Chopper

I dont know a deal about the ladies (just ask Mrs. Chopper), but really pleased that it appears as though they've had a productive season. I was wondering would one of our posters who is a bit more informed on such matters give us an overview of the Ewes season please? Also, and I appreciate player turnover can sometimes be extensive and can cloud matters, but it'd be interesting to see what ambitions there are. I know they are at Moor Farm now, best place to keep the entire flock and hopefully should take advantage of the facilities there to both improve the existing players and attract potential signings; but are there WSL ambitions and if so how "close" is it (yes I appreciate the pitfalls of such assumptions).

If we lose Wildsmith, then I can see this having legs, even if I'd be tempted to stick with Vickers and a promoting youth into reserve; especially as we are still acclimatising financially and need to watch the whole losses over 3 years thing. Staying competitive, whilst still staying outside the gaze of the EFL.

If Celtic ... ship him out it looks like it would be on loan again. If he is strong and has legs in the middle of the park, that could be really useful. If it's a loan, with loan fees and all that, we really need to make sure that the deal's right, that's what makes me cautious. Ironically he's the type of player who 4 years ago I'd be advising we sign: young, fills a known weakness of ours, ideal.

Feel that this last part season wasn't the place to judge him, yet still we got glimses. He will need to settle, if he had have been fit and scored first time out then that transition may be shorter. It wasn't, but still he needs a preseason with us, and some real training ground work with his team (that final ball is easier if you know what the other guys is probably thinking). The only thing I'm not sure about is, I think Warne signed him for a 4-2-3-1, with him, NML, plus 1 in the supporting 3. With 5-3-2 he either has to develop a strong defensive side to take a wing back birth or challenge for a striker role. That said if we go 3-4-3 there is a place there for him, but that midfield 2 had better have some legs on them, else we are getting overrun.

I've been thinking about Buchanan, and by "been" I mean once, whilst waiting for the next episode of Ramseys Kitchen Nightmares USA to start, then it passed. But I did wonder if he thought other younger members of that team would do the same as he did, and jump ship at the end of that season? I certainly think he was badly advised, that said he seems to have developed a bit since, but the move abroad and then back is a tactic I expected (surprised we've not seen Ebosele yet), so the thought may have made sense, even if it is a bridge burningly d!ck move. Apparently he cost them 1.5m and is in a 5 year deal, no get our jail free cards there and with Birmimgham under no financial pressure he may have to suck it up and stay. Strangely I have more sympathy with Beilik even if he is even more frustrating. I'm sure it was a combination of the financial pressure of his wages on the books along with his international manager putting pressure on that lead to him going when he did. I'd like to think he may have thought he owed us some performances. That said I could be nieve, as all the while he was here he was either in the treatment room or his representatives were making noises about needing to move on and up. They seem confident that next season will be a procession as they are well off, and are a big club. Erm, us, Leeds, Sunderland, Wendies, Pompey, Notts, et al would like a word. Granted most of us either had financial woes, or gross incompetence up top, or a fight on with the EFL, but still...

That's why I can celebrate this, I can laugh. I'd never wish what our club and fans went through on anyone, they did they celebrated it happening to us. Now us being the league above them? That'll do.

All having a Party!!!

Actually watching the final day on Sky. So conflicted. Ipswich are winning which means Leeds are in Play Offs, but it also gives Birmingham a better chance of staying up. So now I need to obsess over Plymouth. When have I ever obsessed over Plymouth? Got the Birmingham game on, theres been a medical stoppage in the stands, every chance this match will run after the other games are finished. Hmm "Small bone" has put Soton in front against the Dirties.

We were on our knees, he sued. Thats all I can see when I think back on his time with us, the rest just fades into mist.

Away to Notts. Let's see if they learn to defend set pieces over the summer. Plus if we are playing them that means...

Portsmouth are a couple of weeks in front of us, so I'd expect that. Agree that if the moneys right I'd keep quite a few from this squad, they may not guaranteed first teamers given a few of their ages, but really good people to have around the place and could do a job if required, which is to keep us up and in a position to build for 25-26. We wont have the finances to compete (listened to RD on Monday and it was eye opening) which means a plucky attitude and the promotion bounce may be crucial for us to have a successful season.

