egg

Good post. We were having a discussion in the office about this yesterday. The old phrase" its the hope that kills" is plain wrong. It's expectation and resentment. Apps like these create more than hope, they create expectation. When expectations aren't fulfilled it usually leads two ways. 1 onto the individual. The feel disheartened and all their feelings of inadequacy, self loathing, rejection etc, are amplified. That increases the pain they live with. 2 outwardly with resentments. The thing with resentments is that they're poison in peoples minds towards others, but only the individual harbouring that resentment is being poisoned by it. The 3rd party is usually oblivious to it. Until you smack them, or turn up with a shotgun.

I agree with that, although there's something to be said for paying a premium and getting what you want early on. If not its a dangerous game of whether no other bids brings the price down, or other bids driving it up. I'm of the if you want something go and get school of thought. Defo with you on needing a starter CB, another DM, and a LB option. Djenepo at LB is a frightening prospect, and we've not even got Will Ferry or Vokins an emergency options.

I'd have thought a season at Blackburn playing under Mowbray would be ideal for Obafemi. Can't understand his thinking at all - he's in danger of being another Hesketh or Sims if he's not careful. JWP I'd have been relaxed about leaving if it was earlier in the window, but this late is an issue in terms of a replacement. CB wise, I'd have loved Chalobah from Chelsea but he's suddenly appeared in their team so he ain't happening. I'm satisfied that we'll get someone in, I'm just hoping it's a starter not a back up.

There's nothing to say on this really other than its bloody sad and a tragic waste of life. More will come out for sure and hopefully lessons will be learned. Did the MH services fail him, why did he get his gun back, etc. None of that will bring those 5 lives back though. Awful.

Good question! No real CB links, Ralph says JWP is expected to stay, Obafemi doesn't want to go Blackburn. That's your lot I think.

I won't comment on the computer game thing, or the comments flying around (peoples reactions tell a story), but calling for people to be banned is not cool or necessary. Where do you draw the line - on the forum last night we've had Turkish positing what he's posted, Aintforever calling him all sorts, you've probably been irritating and pedantic as per, people wading into Turkish for "insults" with insults, for once I wasn't a chippy prick as I had a night off but, etc. It's a forum, some posters irritate other posters - but don't be pleading with the ref for a red card.

Do what you like mate. Personally, I saw a kid step up when senior pros didn't and give it a go. I'd applaud that.

I'm not sure it's got anything to do with report. It's that he fucked up in the Euros but his bottle for stepping up and giving it a go are being acknowledged.

Yep, they're a decent side, but this arsenal line up is shite. Brentford won't be pushovers this season.

They're showing a bit of class and respect, nothing wrong with that. I doubt it'll be sustained but if other fans want to do the same, I can't see what's to criticise.

Because I think he's better than we have and can cover RB and DM too. You disagree which is cool.

Yep. I'd have Dier or Chambers in a heartbeat.

Nah, this is a Rainbow shirt.

Light

Thanks for posting, that's a good read. Interesting that Matt Crocker has probably helped influence this move. I suspect his presence has also helped us to get Simeu and Livramento, which in turn has helped get Broja. He and Semmens are good news.

Not for me. Van Dijk is as good defensively as all of them, quicker than all, and the better footballer bar perhaps Rio. I think some people's judgement of him can be influenced by the way he left us. Regardless, and back on topic, Philips is unproven, looks a bit agricultural, and is not a £15m player.

To be fair he probably is.

I get that, but has he really had an alternative? We all saw how he got murdered for pace many times.

I've never heard of either to be fair, but I'm not convinced by Phillips. It's a shame Chalobah has stepped out of the shadows at Chelsea.

So what leads you to your conclusion that we'll be "fine" with Bednarek and Salisu as our first choice CB? What did you see as positives about that partnership?

Because your opinion is not fact. You think Salisu and Bednarek are "fine" for us as 1st choice. Many don't agree, and if someone thinks we're "fucked" with that as our first choice pairing, they can have that opinion.

He's played so rarely it's hard to judge him, but from what i saw he could head the ball well but not much else looked impressive. I think Stephens is massively underrated tbh, just lacking a bit of concentration at times and he could be better in the air. Personally I'm not convinced we can't do better for £15m.

So you want us to "stop wasting money" be "smart in the transfer market" and suggest we do that by signing a billy big bollocks has been who'll want massive wages. Blimey.

Lion

I can't agree with your couple of posts on this. Sure the GK isn't Ralph's pick, but 3 of the back 4 are, Diallo is his player and JWP is his kind of player, and I think all the 10's and forwards are as well. This is more Ralph's team than an inherited team, and there can be no more excuses for Ralph if this team does badly.