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Reply | QPR break the mould with Kamara loan – Signing
at 12:11 4 Aug 2026
Think I'm with everyone else, I don't mind it as a signing, it's defo not the HMS P*ss the League on Twitter. I think some might think he's a bit of a Carroll/Jenas type but does a job.
Crazy to though to think Kamara, Lamptey and Ronnie Edwards all share the same agent. That analytics dept when they present the options to CN..."You're not actually going to believe this..." |
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Reply | Kone and Madsen - any news?
at 08:38 29 Jul 2026
Obviously there’s certain NDAs in place for highly critical information, but often the club will heavily pressure what or when you put stuff out.
For example, if you’re moving to a new club you might get told what they want you to put in your caption.
So you might get a message saying:
“Hi Jordan if you could mention:
- the history of the club
- how excited he is to play at X stadium
- what a big season this could be”
You also get messages post match, so maybe there’s been an awful decision or maybe the manager has said no one to post on social media. That’s also actually quite frequent after a crap performance.
Sometimes the club will send the player 3 captions he can choose from for major news although this happens more with image right and if the club owns a percentage as that gives them more leverage to have an opinion.
For a major transfer to a global club, you’d be amazed at the schedule, size of the shoots, rollout strategy, captions, posts. I’ve had it before where a player has done a 10 hour shoot and hasn’t even signed the contract officially yet.
Another example recently where a Premier League club released a statement that said “after a long discussion with the manager, X has decided not to have surgery” which leaves you between a rock and a hard place.
Then you’ll often get a HoC askinf you to remove or take down the post if it’s a bit flammable, but sometimes you might not see this until a few hours later and then the damage is already done which is so unfortunate.
Sorry for typos, attempting to write on my phone commuting! |
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Reply | This year's out of the blue signing - Tariq Lamptey
at 15:13 23 Jul 2026
All good mate, I know there's good and bad with everyone I fully get that but sometimes it's always good to get another opinion.
Tariq actually sorted me some tickets to watch him for Ghana at the World Cup in Qatar, like this kid is a serious, serious footballer. It's a gamble for both sides. We talk about playing 100 games of pro football, he's done 100 games in Prem at 25, what if he stays fit and we're bouncing around 16th all year getting tanked or worse towards relegation?
Equally, with the most respect, it's not our money. He's not an arseh*le and we've had a few of them, he's a local lad looking to be closer to his family after a tricky few years. If it works great, we sell him for a couple of mill, if it doesn't then we both tried to win but it hasn't happened.
Also, on the basis of players being prats, sometimes it's good to remember they're only kids. They have people come up to them every day, sometimes it's just a sh1t day.
I was at Stevenage v West Ham last night, that Taty scored 2 or 3 before half time and he was hooked. Comes out around 50th minute, looking good and smelling better but there's not enough room on the bench so he's sitting on the little chairs with the other subs (mainly U23/18s) down the line. Fan after fan came over to the barriers and asked him for pics, he did everyone before going back to his chair.
Eventually Nuno barked something at him and he sat down and put his hood up, a dad and kid went over and tried to call him and he put his hand up and nodded to Nuno. The dad shouted "F*cking idiot" and led his son away. I have no doubted, every time he's on TV now the Dad will recite that story but they can't win sometimes. |
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Reply | This year's out of the blue signing - Tariq Lamptey
at 13:42 23 Jul 2026
I actually wasn't going to comment on this, but in the interest of fairness I thought this one was worth replying to.
I worked with Tariq first hand for a good few years, from his time at Chelsea through to Brighton, and during the periods when he was very close to joining Arsenal and then, a year later, Spurs.
Without getting into all the details, I've probably worked with around 100–150 players across Europe's top five leagues. I'd say Tariq wouldn't even make the top 10 biggest arseholes. In fact, I'd probably put him in the bottom 10.
He's got a good family who clearly care about him and his wellbeing. To see the sort of decline he has experienced isn't going to be easy for anyone to manage, let alone someone in their mid-20s.
He's never been one for the London party scene. A major fashion brand held an event a while ago with plenty of Premier League players invited (bizzarely a lot of this summer England squad). Tariq turned up with his dad and his agent. No big V-Class, no driver, and he was the only player who didn't go to the after-party.
