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Reply | Fan sites meeting with Christian Nourry
at 16:42 9 Dec 2025
Nourry does say that there is a settlement in place with Paul Furlong.
But he also appears to be passing the buck by saying that the board just acted on the recommendations of Jon De Souza and Alex Carroll:
"Obviously, this is an employment matter that’s been settled between both parties so there’s a limit to what I can say. But in this case, Paul, Alex (Carroll, Academy Director) and Jon (De Souza, Head of Methodology) have had regular discussions over the last calendar year about the development of the Dev Squad, and what the strategy is and what we’re hoping to achieve there. My understanding is that those conversations between the three were very honest over the course of the year, and ultimately the methodology department and Jon makes recommendations to the board and then we (The Board) have to make the final decision." |
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Reply | Fan sites meeting with Christian Nourry
at 16:33 9 Dec 2025
Thanks to Andy for doing this.
One line regarding player injuries jumped out at me:
There are also GDPR realities that if they player doesn’t want their medical situation publicised, we can’t do it.
GDPR has been around since 2018.
Has QPR or any other football club given this as a reason for withholding information about player injuries before now?
Or, have sporting organisations always obtained the necessary consents before releasing details about injuries?
There is a 'substantial public interest' exemption to GDPR and journalism is one of those conditions:
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/lawful-basis
I know nothing about journalism law but if you are covering a professional sport then I would have thought information about the physical condition of players was in the public interest. Although I stand to be corrected.
Throwing in GDPR at this point looks suspiciously like trying for another reason to keep supporters in the dark
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Reply | Fan sites meeting with Christian Nourry
at 15:07 9 Dec 2025
We seem to be at cross purposes.
I think what you are suggesting is that Furlong wasn't really made redundant but all parties have allowed it to look that way to save face - which might make sense after all that anger and suspicion after Marti was put on gardening leave and then went to Leicester.
I was making a slightly different point that if Furlong's departure was a genuine redundancy then there was no need for secrecy because there is no stigma around redundancy.
Whichever way you slice it the club appears to have handled the departures of Marti and Furs very badly.
This seems to be a long-term problem with the club not being very good at saying goodbye to popular figures. It's a problem we have had since before Nourry arrived so it's not all on him but other clubs seem to do this better than us.
[Post edited 9 Dec 15:13]
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Reply | Fan sites meeting with Christian Nourry
at 12:41 9 Dec 2025
No. For employment purposes redundancy means that your role (or part of it) no longer exists within the organisation:
https://www.acas.org.uk/redundancy
"Redundancy
Redundancy is a type of dismissal where a role is no longer needed.
Employers should consider other options to try and reduce or avoid redundancies. They must consult workers."
The WLS piece said:
https://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/furlong-qpr-exit-confirmed
"Earlier this year, Rangers’ youngsters won the Premier League Cup under Furlong, beating Brentford in the final.
Since then there have been discussions about his future role, and changes to the development structure, with Anthony Hayes appointed as methodology manager, focusing on the Under-17 to Under-21 age groups.
And it has now been decided that Furlong will move on."
So to me that does read like a redundancy. In which case hiding behind confidentiality is being secretive simply because they can rather than because they need to be.
As I said in my earlier post there is no stigma around redundancy so there should be nothing to hide. |
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Reply | Fan sites meeting with Christian Nourry
at 12:13 9 Dec 2025
I'm not convinced about the legal reasons for needing omerta about Furlong departing.
The way WLS reported it made it sound like a redundancy.
Businesses announce redundancies all the time. It's not nice for those made redundant but there's no stigma attached to it as there's no question of wrong-doing or disloyalty from either party! [Post edited 9 Dec 12:15]
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Reply | Something Rotten In The State Of Falmer
at 21:12 8 Dec 2025
So it's not just us:
'Caroline Dinenage, the chair of the Commons culture select committee, said it was part of “a concerning trend of football clubs restricting access to journalists because of things that have been written about them”.
“Football clubs are a major part of our communities and whilst they are entitled to expect fair and accurate reporting, it is right that they should be open to scrutiny and transparency for the fans,” she said.' |
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Reply | New stadium for London
at 18:14 5 Dec 2025
They issued a statement on this last year saying that they are not looking to leave Lords completely but do think there is merit in having their own stadium:
https://www.middlesexccc.com/news/2024/04/club-statement-following-article-in-su
Apparently they did look at Barnet Copthall as a possible site but didn't proceed with that:
“We continue to explore numerous options, but to put minds at rest, Middlesex Cricket is not about to end its long-term relationship with Marylebone Cricket Club and is not about to leave Lord’s.
“First are foremost, the Club is not in a financial position currently where it can even consider this as an option, secondly, we have no site to consider moving to, and thirdly, if we did have, bringing this to fruition would be many years away and we would still hope to play as much cricket as possible at Lord’s.
