Saint86

The club sold SAA and have Edozie just sat there. We've also elected not to use Dibling (much) or Aribo (at all). We've had/have the players. I was grumbling weeks ago because i didn't want a repeat of 23/24 when we had huge key player churn in mid/late august, and subsequently had a really poor section of form which almost certainly cost us automatic promotion. We look destined to repeat the unsettled squad this time around sadly - hopefully with less of an impact on form. It is what it is, but it is frustrating. And despite grumbling about it previously, i do have faith that we won't be selling players unless there are decent replacements lined up. Fans will just have to be patient.

There is certainly something weird going on with their attitude towards us and this transfer. Starting to feel like the footballing equivalent of negotiating with Putin... serious ego massaging and placating required to even get a foot in the door. All very odd.

Just no.

Yup. Its also a better deal for all parties. They're a far nicer club with regards to current prospects, fanbase, and the general respectfulness of interclub dealings (than scummy Everton), they'll also help him develop better in an attacking team, we're far more likely to get a sell on clause that's meaningful, and he can stay closer to home/family from his side. If he's got to be sold i'm fairly content with it being palace.

Much needed at this point, clearly we're struggling to secure any other sales (squad players like edozie, aribo, smallbone, ABK etc) and ultimately we have to make some income somewhere to complete the squad Still wants. Palace would be a superb choice for dibling in all seriousness - he will play, develop, and they will absolutely sell him on for a nice fee.

No way Krasnador make a final decision today, doesn't mean we won't walk away.

Think we need to stay the hell clear of russian clubs going forward. Absolutely taking the piss out of saints at this point.

His long white socks routine is a bit unusual in fairness 😅

Stoke fans have always been some of the most disparaging about other teams. Its genuinely amazing that they've consistently held these views having been so shit for so long and consistently losing each week... they must spend their sundays (etc) very depressed if every week they predict a win against shit opposition and then lose 😬 We've had one reasonably tricky opener, and then got a deserved draw against the basically unanimous pick for best team in the league - and we're shit apparently. From their forum they act like they're in the title 😄

Also, for all our mistakes at the back - Ipswich only had one shot on target.

I suspect last season (and at the start of Martin's championship season) we don't get this point and we don't win that Wrexham game. This is the best team in the league (on paper), away from home, and we're a squad in transition coming off of one of the worst ever season's in English football's top flight. We evidently are now resilient - and hopefully we continue to get better and better. A good point today, hopefully we can sort out the squad ASAP and get a wins out of stoke and Watford. Would be great to go into the derby unbeaten.

Not convinced he had an angle to get that in in fairness. Quarshie pushed him wide and baz got down to cover most, if not all, of the goal - will have to see on replays whether baz would have got it had it been a bit further in and on target.

Don't know how anyone can watch that game and say Stephens was motm firstly, or come out having a go at baz for not sweeper keeping / commanding his area enough... If not for baz being quick out of his box, we'd have lost that to another spectacular Stephens calamity.

Hard to be pace setters when they'll be behind us all season 😏😏

Decent point all in all. Last time in the champ we'd have lost this and he chasing them all season. As it is we've been to our main rivals away and taken a point... They now need to go to St Mary's and do the same or win, depending on how the table looks.

This formation doesn't work. We have wing backs pushing up and 3cbs marking one CF. Everytime they hit a long cross field diagonal and are in behind. And I know a lot of that is squad related. But I still don't get why we play the little man up front alone and largely isolated. Arma did okay, but wasn't really threatening... Archer the same seemingly.

Well played bazunu. Quick reactions and very brave, and if he doesn't get that it's a pen or a red etc. Stephens 🤦🤦🤦

Insane again from wellington. He is the last man, he shouldn't be there. But if he is there he has to hit it, crike alive. He is isn't a defender 🤣. Fantastic recovery run though to his credit.

Quarshie, bless him, really doesn't like being pressed 🫣

Robert madley has always been a crap ref for this with us. Hate when we get him.

Lovely team goal there. Well played Fernandes, Fraser, and Robinson. Fernandes' quality all over that move. Brave touch to Fraser, composure and hold up 🙌

Only silver lining I can see here is that Ipswich will tire playing at this tempo. Maybe it's our turn to get an injury time goal at the end.

This formation doesn't work. We are out numbered in midfield, we can't get out of the press, and their high line and wingers are pinning our wing backs. Needs changing asap.

I am beginning to wonder how still had the defensive record he did in France. Do we just have really shit defenders? 🫣

Yeah, as through balls to the striker go, that was decent.