Whenever you called him, he'd either be in his apartment in Brighton playing video games or with his girlfriend. If he missed your call, he'd ring back almost immediately. If anything, I always thought his life was almost too quiet. He's naturally quite introverted, and whenever you gave him advice he'd genuinely listen, ask questions and want to learn.
I remember one occasion where I had my then girlfriend in the car with me. I explained on speakerphone that we were on our way on holiday and she was with me. He spent a couple of minutes asking about her career and how she was doing. He's just a cool kid.
Beyond all that, he's a phenomenal footballer. Reece James went on loan to Wigan as a central midfielder because Chelsea had Tariq ahead of him at right back (they also had Dujon Sterling around at the same time).
I'd say 5'4" is probably about right, and of course he'll always be vulnerable at the back post or against diags. But come on, let's have a bit of perspective. Two years ago we were giving Ozzy Kakay minutes there. [Post edited 23 Jul 13:43]
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Reply | Fan sites meeting with Christian Nourry
at 19:03 15 May 2026
That’s utterly bizarre. Is that deemed a success? The AI question, the season ticket concessions issue… all feels utterly bizarre. |
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Reply | Kolli Off
at 12:16 5 May 2026
Quite surprised at some of the negativity on here, as someone else mentioned I definitely don't think we're sitting on a Gallen regen but maybe we should give the kid a break?
We've watched the likes of Tom Hitchcock and similar clearly not be good enough for the level and just kept around, this kid is easily the best finisher at the club and he's 20. Does he influence games enough, probably not. Do we know his best position yet, again probably not. But isn't this what it is about?
The game against West Ham he was one of the best players on the pitch, clearly he's not going to reach them levels every week, young players always struggle for consistency and then you add in the magnitude etc etc.
He's from the local area, he's actually one of our own, he still goes down Goals at Gillete corner most weeks, I'm sure young Rangers fans love him, anyone thats met him speaks glowingly of how he carries himself. He's exciting, got a bit of flair, the whole socks over the knees, the flicks, the tricks, the barnet.... if you wanted a lad to come through your academy I mean he'd tick a lot of the boxes.
What are we doing it for if it isn't to back one of our own and to see them come through and prosper? I thought thats what we're all about now, developing players and making our own talent. Or is it only when they're brought in and can be attributed to a portfolio?
Kolli will get a good move, he's a good age, interesting profile, strong mindset, has played internationally, scored a decent number of goals, connected agent. But will the 1m plus adds ons be a good move for us? |
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Reply | Central Coast mariners
at 16:21 27 Mar 2026
I would LOVE to know where Retexo had history of dealing with multi-club ownership structures.
On their website they claim to have helped the likes of Real Madrid, Roma, Marseille, Wrexham and Welsh national team.
Well they did help Real Madrid, as quoted to ONE Football Retexo were “instrumental in Real Madrid’s appointment of Gregory Dupont as Head of Fitness” in July 2019. Nearly a decade ago, but fair play.
Although I do wonder how much help they gave to a club that has operated at the most elite level for it's whole existence, whilst having one of the biggest internal networks that hires the very best and always has. So were they 'driving' that or had Real always done it and they just happened to be in the room?
They helped Roma appoint Tiago Pinto as General Director, also quoted to One Football, but his time at Roma was mixed so let's leave it at that. They won the Europa Conference but also had Mourinho at the helm. IMO Mourinho masked the fact they had a bloated and ageing squad and were regularly criticised for not having a distinctive identity.
Marseille have been a car crash for the last 5-7 years, going through multiple sporting directors and inconsistent recruitment strategy along with a revolving door for head coaches. There's no public record here of where they have helped or what they have done.
If we're guessing, and I suppose we have to, that they got involved with Wrexham post-Reynolds and McElhenney takeover then best believe they would have spoke about it somewhere. It's one of the biggest and most newsworthy stories in football, if Retexo had done anything of note, it would be being spoke about. Reynolds and Co have also wrapped up the very best of the best and really have only worked with those that are working at an elite level rights holder or similar - so it would be off-piste for the ownership group but who knows.
Where have they worked with multi-club ownership models? Gould's background was in recruitment in the financial sector, before getting into football in 2010 (he told Off The Pitch podcast as football recruitment was 'rotten) and the only public information is kinda aligned with that.