“As little as three years ago the Club advised members that it was looking at alternative sites which might prove suitable for a home venue – with advanced investigation into Barnet Copthall as a suitable site ultimately not leading to a successful outcome.
“So, in short, right now, and in the immediate future, we are considering a move from Lord’s no more intensely than we were back then, although we remain committed to reviewing all options to ensure the Club thrives in the future. |
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Reply | New stadium for London
at 21:47 2 Dec 2025
You certainly know the area much better than I do so I won't disagree with you.
There is this document from April on the Waltham Forest site:
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/WFHS3-2.pdf
Not a very exciting read but it does go into why Brisbane Road can't be redeveloped.
It does say that there are a number of potential sites for relocation but those sites aren't currently intended for such use.
So you are right to say that even with council support there is a long way to go
"1.1.5 There are a number of proposed allocation sites that potentially meet the broad parameters of a viable relocation site for a new stadium, but as currently drafted, the wording for these allocations would not support a new stadium development. It is appreciated that the wording of these allocations is unlikely to be amended to include a reference to a football stadium being appropriate. Therefore, it would be helpful to include a broad statement of support for the Club’s relocation within the bespoke policy allocation covering Brisbane Road." |
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Reply | New stadium for London
at 20:49 2 Dec 2025
What you say is fair.
But they have the backing of the local MP and the council. Just getting the local politicians on board is a lot further than we ever progressed with our plans for Old Oak.
It's only a guess but when the politicians are putting their name to it and they are announcing a six year timeframe it's likely this has progressed further than they have yet made public.
The Spurs stadium development took twelve years from inception to hosting its first match:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham_Hotspur_Stadium
"The construction of the stadium was initiated as the centrepiece of the Northumberland Development Project, intended to be the catalyst for a 20-year regeneration plan for Tottenham. The project covers the site of the now demolished ground White Hart Lane and areas adjacent to it. It was conceived in 2007 and announced in 2008, but revised several times, and construction of the stadium, beset by disputes and delays, did not commence until 2015. The stadium opened on 3 April 2019 with a ceremony before the first Premier League game held there." |
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Reply | the (not so) bons mots of Julien Stephan
at 20:04 2 Dec 2025
I think good investigative journalism went out of fashion with Watergate (no offence Clive).
It is possible to agree with everything you say about what is wrong with the modern game and still accept the fact that players are running a lot more than ever before, sprinting a lot more than ever before, and unfortunately dying from heart failure at a significantly higher rate than ever before.
And yet as bad as it is now it could still get worse. I read somewhere that for years FIFA has been investigating the feasibility of playing to a one hour clock which stops every time the ball is out of play, and for the game to be split into four quarters of 15 minutes with a lengthy half time break.
That would guarantee the fans their sixty minutes of action, which is more than we get now. But it doesn't sound like progress to me. In fact I think there would be a lot of opposition to it. Which might be the only reason it hasn't been tried already. [Post edited 2 Dec 20:06]
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Reply | the (not so) bons mots of Julien Stephan
at 18:52 2 Dec 2025
I agree with some of what you say about the Norwich selection and performance but I'm going to push back on your glib remarks about player fatigue.
In all your years watching football you might have noticed that the game has got a lot faster and more intense.
What you might not be aware of is the sharp increase in the number of player fatalities from onfield incidents.
In the whole of the 20th Century there were 67 fatalities worldwide.
In the last 25 years there have been 152.
There are a range of causes such as collisions or lightning strikes but the biggest risk factor is cardiac arrest.
There's a Wikipedia page with the full list but the breakdown over time is as follows:
pre 1900 - 22
1900-49 - 31
1950-99 - 36
2000-09 - 45
2010-19 - 71
2020-25 - 36
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_association_footballers_who_died_after_on-
"The primary causes of on-field deaths have evolved over time. Improvements in infection control and emergency surgery since the early days of organised soccer have mostly eliminated the fatal complications that were once common after routine sporting injuries. Squad rotation and substitutes have also reduced the need for seriously ill players to start, or remain in, games, and lifestyle factors are now tightly controlled.
However, deaths from heart failure have increased as the intense pace of the modern game has placed higher demands on players' aerobic conditioning. Following an increase in heart-related deaths,[1] both during matches and training, in 2007 the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) considered mandatory cardiac testing,[2] already in place for years in some countries, such as Italy.[3] By 2009, FIFA pre-competition medical assessment included family history, heart rhythm, sounds, and electrocardiogram results.[4] The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) required extensive medical tests, including electrocardiogram and echocardiogram for players in the Europa League 2011–12.[5] Constant monitoring has been advised.[6]
The FIFA Sudden Death Report (FIFA-SDR), was carried out by Saarland University and published in 2020.[7] The report recorded worldwide deaths attributed to sudden cardiac arrest or other unexplained sudden death while playing (or shortly after playing) football during the period from 2014 to 2018. There were 617 cases during the five-year period. In the majority of cases where an autopsy was carried out, the cause of death was coronary heart disease.
