Jram

It’s ok because I think they are both part of the kingdom of Mercia (according to FFP rules ) 

Are we a feeder team for Tamworth now? 

Even though we acquired Byrne for a pittance it would be a waste of that shrewd bit of business if we lost him for next to nothing too. 

Summary of players signed so far:-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There you go. ?

I’m not starting a thread because it’s the most unsubstantiated rumour I’ve heard 3rd hand and have no clue on the legitimacy - other than I’m inclined to say it’s BS - but I’m passing it on anyway because I love a vicious rumour spreading like wildfire… heard Jack Wilshere now training with us. 

I remember a lot of optimism 12 months ago, myself included.
a lot of that, admittedly, was hype around Sibley and Jozwiak (for myself) and some lesser hype around Bird.
This season, I must admit, my optimism is at an all time low going into a season. But it’s an extremely random game so I’m hoping we might surprise ourselves
Might as well hope

I’m not sure if anyone has said but Minkley and Bateman played a pre season game as trialists for Lincoln this week. Hope they can make a career of it 

I remember a lot of optimism 12 months ago, myself included.
a lot of that, admittedly, was hype around Sibley and Jozwiak (for myself) and some lesser hype around Bird.
This season, I must admit, my optimism is at an all time low going into a season. But it’s an extremely random game so I’m hoping we might surprise ourselves
Might as well hope

*breaks leg...* ?

It's crazy that he says of all the teams with problems that he's made videos on, Derby's was his longest video out of the lot of them. And the video on us didn't even mention the Rush legal battle, Ince family scouting mess, the drink driving crash, the 32 Red involvement, the unpaid wages and Henry Gabay's rumoured takeover/involvement before he was arrested. ?

Harrison Faulks is hoping to get a contract at Derby. A 20 year old keeper released by Brighton. I used to coach him at youth level and he is still good friends with my son. Wish him luck!

I’m not sure if anyone has said but Minkley and Bateman played a pre season game as trialists for Lincoln this week. Hope they can make a career of it 

I strongly disagree. I think we were all optimistic about our situation 12 months ago. We had signed the likes of Jozwiak and Ibe. The lack of a striker was disconcerting, but we still had our top goalscorer - Waghorn - contracted to the club. Mike Te Wierik and Matt Clarke were signed up. David Marshall and Nathan Byrne too. Also, at that point, we had just finished 10th in the league thanks to some outstanding performances from Louie Sibley towards the back end of the season. It was like the second coming of Giles Barnes. 
It didn't go anything like we suspected. Jozwiak didn't make nearly the impact we thought he would, Ibe barely touched the field. MTW was awful from the get go. Marshall started very well but later got bogged down with the tripe infront of him. Rooney decided to stop moving and play manager. The best signing we made, ironically, was the one that no one wanted - Kazim-Richards. We barely stayed in the division. 
This season we have roughly 2 weeks until the season starts, no centre backs on the books. The embargo means we are really able to sign players no one else wants, at this level, unless Rooney can pull in some favours with loan moves. We currently have only one player who scored more than 5 goals in the team going into the season. By all accounts, we are about in as bad of a situation as you can possibly get, plus we still don't know if we will receive a point deduction this season and won't until the accounts and P&S are posted. I'd imagine as we are dragging it out that all roads lead to yes, but who knows. We would be able to get rid of the bloody embargo if we could get our affairs in order - and they WERE in order. 
All that being said: we have definitely quashed expectation. We were one of the favourites for a promotion run last season. Now, we're the 4th from bottom favourites for promotion - with no option to bet on our relegation because of the potential point deduction we may face. We are effectively posted as the 4th worst team in the division from the off. I think that does help and ultimately it could lead to some teams taking their eye off the ball early doors against us - perhaps resting a few players as we're seen as an easy 3 points. We've not had that luxury too often. Well, aside from Swansea, who still dicked us with their second string last season. 

Out of contract but still hanging about:
Curtis Davies
Andre Wisdom
Currently on trial:
Ryan Allsop
Phil Jagielka
Richard Stearman
Ravel Morrison
Tom Carroll
Sone Aluko
Sam Baldock
No ins for the senior team, so far
Players with senior appearances that have left:
Jack Marriott (to Peterborough)
Martyn Waghorn (to Coventry)
Scott Carson (to Man City)
Scott Malone (to Millwall)
Cameron Cresswell
Jahmal Hector-Ingram
Florian Jozefzoon
Jonathan Mitchell
Jayden Mitchell-Lawson
Jordon Ibe

I’m not sure if anyone has said but Minkley and Bateman played a pre season game as trialists for Lincoln this week. Hope they can make a career of it 

Sone Aluko is the kind of player that always causes us massive problems when we play against him, but will immediately become useless the moment he signs for us.

Do we need to rename this the 'Of Professional Standing Thread' ? ?

Covid passports required for games is looking more and more likely.
I have had mine but not sure it’s fair to essentially manipulate people into getting one, it’s a free country 

Pretty certain I’ve seen Dixon in a lot of the first team training shots and videos 
I wonder if he’ll be one who quietly enters the first team picture. Like Knight when he quite suddenly was in the picture a couple of years back 

I’m on board the ‘deluded train’. Always am before the start of every new season. Whatever our circumstances or prep during the preseason I convince myself ‘this is the year’ & we’re going to smash it!!! ??

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.

Good to see the recent departures. There's a lot of nonsense spoken about how you need "players" to win football matches but I'm not convinced. 

So we signed waghorn for £5mill+ and he only signed for £7,900 a week? I doubt that...   

Not sure about the music but why shouldn’t I hold out hope he’s gonna score 20 in the league next year? 
Thought Sibley would do it last year and now Bobby can take the mantle of unrealistic hope 

I'd see if he fancies another crack at it, Cocu II.