Fabrice29

Aww. Things have changed and you don't like it. Poor you. It's a shame everyone else, and you lets be honest, enjoy watching it on the god awful evil television.

Was also not even mentioned by Martin when he was talking about strikers he had in the squad. Pretty sure all parties know he's off but because he'll need a wage cut I've got a hunch he's leaving it until the last minute to get one last big months pay

The time limit stuff is genuinely one of the worst theories out there about VAR. For a start not all camera angles are instantly available (which coincidently played into our favour when Djenepo handballed on the way to a goal once, the angle that showed it wasn't available for the VAR in time) and secondly I really don't think what Stuart Attwell needs when he's trying to look at a screen is a timer going down and the ref on field in his ear "time's nearly up Stu, come on mate, make a decision". He's clueless enough as it is. Anyway, it always makes me laugh when people moan about it ruining peoples celebrations and taking away "the point of the game which is to score goals ffs!!". VAR gave and led to plenty of goals last season, almost as nearly as much as it took away if you include penalties it gave. There are plenty of decisions that need correcting, you only need to watch that awful highlights show last night to have seen that, it's worth it's weight in gold if it only corrects one of those. The use of it can be better but the concept is rightly here to stay and we'll be cursing not having it at some stage because being punished by something the referee couldn't see or got hideously wrong isn't good for anyone even if it is "just proper football mate!"

He started two cup games for us and barely got a kick. We were rubbish but he was very rubbish and well out of his depth with the physicality of the game here.

Picking a player as captain who you know you will want to replace in a years time (maximum) feels silly.

Not really sure what you think Martin was omitting. He was asked specially about JWP, Lavia and Sulemana and answered accordingly. He also clearly said things could change and had changed at least twice this week already and also pointed out he wanted people who were ‘fully present and all in’. That suggests to me that things have changed this week regarding someone and he won’t be picking them because they aren’t ‘fully present and all in’. Feels like that’s Tino, who he wasn’t specifically asked about and who might have had notice late this week that things are getting closer on the move he wants, or he could just be injured and wasn’t asked about him. And fwiw that Matt guy just reports what he hears from the training ground, it’s others that read far too much into it, for example you getting angry that he correctly told everyone JWP wouldn’t be playing against Bournemouth. All he did was state the facts. Same he’s done here with Tino.

There was.

He’ll be second choice right back to an ageing Trippier in a season where they’ll play twice a week. He’s got a chance to learn from Trippier, take over him and cement his place in a team that is in the CL and in theory will be top 4 challengers for a while (they won’t imo this season). It’s a no brainer. And as I’ve said on here before he’s clearly been itching for the move so good luck to him, let’s replace him with Aarons and crack on. This is the nature of buying top young talents. Just a shame the injury stalled things.

As a character he seems great (aside from being best mates with Charlie Austin and a few other questionable characters) but let’s not rewrite history here. He’s been consistently not good enough for us. He played for Bournemouth last year in a very defensively set up side that limited his exposure. That done him favours and lends itself to his qualities but we won’t do that and he’ll be exposed again. Doesn’t matter the level, he’ll be exposed and doesn’t have the qualities to deal with that consistently. Also I find the ‘this level’ argument weird as well. We don’t want to be here long do we? If we get promoted with him as captain it’s going to be a tough call to drop him then. We need to reset, reset now and move on. We won’t, I understand that and I understand the manager seemingly likes him but it would be much more exciting if we had 4 new CB’s this year who we didn’t know we will want to replace soon.

Are you not bored or watching him now? Steel, commitment, good captain but same old in consistent performances. He’ll make some great last ditch tackles, he’ll maraud forward with the ball occasionally, he might even score the odd goal and he’ll shout a lot but he’ll also be heavily out of position a lot and he’ll be piss poor in the air and will divide fans throughout the season. Aren’t you bored of him now? I’m bored of most our squad but certainly the CB’s. I’d absolutely love a clean restart in that area, with some hope rather than the deep rooted knowledge that it’s unreliable.

How many good games have these two had for us combined do people think? 5 max? Makes me laugh these two are seen as players we have to ‘put faith in’. Clearly talented and could have great seasons but not sure why people get worked up over players like this really.

Stephens isn’t very good or consistent. We know this because he’s been with us for 10 years now and he’s not been very good or consistent. Relying on him this season and making him captain (as has been suggested) would be mental.

We’ve got loads of experienced players, the majority aren’t very good and younger players have/will replace them

Agreed, which is a shame.

He was ill. Still need to find buyers for Stephens, Bednarek and Lyanco. Really need a whole reset in that position.

Who in their right mind is linking us, a championship club, to a PL teams first choice left back? 😂 Genuinely intrigued to know where you’ve seen that?

Lost 4 of their last 5 fwiw. Also lost a popular manager. Not sure they will be full of confidence tbh.

I'm just pointing out that our full backs aren't really attacking or particularly threatening. Apart from the one we didn't have last season and is going to leave. So maybe the guy who hopefully knows what he's doing might be right in moving them inside occasionally (and coincidently one of his full backs last season was quite threatening)

3 goals and 2 assists from our full backs in the PL last season (Perraud with both assists and 2 goals.) Really hope we don't lose that attacking threat.

It's designed to create overloads and passing lanes centrally. Also to give protection on counter attacks whilst letting more attack minded midfielders push higher up. Doesn't necessarily mean they won't be attacking threats themselves and doesn't necessarily mean they will always sit in front of CB's, it's evident from the friendlies that players are not contained to set positions. See Mannings statistics from last season for example and Russel Martin saying himself his favourite goal at Swansea was one full back crossing for another.

Could be wrong but I thought Martin's comments about Armstrong being like Piroe quite telling. Not sure you'd be saying that publicly if you were a few weeks away from signing Piroe himself. That said, Martin made clear in his press conference that there are players we've spoke to who are interested in joining us but also happy to remain patient whilst we sort out transfers. Piroe possibly but especially Downes comes to mind.

Same Nixon that said we were leading the chase on Kieran Breckin? Signed for Wigan.

Think Perraud and ABK have been just as injured as Armstrong fwiw. Salisu has featured also. Agree they all leave though, hopefully.

Said at 14.53 of course.

Nobody said he’s a money grabbing mercenary. It’s a perfectly good career opportunity for the kid. He’s just had a massive injury, probably grateful for the support but also aware his career is short. Take the money out of it and it’s a move to a top 4 club and a chance to nail down a position for years at that particular top 4 club. Why would he stay? I’m not saying he’s desperate to leave or a mercenary, I’m saying the idea that he would happily stay and turn down those opportunities is bizarre even more so because he clearly is working on getting that opportunity. Then again, those anonymous briefings to the press with a vague ‘content to stay’ line is gospel and therefore fuck the owners.