Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Forum
Reply
SSN saying we're in for Akpom (n/t)
at 12:04 4 Aug 2025

I'll take that as a compliment—if it reads that polished, then I’m doing something right!
Forum
Reply
SSN saying we're in for Akpom (n/t)
at 10:53 4 Aug 2025

There's this idea floating around that going in for someone like Chuba Akpom now—4 weeks before the window shuts—must be a last-ditch or desperate move. But that really oversimplifies how transfers work.

It's completely plausible that Akpom was on a list of potential targets from early on, but not one we were looking to move on immediately. If the squad looked settled, or if certain players weren’t expected to leave, then there’s no need to jump straight in. Transfers are as much about timing and necessity as they are about availability.

But football is fluid. If one or two players are suddenly on the verge of leaving, or someone picks up an injury, like at the weekend, then the landscape changes quickly. That’s not scattergun—that’s responsive squad planning.

Being proactive doesn’t mean rushing into signings just to say we’ve done business. It means being ready to act when things shift. That’s what it looks like here.

And just because someone wasn’t in the media every week doesn’t mean they weren’t being monitored. Lots of solid business happens under the radar. Not every good transfer comes after a two-month public courtship.

Same goes for preseason. Yes, it helps—but missing part of it isn’t the end of the world. Plenty of signings slot in without a full preseason and contribute quickly.

So no, this isn’t panic. It’s just how a transfer window works when you're balancing squad needs, budget, and the unpredictable nature of football.
[Post edited 4 Aug 10:54]
Forum
Reply
Hayden Hackney - Alan Nixon…
at 12:04 28 Jul 2025

Glad to hear that Fridge woke up and had a good breakfast today
[Post edited 28 Jul 12:28]
Forum
Reply
Ashley Young - not convinced, or by our business so far.
at 14:36 21 Jul 2025

He's captained Everton, Man Utd and Aston Villa. Your statement that just because he's 40 doesn't guarantee he brings leadership is fair, except in this instance, he absolutey would.

Having longevity like that at the highest level only comes with top professionalism
[Post edited 21 Jul 14:37]
Forum
Reply
Is Everyone Fit?
at 11:30 18 Jul 2025

Leif didn't appear in the most recent training video, so I wonder if he's picked up a knock whilst in Austria
[Post edited 18 Jul 14:42]
Forum
Reply
Two things from TownTV today
at 16:45 17 Jul 2025

Yes, they are — and they do feature in some of the shorter videos as well.

I just noticed they didn’t appear to be involved in the most recent training session
Forum
Reply
Two things from TownTV today
at 15:59 17 Jul 2025

3. Couldn't see Leif or Johnson in the training video
Forum
Reply
Diogo Jota
at 09:33 3 Jul 2025

Terribly sad news!

Puts the moaning about lack of signings and kit news (until this morning) into perspective!

RIP Diogo
Forum
Reply
Omari off for 19m with 25% going to Chelsea
at 09:53 26 Jun 2025

You're right in principle — a player can be sold for less than their release clause. These clauses aren't always rigid; for instance, if the clause were to be paid in installments over several years, but a club comes in with a slightly lower offer paid in full upfront, we might prefer that. So yes, it's possible a deal is struck below the £35m figure.

What’s simply not true, though, is the claim that he is worth less than he was last summer. At that point, he had barely played in the Premier League. Since then, he’s had a solid breakthrough season and is currently shining at the U21 Euros. His development has been clear and consistent.

We paid a decent fee for him last year, and I can say with confidence: he will not be sold for less than that. His value has unquestionably risen.
Forum
Reply
Ashton on Delap release clause and 'well protected' line ... free to read
at 10:31 1 Jun 2025

It could also have been a % of league starts being the milestone, as well as certain number of appearances total.

So for instance, say part of the clause was to start more than 85% of league games, that would equate to 33 games. How many did LD start? 32....
Forum
Reply
The record championship transfer fee (in) is £15m
at 14:05 16 May 2025

Fat fingers, was supposed to be an up vote.

My bad for the overzealous response to the OP. I would say the title could definitely have been worded better
[Post edited 16 May 14:11]
Forum
Reply
The record championship transfer fee (in) is £15m
at 12:02 16 May 2025

Not sure where you've got this from, but Chelsea bought Lavia from Southampton for £50m+ last season. Brighton got Rutter from Leeds for £40m. Leeds also lost Summerville to West Ham for a lot too. And that's just to name a few off top of my head.

We even spent more than that on Greaves.

So in short, no, that isn't the record championship fee in.


EDIT: as per my below response, misinterpreted/misread the title. My bad!
[Post edited 16 May 15:55]
Forum
Reply
Ben Knight is 22 and without a professional club....
at 12:45 13 May 2025

He made a promising start during his first loan spell at Crewe, but unfortunately, injuries brought that stint to an early end. Since then, he’s struggled to make an impact anywhere, which is a real shame
[Post edited 13 May 12:46]
Forum
Reply
Really liking the look of J Clarke in preparation for next season (n/t)
at 09:25 7 May 2025

That was against Jake O'Brien, who happens to be anything but a "lumbering CB", he's actually deceptively very quick. So whilst the questions about his physicality are within reason, I'm not sure picking that particular scenario is a fair one.

