Tamworthram

I don’t think many of us were “stunned” especially with the result. I reckon most people thought it would be an ugly (actually Wycombe played better football than I expected) and difficult game that we’d probably have enough to win but the result wasn’t a shock. We’re (well me anyway) not stunned, just bitterly disappointed at such an inept and disjointed performance. Yes we had some great chances early on but these were largely down to breakaways aided by some poor defending. Once those opportunities had gone I don’t recall many occasions when we really looked liked scoring or putting together any sort of prolonged passage of play. It was all too frantic which I put down to tactics, formation and players individual performances. I don’t think either Bolton or Posh will win all of their remaining games but the question is, can we? I see Orient being a difficult game that’ll well probably just scrape over the line in. No game is easy but we probably couldn’t have asked for a much easier final game. Based on our performances against Wycombe and Northampton, the Cambridge game worries me a lot.

I really don’t get this “they deserve to go up” mullarky. Whoever goes up will deserve to simply because they have accumulated more points than at least 22 other teams in the league (or have a better goal difference). That might be because they ended the season well, started the season well or were consistent throughout.

Didn't we show "bottle" against Bolton and Pompey? Stating the obvious, if we fail to go up it will simply because sometimes (rarely) we were good enough and showed bottle (whatever that means) but not often enough.

I think at times there was too much urgency and tempo. There was a distinct lack of control and composure. I agree with your second and third paragraphs. It's not all down to the manager though as some seem to be constantly suggesting. Very much shared responsibility as far as I'm concerned.

Trying to look on the bright side, even if Bolton manage a draw on Saturday and we win, it will be back in our hands again.

If we will our last three games and they both draw one of their games goal difference won't come into it.

If Bolton win their last 6 then I think we should complain to the EFL as they should only have 4 games less. 😀 Seriously though, if they win all of their remaining game then of course they will deserve to go up. Same as if they only draw v Pompey and we win our last 3 games (not looking likely based on tonight's performance) then we'll deserve to go up.

I don't think there any real lack of effort. Just a lack of control, composure, playing any decent football and getting some of the basics right. The consolation is my predictor only had us down for a draw. We really need a win on Saturday and for Pompey to get something at Bolton. ☹️

Obviously we could do with a win but there would (literally) be a point in getting a draw. It could come down to single point. There just doesn’t seem to be any control or composure.

It’s not unique to teams that have come off the back of an extra cup game.

I hope failing to make the most of these good opportunities Wycombe keep presenting us with doesn’t come back to bite us.

I won’t be deflated, just relieved we won our two games.

As long as we back it up with a win on Saturday. Six points from these two games and we’ll be strong favourites. Four points we’ll probably be slight favourites still. Anything less and it will be in the balance.

Yep, whilst not mathematically out of it, I think Barnsley have blown it now. Posh do have a chance but, they probably need to win five of their remaining games to catch and overtake both us and Bolton. As we have seen, every game is winnable but they could all be lost or drawn. To be honest, I can’t see both us and Bolton collapsing so Posh’s chances are probably slim.

You beat me too it. How often have we heard "he [insert name of player] or they were amazing in training" only for it not to happen on match day.

Who sets the puzzles to be solved by the miners and how much time and energy does that take? At a time when climate change is one the biggest threats to humanity in general, who on earth thought it would be a good idea to issue something of value for solving a puzzle (not even creating anything) that uses such vast amounts of energy (until/unless they only use renewable sources)?

Well you started off by suggesting Charlton wouldn’t have to file their accounts on the basis that they “should” rather than “must” do so. As for Derby, surely the reason nothing has ever come of it is because we went into administration which changed the picture somewhat. But I accept your much greater experience if you’re suggesting there wouldn’t be any consequences for Derby (or it’s directors) if the original company was still trading but they still hadn’t filed any accounts for six years. (As a slight aside, Derby went into administration in 2021 so really we’re only talking about 3 years not 6) I find it hard to believe but, if you say so. Out of interest, of the hundreds you could name, how many were start ups that never got off the ground (and therefore a little bit different to an operating limited company) and therefore being struck off was of no consequence?

