Chopper

That's 2!

Wildsmith might have been a 'had discussions never going to meet' so released situation. 2 goalies and Smith makes me think something has to be lined up, Midfield looks anaemic now. At least it's out, we know where we need to strengthen ever more so now. Let's hope Warnes been working on this already, there is work to do to get bodies in, plus quality.

Come on Oxford, I want that League 1 Jim Smith promotion party to be complete! Then celebrate with a glass of red. So I'm more pro-Oxford than anti-Bolton, although Bolton staying down will challenge Birmingham more.

The strongest 2 play off teams have made it to the final, wasn't stunned. So torn, really dont like Leeds, but if they do go up then yes that's a team more likely to potentially finish above Forest. That said its too funny seeing Leeds stay down though, and I have no issue with Southampton, so I'm happy for their fans to have their day in the sun. However I do usually enjoy it when Soton rock up to Pride Park...

Assume financially we are where we are right now, no additional investment etc. I think there wont be a massive increase in attendances from the second half of last season, and money through that (there cant be, they wont fit). Extra Sky money helps too. I feel 3 million might be about right, with wages on top of that, wages of course soaking up the majority of our extra spending. There may be some additional wriggle room if the right person is there at a price that needs a slight stretch to secure their services. I can't see Clowes purposefully rolling the dice, I can't see him getting "carried away" either. Any of our guys get sold, perhaps a decent percentage added to our budget (but the negotiation team will be very much "Dont think because we sold X for 3 million, we have 3m to spend because we dont!") No logical or evidential reasons for the above, just a feeling.

I think that the promotion bounce and Warnes ability to knit together a team spirit is going to be key. This spirit may be utilised to compensate for a rebuilt squad, and having a lower budget than some other teams in that first season. Earlier I referred to building blocks for a future charge and basket case clubs, I'd like to see us beat a few of these clubs, both in the table and on the pitch. PPS to get us over the line on some of those days. Oh and the Teeside Dog Botherers, let's beat them, at their place.

Sat here right now, if we stay up I'll hold my own. Seriously though the pragmatist in me seeing 17th as good as 7th wants a relatively calm season, with signs of development as the season progresses. Hope, hope for it perhaps being solid building blocks for a swing at play offs in the following seasons. A squad unified and with that, in a much better place than some of the basket case clubs vying to be the next Derby.

I think Warne will have an idea before going into those first league games, based off of how he reports back and performs in training / pre-season matches. Warne will also be conscious of how he comperes with other signings. If we have a strong window then he may find his chances limited, and so out sooner; if we faff around for 3 months and only sign a 37 year old from the Wendies then he's got a chance with us. My theory is Warne will line up a loan deal, and then see what transfer deadline day brings. Depending on the vast array of moving parts on that day, it may look like he's staying then Jim White does his excited rambly thing and then he is off to Burton Albion. This I'm sure wont be unusual, I can imagine quite a few teams will have young players who are "nearly there" and would stay or go depending on deadline day activities. Hmm I seem to believe we'll leave it late.

In the match around when he got injured and I never saw him again, Clod was going back to basics and was starting to improve. WBA were the better team and should have won the Play Off final.

I know and that will be the frustrating thing about Wildsmith leaving, I would have been fine with him starting the season as our goalie and spending our funds elsewhere. However a decent goalie will be crucial not only for their own skills but the confidence they instill into our defence (good defenders can become quite ordinary and take unnecessry risks if they dont have faith in their goalie). 1m is quite a bit, I dont think there will be many "Barker type fees" being paid this season, but if Vickers is a definite Championship no. 2 GK the we need that new signing. I just wonder if there are better for less, perhaps Warnes trip abroad may be looking for that cheaper option.

Well if he 'rides again', to our rescue then I'll 'go bananas' and my 'love bug' will make me sleep outside again for being over exuberant. High end L1 on a free, could be the kind of players that we get to pad out options in our team. Midfield needs an overhaul and even if he isnt a Warne type player, he fits the mould of a player that we can use to try something different.

Everyone has a price but if its Newcastle knocking, the lads under contract and we aren't under measures, then we know how money they have. If they want him we can rebuild our squad with the transfer fee we should be demanding. I mentioned it somewhere else but I like the idea of loaning him out the a League club and then reevaluate in January. That said if he comes back for preseason and looks the part, then keeping him instead could be an option. Perhaps seeing the transfer window out and seeing what we have as a younger (than 30), quick, striker is going to cost a premium. If we get one or two and its 20 mins here or there for Brown then a loan it is, but if we are frustrated in our search then... I genuinely can't remember when was the last time we had a loan star like this we can anticipate and get excited about as our kids have usually either just gone into the first team or get loaned out and then drift away. I remember Sturridge playing at Torquay but I also reckon we were close to letting him go, not anticipating his return.

A couple of Toton Reds fans I know would take 17th every season, seems a bit of a tragic existence (supporter wise) actively desiring your team lose in the cups at the first available opportunity in order to concentrate on the league, all whilst scraping your way to be 4th in the most Shhh...ockingly bad teams list. Next season they'll be hoping Ipswich have gone too far too soon, and ironically Leicester get some deductions. They'll be begging Leeds to not win (agree there to be honest), as the other Premier teams have developed (see the points gap to 5th bottom) and unless there is something under the radar none seem so 'basketcasey' and likely to implode at any minute either. Marinakis may have created a footballing Damocles, exposed to riches and glory, but with relegation and financial armageddon (apparently relegation clauses aren't a thing) hanging above their heads held away by the thinnest MGW shaped strand.

