Jareth

Our luck is due. Scrappy win over Newcastle followed by a stuffing of the baggies and we'll find ourselves 6 points clear of all the fuss. I'd take a single point though.  

Just did one of those predictor things on sports predictor.  Have us staying up on 35 points with draws against WBA, Sun, Eve and WHU and wins against Swa, QPR and Burnley.  Leicester (30points), QPR (29 points) and Burnley (28) going down. 

That would be nice.

Truth is, Randy has already left the building. His last act was writing off the debt and now AVFC is in Fox's hands and we spend what we earn. If we stay up, I'm not as desperate for Randy to sell as I was this point last season.  

I'm not even the slightest bit worried we might "do a Leeds". We would be back within 3 years.

Of course we'd be starting from the bottom again, but aren't we kidding ourselves if we think we are anywhere but the bottom right now?

I fully agree - the only way to make the unbearable pain of relegation better, and to stop sh*tting oneself every week anticpating yet another 'must-win' - is to take a longer term view - it'll be three years in the championship max, with the biggest budget of any club down there while still breaking even. We've been sh*t for a very long time and our way back at the mo is under Fox, with a professional structure and the right people within that structure. This will take longer than 12 games.

Upshot - I see the future and we will have 3 seasons in the championship to get back to the prem - with a budget each season of £15-20 mill. Sums below if you want to be bored. 

Looking at the most recent accounts compared to the year before, we're not making a loss anymore, and if we kept spending at the same levels going forwards and stayed in the prem we'd be making a profit from any TV money. So estimated £30 mill assets for next season, then season after we spend what we earn going forwards. If in the championship still then the parachute payment is actually estimated to be about £36 mill for 2016/17. All in all, that is plenty of money to see us back to the prem. Just need the right set up to spend said money.

I don't have a problem with Sherwood's tactics, or penchant to leak to the press - Stoke should have been a point - and we've scored three goals in the last two games - after not scoring for god knows how long. I am desperate to see some points on the board but even the wife noticed we've had the ball in the net more often since Lambert left. 

So fag packet maths here but looking at the crystal ball this summer:

Year end 2015 accounts - (guessing) we make a profit of £30 mill thanks to TV money for the season minus bugger all player purchases

We get relegated but our balance sheet shows assets of £30 mill

We begin next season in Championship, we retain our squad minus some seriously high earners whose contracts have ended

We have that £30 mill to improve the squad

Im not pro Lerner - but is this last season's extended austerity what you would call financial 'insurance' for possible relegation?

Well the 2013/14 accounts are good news because they could signal that austerity is over. But if that were the case then why in 2014/15 have we spent so little again? Big gamble by Lerner, the f*ckin shummanite.

This squad have basically had three styles of play imposed on them this season, I just hope they learn how TS wants them to play, and fast. Just need a scrappy win to kick the recovery off.  

just wish we could take a corner

should have been a point and out of bottom 3. as it stands we are no worse off. sinclair a positive. not much else to be said.

He got lucky with the finish but the run was ace and he made his own luck - possibly a goal for him earlier than fate planned, will do him and us a world of good.

I pictured Riley as an old moustached irish man, he looks far too young and clean shaven.

 

Bradford now 2 up!!

Overseeing an 8-0 loss and losing to Bradford in the same season. Is Poyet the new Lambert?

 

Wrong thread i am sure - but yes, lost at home to qpr 0-2, now bradford, they are as it stands headed south faster than we are.

It is meant to be - Bradford will be avenged!

It's a win, we don't see many. It's technically Sherwood's win, in charge or not, he was at the match and gave a half time talk. It's a great start to his reign. I think he'll get the results we need, simply because he'll play it simple and to Benteke's strengths. For what its worth I think Lambert was about to do the same.

Surprised how empty VT is this afternoon - we just won a game - scored twice in the second half - into the QFs - well worth some jubilation.

Good to see Fox fist pumping in his leather gloves

edit - wtf is there a hyperlink on leather gloves to some crap pile shopping site? Weren't me gov

Hope to see Bacuna more often, he has the quality, just needs more starts.

God it feels good to win a game.

 

Thought Scoot Marshall was gonna screw us - is he loyal to avfc or lambert?

He's loyal to doing a professional job I'd say. He's getting paid to do something and he did it.

 

Yep - but Sherwood will claim the second half.

Thought Scoot Marshall was gonna screw us - is he loyal to avfc or lambert?

The lion awakes... but will he resist hitting the snooze button?

2 goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!