31 Aug 2026 10:50:42
Hi Diddly Ho,
The reports of Richard Hughes working on Al Hilal deals are true.
Absolutely shambolic he's been allowed to facilitate deals and the part of the coaching changes this summer.
Opinion - Iraola is the right coach to take this club forward, XA would also have been the right coach - we are coming to the end of one of, if not the most important transfer windows in our recent history and we're severely lagging behind our rivals.
I strongly urge us fans to get behind the coaches and the squad over the next 12 months and consider that the missed opportunities of this transfer market were not the players doing, the players all want to be here and play for the club - some may not be the quality of the ones that occupied their positions before, but they damn well will fight blood and tears to play for our club.
I hope the club takes the steps needed to rectify the mistakes made, I presume with the so called "passing of the torch" with Bhatia and co, we may very well see that.
Something I read and agree with is that the problem wasn't Edwards and Hughes coming in - it was them coming in so close to one-another and now exiting similarly. Those types of positions you can't just handover.
Anyway, hopefully we will see Sarr and Minteh coming in based on reports, if Gakpo were to leave - if I was in charge I'd be bringing in Minteh and keeping Gakpo, at least until next summer.
Hope you all have a great BH Monday, take care.
Diddly out.
31 Aug 2026 11:05:07
A lot of them couldn't make their way out of a paper bag, never mind fight blood and tears. Some of them need a serious reality check.
31 Aug 2026 11:07:40
Cheers, Ned. It is a ridiculous situation how he has been allowed to do this. As you say, we should be getting behind the coach and players now. Hopefully there may be a couple of late signings and AI can get the team firing on all cylinders.
31 Aug 2026 11:09:03
Okaly Dokaly. Well said, Ned.
31 Aug 2026 12:24:12
Ned, thanks for the info. Believe me, we are out to sea without a paddle at this club, currently.
Like I said, all last season, this is what you get when you allow your mates to run your Fortune 500 asset (which a PL club actually is).
These types of shambles would never be tolerated at a Mom & Pop convenience shop down my street, let alone at the biggest club in England.
Thankfully, we can be rid of the final third of the 3 stooges and start again.
31 Aug 2026 13:31:51
I just don't get the full on pessimistic negativity that some fans are showing. We've just signed a 3rd £100m+ player who should electrify the wing (very much to Al's liking). Munoz on rw was great. Fans moaned so much about Gakpo last season and now getting £80m for him is causing tears??? We've signed a number of good players, many of whom have already played this season.
Plus last season's injured players getting up to speed (Isak scoring, Leoni etc).
Sure we'd like a rb, sure we'd like a destroyer dm (even though apparently Al doesn't play with that system).
Seriously peeps... Lighten up!
31 Aug 2026 13:34:23
Hughes worked on bringing Slot to Liverpool when he was still at Bournemouth.
31 Aug 2026 14:06:44
Does Gakpo want to stay though, Ned?
With the amount of abuse he got last season from his own fans and his own personal tragedy in amongst it all, I wouldn't blame him if he wanted a fresh start.
We should never keep hold of players who don't want to be here, no matter who they are.
31 Aug 2026 14:59:42
Cheers, Ned.
Wonder if the sale of 30% of the club contributed to FSG almost turning a blind eye to Hughes and his antics?