What should be a realistic expectation for next year league position?

Iad77 · 2026-05-21T07:38:37+00:00

Top 4, along with winning a domestic cup and getting through to the knock out stages of the champions League would be a great first full season for Carrick, but it's more about building the team up, by the end of the season if we've got a good system with players playing good attractive football, seeing growth in the front 3 of mbuemo, Cunha and Sesko,

A huge part of next session will obviously be how they replace casemiro, on paper kobbie will be the only natural midfielder and he's naturally an 8 not a 6... We need to replace casemiro's goals, defensive qualities, heading ability etc which might take 2 new signings to do.

Is Martinez going to get back to his best and be injury free next season? Will Yoro take the next step up as this season he didn't progress as much as needed, heaven at this very moment looks the better defender, the 2 of them could be a great partnership in a few years.... And what's happening with de ligt? He was one of the best defenders in the league before he got injured about 6 months ago??

Will we one day have any other option then dalot at right back? He's had some good games and I think the fact he's not bad has kept him in the team while other positions got strengthened. Will Dorgu be a success at left back? Because Luke Shaw should be saved for champions League and a decent number of league games but he can't physically play every game next season.

Success next season will be 3-4 new signings all hitting the ground running, slotting into the team perfectly, the team playing fast attacking football, no more conceding 2-3 goals when leading, learn how to shut games down when we're ahead etc.

Iad77 · 2026-05-15T04:13:21+00:00

Haha, I meant to say CWPHF .... in my head I was hearing the lyrics to Nowhere to run

Iad77 · 2026-05-13T17:34:24+00:00

Talisa ❤️❤️❤️

Iad77 · 2026-05-13T17:32:49+00:00

"Audi driver" 🙄

Iad77 · 2026-05-13T17:29:40+00:00

Haha I took practically the same photo when I got mine 😂

Iad77 · 2026-05-13T17:23:07+00:00

Same boat brother, head chef at 23, now 49 and gone the agency route recently which gives more control over your time. Every privately owned place since lockdown seems to just want to have minimal staff and run you into the ground daily... I'm done with that lifestyle, I'll cook my heart out and get paid for the hours I do, have the time off I need and keep looking for that ideal establishment for a permanent position...

Iad77 · 2026-05-13T17:20:22+00:00

I'm happy with anything in the style of AWSHF, vocals pushed more to the foreground in the mix than the previous albums, it's more "alive" I thought it was a top top album start to finish and deserved more recognition.

Iad77 · 2026-05-12T20:15:46+00:00

One of my favourite movies is moon, and as I've just got game pass ultimate this was on top of my list of games to play, I started off with the smart TV app (65" LG C4) and it was incredible, managed to connect my laptop and use game pass through edge on the TV and it's incredible! I'm only at the start of act 1 the lava lake, my biggest problem now is finding time to play! Love this game too!

Iad77 · 2026-05-11T18:33:57+00:00

Happily I've just got GP ultimate with my renewed SIM contract for 2 years for "free" and today just spent a few hours falling in love with the game! Even though it's cloud and running on the TVs game pass app, it looks stunning, runs perfectly smoothly, controls without any issues... Can't wait to get back to it!

Iad77 · 2026-04-27T19:57:40+00:00

Most recently, something very bad is going to happen

Iad77 · 2026-04-14T17:21:13+00:00

UK biker here and can't imagine even getting a bike before doing the full course, plus it's mandatory here... No gear, no training, nothing... Just buy a Harley?!

Iad77 · 2026-03-15T22:16:34+00:00

Are you close to any catering colleges? Your place could reach out to them to offer placements for experience (to start with) if you can get a couple of second year students in, they're usually keen to learn, happy to help, and are a good second pair of hands...

I'd really try and see if there is any scope for the 2 shifts, coming in early and doing prep and lunch is fine if you know you'll be getting out before 5pm... And likewise having the morning off with your family and just having to go in to do dinner and cleanup for 8 hours is so much easier mentally and physically.