I happen to think he has really improved as the season has gone on, he will be a real asset to us next year, and beyond.
Forum
Reply
Palmer
at 09:48 23 Apr 2025

One 5.9 rating doesn’t prove he’s overhyped—especially when his season average is 6.78, which is second to only Enciso in the team, and higher than Delap’s 6.71. A single game doesn’t outweigh consistent performances across the season. So no, I don't think it does support your view at all.
[Post edited 23 Apr 9:50]
Forum
Reply
Net Spending
at 11:05 15 Apr 2025

I see you've now started a new thread to preach this rhetoric. So here goes again.

While there’s definitely truth in the need to improve our talent ID — especially internationally — I think there’s still a big chunk of context missing here.

We’re 13th in net spend over 5 years, yes. But we’ve only been in the Premier League for five minutes. That figure is a result of one big season of spend to catch up after years in League One and the Championship. It’s not a sign of us overspending for five years straight — it’s a reflection of how far behind we were and how quickly we’ve had to accelerate just to survive.

Comparing us to Everton misses some key facts. They’ve had nearly 20 years of top-flight investment, a legacy squad, and existing international scouting infrastructure. Even with that, they’re clinging on, facing points deductions and a financial mess. Their situation isn't one to envy — it's more of a cautionary tale than a miracle.

The examples of Mitoma, Mbeumo, Huijsen are great — but for every one of those, there are plenty of flops. Brighton also had a decade-long investment in global scouting before that model paid off. We’re not there yet. And while we should absolutely build toward that kind of recruitment, it doesn’t happen overnight.

Writing off EFL players is harsh too — plenty of current Premier League stars came through the lower leagues. Our squad was built on what was available, trusted, and within PSR limits. It may not all have landed, but it was a rational strategy for a club that just got promoted faster than expected.

This season was always going to be a foundation-laying year. Promotion came ahead of schedule. The squad is adjusting, the club is growing — and expecting us to have elite-level scouting, recruitment, results, and resale value instantly is unrealistic.

Let’s absolutely demand improvement. Let’s learn and evolve. But let’s also not lose sight of how far we’ve come — and how much patience a proper, sustainable build takes.
Forum
Reply
Southampton and Leicester
at 10:17 15 Apr 2025

There are some fair points made, but there’s a serious lack of context in this take.

Yes, we’ve spent a lot for a newly promoted side. Yes, not every signing has hit the ground running. And yes, our home form has been disappointing. But the conversation really has to start with where we came from — not just where we are.

Three years ago, we were a mid-table League One side. We’ve just made back-to-back promotions into arguably the most competitive Premier League era ever. That sort of leap doesn’t happen without cracks showing somewhere. It’s not normal for a club to rise that fast, and trying to bridge the massive gap between League One football and Premier League standards in two seasons — within PSR constraints — is an enormous challenge.

The comments about McKenna’s wage also ignore the market reality. Other clubs were circling him. If we wanted to keep a young, upward-trending manager who had just delivered something extraordinary, we likely had to offer a contract that reflected his potential, not just his résumé. That’s the tax of being a newly promoted club trying to punch above its weight — we’re not just competing with other clubs financially, we’re doing so from a lower base of infrastructure and pull.

On recruitment — yes, it's fair to say we’ve paid a premium for domestic players, and that our international talent ID process needs to evolve if we want to become a sustainable top-flight side. That’s a lesson that’s still being learned, but it’s also a process that takes time to build. It’s not like we’ve had a full season at this level with a well-resourced scouting department focused abroad. Brighton didn’t become Brighton in a season.

As for the players — Greaves, Clarke, Hutchinson, Muric — some of them may or may not prove long-term top-flight material. But this is their first taste of the Premier League. Writing them off after a few tough months at the highest level feels premature.

This is not "toxic positivity" — it’s realism with patience. You can be disappointed and still keep perspective.

We didn’t come up with a Premier League-ready squad. We came up with a group that massively overperformed expectations, and now we’re trying to grow while playing against teams who’ve had 5+ years of Premier League money and scouting networks.

We absolutely need to reflect, evolve, and recruit better. But framing the entire season as a failure, or KM as being overpaid, misses the real picture: we’re still rebuilding the foundations of a sustainable top-flight club — and doing it faster than almost anyone expected.
Forum
Reply
East midlands airport....
at 14:16 24 Feb 2025

Think you might be thinking of East Midlands Parkway. Which is the train station. Takes about 20mins to get to Nottingham Station from there (no idea on the train schedule though), and then that's another 20 minute walk to the stadium.

As the other poster has said, there's a handful of football parking places around the Notts County ground, could also try the rugby club if you get there early enough.
Forum
Reply
Look at the Table!
at 11:04 21 Jan 2025

92 last year to finish above Man City.

Why does it matter what Forest had? They finished 17th, we don't need to finish above 17th, just above 18th. Hence 27 would have meant we survived last season
Forum
Reply
The sad gulf in quality between the leagues
at 14:29 20 Jan 2025

The gap will only get bigger should the three promoted sides all get relegated for the second season in a row.

It will soon become virtually impossible for promoted sides to survive.
Please log in to use all the site's facilities

only_one_sir_bobby


Site Scores

Forum Votes: 99
Comment Votes: 6
Prediction League: 0
TOTAL: 105




About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Online Safety Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2025