!
Knight and Sibley are both players who if played centrally are a threat when running with it and playing a 1-2 with a deep lying forward, as we saw when they played with Martin, Shinnie too but he's less likely to be a goal threat.

Even more good news! #COYR

The "we only have 10 men" chant, just got a little too real ?

Excellent wok, you should be proud....

TamworthRam,
No, it hasn't. You said keeping Rotherham up would be the maddest thing. Really? I pointed out that the entire football industry is bizarre then. We could get relegated - retrospective unlikely - in the next month yet elite clubs can bend/break rules, or accrue loses in the hundreds of millions (Juventus).
I'm focusing on the final round because - as said already - three sides had a realistic chance to survive the drop and one of them wasn't Wycombe unless they scored 13 goals. Yes, 13 goal away wins are the norm, you see them every week on Quest. They were as good as relegated in name by Matchday 45. And yet that is the side who may be ultimately reprieved. I've already explained myself at length. 
I've pointed out to you how Wycombe won 5 games in 35? Does that sound competitive to you taking into account a whole season?  Rotherham lost to Wycombe at home, so they only have themselves to blame, but this is a side who allegedly created as many chances as Watford (flagged up on Quest). My main bone of contention is that one side was affected by Covid, rightly or wrongly calling games off, (no further action taken by the EFL), another was not. This is a factor not taken into account by a league table.
I've given you examples about how a backlog of games can affect sides, or rest between games can help footballers recovery time.
Don't you think sides, like Wycombe, knew through the football grapevine that Derby could still be relegated,? The whole farce is also tinged with cynicism. 'We're all in it together, one big football family, the Championship.' No, it isn't if you can find a way, any way to circumvent things. 
Why is it madness? I think it's mad that you don't seem to be taking into account the fact that this season has not been like any normal season in recent history. 46 games played between mid Sep to early May?  Really?  Where was the provision for any possible Covid outbreaks to be rescheduled? There were none because the EFL happily wended on their way because they have to keep tv companies & the public happy & entertained, the former, in particular, as its paymaster, a source of revenue to clubs . Why do you think the government were happy to have football back rather than arts & culture? Because it kept a restive public entertained in a time of crisis. 'The show must go on'.
Football without fans - which, to be honest, I found as pointless as the point about Rotherham, in fairness,  some posters seem to think I am making. Broadcasters putting artificial effects/crowd noises to generate atmosphere in games that looked liked glorified friendlies. You don't think that's odd? 
 

I do always think it's funny our poor results were put down Cocu's methods leaving the players confused, the methods too difficult for them to grasp, too complicated, boring etc 
These very same players (baring a couple of swap-outs) seemed perfectly able to grasp the methods from January to July when we won ten and drew 4 of 17 games (we night even have scored in every one of those games, I can't remember exactly), with the inclusion of Martin & a fitter Rooney.
I also find the talk of Cocu being unwilling to listen and being too stubborn funny when it was him doing the complete opposite of that which lead directly to his downfall.
The change in approach from the Norwich game... yes I know we won it, but it was 1 game... based on listening to the players caused more problems then it solved, really Cocu should have stuck to his guns - changing it up only added to the confusion and he kind of undermined himself at a time others were perfectly happy to do it for him.
Rooney is praised for simplifying things, but that had already started - by the end of the season we were so dumbed down that, well, I don't even need to say anything further, the results speak for themselves.

Is there any way an appeal by us could be seen as frivolous (seeing as we've been found guilty, even if it's of very little) and see the punishment go up, like how red card appeals can get games added onto the ban?
I can't imagine us appealing a 100k fine would be looked upon too favourable when the opinion of some is that we're lucky to get away with that as it is.

Would the LAP need to find that there was some fault in the original disciplinary panel's decision making process for any punishment to be overruled/increased, like they did when saying they shouldn't have ruled out the EFL's expert witness the first time around?
Assuming the original panel have covered their own arses better this time, is there even anything for the LAP to contest?
It can't just come down to... well our opinion trumps yours, can it? There has to be some legal founding, beyond mere professional disagreement.

