benali-shorts

The new Eric Black

An excellent watch, thank you. They really did have to put their laces through those pig bladders.

Agree wholeheartedly re physical attributes. Rudoni would be absolutely excellent.

...and debt.

Assuming the sticky is correct, 11 out of contract next summer: McCarthy Stephens Aribo Smallbone Stewart Bree Fraser Taylor Ounachu Dibling Bella-Kotchap Assuming Dibling doesn't renew, it's hard to imagine any of the others getting an extension? 2027 ones are: Manning Armstrong Sulemana Edozie Larios Bazunu Bednarek Charles Assuming they don't renew, offers would be considered for all, with extensions feasible for Sulemana & Charles?

I hadn't realised he's out of contract June 2026 (well, according to the sticky on the forum page) in which case we might be lucky to get £3m......

He’s an intriguing one to place a value on. £3m?

Lacks the physical attributes to play CM, and insufficient technical ability to play further forward or wider. He’s the sort of player who would be ok to be fourth choice CM if we’re playing two, but not sure he should stay on that basis.

I understand we weren’t playing a defensive 4 today. Thank you for feeling you needed to clarify that for the group though. I am only able to judge him on the game he played today, given his scant appearances this season - and on that basis, I remain surprised he hasn’t played more in either a 4 or a 5. His limitations seem no greater than the other ones we’ve played there, who have each displayed significant weaknesses of their own. He might struggle aerially - but given his lack of appearances, we don’t have the physical proof of that either way. I hate myself for engaging with you.

Very tidy full debut today - good balance, two-footed, aggressive and with a desire to get forward. Hopefully he'll stay involved with the first team next season.

I thought he attacked the ball well today, and anticipated better than our CBs generally do. He wasn't out-muscled to any extent. He didn't over-commit and lunge in like our usual CBs which was a refreshing change. Weird to think he hasn't been tried in either a CB or LB / LCB role in the Premier League, despite the utter and repeated incompetence of those picked ahead of him.

And not only bring him on, but move Fernandes over to the right to accommodate Smallbone in the middle. Madness.

That is ridiculous. He played very well today.

Rusk a moron with the starting line up and not making changes at half time. Robinson & Kayi Sanda did well when they came on. Archer and Stewart gave us a better forward shape. Wood and Stephens are horrifically bad CBs.

Beto vs Stephens is comedy gold