Home
Blog
Careers
Forums
Downloads
FM24 Real Name Fix
FM23 Real Name Fix
FM24 New Leagues
FM23 New Leagues
FM24 Tactics
FM24 Data Update
FM Database
FM Guides
FM Shortlists
FM24/25 Update Wonderkids
FM24/25 Update Free Players
FM24/25 Update Bargains
FM24/25 Update Players to avoid
FM24/25 Update Club Budgets
FM24/25 Update Club Facilities
Graphics
Installation Guides
Records
Prediction League
Fantasy Football
Search
Shedender
Of course that means we'll probably lose our last three league games and either squeeze over the line or screw up in the playoff's.
terriersmad
Don't get me wrong, 4-1 probably flatters them a little, but there's no doubt they were worthy winners. They punished our mistakes ruthlessly and looked dangerous whilst playing the best football from an opposing side I've seen for a very long time. We didn't take our chances at the other end - I have a feeling that had Billing's header dropped in rather than just wide just before they made it 4 it would have been a very different story, but it didn't go in and that's all there is to it.
If we don't do it, I want it to be them. Great footballing team, sporting to a fault, and supported by some genuinely nice fans who it's hard to begrudge anything.
Number 1
Shola
And yeah Fulham easily the best team in the division.
I have a feeling we will settle for a draw or deliberately roll over and die against Blackburn on Saturday so that Birmingham drop into the relegation zone. (Assuming that they lose to Huddersfield as expected)
Shedender
Now as much as I'd love to see us lift the Championship trophy for the second time in seven years, I cannae see Brighton slipping up.
BR.
We probably still wouldn't beat you even if you play at 50%. But yeah please do your best to let us win! We've been so blunt going forward last few games you might have to kick it in your own net.
And I've got a bad feeling Birmingham will beat Huddersfield. Redknapp's first home game, Huddersfield's poor record v struggling teams, Huddersfield playing tonight so less rest, etc.
terriersmad
The less rest thing won't matter. Can't imagine Birmingham will be able to lay a glove on us fitness wise. More to the point is that we now have two free hits before the end of the season. We're in the play-offs. We can make sure players are in top condition for the play-offs.
That said, I'd fucking love to send Birmingham into the bottom 3. After 2001 and their fans singing 'we'll never play you again' rather than the traditional 'we'll meet again' on relegation that entire club can go fuck itself. A very old score to settle.
Number 1
I doubt that total's being broken for a long time, but in saying that, the squad as it currently is needs a lot of work to be PL ready.
Grimnir
The potential of deducted points (depending what happens from this HMRC raid) might help you with that!
terriersmad
That won't happen. Wrongdoing will be so far in the past by the time footballing authorities handle it, I think we can safely say that no points will be deducted, as it would disrupt the integrity of the competition. This will take 18 months to 2 years to sort out simply because fraud is a stupidly complex offence to prosecute, and it's only when criminal proceedings are over that the FA can begin its own proceedings.
That being said, Swindon were demoted in 1990 in identical circumstances. Having done my leg work (hence the edit) it seems that criminal proceedings came after the demotion and that the FL took action during criminal proceedings, which had started in November 1989. With it being West Ham involved, I suspect there might be an exemplary punishment meted out following the Tevez affair.
The FL do need to outline now what could happen. Sounds daft, but it might affect our team selection on Saturday. We have players who need resting, but if there's an advantage to finishing 3rd rather than 4th, all clubs need to know now.
Number 1
I mean, its never dull around Newcastle United, is it?
I'm still not entirely sure of the details, and it might not have helped the first I saw of it was a parody article. It did look pretty huge when I did get round to seeing the actual story, and there's no doubt it raises a shit stink. Although for now, I've seen the local Daily Mail reporter in the NE region has said Charnley was released without charge. It may well be that this is a long runner for a good while yet, but I wouldn't have thought it would lead to a points deduction this season. Depends on how far along HMRC are with this and how quick a hearing can happen as to where this ends up though.
Grimnir
Nice team to start with in the Conference North next season in FM though...
Feralki
terriersmad
Time for Hudson to go, mind. I'm convinced losing regular football has accelerated his decline, and it just gets shown up each time he's picked. Penalty and goal both his fault apparently.
Still 45 minutes, though, and against 10 men. As we've nothing riding on it I don't hold out hope for a rally, but they'll be nervous and we'll see more and more of the ball.
Grimnir
Number 1
I was neutral on that front, but Redknapp annoys me and I still think sacking Rowett for Zola was a whopper of a blunder, so I'm kinda hoping its Birmingham. But Blackburn or Forest is the always likelier on that front.
Grimnir
terriersmad
That being said, protecting our own players for the play-offs is paramount and this has been underlined by Billing picking up what sounds like an ACL injury today - the second picked up by a Town player in a matter of weeks.
Grimnir
Shedender
This. Forest's appointment of Mark Warburton would prove to be a genius move.
BR.