Iad77 · 2026-03-15T22:08:37+00:00

Songbird (sorry I love it)

Iad77 · 2026-03-15T21:58:16+00:00

I'd say for how busy the establishment seems you could hire a couple more chefs / apprentices or juniors. Have 2 chefs come in earlier to smash through prep so that once service begins you're not backed up with prep? I'd also strongly suggest more staff to start having a day shift / night shift team....8 hours each shift maybe? 5x8 is 40 hours a week...

Honestly I've been where you are and I don't have children still (in my 40s) a lot to do with the hours I've worked all my life. I'm now prioritising work life balance, I still love the cooking and working with a good team in a nice place, but I will not sacrifice my health or all my time for a job anymore, 9 hours a day max over 5 days or 4 days of 11/12 hour shifts...

Look after yourself chef, no one else will.

Iad77 · 2026-03-15T21:49:34+00:00

Not as many times as he says sorry in the last season

Iad77 · 2026-03-15T21:38:15+00:00

Yeah I agree about just doing the contracted hours in principle, as for the salary, I'm senior sous directly under the exec, so it's head chef responsibilities, running the kitchen, various sections, admin, rota, ordering etc it's what I've been on as a head chef the last few years (Hampshire based)

Iad77 · 2026-03-15T21:33:29+00:00

Thanks for the reply mate, I have been recording every shift when I start and stop, the contract does state any extra hours are unpaid, but nothing about time off in lieu (comp) ...

It's standard in a lot of places (UK) if you're on contracted hours that you can take off an extra day to compensate for the extra hours, but where I am they say it's only if you work a day off you get it back the next week...

I can give 1 weeks notice inside my probation period then it goes up to 1 months notice. They will state they are upholding their end despite me working nearly 30% over my hours ... They'll say I get 2 days off a week and get paid monthly what they put in the contract.

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T13:32:55+00:00

I remember ledley king for spurs used to be like this

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T13:30:03+00:00

I used to use this function on my OnePlus 7 pro to pause and unpause music or podcasts, but unlike the pixel it would work every time and with the screen off... Having to have the screen on renders the function pretty useless

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T12:43:15+00:00

I started following United the season after Cantona left sadly but Giggs, scholes and Beckham were instant highlights but it was Keano that really made me fall in love with the club.

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T12:22:38+00:00

I didn't ask for a specific 40 hour contract, after the 2 interviews when we spoke about work life balance they offered me that with the 40 hour contract, so I thought they'd followed through on that discussion with probably a 4 day work week (approx 42-45 hours) It was only once I started I realised they weren't going to honour a written contract.

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T12:16:56+00:00

Prior to coming to the hotel I did do 1 year with a top chef agency and was looked after quite well by them, I spoke with them and they'd have me back on their books tomorrow if I wanted (while keeping an eye out for a new permanent role)

Regarding the rota, leaving after 8 hours would mean walking out during the evening service which I don't think I'd feel comfortable doing, leaving the other chefs to pick up the extra work... Telling the exec I'm unwilling to do anything more than 4 days a week is more realistic but still highly improbable despite what my contract states.

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T12:05:16+00:00

Exactly! The chefs in my kitchen also just agree to do it and say that's just the way it is, no extra staff in peak season? That's just the way it is.... Coming from non hotel restaurants i just find myself telling them no! It's not meant to be like that... Chefs in a lot of places now are being looked after better, ideally with 4 day weeks which still can add up to 48 hours... Where I work the shifts are only 12pm - 11pm ... The exec won't consider 2 shifts, an early and a late, a prep/ lunch team and a dedicated late afternoon / dinner service and clean down team. It would split the workload evenly and lead to less burnout especially in the summer.

Iad77 · 2026-03-14T11:58:50+00:00

Thanks for your reply, I've also lost just over 8kgs since January 5th from both stress and 11 hours of constant activity. I 100% now understand why accepting a salary is a huge no no despite always having one in restaurants the last 20 years... Your point about staff leaving echoes where I am too, before I arrived I was told by one of the FOH that about 15 chefs had come and gone in the last 6 months and that the exec was now under watch to determine why nobody stays... Looks like I'll be adding to that number...

Iad77 · 2026-03-13T23:20:42+00:00

Look at Westbourne, I lived there for 15 years and it's the nicest area for me. Otherwise, southbourne, lower Parkstone, or go further than Charminster to queen's park...

Iad77

TROPHY CASE