Never heard of him so I checked out his profile. He’s played plenty of games but nothing above Exeter at league one and league two level (apart from National League South level). As for playing Hollywood balls that don’t come off because the other players aren’t on the same page, that reminds me of when people say “great cross but there was no one in the middle to meet it”. Means it wasn’t a great cross if it was into an area where none of your team mates are. Might be OK though for all I know. The only time I would have seen him play is if he played against Derby.

Hundreds? Seriously? What circles do you mix in? I’m not surprised that hardly anyone actually faces “criminal charges”. I only copy and pasted what it said on the Gov.UK website that it is a criminal offence. I would imagine the overwhelming majority just receive fines and may just have their company struck off eventually. It sounds a bit like speeding. Speeding is a criminal offence but most people just receive a fixed penalty notice I reckon. If you don’t pay your penalty or continue to offend (clocking up more penalty points -akin to continuing to fail to file your accounts) the consequences become more serious. But that doesn’t alter the fact that accounts “must” be filed and not “should” be as you stated. In DCFC‘s case, I suspect, as I said earlier, that our administration superseded any further action. In Charlton’s case (and any other company) I don’t believe they can continually chose not to bother filing their accounts as you were suggesting without significant consequences.

I love your new found positivity BUT, I wouldn't quite describe it as a "far stronger" position. The gap is only one point and the goal difference is only +2. The next six days are immense. By next Sunday we could be anywhere between 2 points behind (with Bolton still having a game in hand) and our goal difference advantage overturned to 7 points clear with a healthy goal difference. My gut feeling is: Played GD Points Derby 44 +36 86 (draw at Wycombe and beat Orient by a single goal) Bolton 43 +33 82 (draw with Pompey)

Fair point but, kind of supports what I was saying. If DCFC hadn’t gone into administration but still chose not to file their accounts since 2018 I think that would count as persistent breaches which wouldn’t be allowed to continue without more significant penalties (including some kind of sanctions from the EFL I would imagine).

That is just nuts. So if we only win three of them we don’t deserve to go up? Yes we are in the box seat for the second automatic promotion place but I fear at least two of those (Orient and Wycombe) are not going to be easy. On my predictor, I only had Bolton down as drawing yesterday but, despite their win, I still have us down to pip them. I have us down for a draw against Wycombe so, a win would make up for my incorrect prediction in the Bristol v Bolton game.

I thought you’d said they had never filed any accounts? Not filing your accounts is a criminal offence (as per the following extract from Gov.UK) so, to say you “should” is surely a little misleading. I guess in DCFC’s case, it was all overtaken by the subsequent administration. I can’t imagine if we hadn’t gone into administration we would still be allowed to be in breach after all this time without some kind of sanctions. Not filing your confirmation statements, annual returns or accounts is a criminal offence - and directors or LLP designated members could be personally fined in the criminal courts

Maybe I am getting confused but this is what it says on the Companies House website: each year, every company must file a set of accounts with Companies House, which show how a company has performed over the accounting period. This is required whether the company is trading or not. And this is what is says on another government website: All companies must send their accounts and reports to Companies House every year, whether: private or public large or small trading or non-trading If you submit accounts late, the law imposes an automatic penalty. The period allowed to file your accounts depends on whether these are your first accounts since incorporation or subsequent accounts. I know anyone can object to a company being struck off but surely a creditor isn’t going to let it stop there and if they did and the company continues not to file their accounts, isn’t the penalty doubled each year or something? (admittedly small fry compared to the companies likely other debts). I guess we are both right. It clearly states that companies MUST file their accounts. Technically they don’t have to but, as with all legal requirements and laws, if you breach/ignore them there will be consequences. A fine might not deter a club (or it’s parent company) from filing their accounts but I think the EFL rules (section 16) state that sanctions will be applied if they don’t file their accounts with the registrar of companies (Companies House?). Anyway, going back to the original point, didn’t DCFC file their accounts (and therefore were not in breach - well not until administration) because they were part of a larger group? Charlton have to file their accounts.

Fair point and nothing to get too excited about just yet then. Doesn't alter the fact though that if a company is noted on companies House as "accounts overdue' they can't just ignore it and fail to lodge them. It just seems a number of clubs may have lodged them but they haven't been uploaded yet.