But to now start using QPR and Central Coast Mariners and claiming that you've worked with similar models, I'm just not having it. The links and portfolio looks weak. I was recently asked about developing fan engagement strategies for a takeover featuring a major influencer and non-league side, I can't now just start saying I played an integral part. You can't just go along making stuff up about your career, but it seems QPR are the only ones that have fallen for it. [Post edited 27 Mar 16:24]
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Reply | Ben Williams on Open All Hours Podcast Tonight.
at 09:25 20 Mar 2026
A lot of fascinating takeaways with this one, but thought the fact Ben has overseen a transformation in our data analysis department which has seen it go from "non-existent/basic" to "World Class" was interesting to put us in the same bracket as the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City etc.
Also the fact that actually it's not that the players are injured, the reason they haven't been included in the match-day squad (how most fans measure if a leading player is available), is the coaching staff might just not pick them.
He cited Poku playing in the U23s, wasn't actually rehab, it was as the manager felt he wasn't offering more than the players he had. Shame the summer star signing and League 1 POTY would dip so much but alas here we are. |
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Reply | That time of year – Preview
at 11:14 14 Mar 2026
Think you make a good point too on the players. They get away relatively scott free whilst it’s tbis Nourry v Manager debates. They all wanted to play out of their skin and put up memes after this fixture at home. Now look at us, we’re the meme.
Steve Cook is undeniably one of ohe best defenders, but the nonsense this week around his social media and removing any mention of QPR, fans backing “Cookie”. F*ck that. He’s paid a premium, acting like a teenage girl. He’s still under contract and still getting paid. Have a bit of respect.
They’re all tbf taking the p*ss from top to bottom, you’re telling me no one on that pitch the other night or on Sunday could have shown a bit of bite or sorted things out. It’s just the manager hasn’t made it clear. |
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Reply | Richard Kone
at 19:26 13 Mar 2026
Kone was basically doing that when he first came to this country. But he was actually really good, that eventually he couldn't do that. Then he started to get paid expenses, then serious semi pro level before turning professional, being a seven figure player and making his international debut.
Funny how the world works. |
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Reply | Richard Kone
at 08:38 13 Mar 2026
Well we will see on your prediction about never making it at this level, but I guarantee if you did a fire sale nearly every Championship club would take a look at Kone. Not sure that can be said about many others in our squad... |
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Reply | Richard Kone
at 20:28 12 Mar 2026
Out of everything to turn the gun on, Richard Kone would have been pretty low down the list.
Everyone is going to look poor if you canon a ball 2 ft above their head for an hour and a half. So away from that, what's his first time finishing like? What's his left foot finishing like? What's his anticipation or movement like?
The reason you can only say "he can't hold the ball up", is because the system is completely flawed and that's all you can judge him on. You should ask why can't our striker get fed a decent chance across two games.
If you have Burrell, teams have to drop to be wary of his pace from goal kicks, if you have a Chair or Madsen, you can start to play through the thirds so they sit off, if you get a Dembele or Poku round him you can have runners in behind. We have none of those.
So you see teams squeeze us up as much as possible and go man for man knowing we can't get out. It doesn't matter if he's Haaland, he's not winning every long ball in the air, it's just not physically possible. We're certainly not doing anything with now our best centre half in midfield cos he can play out from the back.
Add to that what other posters have mentioned on his journey, the fact he engages with nearly every club post on social media, sharing random thank yous of fans or club news to his story. He's 22, not on penalties and probably won't be too far off Dykes first season total. Kone is what a Rangers player should be. |
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Reply | I've never felt more like starting the Blues Match Thread..
at 14:26 12 Mar 2026
Surely he's got to be a left-back, surely. He's got all the technical ability for this league. Wand of a left foot but you can't put him in one of the front 4 positions, he's too slow, ponderous and just can't really move.
Young enough to make a change, played there for Chelsea through the academy. Just give him it deep with a Chair-type in front of him and get him to whip balls in. Decent height and physicality for it too. |
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Reply | Koki Saito
at 19:59 10 Mar 2026
Can't get my head round this either, even looking at the whole "profile" thing they do now - I just can't see it for him or Ronnie Edwards (if you're looking at it completely objectively without any emotion).