Don't worry, you've got every right to do what you want with your squad of players. You've already achieved your target and if Wagner felt like today's team selection was best for you as a club then so be it. Just out of interest, do you think he'll do the same for the last game of the season?
We did what we had to do today (thanks Villa for being dreadful and some Villa fans for cheering us on) but still not confident for next week, Brentford away.
terriersmad
On one hand, I know. Most people in football would do the same in the circumstances. It may even have worked for us as fringe players wanted to prove a point - but apparently not. One or two of them will be going. Hudson and Whitehead will probably be retiring (though Whitehead has another year in him if you ask me), and Bunn and Lolley probably need to drop a level to get their mojo back - just not quite good enough consistently for us if we want to progress.
But on the other, I know what it's like to be on the other end of it. It's awful thinking another team has just given up when you're fighting for your lives. You as a club don't deserve it. I'd rather have rested players just next week because so much was riding on today for Birmingham. Particularly disappointing when they play 70 minutes with 10 (even if it sounds harsh - not seen it).
I do think we'll do the same next week. I even suspect young Jordan Williams and Regan Booty will make their debuts - 17 and 19 year old academy products. But there's nothing but jockeying in the play-offs at stake. Cardiff are safe. We're in the play-offs and it's our lookout if we want to sacrifice home advantage for having players fit (which makes perfect sense). Exactly the sort of game to experiment and rest players in, not this weekend.
ItsWoosey
I feel for every Blackpool fan, so much that we joined in with your protest last season (for 10 minutes til we realised we were then 10 minutes away from the boozer). But every latics fan is hoping you win these playoffs. 9am start at Manchester bar in August, yes please!
We're pretty much gonna be alright next season though, lots of panic but we'll only lose a few. We'll lose Power, Morsy (if Barnsley stop being cheap about it), Burn and Powell if anyone gambles on him, but we've got an alright core now who are still young, too high paid to leave for another League One club and aren't good enough/injury free enough for Championship teams to pick them up. 100 points on the cards.
terriersmad
I have to say if they do that it really is ridiculous. Team selection is a manager's prerogative. If he wants to rest his play-off first XI, he is actually entitled to do so. Might not be perfect, but we've actually earned that. If he wants to play the groundsman at left-back on Saturday, he's perfectly entitled to do that as well. So long as they're registered to play, it's none of the Football League's business who does play. Add to that the team selection against (in particular) Wigan in January (a game we won) and you have to ask what on earth the Football League are playing at. We have the most important games since 1972 coming up, our lookout is to ensure that players are fit and available. Nine of the players used played in both - some from the start, some as subs. We made 8 changes against Wigan from the previous game against Blackburn (and won 1-0). We also made 9 changes against Reading and Sheffield Wednesday and 10 against Newcastle. See below for teams v Wigan in January and from Saturday.
Team v Wigan: Ward, Cranie, Holmes-Dennis, Hudson, Stankovic, Billing (Whitehead), Mooy, Kachunga, Bunn (Lolley), Payne (Hefele), Wells
Team v Birmingham: Coleman, Smith, Holmes-Dennis (Wells), Cranie, Hudson (Scannell), Whitehead, Billing, Payne, Bunn (Mooy), Lolley, Quaner
In bold are players who featured in both - 5 started both games, 4 started one and appeared as a sub in the other. Ward, Coleman (both manager's selections for the game in question), Stankovic (injured for 2nd game), Kachunga (injured for 2nd game), Quaner (not signed for the first game) and Hefele (rested for second game) only appeared in one.
If the Football League take action, it will be a joke. I have sympathy for Blackburn and Forest. Having been on the other end of it, it feels like there's been a betrayal of trust. But in the end, we'd be getting punished because, frankly, Forest and Blackburn haven't won enough of their own games to not worry about our team selection - which had already shown that it was strong enough to beat Wigan and get a draw with Manchester City with very similar personnel.
Update: Bradford, who made 9 changes, bearing in mind they're playing in the play-offs on Thursday, have also been charged. This is absolutely ridiculous. Who had this bright idea? Days gone by, you got safe and you blooded youngsters without anyone batting an eyelid. Nowadays you rest and prepare your team as best you can and you get hammered for it. It's noticeable that Ipswich (9 changes) haven't been charged for their team v Rotherham, and neither have Wolves (8 changes) nor Brighton (6 changes).
BR.
Bang on the money.
I remember when Mick McCarthy, when at Wolves, made 10 changes for a midweek away game at United before playing Burnley (I think it was) at the weekend - which they won. They got done for the 'weakened team', if I remember correctly he said something like "who are the FA to decide what my strongest team is?". And he's right! Squad of players, use it however you please.
I'm getting tickets tomorrow for Brentford away on Sunday. Seriously early start with a midday kick off, and could be a wasted trip if we go down......we'll see.
Grimnir
Very interested to see what they come up with our game on the weekend!
So far no Orient fans can by tickets.
Both sets of supporters have had enough with the way their clubs are run.
terriersmad
DNZY