Now I'm not one for hyperbole but... Hang it in the Louvre!

First season at PPS, 4-0 v Southampton. It was the match that I knew I'm in for a real treat that year. Something just clicked and we evolved to a side that I felt had a chance (at home) of winning against anyone, for 11 minutes we were probably the best team in the country or at least it felt like it. I was SE corner (now the away end) those first seasons and after that match, the optimism and sheer joy that ran through us there was palpable. I agree with the Southampton Play off semi, in the rain. Chants of "We're proud of you" we knew this was a team punching and we respected that. Sheer gratitude for effort, followed by elation, followed by walking in the rain in a daze. A match hidden behind a match that does get talked about and a following season that was "historic". Hmm starting to think I have a "beating Southampton" fetish, am I closet Pompey fan?

Not usually one for the Grauniad but that's a funny article, the vision of some kind of Nick Owen led conspiracy had me giggling. When we went down some Notts fans were adamant we never play them again give our imminent descent into Non league and their mere formality of a third star, still, could happen. Think Notts could stay up though, they might have enough in their remain matches. That said from what little I've seen they play for 20 mins and then give it up as a bad job; fans rock up in the kind of numbers we reserve for Fleetwood on a Tuesday night, sing "Mull of Kintyre", wave a bit of paper around, and then bog off to Popworld or something so as not to spoil the aesthetic of faded pink seats.

Expectations for me, in the cold light of the day after, the day after, the lunchtime before; is mid-table. See us establish as a competitive Championship team, with definitive signs that we can improve further. A reshaped squad gelling over the first few months unfortunatley sees us lose pace from the leaders, but they come good later on and optimism for 25-26 with a few additions is abound. Highlight of the season, winning at Notts last game of the season to make them finish 7th, capping off a miserable turn of the year for them after they were top at Christmas. Controversial goal for 1-0, ref S. Atwell. Hmm not sure I've sobered up yet.

Dunno, I'm quite happy to have the stands sponsored, show me the money! Lets have people enter Bombardier Gate 13, sit in Bubbles Spa seat 135 or whatever. If it means getting some funds to help David Clowes make us sustainable and competitive then let's do it. Advantage of PPS being so new (relatively) is that we dont have the issue of pursuing money at the expense of names that have historical meaning, like Popside, C-Stand, Ossie End et al. If, on day 1 East Stand (or the SE corner) had been 'Popside' then it would have to have changed when we moved to South, whilst we ironed out the kinks in our ground set up. That may have jarred. South Stand will stay I reckon, until perhaps sometime hopefully a long time from now when we want to remember and honour a lost Ram.

Cashin, with his new contract, and us a Championship club, and us not at the mercy of EFL shenanigans (touch wood), should command a premium as we dont need to "Cash in" pun half intended on him. If a club does offer crazy money which we cant turn down, he will go to a Championship team on loan I'd assume, and that could be us. The out of contracts could be interesting, Wildsmith may go, however I cant see others going unless we are happy for them to do so. Under contract we have a couple who are still under and may interest L1 clubs. Either way I'd be dissapointed if we lose players to Championship sides fro now on, unless a 'parachute club' offers us a decent fee and the player a massive wage rise.

I appreciate now, for some of us fans may not be the best time to judge. I'm quite a sentimental creature (honestly find someone who looks at you like I look at Stimac) and as such I'm happy to see him stay, as I'm still hungover and giddy. Heard on RD from Fozzy that he sees himself as CB now, and that's fair. It may also be the path to retaining him if a deal can be struck. 3 CB at the back, with Fozzy we have 5 on the books, 6 if we include Nyambe. We need 6, in my view, and to buy 1 at least, more if we want to explore loan options for Rooney perhaps (a full season in L1 for the lad would be good). If we can come to an agreement, where he appreciates playing time may be limited, we can help with what's next (coaching, punditry etc) and the wages are reflective of that. Then there is a deal to be struck, he must be keen and settled here and that will count for a lot. But if he genuinely reckons he has a full season or two in the first team left in him then he may want to go for playing time, I wouldn't begrudge him that and on his return I'd give him a warm welcome.