I do always think it's funny our poor results were put down Cocu's methods leaving the players confused, the methods too difficult for them to grasp, too complicated, boring etc 
These very same players (baring a couple of swap-outs) seemed perfectly able to grasp the methods from January to July when we won ten and drew 4 of 17 games (we night even have scored in every one of those games, I can't remember exactly), with the inclusion of Martin & a fitter Rooney.
I also find the talk of Cocu being unwilling to listen and being too stubborn funny when it was him doing the complete opposite of that which lead directly to his downfall.
The change in approach from the Norwich game... yes I know we won it, but it was 1 game... based on listening to the players caused more problems then it solved, really Cocu should have stuck to his guns - changing it up only added to the confusion and he kind of undermined himself at a time others were perfectly happy to do it for him.
Rooney is praised for simplifying things, but that had already started - by the end of the season we were so dumbed down that, well, I don't even need to say anything further, the results speak for themselves.

I do always think it's funny our poor results were put down Cocu's methods leaving the players confused, the methods too difficult for them to grasp, too complicated, boring etc 
These very same players (baring a couple of swap-outs) seemed perfectly able to grasp the methods from January to July when we won ten and drew 4 of 17 games (we night even have scored in every one of those games, I can't remember exactly), with the inclusion of Martin & a fitter Rooney.
I also find the talk of Cocu being unwilling to listen and being too stubborn funny when it was him doing the complete opposite of that which lead directly to his downfall.
The change in approach from the Norwich game... yes I know we won it, but it was 1 game... based on listening to the players caused more problems then it solved, really Cocu should have stuck to his guns - changing it up only added to the confusion and he kind of undermined himself at a time others were perfectly happy to do it for him.
Rooney is praised for simplifying things, but that had already started - by the end of the season we were so dumbed down that, well, I don't even need to say anything further, the results speak for themselves.

I do always think it's funny our poor results were put down Cocu's methods leaving the players confused, the methods too difficult for them to grasp, too complicated, boring etc 
These very same players (baring a couple of swap-outs) seemed perfectly able to grasp the methods from January to July when we won ten and drew 4 of 17 games (we night even have scored in every one of those games, I can't remember exactly), with the inclusion of Martin & a fitter Rooney.
I also find the talk of Cocu being unwilling to listen and being too stubborn funny when it was him doing the complete opposite of that which lead directly to his downfall.
The change in approach from the Norwich game... yes I know we won it, but it was 1 game... based on listening to the players caused more problems then it solved, really Cocu should have stuck to his guns - changing it up only added to the confusion and he kind of undermined himself at a time others were perfectly happy to do it for him.
Rooney is praised for simplifying things, but that had already started - by the end of the season we were so dumbed down that, well, I don't even need to say anything further, the results speak for themselves.

I do always think it's funny our poor results were put down Cocu's methods leaving the players confused, the methods too difficult for them to grasp, too complicated, boring etc 
These very same players (baring a couple of swap-outs) seemed perfectly able to grasp the methods from January to July when we won ten and drew 4 of 17 games (we night even have scored in every one of those games, I can't remember exactly), with the inclusion of Martin & a fitter Rooney.
I also find the talk of Cocu being unwilling to listen and being too stubborn funny when it was him doing the complete opposite of that which lead directly to his downfall.
The change in approach from the Norwich game... yes I know we won it, but it was 1 game... based on listening to the players caused more problems then it solved, really Cocu should have stuck to his guns - changing it up only added to the confusion and he kind of undermined himself at a time others were perfectly happy to do it for him.
Rooney is praised for simplifying things, but that had already started - by the end of the season we were so dumbed down that, well, I don't even need to say anything further, the results speak for themselves.

I really, really hope you've posted this without realising it's a joke.