Most non-cardiac deaths are the result of blunt trauma to the head or torso, resulting in life-threatening conditions such as intracerebral hemorrhage and peritonitis, caused by colliding with other players, goalposts or stadium architecture. Challenging another player by targeting their body, an important part of soccer for most of the 20th century, is penalised automatically under modern refereeing guidelines, as is "dangerous play" such as playing the ball with a foot above shoulder height.
As with other forms of outdoor recreation, fatal lightning strikes are a rare but persistent problem, especially at training grounds where there is no stadium structure to draw the lightning away." |
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Reply | Furs leaving
at 08:41 2 Dec 2025
"I do think some of the revising of history over Marti's time at the club is a bit ridiculous."
It's completely ridiculous.
Has everyone forgotten that Nourry was desperate to take the credit for recruiting Marti?
Now they're trying to portray him as some sort of dud who had to go.
It's all smoke and mirrors. |
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Reply | 20 team divisions
at 15:56 1 Dec 2025
I'm not saying midweek games are the scapegoats. But more midweek games mean less recovery time for players - who are running and sprinting a lot more in matches since the introduction of five subs.
The number of international breaks are part of the problem.
And if we did reduce to a 20 team Championship the TV companies and football bodies would just create more or bigger international tournaments. So I don't think a smaller league would even benefit the players.
And the point has already been made on this thread that the clubs won't like it either. Fewer games will mean lost matchday revenues.
The clubs would probably end up agreeing to even more live televised games at all sorts of crazy times just to make up those losses. Forcing fans to put up with even more travelling problems and short-notice rescheduling of fixtures.
So in the end who really benefits from a smaller Championship? |
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Reply | 20 team divisions
at 14:43 1 Dec 2025
There is a viewpoint that the introduction of five substitutes has led to more intense football with players running further than ever before and also running more sprints than ever before.
The fact that half your outfield players have to play the full match at that pace while the other half are replaced by fresh players with instructions to "fackin run arahnd a bit" © H. Redknapp (clearly a genius ahead of his time - not!)
Three game weeks just add to this problem.
The fact that there is an increase in soft tissue injuries (which medical science will tell you are avoidable) would suggest that players are already struggling with the increased intensity and increasingly breaking down.
Finally, if you have shorter domestic seasons but keep the three-game weeks then what you will end up with is even more international tournaments and overseas tours. More money for FIFA and the big clubs and even more pressure on the players. |
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Reply | Wrexham government grant
at 13:34 29 Nov 2025
"The Financial Times reported that revenues in the last year could reach £50m – including 100,000 shirt sales for a city with about 66,000 in its urban area."
Who the hell is buying these shirts? |
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Reply | Furs leaving
at 11:39 29 Nov 2025
QPR is a football club not a religion.
People are allowed to have different opinions and question the leadership.
My problem with Matt Winton's piece is that it doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. It's all feeling and emotion without displaying any serious thinking.
I'm not saying Matt Winton is stupid and it's clear that a lot of people do agree with what he has to say. But it's very easy to pick apart what he wrote and see it as nothing more than wishful thinking
Paul Furlong has a long association with the club and has achieved success and popularity here. For him to be leaving mid season with no clear explanation as to why is bound to raise questions as to what is going on and why.
I would much prefer that we did have real transparency and proper discussion around these things rather than being a happy clappy congregation grateful for whatever we are served up on and off the pitch.
We pride ourselves on being a maverick club.
Maverick's are independent and think for themselves. They don't settle for being told what to think and believe. |
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Reply | Furs leaving
at 09:29 29 Nov 2025
Someone much younger and savvier about these things than me suggested that the Matt Winton piece did seem a bit clinical and not very well thought through.
For a laugh they suggested I run the piece through an AI content detector.
If you want to try it yourself this is the software I used:
https://copyleaks.com/ai-content-detector
If you can't be bothered to check it yourself I will paste the result below. But I do feel a bit of a plum for putting so much thought into replying to a piece generated by a robot!
This doesn't mean that the piece doesn't reflect Matt Winton's true feelings on the subject but if he had put more thought and effort into it he might have recognised the contradictions and weakness of the points he was making before he put it online.
But Matt Winton might say that he is not a journalist but a fan telling it how he sees it and feels it which is fair enough!
AI Content Found
Percentage of text that may be AI-generated.
85.6%
AI Phrases Detected
Beta
GenAI often overuses certain phrases learned during training, which is one of dozens of signals used to identify AI text.
16
The number of times a phrase was found more frequently in AI vs human text.
4x
33x |
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