Post Stevenage, yes something gave and we started to dominate the league, fortunately given the league's so shi... (senses a side eye from Mucker1884), ahem so inconsistent, it was only Portsmouth that got too far ahead and credit to them for getting the job done. We did well, so pleased it's the autos as we can either get work done early with most of the team in place for July 1st or spend the next 3 months negotiating with the "stand up and honourable" owners of Cardiff over Ebou and then rush for who's left in late August .

He does have quality, like a finely tuned Alfa-Romeo. He also is as reliable as a finely tuned Alfa-Romeo. I liked him, I really wanted him in our team. But, we've spent quite enough money on Krystian Beilik for one lifetime.

I think under contract, successful L1 players would probably be the fastest way to spend all the money we have to play with. I hope we dont get too tempted by picking over the relegated teams too, take if Birmingham go down (sniggers) would we want Beilik or Buchanan? Both of whom we know will be purging to leave, will command stupid fees and will consider themselves worthy of high wages (Beilik would want the same if not more than he was on). But they like other relegated players know how to lose ... often. Championship players whose move didnt work out, think Adams if we bought him not loaned (we've upped his value now). Good players just need a new start. Released youth from the Premier. Think Plange and Ebouwi as two recent examples. Young, hungry something to prove but the Premier side cant see it yet. Blends youth and experience and a bit of determination that we might be their last chance saloon for this level.

Playing utter semantics, and with a pinch of pedantry but maybe they can. Work with me. Theory is: Derby have been negotiating with Willdsmiths team, wages, bonuses, each different depending on league status. No cast iron contract offered right now, perhaps once agreed and league confirmed it gets drawn up and formally offered? So this makes Wildsmith is right, no contract offered. In these negotiations, Wildsmiths team have either got a price in their minds, or a league in their minds, or a first team assurance in their minds, or another offer somewhere else in their minds and they have been giving it a hard "nope" to these informal talks unless something is offered that meets their price point. We'd be unlikely to be extorted given a) we aren't that flush and b) Vickers is sat right there and he is Warnes man. Wildsmith turning us down makes Radio Derby true. Dunno ... maybe? It'll be interesting to see how new and improved some contract offers are, Sibley and Thompson are no brainers, regardless of future; as the days of losing saleable youth players for nought has to end. Personal opinion I want to see them stay with us anyway, I can't help but like them both. The rest, as important as keeping a bedrock, a spine of a winning team together is, we mustn't rush to spend our increased budget retaining that squad. Especially if it then prevents us from strengthening elsewhere. Next two weeks will be interesting.

I'm in the hoping P'boro and Bolton both with a chance in the final game camp, it'll make it a bit more competitive. That said P'boro need a massive gd swing so they may stick with play offs anyway and rest players. 4th gets managerless Barnsley? Just a feeling but I think that Bolton may do their job on Saturday, they may even get a 3-4 goal swing done themselves. Meaning Derby only have to lose for Bolton to make it. I can see us either drawing or being 1 down for the longest time on Saturday too, how it ends? Who knows all I know is I'm getting a few tipples in either way.

Today is my in laws 50th wedding anniversary, we are due to go out for dinner. I have saved up over 20 years of hanging around waiting for Mrs. Chopper to be ready, and the kids taking at least 30 trips to the loo before we go anywhere, so now it's my turn. I'm listening to it, in my room and I'll leave when I'm ready!

Glad Portsmouth have gone up, if Southampton (who admittedly are going well) don't go up that'll be a nice local derby to have on TV. They deserve it. As far as Bolton fans are concerned, yes I think like all clubs there are some who really should not be advocating for their club. I also think that they went on a decent run, a run that ultimately sowed the seeds of a cramped fixture list, dropped points, and hopefully their downfall; but during this run a few of their fans suffered from hubris and got over excited about their sides quality (think us pre-Feb in a Steve Mac season). Claims of "the best team in L1" have only been matched by claims that "Evatt is a numpty", let's see them join us though. Get a Bolton, Burnley, Blackburn mix to go with Pompey/Soton and Derby/Notts.