But add in the fact they' are/were both fan favourites.... |
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Reply | I'll take one for the team Boro Match thread!!!!
at 19:34 8 Mar 2026
At what point is enough, enough with this lot.
Have so much time for the fans that are on here looking to be level-headed and approach things with calmness and logic but that was a p*ss take out there today.
They were never up for it from the first whistle, we made Boro look like the Dutch side of the 80s. Absolute f*cking dross. No fight, no desire, nothing and we just turn up, in the thousands paying out extortionate amounts in a cost of living crisis. Watching RND get torn a new arseh0le by Morgan Whittaker - yeah cheers. Season ticket early bird offer out soon is it?
We just accept it. We have a fans forum, we're treated like plebs being told about our favourite player not playing at the weekend. We get ChatGPT-esque quotes on an U23 player leaving. We're not allowed to know about injuries or contracts or how much we're spending on players. No, thats not for us mere mortals, only the footballing men can know that.
The arse of the squad has fallen out, your arguably fielding a League One team against a side gunning for promotion because again, you've f*cked the conditioning of the players.
PLOT TWIST, EVERYONE IN THE INDUSTRY CAN FIND OUT, IT'S ONLY THE FANS THAT ARE LOSING OUT.
We have a decent continental manager come in, turns the ship around after Ainsworth debacle, does well, his whole squad blows up, he starts to get prickly and is replace. We have another decent continental manager come in, does well, his whole squad is blown up he starts to get prickly... and on it goes.
The plebs being told that we're signing players using data and stats, looking at 'profiles' that are regularly sold into the Premier League, you'd never get it.... oh but here comes your favourite pint-sized, one-paced Japanese winger (that famous profile) and your QPR supporting 5'10 centre half with no pace that both happen to be super popular. There goes £6m but doesn't matter, look at that hair and have you seen the pictures of him in the England kit?
We just accept it, turn up in numbers beyond belief and yes Boro are a good team obviously. Yes their players off the bench would walk into our team, but why are we in this situation. Letting some little twerp polish his portfolio buying sh*tters from the bank arse of nowhere on our watch whilst we all pay fortunes, battling trains and shit transport links traipsing all around the country.
Yeah, the plebs can do that, don't mind us doing that, keep spending the doe so people sit on 6-figures can decide what we should/shouldn't know.
But we'll just keep being told by the kids on Twitter that Tylon Smith, Kealey Adamson, Esquerdinha and Daniel Bennie are actually all really good and they've got an inform FUT card to prove it, us gammons wouldn't get it.
They will probably give Stephan the bullet, as I said on another thread, the guys not a moron. He probably forgotten more about football than we'd ever know. Whatever you think you know or see, he does 10x over, but they'll need to do something to show proactiveness.
We're not some f*cking toy for you to use before your next gig leaving us in the shit, showing how you used AI to identify players in counties where football was a second tier popularity sport as you sit as Director of Football Strategy as Strasbourg. Whatever misconceptions we fans may have about if we're a Premier League team in waiting or a League 1 team in waiting, we are a club with heritage and a rich history. A staple of English football with some of the most majestic players the country and game has seen. This dross has been going on for years and it isn't good enough.
But f*ck this for a laugh, this is a shambles from top to bottom. [Post edited 8 Mar 19:36]
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Reply | Fabrizio Romano - how he does it (allegedly)
at 19:49 6 Mar 2026
Tip of the iceberg with him.
Allegedly, the fees he charges are huge, way way bigger than mentioned. He also allegedly has loads of people running his socials, just farming info and the players/agents/clubs that have him on retainer is a joke.
The best IMO is Ornstein, an actual journalist, which is a start. |
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Reply | "Would benefit from a loan elsewhere...."
at 11:07 3 Mar 2026
I also think we really underestimate how good some of the players are in League 1. Esquerdinha is never ever going to make it in English football, not unless he has some Madsen-esque resurrection.
Send him to League 1 where he can play against the likes of Elijah Adebayo, Louis Barry, Jamie Reid, Chris Willock etc.
By that same measurement, what club in League 1 is taking any of our youngster, it's why Sutton is where he is, and playing as much as he is.
The examples of Chair and Eze are slight anomalys too. Eze is Eze and Chair has hands down been the best player at the club for years. |
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