egg

I can't figure out our formation in the front 4. Looked like a 3 at first, but then Ings with 3 behind. Definitely different though.

Wtf!! That was blatant hand to ball. Outrageous decision.

All very valid but I fear that McQueen won't come back, although I hope I'm wrong. I wander whether, bizarre as this sounds, that all this ties in with Jankewitz transfer request. The club would be mad to lose him, so if Diallo or JWP provide the FB cover, that could push Jankewitz up the list as midfield cover. I may be off way beam, but if we see Diallo or JWP at full back tonight and Jankewitz on the bench, this could be the way we're going for the time being.

Agreed. He was out of position for the goal, and at other times. Although Diallo has more pace, JWP has shown that he's at home at full back. I have a feeling it'll be Diallo though.

I don't think anyone has said that they don't mind Vokins being upgraded. The point is that he hasn't. If someone better comes in then all is cool.

I do recall Del. I'd assumed Ralph had seen something and been persuaded by the lad. Seemingly he hasn't, and from what I've seen, I agree.

It's strange because we have 1 left back, a right back who can cover, but only Valery as the alt right back. It's strange that you don't find that strange.

What a strange move. That said, Ralph appeared not to rate him last season, then thought him good enough, but then didn't involve him. It may be that after the other day he felt he wouldn't bother again so let him get games elsewhere. Like others have said though, who's gonna play there if Bertrand can't? Will Ferry has had a few u23 games there but he's a winger, Jeremy Rodriguez is well rated but a kid, and the only other obvious choices are an out of position Diallo or CB.

We have no idea why Jankewitz is being denied involvement. However, he's a great talent, and his being pissed off is understandable if he's been fit but excluded. Slattery was doing boxing training for weeks. His fitness and shape were excellent. The info (leak?) on here was that he returned fat. He wasn't, but let's assume that he was, seeking out a well known boxing trainer and working one to one for weeks on the close season hardly suggests an undisciplined attitude. Obafemi is better than N'lundulu, Jankewitz is better than any other young midfielder we have, Slattery is quality. If all those lads aren't toeing the line and/or putting the work in, and are being denied first team involvement as a consequence then the man management of them has to be questioned.

Yep, 100% agreed. N'Lundulu has something about him, but that first touch is shocking and will hold him back. Tella. I don't see a PL player there. He may have a great attitude, but attitude alone doesn't make a PL player. Sims wasn't quite PL level for me, but I agree he had more than this lad. If these lads are getting game time ahead of better players based on attitude, that's a concern for me.

Whilst we don't know why he's been omitted, if Ralph has overlooked a youngster in favour of a lesser player seemingly for personality reasons, it would seem that a trend is developing. Ralph has overlooked Obafemi in favour of N'Lundulu and having watched both of them play, it's hard to see how that is a football based decision. Obafemi has a first touch for a start. The suggestion though was attitude related. Slattery was cast aside and omitted from a pre season tour then sent to 2nd division side in Belgium or somewhere. He hasn't been near the 1st team squad since. The initial suggestion on here was that Slattery was omitted as he returned fat after pre season training, but that's nonsense as he chose to spend weeks in a boxing gym and returned in the shape of his life. That is a fact. The next suggestion was his attitude and that he'd never play whilst Ralph was at they club. If it is a personality thing with Jankewitz, and ditto Slattery and Obafemi, that may raise issues about these lads but if 3 x 1st team standard youngsters are excluded for non football reasons, I'd start to question the man management.

Yep. I've sat in a couple with my daughter who has mental health issues. The reports were both a disgrace and completely misquoted her, and in some respects were pure fabrication. She lost The PiP on both occasions, but them back on appeal. The distress and worry it caused her both times was massive and unnecessary. Sadly, many people don't have the courage or knowledge to challenge these decisions and there will be many cases where people have paid the ultimate price. I'm all for using the public sector to support public services where appropriate, but the way its used with PiP is a disgrace. Life impacting decisions should be left to people who aren't in it for profit, and actually understand the health issues of the people before them.

Episode

Spot on. Too many spoilt fans feel a right to get what they want, and for owners to inject cash. The value of our club won't go up by £70m if Gao throws £70m at players. He'd have to be an idiot to do that, not that I think he has the cash. We'd all like to see us attract and keep better players but that's not where we are. The irony though is that we're not in the mess we are because of a lack of player spending (someone highlighted the 17-19 period) but because we spent money on shite that have no resale value, and cost us money whilst other clubs used them or they sit in the stands. Gao released the money for the signings, yet he gets pelted for the decisions of the football people that he put his faith in. If he was the mercenary people suggest that money wouldn't have been spent. The Ings departure is unfortunate, but listening to Semmens I don't think this is all about the money. He's confirmed what sensible fans have always known, namely that we're a stepping stone club. If we weren't we may never have signed him (and many others) and it won't help us to attract those stepping stone players if we hold him back if a decent offer comes in. Personally I wish him well if he gets a good move and we get good dollar.

Forget those 3, Chauke and Smallbone have been above him this season. Smallbone is perhaps understandable, but seeing Chauke jump above him must be frustrating. Jankewitz looked excellent a long time ago, and he looked decent in his Shrewsbury cameo. Assuming he's been fit to be around the first team, I can understand him being pissed off.

I've not seen much in Watts. That little trick he did to earn the free kick last night didn't go right and he got lucky. There was lots of running from him, but he didn't seem to be finding space. Jankewitz has something about him. I watched his first u23 game and posted at the time that he looked decent. He offered up for the ball, turned nicely, used the ball well, had a little turn of pace, looked strong and just looked like a good footballer. I'm not sure where he's been since, but hopefully he'll get more opportunities. The one youngster we've not seen who has impressed me when I've seen him is Will Ferry. Has a little something but they've dabbled with him out of position at full back and he seems to have fallen behind Watts in the wingers/10's pecking order.

Apologies, I misunderstood your point. Yep, we had something similar ish but this summer will be more restrictive I'd imagine. The way they've handled entry has been impressive, and other countries have done well too. I know someone who's had to go to Bangladesh and needed a negative test before departure, then had to quarantine whilst passport was held. It's a simple thing to do, but the way we've dealt with entry, and still are, is mind boggling.

The link above explains what can and can't happen in NSW. Weddings with up to 100 people, public gatherings, visiting granny in her rest home, pubs with up to 300 people, barbers etc & entertainment facilities etc all open, gyms open, etc. Sure, there are number restrictions, having to wear a mask, contact tracing, but on the hole its pretty normal. I would take that pending proper normal.

New South Wales restrictions are hardly onerous. Smaller gatherings, masks, and contact tracing, but places are open and life is going on. Night and day from here.

He could have but Valery has had a decent second half, Vokins had been poor. Correct decision for me.

That's how I read it. Personally I think Diallo would do well at full back, and he gives us good cover without shifting JWP. As for tonight, I reckon we'll see a curveball somewhere. Their wide players will be a bit much for Vokins and Valery.

Not a chance we'll see him here. He'd be perfect replacement for Jiminez at Wolves on a short term deal but if I was a betting man, he'll end up at West Ham.

Agreed. In flashes he looked superb, Pogba level, but most of the time he didn't turn up. That semi-final performance was a disgrace, and I can't recall any player ever looking so disinterested in a big match.

All this calling Alexander-Arnold by first name is nauseating.

Can't agree with that at all. Vardy has niggles that keep him out, and is out at the moment. Walcott has had all sorts of injuries. Sure Ings has had massive knee problems, but if they were going to impact his career he wouldn't be playing to the level he is now. I'm with MLG on this one.