Sheaf Saint

Aside from what others have already pointed out, we now have access to our recovery facilities at Staplewood, which we didn't during most of last season due to Covid restrictions. The importance of this cannot be stressed enough.

According to the stats sites, he was in the Chelsea U23 team that I watched lose to Everton last autumn, cos my nephew was playing for Everton (and scored). So I messaged him earlier and asked him for his thoughts. He just sent me this reply... "Been playing against him since I was about 10. One of the best I’ve ever played against id say. So so fast, strong,direct and really good on the ball i think it’s a great singing 👌🏽"

True, but the fact it was the poster's maiden post adds a little intrigue though.

And one of the reasons for that is because Chelsea's academy hoovers up so much of the talent in the south, as Man City's does in the north, by offering ridiculous incentives to kids' parents that we simply cannot compete with. So there's a kind of poetic justice about us signing one of their brightest prospects.

Good to read Pilchards' post saying he's not looking to leave. To my mind that means it would actually take a huge offer (£50m +) for it to happen. If he were to go, I actually think we already have a replacement in Diallo. He was thrown in the deep end last season, played half a season covering Romeu's injury when he was a) not suited to that role and b) not really ready to be a starter in a PL side in poor form. But from what I've seen of him, I think he could fill the JWP role very well (apart from the dead ball stuff, of course). Him and Romeu as first choice in CM, with £50m in the bank to spend in other areas.. would that be so bad?

That's a very apt autocorrect.

Crikey. Doesn't feel like it was that long ago we were talking about him as an exciting youth prospect.

Seems a reasonable assumption. But by all accounts he wants out of Chelsea because he doesn't see a path to the first team. In that case, I doubt he would be happy to come here and be 4th choice.

No, but you have made it abundantly clear that your main objection to taking the knee is that it Is inextricably linked to the specific BLM movement who have in the past advocated those things, and vociferously disagreed when people point out the fallacy of that position.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57778668 Writing on Twitter on Monday evening, Mings said: "You don't get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as 'Gesture Politics' and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we're campaigning against, happens.". Good on you Tyrone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57800431 I'm just gonna leave this here for anyone who is still labouring under the impression that there is no problem with racism in English football and that taking the knee is a pointless political gesture.

You think VAR's failure to get involved and send off Jorginho for that assault on Grealish was 'refreshing' ?

Mount wasn't on the pitch at the end. Was subbed off for Grealish.

The laws of the game need changing when Chiellini can do that and still stay on the pitch. And if Jorginho makes a tackle that in the PL then you can guarantee VAR would intervene and change his card to red.

Ok fair enough, he's just confirmed it was his call and takes full responsibility for it.

Yes of course. And it backfired on him. What's that got to do with Saka taking the 5th penalty though?

Or, heaven forbid, he might learn from his experiences and improve?

Given his history with penalty shootouts, you really think he would deliberately put that pressure on the shoulders of the youngest player on the pitch?

Foden was injured.

What's so gutting is that, despite being arguably the better team, Italy needed a fluke rebound off the post to score their equaliser. Can't believe that none of the more experienced players stepped up to take that last pen and let the teenager take it. Spineless.

Just knew we wouldn't win if it went to pens. Italy too experienced versus our young side. Result was inevitable.

Chiellini should have got a straight red for that! A more blatant deliberate foul you will never see.

Miraculous recovery from Chiesa there.

How has Veratti not been carded?

It's fucking bonkers how Mourinho had it in for him. He's been superb in every game so far.