Pace still terrifies defenders, lack of thinking time, having to turn whilst running backwards, and dont mistime that challenge, all that ugh! TJJ may be a 'risk' worth taking. We might not compete with other teams for any other available pacey attackers, but getting that dimension through the door is important, so a gamble may be necessary. Nostalgically speaking, yes he isnt blistering pace but I was spoilt watching Studge and Wanchope a few years back. But he is an option, and potentially a cheap one at that.

I would have liked him to stay obviously but I completely sympathise with Birds decision, he stayed for a while, but there are career decisions to make. I'm sure whilst in a drunken stupor in Vegas right now with some who he's known for years he might have a tinge of 20/20 hindsight regret, but that'll pass once he moves on. Also I think we got some money up front, did that help us secure Adams? Did that keep Cashin? as pressure to sell goes.

If shenanigans hadn't have scuppered Gatesheads drive to get into L2, then if they'd have gone up it may have been good for him to stay (settled, confident etc.) But as it stands I think a team looking to win more than they lose and get into the top 7 in L2 next year would be a good and challenging move until Jan and then evaluate. But, only if he comes back and needs a bit of development. It may be that after his successful season, he goes off for summer and comes back to an aging squad, fitter, stronger, hungry, and more confident than ever and then proceeds to tear up preseason with us! We have seen exponential development like that before.

Absolute levels of competitiveness with Cardiff fans when we chanted: "We've sh@gg3d more sheep than you"

Ok a couple of things: If Notts stay up it'll be thanks to these four "bargain" purchases. That means that 26 odd players were pointless/fillers. Or 200m worth of "talent" good recruitment? Naaah. Secondly I think Toton is a ploy to get the council to charge a peppercorn rent, helps with FFP. But, if it isnt then we know where the new EM mayor is spending all the cash, extending and maintaining a tram route there. Also 50k? What happens if they go down? 17k fans in a 50k stadium, more like "Lull of Kintyre" (I'll get me coat)

Quite liked against Leicester once: "Thank you very much for Spencer Prior, thank you very much, thank you very very very much" To the tune for a Roses? advert.

Once the Arsenal fans sang to us, when they were merely beating us: "Bring on the youth team". The match turned rather one sided: "Bring on the ladies" Low blow but funny.

Subjectively of course theres been some good ones, some already mentioned: "Oh Graham Poll..." "Let's pretend we scored a goal" Plus. Dorigo (to the tune for Tequila) Season we went down to L1 Allez Allez Allez really resonated with me, especially whilst I held a fools hope of league survival. Impact has dulled afterwards (love the tune though) I love the bounce as much as the next man and for the littlies it's the highlight of the match. But I'm quite found of the pre-chant: "We're gonna bounce in a minute" The most I laughed was with a perfectly common and innocuous chant: "Do you come from Manchester?" It was the response, Manure fans doing their random gesticulating but down at the bottom of the Away end somemfand proudly unfurled their banner that read: "Manchester United Supporters Club ... Belper Branch". 80% of good comedy is in timing.

That was one of mine, I felt particular enraged that day. Especially as our PT instructor was a Leicester fan and so three of us known Derby fans had to do laps in celebration the next week. In 93 I was outraged at the ref for something in the build up to Wendies equaliser in the FA Cup quarters - couldnt be that bad I've forgotten what it was exactly. Atwell goes without saying. Not a ref but I remember Simmo getting flagged for offside from his own half at the BBG once (93 I think) I cant remember what he did but it was so bad we once sang for near on 30 minutes about Graham Poll being a ... ahem. A song only beaten for length that season (97-98?) with a song about Paul Kitson. The countless penalty area violations of Ebosele whilst we were locked in conflict with the EFL. Some of them I felt the defender aught to have at least bought him dinner first.

Ok first I'm a little dissapointed that this thread wasn't mapping out all the Bubbles, or Eden style locations in the city. Anyway I remember Seth-lad being quite hard, but again not dirty. Against Manure didnt he clean up Keane and his little prodigy Butt in about 5 seconds of each other? Also us in the South East corner could get him booked by simply doing some drums against the back of the stand (similar to a train?) He'd then run about 30 yards to wipe out someone vaguely close to play, took a while to spot the recurring pattern but it was there.

If he knows the Spanish for: "bring your in-soles" he could be a real asset to the recruitment team.

With CBT, Adam's really spoiled us with performances from day 1, add to that injuries and whilst we became more solid with a midfield 3 towards the end of the season when the situation became critical, we also removed the position I'm sure we signed him to fill (wide attacking midfielder). Back to the retained list, hopefully it wont be too long until its released, I'd imagine that the players already know. I believe I heard Warne say he was meeting with some players last week. Some are in Vegas for a bit now so if Warnes not had those meetings yet it'll be a while. That said it may be a while until Thommo sobers up and can have a proper meeting anyway.