Rival Watch

[Kitsondinho]

Some more quality officiating in the Forest v West Brom game.

Can’t stand Forest. That Ryan yates harassing the ref into that sending off. Typical of them and cooper sides, always in the refs ear

Swansea reminded me of them

Yeah they irritate me, supporters still live in the 1970's. Think they are far more important than they actually are, been Championship/League 1 fodder for about 20 years. Have a good season and give it the big one.

Living just north of Nottingham, I cannot tell you how many Forest fans who weren’t born when Clough was boss, have told me all about their glory days. They get very upset when I mention we’ve had more seasons in the top two divisions than they have in the last 20 years…

[Stranded]

Looking like WBAs season will be over when they come here.

It'll be a dead rubber. Fully expecting a Terrell Thomas masterclass.

[Rax]

Nice to see Rooney setting expectations for next season - he wants a squad of 40!

[From Despair To Where?]

I think he's including all academy players in that number.

However, I think they're in for a rude awakening, especially if they get docked another 15pts. There's enough teams in a better place then them who've struggled to get back up.

[windermereROYAL]

I don`t believe the management game is for Rooney tbf, he`s younger than Ronaldo FFS, he looks mid to late 40s.

[Weymouth Royal]

Nice to see Rooney setting expectations for next season - he wants a squad of 40!

They only have 5 contracted players heading into next season too. I'm hoping they do a Bolton!

[YorkshireRoyal99]

If they have 15 points off next season, it will be a tough ask for them to stay in the division, but it all depends on the new owner, how quickly they can get that deal over the line as well as who they bring in or tie down over the off season as well.

[Elm Park Kid]

I don't really wish Derby any harm - seem like a reasonable club with good fans who have been completely trashed by Mel Morris.

I'm not too happy about the rumour though that HMRC are going to accept a huge loss on taxed owed in order to allow the sale to go through. So, we're now just accepting that keeping a club going is more important than funding for hospitals and schools? Yeah, yeah, I understand that HMRC gets nothing if the club folds, but they are setting a precedent that if you're in tough times you can just stiff the tax man and the club will be fine in the end.

[From Despair To Where?]

To be honest, I'm less bothered by HMRC not getting their money than other creditors. Whilst £20m is a huge sum for 1 business to owe, its not life and death for HMRC. There's local companies owed relatively small sums for whom which it could be the difference between surviving or going to the wall.

I am however all for HMRC taking action sooner and not letting the arrears get to £20m+. If that means a dozen winding up petitions per year, then so be it. It might focus owners' minds a bit more.

[Brum Royal]

I've got a feeling we'll catch Birmingham, the club's been a mess for years, but currently even more so. The players don't want to play for Bowyer, who doesn't seem to want to be there either

[URZZZZ]

I've got a feeling we'll catch Birmingham, the club's been a mess for years, but currently even more so. The players don't want to play for Bowyer, who doesn't seem to want to be there either

Seem to forever languish around 18th-20th place, without ever really looking like getting relegated. You’d think in the near future they’ll drop given how consistently poor they are

[Brum Royal]

I've got a feeling we'll catch Birmingham, the club's been a mess for years, but currently even more so. The players don't want to play for Bowyer, who doesn't seem to want to be there either

Seem to forever languish around 18th-20th place, without ever really looking like getting relegated. You’d think in the near future they’ll drop given how consistently poor they are

They had that one season where they stayed up on the last day (last few minutes/injury time of the season) at the expense of Bolton, but otherwise they've always been poor, but not quite poor enough for bottom 3. Although without our points deduction this season, they would now be below us and in the bottom 3

[Franchise FC]

I've got a feeling we'll catch Birmingham, the club's been a mess for years, but currently even more so. The players don't want to play for Bowyer, who doesn't seem to want to be there either

Seem to forever languish around 18th-20th place, without ever really looking like getting relegated. You’d think in the near future they’ll drop given how consistently poor they are

They had that one season where they stayed up on the last day (last few minutes/injury time of the season) at the expense of Bolton, but otherwise they've always been poor, but not quite poor enough for bottom 3. Although without our points deduction this season, they would now be below us and in the bottom 3

Can that possibly be right ?
How can removing OUR points deduction put them below any of Barnsley, Peterborough or Derby ?

