The Cat

Has to be the policy. We had Shaw, Chambers and Ward Prowse playing in the Premier League at very young ages. Someone like N'Lundulu is the same age as Diallo so it's not like he can be seen as a young prospect anymore. I know players develop at different ages but if someone is extremely good they'll surely be playing reasonably regularly by 19.

From the article, he has been offered assurances he would get chances which other than 15 minutes in the cup he hasn't had. If you'd been told you'd get a chance and hadn't you'd probably be a bit miffed and would look elsewhere for it. There's nothing weird going on here. In fairness we should be praising him for wanting to play first team football and furthering his career.

He hasn't said he wants to walk into another "Premiership" (whatever that is) team. He said he wants to play football. Maybe he'll move to Belgium, France, Netherlands or somewhere to do that.

Why are they wasting their time appealing the red card?

SEN teachers being offered the vaccine now. Not sure if it's a nationwide thing or just round here. My partner had an email earlier telling her to sign up.

By the sounds of the article he just wants to play football, so being 3rd choice won't cut it for him.

He really wasn't.

Had more shots than Arsenal, sadly not many of them were very good. Hard for such a small squad with many key players out. I said in the pre match thread that full backs are such a crucial part of our play and missing both of them was absolutely massive for us. Once we get players back fit the results will pick up again.

The only plausible way I think we can do it is JWP to RB, Armstrong in midfield and Redmond replacing him. Not sure Diallo to RB and JWP/Armstrong in the middle would work.

Created plenty, let down by basic mistakes at the back and some poor final balls. Valery really isn't competent enough for this type of opposition. Vokins doing ok but this is a whole different game if we have our normal full backs on the pitch.

McCarthy should have gone back as soon as Valery lost the ball for no reason. You always have to take goals back a few steps to see the real reason they happen and that was Valery being weak which put the whole team in a bad position.

Walcott's pass 🤣🤣

Good effort from Armstrong. Even game so far.

Adams playing some lovely touches.

Close. Nice cross from Vokins.

Quality ball from Adams. Wish Walcott wouldn't rush his shots so much sometimes.

You do realise this style of playing out of the back is part of our success? It was the execution which was wrong, not the idea.

Oh crap. Lacazette looked like he got a little touch on Stephens pass, then a good ball, but weak from Valery. Good finish, maybe McCarthy went down a bit early.

YEEESSSSSSS

Great cross from Valery.

If that was Stephens tis place would have gone into meltdown. Great start for McCarthy.

Comfortable for West Ham. Even when Palace break in numbers they get it all wrong. I guess West Ham's scattergun transfer tactics would eventually come up with a few gems. They look well organised with a good balance of skill, technical ability and power in the team.

Tierney out is great news. Quite happy to see Cedric bumbling around aimlessly for 90 minutes.

Partly this is due to the extreme value of the players and the possible long term ramifications that can happen when people play when carrying an injury. For example Walker Peters might turn around and say he wants to play but the club would never let him because of the risk the injury will be aggravated and they'll end up missing 5 games instead of one.

Full backs are so important in the modern game and to the way we play in particular. We're unlucky both look like they will be out at the same time. Going to be a big miss for us and will make it very tough.