[Brum Royal]

Seem to forever languish around 18th-20th place, without ever really looking like getting relegated. You’d think in the near future they’ll drop given how consistently poor they are

They had that one season where they stayed up on the last day (last few minutes/injury time of the season) at the expense of Bolton, but otherwise they've always been poor, but not quite poor enough for bottom 3. Although without our points deduction this season, they would now be below us and in the bottom 3

Can that possibly be right ?
How can removing OUR points deduction put them below any of Barnsley, Peterborough or Derby ?

Sorry, didn't phrase that very well, I meant ours and Derby's points deductions

[Franchise FC]

They had that one season where they stayed up on the last day (last few minutes/injury time of the season) at the expense of Bolton, but otherwise they've always been poor, but not quite poor enough for bottom 3. Although without our points deduction this season, they would now be below us and in the bottom 3

Can that possibly be right ?
How can removing OUR points deduction put them below any of Barnsley, Peterborough or Derby ?

Sorry, didn't phrase that very well, I meant ours and Derby's points deductions

Ah, that makes more sense, thanks

[Snowball]

FYI

Just for fun, the table without points-deductions

17 43 13 13 17 42 49 -07 52 Derby
18 42 14 07 21 48 64 -16 49 Cardiff
19 43 13 10 20 54 74 -20 49 Bristol
20 43 13 08 22 37 48 -11 47 Hull
21 43 13 08 22 54 82 -28 47 Reading
________________________________________________________
22 43 11 12 20 46 70 -24 45 Birmingham
23 43 08 10 25 38 83 -45 34 Peterboro
24 42 06 12 24 31 62 -31 30 Barnsley

[Zip]

If the HMRC do write off some of Derby’s debts that sets a precedent going forward. You can’t do that for one club but not others.

[tidus_mi2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGPb0PD3Xo4&t=110s

Just about the only time I'll accept Reading being pronounced as reading.

[Sutekh]

Just thought I’d look to see the run ins for those teams currently battling for promotion

1. Fulham - home: Preston, Nottm Forest, Luton away: Bournemouth, Sheffield United
2. Bournemouth - home: Fulham, Nottm Forest, Millwall away: Swansea, Blackburn
3. Huddersfield - home: Barnsley, Bristol City, away: Coventry
4. Luton - home: Blackpool, Reading, away: Fulham
5. Nottm Forest - home: Swansea, away: Peterborough, Fulham, Bournemouth, Hull
6. Sheffield United - home: Cardiff, Fulham, away: QPR
7. Millwall - home: Peterborough, away: Birmingham, Bournemouth
8. Blackburn - home: Bournemouth, away: Preston, Birmingham
9. Middlesbrough - home: Cardiff, Stoke, away: Swansea, Preston
10. QPR - home: Sheffield United, away: Stoke, Swansea
11. Coventry - home: Huddersfield, away: WBA, Stoke

Just perhaps Bournemouth might be caught if they’re not “bang on the money” in their remaining games and certainly at least 6th is well up for grabs.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

FYI

Just for fun, the table without points-deductions

17 43 13 13 17 42 49 -07 52 Derby
18 42 14 07 21 48 64 -16 49 Cardiff
19 43 13 10 20 54 74 -20 49 Bristol
20 43 13 08 22 37 48 -11 47 Hull
21 43 13 08 22 54 82 -28 47 Reading
________________________________________________________
22 43 11 12 20 46 70 -24 45 Birmingham
23 43 08 10 25 38 83 -45 34 Peterboro
24 42 06 12 24 31 62 -31 30 Barnsley

That would be painful for me to be involved in personally but from the neutral perspective I bet it would be one hell of a run in for them.

I think points deductions that will follow for a few seasons to come will knock the number of points required to stay up at 43>=.